Chapter 13

I sighed in relief as I escaped the worst biology class ever, only to wish I could take the sigh back. All period Hannah had bothered me with questions, hoping that I would tell her why I was acting so weird. In the end I had blown up on her, and she had gotten offended. She actually started ranting about how she was just trying to help and that maybe the others were right. 

I thought I would be able to forget about everything that had happened earlier that morning, but after I stepped out of the room, it had just gotten better. As soon as I entered the hallway I was greeted by a way too enthusiastic Kristina calling my name.

“Ashley! Ashley over here!” She called and I groaned as I turned into the other direction. Maybe she would just give up.

Soon she turned around and called out to a few familiar faces that changed my sigh to a groan.

“Her name is Ashley right?” She asked Megan and Tyler who were by her side now.

“Yes. It’s Ashley.” Megan replied softly.

“Then why isn’t she replying?” She asked them.

“I’m not sure.” Megan told her.

“Should I call out again? I’m not sure she heard me.” She asked them, well more specifically Tyler, like he was in authority over what she did. He didn’t seem to think this was awkward though.

“No, I’m more than definite that she heard you.” Tyler replied, and I could feel his eyes staring into my now unmoving back. Slowly I leaned against the wall like I was waiting for someone. “Right Ashley?” He asked directing the question specifically at me.

“Yep,” I muttered to myself, causing Tyler to smile in triumph.

“Great, so you also understand the fact that we want to talk to you.” He stated, like he was more than sure that I would keep listening. I thought about pretending I didn’t hear him since we were so far away, but decided against it. If I had heard him the first time, it would be noticeable if I didn’t hear him now. Oh, why couldn’t I just keep my thoughts to myself?

“My understanding and my wanting to talk to you are two very different things.” I told him as he started to close the distance, being followed by his usual posy and the addition of Kristina. It didn’t even occur to me that I should be wondering why they could hear me.

“They might be two different things, but we need to talk to you!” He told me, having closed in the space and surrounded me.

“I don’t want to talk. I’m not in the mood!” I groaned, as I tried to fight my way through.

“You aren’t in the mood?” Tyler asked me, almost outraged. “Who isn’t in the mood to talk? We haven’t done anything to make you mad so why don’t you want to talk to us?”

“I have enough on my plate right now without your group too.” I told him, still fighting through their thick crowd of people.

“You didn’t talk to Mrs. Wolfe.” He started, unaware of what was happening.

“Don’t let her out!” Megan shrieked when I had almost escaped. Immediately the girl I recognized as Sharon and the boy who I decided to refer to as ‘nameless follower’ grabbed my arms and pushed me back into the middle of their circle.

“Why are you guys so interested in me all of a sudden? Until now you wouldn’t even look my way and now you want me to be best friends with you? Things don’t work that way. Do you guys not realize that?” I questioned them, and everyone looked towards Tyler and Megan for an answer. I had given up on leaving through them. It was best to get them talking and escape when they weren’t paying so close attention to me.

“The time wasn’t right then… now it is.” Tyler replied without hesitation.

“Well, that sure told me a lot.” I snapped, looking for another way out of the crowd.

“It’s useless,” a girl in the back spoke towards me, probably noticing my wandering eyes. She wasn’t someone I recognized from the first time they had attacked me like this, but she was definitely in my homeroom. She had dark black hair that flowed to her shoulders and dark brown eyes to go with it. She was just as beautiful as everyone else in the crowd. She fit in perfectly.

“Who told you I was trying?” I asked her innocently.

“I recognize the scenario.” She replied smoothly.

“And I’m in the same scenario because?” I asked her wanting to find out a little more. Maybe this approach would work better.

“Everyone does that. It’s something we expect now.” Megan replied for her.

“Expect now, do you? How many people have you done this to?” I asked her.

“Just the ones who are in the…” She trailed off, unable to finish her sentence. I was as if she had almost told me a secret I wasn’t supposed to know. Why was it my life that had to be so confusing?

“That doesn’t matter right now.” Tyler covered for her. “We would like you to become friends with us.”

“Please tell me why you want to be friends with me all of a sudden!” I asked calming down. There was no reason for me to be mad at them when they were just trying to be nice.

