THE SCHOOL DOORS WERE OPEN AGAIN. Thanksgiving break came and went, and Monday arrived at our doorsteps. All of the Wayfield students came back, sharing what they did over the holiday. The hallways were filled with conversations and laughter.

      While some parts of my break were filled with excitement and an unforgettable evening, I still spent most of it studying textbooks. I completed all of my notes for science last night and now had to work twice as hard for the math portion. My backpack was heavy with all the books I needed to swap out as I walked up the steps, but then the weight was lifted. Randy walked beside me while holding my bag.

      "Need some help?" he said.

      "Oh, Randy," I said. "Hi."

      He smiled at me. "Hey there, pequeño Tigre. How was your break?" he asked.

      "It was good," I said. "I hung out with some friends and studied some more. I finally finished everything science had to offer, and I'm now moving to math."

      "I'm guessing all the science material you're returning is in here?" he asked, holding up my bag.

      "Yeah, but I'm sure the math books are going to be even worse," I said. "I have to work twice as hard, so I'm going to need all the material I can get."

      "It's cool how you're seriously dedicated to your goal," he said. "I really hope you get that perfect score."

      "I appreciate that, really," I said. Randy walked with me to my locker, where Dana and Calum were standing, talking to one another. "Hi, guys," I said.

      "Hey, Val," Calum said, giving me a warm smile.

      Dana, on the other hand, crushed me into a hug. "My dear, Valentine, even though it's only been two days, I've missed you so," she said, over the top as always. She pulled me away and then looked me over. "Ugh, I'm still so jealous of your closet. I have to know where you got those shoes and skirt from."

      I laughed. "I got them from the flea market last year," I said. "You should come with me next time. I go every year before Christmas."

      "It's a date then," she said and winked. Then, her attention fell to the person standing beside me. "So, who's your friend here?"

      "Oh, this is Randy," I said. "Randy, this is Dana and Calum."

      "Nice you meet you, Dana," Randy said, giving her one of his heart-warming smiles.

      "Randy and I are fairly acquainted through Luke," Calum said, and he and Randy did the universal handshake every guy somehow knew. "You and Lucas still friends?" he asked Randy.

      "The best," Randy said as the first bell rang. He then patted me on the head and handed me back my bag. "Well, I gotta run. I have to go meet my counselor."

      "Thanks for carrying my bag," I said.

      He smiled. "No problem. See you later, paisa," he said and then walked away.

      "I didn't know you guys were friends," Calum said, as I went through my locker.

      "Well, we kind of just became friends," I said, looking at myself in my mirror. Dark circles were starting to form underneath my eyes due to the two all-nighters I pulled. The nightmares were starting back up again, so it compelled me to work overtime. "Two Tuesdays ago, I believe."

      "We should head to homeroom, Val," Calum said, and I nodded.

      Dana booped my nose. "See you at lunch, beautiful!" she said and skipped away.

      Calum and I walked through Mrs. Brookes' door seconds before the final bell rang. I took my seat next to Ashton and noticed the empty seat diagonal from me. Even though Harley and I hardly ever spoke, it felt weird that she was gone. She was usually here every day.

      "Is Harley sick or something?" I asked no one in particular, but it was Brian who answered me.

      "She moved," he said. "She's still in Tucson, though."

      "Oh, okay," I said. I faced Ashton with a smile but noticed how reserved he looked. His hands were trapped in his pockets, and he kept his expression impassive. I never saw him like this before. "Hey, are you okay?"

      His hazel-green eyes flickered to mine, and he forced a smile. "I'm okay," he said, and then his eyes held concern. He lifted his hand and brushed underneath my right eye, probably noticing its darkness. "You don't seem okay, though. Are you getting enough sleep?"

      "I noticed that as well," Brian said, also raising his hand towards me.

      Ashton caught Brian's arm and prevented him from coming any closer. His face was blank again, but I could feel the tension radiating off him. "Don't touch her," he said, and my eyes widened at his aggressive tone. He was definitely not okay.

      Thinking on my feet, I raised my hand, signaling the teacher. "Mrs. Brookes, Ashton said he's not feeling well. Do you mind if I take him to the nurse?" I asked, and she nodded. I grabbed Ashton's arm from Brian's and pulled him along, leading us out into the hallway.

      "You didn't have to bring us out here," Ashton said once we were out of sight.

      "I mean, you looked like you wanted to rip Brian's head off," I said. I folded my arms over my chest and bit my lip. "Ashton, really, what's wrong? You don't seem like yourself." He stayed quiet. "Did something happen between you and Brian or something?"

