CHAPTER 14:

The next day at school Ashley tried to avoid Seth as much as possible. She remembered only hours after she had left she hadn't said any proper goodbyes and she wasn't in the mood to give him full explanations on why she left in such a hurry. He wouldn't understood why she was so worried about her dad anyways. No-one ever did.

Instead she focussed herself on her school work and quickly closed her locker when she found the right books for her next class. The sooner she sat there, the sooner she could focus on smething else than Seth. When she turned around she jumped when Marissa was standing behind her. She hadn't heard anyone approaching her so the girl staring at her frightened her for a second.

"Marissa", she said finally, when she had found her voice back. "Everything okay?"

"Yeah sure", replied Marissa "But what about you? I mean, where were you last night?"

"Last night", Ashley repeated, thinking of an excuse. Has Seth talked to Marissa about this? Why did she even wanted to know? Why did he tell Marissa? No, that couldn't be right, Seth and Marissa couldn't stand each other. But then again, they were neighbours so they might occasionally talk with each other - outside of school, when the rest of Marissa's crowd wasn't around her.

Ashley had been so lost in her own thoughts, trying to think of a reason why Marissa was asking this and trying to think of an excuse, that Marissa was getting impatient.

"Yes, last night", she said once more. "You know the benefit party you helped us with to organize it? You didn't show up."

"What?", Ashley said slightly confused. When she realized what Marissa was talking about she added relieved "ow that".

This probably didn't came out of her mouth the way she wanted it to, or at least not the way Marissa wanted it to, because the latter suddenly seemed insulted. "Alright, you don't care, fine with me. Just tell us in advance next time will you?", she said as she abruptly turned around and walked off, giving Ashley no time to respond anymore.

For a second Ashley was frozen and she didn't know what to do. Then her lips moved again and she walked after Marissa "Wait, I can explain", she yelled. But the hallways were suddenly filled with students, class almost started and everyone tried to get to the right class room. Ashley lost Marissa out of sight and Marissa didn't turn around either.

"Fine, be that way", Ashley grumbled in herself as she changed directions and made her way to the place she thought her class room was.

Walking into the room she saw she was, for once, not the last student to show up, she also saw this was one of the many classes she had in common with Seth. He smiled to her and she softly smiled back at him - yet choosing an empty seat far away from the boy and ignoring him for the rest of the lesson.

As soon as class was over she made her way out of the room and she wrenched herself a way through the mass of students in the hallway so she could get fast to her locker. Just then her eye fell on the note board close to her locker and the brand new announcement on there. The cast list of Desdemona.

Ashley quickly scanned the names and to her surprise she recognised the names on the list of the guys she'd watched the auditions of. Each person she thought was best for the role - even though some were quite bad, but unfortunately there wasn't any alternative - was on the list. She smirked in herself. I guess I wouldn't do bad if I had to cast this production she thought.

At the bottom of the casting list thus far was an announcement. It stated the next date and time of the ausitions - tomorrow afternoon. Ashley printed it in her head, she was going to be there, definitely. Not to audition, but to watch from the back of the stage. Just like she did before.

Suddenly she realized it had become quiet around her. She looked over her shoulder and saw once again the hallways seemed nearly empty. Quickly looking on her watch she saw she was screwed. She had been standing too long in front of the note board and the next class was about to start.

"Dammit", she cursed as she quickly ran the last few metres to her locker and changed her books. "I wonder how many times newcomers can come too late for class before they're toast." Throwing her locker closed maybe just a little too hard she ran to he rnext class.