“Everyone here” Megan paused to motion towards the crowd, “Has gone through what you are going through at the moment. We can help you, but you need to open up and trust us first. Hang out with the group. I bet you’ll find at least a few close friends, if not more. We’re here to help!”

“Like we have said before, we want to be friends with you, and want to help you get your life straight again. We know your fighting with your friends, over pointless things at the moment. Maybe it’s time to think about who will really stand by you your whole life.” Tyler continued for Megan. They really were the perfect match. It was as if they could read each other’s minds.

“I already have friends who will stand by me my whole life.” I objected, thinking about how even Hannah had left me. So it was a little far from the truth, but I couldn’t do anything else. My instincts told me I didn’t want to give in to this group, at least not yet…

“We know your best friend thinks you’re starting to act weird.” Tyler stated.

“How? Have you been spying on me?” I asked him, seeing a way to get them off of my back. It was worth a try.

“No, you just have your fights too loud for them to go unnoticed.” Megan answered ruining my plan. It was also starting to get annoying that they were taking turns answering my questions.

To this I didn’t have a reply though. I wasn’t going to go looking for a fight. I understood that they want to help me out, so I was going to have to give them a chance sooner or later. I would listen to them and establish a relationship with them that was acceptable. Then I would at least have some people to talk to if my friends ditched me again.

“Have you talked to anyone about your problems?” She asked me when she saw that I wasn’t going to reply.

“Yes, I actually have.” I told her happy that I could say something that was acceptable.

“Who  have you told?” She asked me carefully. I couldn’t understand how she could be so nice. How she could have faith that we would end up joining them, even after we tell them we don’t want to have anything to do with them.

“One of my brothers and my parents know too.” I replied.

“Have you told anyone who isn’t a family member?” She asked me like she was really anticipating the answer.

“No, I don’t have the guts to tell anyone else.” I answered truthfully.

“Is there anyone that you trust enough to tell them your secret?” She asked me and I could tell she truly did care.

“Well I could have told my best friend Hannah, but I don’t want to tell her anymore. The chance to do that is way over now.” I sighed.

“Is there anyone else?”

“Well everyone has told me to talk to Mrs. Wolfe, so I might talk to her instead.”

“Mrs. Wolfe…” She repeated and smiled. “Is the perfect person to talk to.”

“I know you’ve told me before.” I laughed.

“I’ve told you, because she’s the perfect person.” She laughed too.

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, she’s the one I talked to when I was a complete mess too.”

“I’ll talk to her then, but are you sure you’re sure?” I checked. If I talked to Mrs. Wolfe, I didn’t want things to end up awkward.

“I’m definite, she’ll understand anything. …Even the weirdest things.” She told me before Tyler spoke up. It was funny how I trusted a group of people who I have barely talked to, more than my own friends.

“I wouldn’t talk to my best friend about big problems though, especially not if you don’t trust them completely. That could end up in a disaster.” He told me and I sent a questioning glance at Megan.

“If anyone knows he’s the one.” She laughed, snuggling into his arms.

“You got that right.” He muttered under his breath, relaxing under her touch.

“Okay, so Hannah is definitely out of the picture. I’ll talk to Mrs. Wolfe! Thanks for all the help you have given me!” I answered and started to walk off through the crowd that had now made a path for me.

“Keep in mind that we want to help you feel comfortable. It’s easier going through these hard times if you have friends standing by you.” Tyler called out after me. “Believe me.”

“Alright, I’ll think about it.” I told him, promising myself I would actually think about talking to them sometimes.

“Thank you. Your decision means the world to us.” Tyler told me smiling now, like he had achieved some big deal.

“You’re welcome. Don’t ruin your chance!” I replied, before I walked off. When I was already a few meters from the group I heard Kristina squeal.

“We did it!” She announced and the whole group let out a relaxed sigh. I hadn’t even noticed they had held their breath through most of our conversation.

“Yes, Kristina, we’re almost done for this year, and then we’ll have to chose new people to take our spot.” Megan told her softly, like she was talking to a child.

“How are you going to decide that?” She asked her.

“You’ll see in a while. I promise you’ll see.” Megan replied and that was the last thing I heard before we all disappeared in the sea of students, all walking off in different directions.