CHAPTER IX

Monday came in a blur and as usual we were late for school. We reached there before 5 minutes and ran to take our books. Allie was nagging me for the whole way to school about how she was late because of me. Well, I was used to it. Running towards class took remaining time and we entered in Janet’s class at the same time bell rang. She gave a smile when she saw us. We smiled back and took our seats. After the lecture was started, door opened with a loud bang and everyone turned towards that only to find ‘Twins’ standing there wearing their usual smirks.
“Detention after school.” Janet said calmly and both of them groaned.

“Mom, come on!” Asher pleaded giving his best puppy look. Girls were swooning over his cute face.

“Two days!” Janet simply stated and their eyes went wide. Nathan smacked Ash on his head and took his seat behind Allie.

“Hey!” he smiled at us soon the smile followed by Kevin’s. We waved and turned to our books. I thought they would start talking or something but they remained silent. Soon lecture was over and everyone started leaving.

“Nate, wait for five minutes.” Janet called and Ash smirked at him and whispered loudly, ‘Busted!’ Nathan glared at him.

“I saw your Math worksheet and trust me an eighth grader can do better work than you.” She scolded him. I wanted to laugh but I stifled it. Allie was still packing her bag rearranging books.

“You know I hate it.” Nathan mumbled.

“You need passing marks at least.”

“I will put extra efforts.”

“I’m appointing you a tutor.”

“What? Mom, No, Please, those are nerds, I hate them. Do you remember the girl who tutored me in ninth grade, she was anorexic and clingy.” He shuddered.

“Let’s go.” Allie took her bag and we set up to leave. Ash smiled and started walking with us.
“As you wish, Allison, I will give you a junior student to tutor as there is no one else who needs tutoring in this class.” Janet told Allie and she nodded. Nathan’s eyes went wide.

“Why Allie is tutoring?” I asked.
“It will add extra credits to her final grading. Do you want to join?” she asked me and I nodded enthusiastically. Yeah, I know I wasn’t nerd but I was good with science.

“Not Math but science.” I told her and she gave me a big smile,
“That’s great; I will talk to Mr. Clark about you.”

“Cool.” I smiled and linked my hand with Allie’s.

“Wait, is Allison is going to tutor me?” Nathan asked calmly but it looked like he was nervous. Janet nodded.

“Ummm, does the offer still stand? I think I need a tutor.” He scratched the backside of his neck while smiling sheepishly.

“No!” Janet flipped him and Asher laughed and said, “Burn!”
“Shut up, Dude.” Nathan glared at him but he was angry with himself.

“If Allison is ready to tutor you then you can…” Janet added before we left the class.

“Will you? Please?” Nathan asked Allie who was confused as she looked at Janet for help. Janet was smiling goofily at them.

“Ok.” Allie agreed which made Nathan smiled triumphantly.

“Thank you.” He smiled shyly at her and then hugged her.
“Mom, will you recommend Brooke as my science tutor because I’m not doing well in it.” Asher pleaded which earned a glare from Janet.

“GO to your next class.” She shooed us.

“Burn!” Nathan mimicked his voice as I smacked Asher on his shoulder.

“Ouch, Princess, trust me, you will end up tutoring Me.” he wrapped his hands around my shoulder and we walked to our next class. In hallways girls were glaring at me but I ignored them successfully. Ash’s minty cologne was making stupid things to my mind and he was irresistible. His strong jaw and perfect cheekbones were hot. All the anger of previous pranks faded like it was nothing but I had to stop myself from falling for him. I shook my head mentally and took my normal seat but Asher sat beside me. I quirked my brow at him and he gestured towards Allie and Nathan who were talking like there is no tomorrow. I was scared for her. I was sure that both these brothers were playboys and she was gonna get her heart broken. There was beep and a sound of mike as everyone looked at the screen.

“Hello students, Principal Mrs. Hayden here. I just wanted to remind you all of the auction that is going to take place tomorrow evening. It is a charitable event and I hope that you all will take part by one or another way. Thank you.”

Auction? I was confused.  Asher turned to Nathan and they hi-fived.

“What’s that?”

“Well, my friend that is a human auction. There are our fellow students who are to be auctioned and then there are some who buy them. It’s a charity event actually but it’s really fun.”

“SO what happens to those who are sold?”

“Well, that person belongs to their buyer for the whole night.” He smirked at me.

“But isn’t it a school night?” Allie chimed in.

“Well, Cutie, it’s a tradition so no one has ever dared to change the date even if the day comes on school night. You know what I mean?” Nathan explained. There was a small blush on Allie’s cheeks when Nathan called her Cutie. I nodded because it was going to be an interesting event.
“Then who is up for auction?”
“That depends on votes. Boys vote for girls’ names that they want to see on stage and the girls get auctioned.” Ash shrugged. Our eyes widened and Nathan chuckled.

“Don’t worry, nothing inappropriate happens there. It’s on school ground so it’s a friendly event.”

“Oh!” was my amazing response to that. Teacher started teaching and Asher mumbled in my ear,
“Wear something sexy for tomorrow night.” He winked at me and my mouth fell open. He turned to teacher as nothing happened.

“Asshole.” I muttered under my breath and ignored him for the whole lecture.