      He sighed. "I saw Brian on Saturday," he said. "And long story short, he said some things that pissed me off. I just really think he's a fucking scumbag."

      My head jerked back a little at his language. I never heard Ashton swear before, and it took me by surprise. Brian must've seriously affected Ashton with whatever he said that day. "Oh," was all I could say.

      He clamped a hand over his mouth for a second. "I just realized I swore," he said, sounding disappointed in himself. "I'm sorry. I don't like doing that in front of women."

      Even though his swearing didn't bother me, his wholesomeness about his morals made my heart flutter. "O-Oh, no, um, it's okay," I said, my toes curling in my boots. "So, uh, what did Brian say?"

      "I'd rather not repeat it," Ashton said. "Girls shouldn't hear those types of things."

      I never knew Ashton could be such a gentleman. "Okay then," I said and looked down at the ground so that he wouldn't see my blush. He lifted my head, though, and brushed his thumbs underneath my eyes again. His hands were always so warm and comforting.

      "Really, though, are you getting sleep?" he asked, his voice coated in loving concern. Then, he smiled. "Was our date so amazing that you couldn't sleep after it?"

      A smile etched onto my face as I let out a brief chuckle. "Our date was so amazing that I was able to sleep," I said. "But, to tell you the truth, I haven't slept in two days. I've been studying hard for the ACT and SAT to get perfect scores so I can become a shoo-in for valedictorian." That was the truth, but only half. I didn't want to tell him about my nightmares.

      "That's your goal? To become valedictorian?" he asked, and I nodded. He turned up his eyebrows, a small look of amazement on his face. "Wow, I didn't know that."

      "It's a very personal goal," I said. "I feel like the more people I tell, the less likely it will happen. Calum doesn't even know."

      Ashton smiled briefly. "That makes me feel very honored for some reason," he said. "But you shouldn't push yourself so hard. Knowing that you're not sleeping doesn't sit well with me."

      "I'll be okay," I said. "Really."

      "But I won't," he said softly. "Promise me that, even if it's just for an hour or so, you'll take a break? Lie down and close your eyes?"

      My words turned into butter. I knew how terrible my nightmares could get, but I couldn't bring myself to tell Ashton no. I found myself wanting to try because he asked me to. Ashton was just too good, and I still stood by what I said when we were on the ferris wheel. I did hate the fact that he might be good for me. To be good, I'd have to unbecome being bad, which was the part I didn't want him to see.

      I lucked out with Calum. After seeing me at my worst, I'd expected him to turn the other way. But he stayed. It'd been years since I found someone like that, and I didn't want to let myself down thinking there were more. And I certainly didn't want to let myself down thinking that someone else could love me again.

      But I still held onto a sliver of hope that someone could. I hoped for Ashton—I honestly did.

      "Okay," I said. "I promise."

      He smiled and kissed my forehead. "We should probably head back to class," he said, taking my hand. "And I promise I won't snap Brian's neck off. For now."

      Ashton kept his promise and ignored Brian for the remaining minutes of the class. Calum came over to talk since he claimed his group was boring, and I focused on making a list for the next set of math books I needed. Then, before I knew it, the bell rang for first period to begin, and all the other classes afterward flew by until it was lunchtime.

      Dana ran up on me like a boar. "Hello, darling," she sang, causing some people to give her peculiar stares. "So, I just found out where I'm going for Christmas break," she continued, ignoring all the people looking our way.

      "Where?" I asked.

      "The land of a thousand sunsets," she said dreamy-like. "California, here I come!"

      I walked with her through the food line, even though I wasn't getting anything, as she explained everything she was going to do in California. I didn't mind the fact that Dana talked a lot because I didn't talk much myself.

      Dana and I were last to join the table—everyone already ripping into their grease-filled food. I couldn't stand school food, and I would rather starve than consume even a bite.

      "You should've seen it this morning," Luke said, laughing as we took our seats. "The look on her face was priceless."

      "Wait, what happened?" Dana asked. "I wanna know."

      "Luke and Mandy are at war with one another, and they've been pranking each other since sophomore year," Michael said. "Luke changed Mandy's lock on her locker, and she was so frustrated because she had a student council meeting and was late."

      "She's only going to get you back twice as hard," Calum said to Luke.

     "I'm prepared for it," he said.

      A chorus of laughter came from the table beside us, and I looked and saw the Gossips crowding Randy and Lucas Braswell. Those two always stuck to themselves ever since they became friends. The Gossips were still on the lookout for more information about people they didn't know a thing about, and Randy was a victim. Sooner or later, they would give up on him, as they did with me last year.

