CHAPTER 3:

When History class was over and Ashley walked through the door she saw a familiar face waiting there. She stared at Seth, wondering how he knew she would be here.

As if he could read her mind he answered "Got your schedule from the student administration. Do you have any idea how many Ashley's are walking around here?", he said with a big sigh. "But you didn't think I would leave my book partner all alone did you", he said.

"Well you're here now so I guess not", Ashley answered. 'Will he never leave me alone?', she thought.

"So hungry?", Seth asked rubbing his hands. "Because if you are you are one lucky girl. You just happened to arrive at the best leftover meal restaurant of Newport Beach", he joked while he pointed to the direction of the student canteen.

Ashley didn't notice the joke she only saw the massive crowd of people she didn't know and she backed up from the door. "I brought my own sandwiches", she said. Her eyes drifting from the crowd of people to Seth and back to the canteen.

"You are gonna turn down the possibility to eat in this exclusive restaurant?", Seth asked shaking his head. "Okay your choice but a guy has got to eat a good putrefied meal", he said with a pout as he rubbed with his hand over his stomach. "C'mon", he said. He took her hand and led her to a quiet eating spot outside. When she sat down he said "Stay here, I'll be right back", before quickly making his way to the canteen.

While waiting in the queue he once more thought surprised about the fact that it was apparently possible for him to talk to someone of the other gender without making a total fool out of himself. While thinking that he saw Summer passing him. "Hi", he tried to say but it was more a groan that escaped his mouth. He quickly tried to make up for it with a charming smile, but she didn't smile back. She didn't even look. For all he knew he was nothing but air to Summer. That was how it was and how it always had been. Seth sighed and wished he could be as cool around Summer as he was with Ashley right now.

Ashley said down at the table and unwrapped her sandwiches. Slowly eating she looked around her and saw what a beautiful place she was in. This morning she had been to busy thinking about the fact she was going to have to meet new classmates again that she hadn't seen the beauty of the school and it's environment. She still didn't feel very comfortable but somehow she managed to put that aside for a moment. She looked at the grass field and day dreamed about a place she lived years ago, one that she missed incredibly.

Suddenly she was snapped out of her thoughts when a plate completely filled with food landed with a loud noise on the table she was sitting at. She looked up and looked at Luke. Marissa, Summer and Brian right behind him and taking the other seats at the table.

"I don't think this seat was taking was it?", Luke joked. Thinking Ashley didn't know anyone yet besides them so the seat was obviously free.

Ashley thought of Seth and thought she needed to say that she was apparently having lunch with him. But then she realised that Seth didn't actually take the seat yet and if he wanted to eat lunch with her he could just join them. So she shook her head and said "It wasn't but is now".

She quietly ate her sandwiches while the four around her started to talk about things they were going to do after school. They were discussing a benefit party they were organizing and they were talking through the last things that needed to be done.

Marissa noticed how quiet Ashley was and tried to made her join the conversation. "Do you want to help? We can always need an extra hand. It might not be the greatest thing to do, but you can earn some extra credit for school and when we are all there, so it might even be a bit fun."

Ashley was stunned for a brief moment. The fact that even though they hardly knew her they asked her to join them was something she hadn't expected. She didn't care what it was she needed to help with. Just the thought that they wanted to hang out with her after school did her incredibly good. She smiled and said "Sure. Just name the place and time."

Before anyone could answer her Ashley spotted Seth making his way back to her. His plate with food dangerously swinging in his hands. She watched him, wondering is he would make it to the table without throwing food all over the place when she suddenly saw he stopped walking.

She wanted to motion him to come further when Luke began to talk. He saw Ashley was staring at something and when he turned around he saw Seth walking in their direction. He shouted in a harsh voice "We don't need a nerd over here so go back where you came from".

Ashley was still looking at Seth and she saw him staring back. Obviously waiting for a reaction from her. After all they were supposed to lunch together and now Seth was yelled at to go away. Ashley didn't know what to do. She wanted to help Seth, she really did, but she didn't want to go against Luke either.

She heard Summer and Brian whispering something about Seth now. Brian was saying that if Seth made one more move towards them he and Luke would take care of him. He even hoped Seth would come further because he didn't had a good fight in weeks. Now Ashley knew what to do. She'd better keep quiet. If she would motion Seth to come over two of the strongest guys in the school would beat the shit out of him.

She saw a hurting look on Seth's face when she didn't speak. He turned around and made his way to another place to eat his lunch. And even though Ashley felt very sorry for Seth. It was for the best. For the both of them.