Soon lunch time came and we entered the cafeteria. Allie went to buy our lunch because she didn’t pack anything today. I saw Nathan joined her as they started talking animatedly. Knowing she is going to get her heart broken, I sighed and shook my head. I didn’t know how to make her understand that the guy wasn’t good for her. I was so sure that Nathan was going to hurt her because of his player ways. Allie was innocent and his sweet talks were affecting her easily. I banged my head on the table getting out my frustration.

“Brooke, you okay?” I heard her voice when she sat beside me.
“Yeah! Just hungry.” I pulled the plate towards me and started eating.

“Hey girls!” Caleb’s voice came and we both turned to him. He was with another guy I had never seen before.

“Hiii…” the guy said smiling like he knew us for longer time. We waved and they took seats across us.

“This is Hunter! My friend, I told you about him remember?” Caleb said and we nodded.

“You are Brooke and Allie, right? He hasn’t stopped talking about you guys.” Hunter stated and Caleb punched him playfully.
“Well, you can’t resist our awesomeness, you know?” I winked and he laughed.

“Now I know why my friend likes you so much.”

“Well, I’m glad.” I flipped my hair like any bitch would do and they chuckled.

“I’m glad that I joined Caleb then.”

For next half hour we chatted and shared food also which was a great step from me considering he was new and my 30 minute friend.

“So are you guys free on Friday night? We can go for a movie or something?” Caleb asked us and Allie nodded enthusiastically.

“That would be so cool. I have never gone to movie in ages.” She sighed happily.

“Cool then we four are going for a movie.” Hunter hi-fived me as we came out. both boys left to go for their next period while me and Allie went to locker room.

“You are not going anywhere with them.” Suddenly Ash’s angry voice came from behind and I turned to look at him. His eyes held unknown emotions.

“Excuse me?” I was surprised a bit.

He took a deep breath closing his eyes. When he opened them, his face went from angry to emotionless.

“I don’t trust that new guy. You both are not going with him.”

“He is Caleb’s friend. There is nothing wrong.” Allie explained silently.

“I don’t know. Just cancel your plans.”

There was no way I would allow someone to control my life so I was annoyed with Ash’s sudden protectiveness.

“You are being delusional, Ash and you are not my boy friend that you would decide with who I will go out or not.” I stated rudely. My voice was laced with anger. Allie came to stand beside me and grabbed my hand squeezing it gently.

“Yeah, you are right. I’m stupid here.” He spat as he glared at me.
“Yeah good discovery.” Sarcasm showed his presence as I wasn’t in my good mood.

“You know what, do whatever you want. I don’t give a fuck.” And he turned and left.

“Ash, wait.” Allie ran behind him to stop him but he put his hands in surrender showing his frustration and went outside. Allie sighed and turned towards me.

“You could have stayed calm, Brooke, he was just caring for us.”

“That was the extreme way of showing that.” I muttered and went back to class.

Soon Allie followed without a word. The day ended gloomily as my mind was going back to Ash. I didn’t see any one of the twin in school that day. When we came out of the school building I saw Asher and Nathan sitting on the hood of their car talking seriously. Ash’s gaze flickered and met mine voluntarily but being stubborn we both turned.

“Can you say sorry?” Allie piped in and I glared at her. Asher went to sit in car and Nathan came to us.

“Just sort it out.” he said and pulled me towards his car. My eyes went wide with shock and I started thrashing in his hand s but his was stronger. Stupid guys and their muscles. I tried to hit him but in no time I was beside his car and he pushed me in and closed the door locking it.

Asher’s eyes also widened as he cursed loudly. He tried to unlock the door but it was locked.

“I will kill you, Nathan Bolton, I promise.” he yelled in frustration.

We tried everything to get out of his car but there was no option. I saw Allie and Nathan were talking and she was glancing at us nervously but Nathan looked unfazed by it. He pulled her to the stairs and they sat there looking at us. Nathan had slight grin on his face when his eyes met mine and I glared at him. Asher racked his hand through his sexy hair and banged his head on window. I sighed and stayed still. The atmosphere was little tense and awkward.

After ten or fifteen minutes which went like an hour, I opened my mouth and surprisingly Asher turned towards me at the same time,
“I’m sorry.” We stated simultaneously. He looked at me and a wide grin spread on his lips.

“Look, I know I shouldn’t have ordered you like that but I couldn’t help but feel little possessive. That’s why…” he said.

“I know and I shouldn’t have been so rude to you. I was just upset.”

“Ok so are we cool now?”

“Yes!” I smiled widely. He climbed into back seat and hugged me tightly. I laughed when he did that causing him to pull away smiling sheepishly.
“So are you still going with them?” he asked scratching his neck and I glare at him for being an ass.

“Ok fine go but on a safety reason can we join too?”

“For safety reason definitely not but as friends yes.” I stated. He gave me a crooked smile and nodded like a mad man.

“Cool then, I will talk to Caleb.”
“Ok! Where are they?” he looked out for Allie and Nathan but they were nowhere to be seen.

“Let me call her.” I pulled out my phone but Allie’s phone was switched off. I furrowed my brows and looked back at Ash. He was searching for his phone but couldn’t find it.

“I think we are stuck here till they come back.” I mumbled and relaxed in the seat. He did the same.

“What are you planning for tomorrow?” I asked curiously and he grinned.

“What makes you think that I’m going to tell you that?”

“Because we’re friends?”

“Oh baby, trust me you don’t wanna know.” He chuckled and I furrowed my brow.

(A/N- #auctionIdea- one tree hill...)