      "Hey, are you not hungry?" Ashton asked me.

      "Well, I just don't like school food," I said. "It's gross."

      "Well, today's your lucky day because I don't want these carrots," Calum said, tossing them at me. I shouldn't have expected anything less from him—he did this all the time. He knew how much I loved carrots, and whenever the school had them, he would give them to me. He didn't like me starving myself.

      I took them with gratitude. "Thank you."

      As we all began to indulge ourselves in conversation, someone plopped down next to me. "Hey, is there room for one more?"

      From the way Ashton's body went rigid, it was no question that it was Brian.

      "Oh," I said, trying not to sound grossed out. "Hello, Brian."

      "Hey, you," he said, smiling at me.

      I started to chew my carrots nervously. Brian and I weren't not on speaking terms, precisely, and I didn't hate the guy. He was just some random asshole classmate who tried to kiss me. But I knew there had to be more upsetting things to his character from the way Ashton's mood shifted whenever he was around Brian. And this morning was a sign that if Ashton was weary, then I should be too.

      The air was awkward, but Brian didn't notice. "So, Valentine, are you free tonight?" he asked out of nowhere.

      I almost choked on my carrot. "Um, excuse me?" I said. He was bold to ask that in front of everyone, especially Ashton. I mean, we weren't dating, but I thought Ashton made it very clear in homeroom that something was going on between us. Even Homecoming night—I, myself, made it clear.

      "Are you free tonight?" he repeated. "There's this movie that came out, and I was wondering if you wanted to go see it with me."

      "It's a Monday," I said slowly. "Who goes to the movies on a Monday?"

      "You and me, obviously."

      I felt sick.

      I turned away from him and picked up another carrot. "Um, sorry, but Dana and I are supposed to go to the mall today," I said. I hoped Dana was smart enough to join in with my lie.

      "I'm sure she wouldn't mind," he said.

      "Yes, she would," Dana said, giving him the evil-eye.

      "It's a Monday," Brian said, mocking me. "Who goes to the mall on a Monday?"

      "People who know when there's a great fucking sale," Dana said.

      I loved her.

      "Fine, how about we all go?" Brian said. "Me, you, and I guess your crew here since they follow you everywhere like stupid ducklings."

      "You wanna say that again, you cocky little bastard," Ashton said, becoming very hostile again, which surprised everyone else. It was nice to know that I wasn't the only one who never expected anything like this to come from Ashton.

      Calum looked at me, giving me a confused but questioning look. I simply threw him a 'don't worry' look. I kicked Ashton underneath the table, and he glanced at me. Stand down, I mouthed with pleading eyes. He held my gaze for a little longer before standing up and leaving the lunchroom. Once Calum met my eye, I didn't even have to ask. He got up and went to check on Ashton, and I sighed.

      "I was just making a joke," Brian said.

      "Well, I'm assuming it wasn't funny since everyone over here seems tense," a new voice said. Randy was now sitting in front of me, looking around our table.

      I sighed again. I knew Brian wouldn't give up, so I planned on letting this be the only time we would hang with him. By the end of the day, I needed to be brutally honest with him to leave us alone. "Randy, we're all going to the mall later," I said. "Do you want to come too?"

      Before he could answer, Lucas Braswell came up to Randy. "You're going to miss your counselor appointment if you don't leave now," he said.

      He was going to the counselor again?

      Randy sighed. "Yeah, I know," he said and then turned me, plastering a smile on his face. "And sure, I'll come with you guys. I'll get the details from Luke later since I really have to go now. See you later, tiger." Then, he and Lucas were gone.

      The bell rang, and there was still no sign of Ashton or Calum. I sighed again, hoping that Ashton was okay.

      "See you later, Valentine," Brian said, putting his hand on my shoulder for a quick second before walking away, whistling.

      I just brushed my shoulder off and headed to my class. He needed an ego check, and I was more than happy to deliver it to him.

      : : : : : : : : : : : : : :

Heeeeeeeeyyyy! So, I screamed when I finished this chapter cause it was a bitch to write. Like y'all don't how much I struggled *cries*

Anyways, these chapters keep getting longer, and I don't know if I should complain or not. Cause longer chapters can cover more ground, buuuuuuut my neck hurts... All I do is look down at a computer every day. I'm bout to be looking like Quasimodo lmao.

But anyways, this chapter was kind of a success...No?

Yeah, I hate it too. I hate everything I write.

But anyways, next chapter is another flashback, and hopefully won't take me long to write. I have 19 days now til the submissions close. Sigghhh.

I'll make it though. 

I have to pee.

How's your house?

Byeeeeeeeee chumps. :)