It's 7:15 in the morning and I'm waiting for Ashton to come and pick me up. My day started off with me waking up at the dawn with another nightmare and drenched in sweat. Then, after I got ready and sat down for breakfast, I realized that I need to go grocery shopping as there is nothing but bread in this house. So all in all I'm in a bad mood and if Ashton doesn't come on time, I'll take all my frustration out on him.

Finally, Ashton comes to pick me up and for his sake, he was on time. I lock my door and make my way towards him. I hop in the passenger seat and he starts the car.

"Good morning Lydia".

"Morning ", I mumble. I'm seriously not in the mood today.

"Someone looks grumpy. Didn't sleep well? ", he asks with a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Of course I did. I just love to be in a grumpy mood, ya know", I reply sarcastically. Ashton just rolls his eyes at my sarcasm and continues driving.

"Does you're head hurt?"

"Nope. Thanks for all the things you did". He just nods.

We reach the school gates and everyone is looking at us. I get out of the car and head towards mine. Thank goodness it is perfectly fine or Ashton would have been in great trouble.

We spot the boys and Vi and Nick talking. What surprises me is, Vi talking to Mason and laughing so hard while a permanent scowl is seen on Nick's face.

"Nick likes Violet, doesn't he?", Ashton asks me.

"I think so too", I really need to talk to Vi about this.

"Good morning guys!", I wish them which attracts all the attention towards me.

"How are you feeling?"

"Are you okay?"

"I am fine guys. Thanks for asking", I'm touched with their concern for me. I never had someone, who would make sure I was doing fine.

Anyways, Blake approachs me and hugs my side and pulls me close. That should have been uncomfortable but I felt safe.

"How are you? Does it hurt anywhere?"

"No Blake", I reply looking in his eyes which are looking at me with an intense stare that would make my knees give up on me.

Someone clears their throat rather loudly. I turn towards the person who is none other than Ashton.

"If you guys are done with you're PDA, shall we get to our classes?", Ashton asks in an annoyed tone. I just stare at him trying my hardest to understand what changed his mood from happy to annoyed so fast.

Before anyone of us could say anything, Ashton speed walked towards his class. We all look at each other and shrug, not knowing the answer to the same question that was in everyone's mind.

I get to my first class aka calculus and the teacher tells us that we're going to have our first ever quiz based on the syllabus completed until today. There goes my good mood which lasted only for a few seconds. I am already weak at this particular subject and this makes it even worse that I haven't studied ANYTHING!! I begrudgingly take my seat as the teacher passes out the quiz. I stare at the the quiz as if it is going to disappear into thin air.

After a most likely failed calculus quiz, I make my way towards chemistry class that I thankfully share with Vi.

"How was your quiz?", Vi asks smugly after seeing my fallen face.

"How do you know about it? I thought it was a surprise quiz".

"We had ours yesterday, which by the way was really bad, if that makes you any feel better".

"You knew and didn't tell me?! I would have scored better, no wait scratch that, I would have at least passed!" She laughs as if, me failing is the funniest thing in this whole world.

"If I would've told you before hand then I wouldn't have been able to see this reaction", she laughs again. I hit her shoulder and start laughing as well.

After the torturous chemistry class, we make our ways to our remaining classes which were same as always.

Finally it was time for lunch. We make our way towards our regular table but out of nowhere Mason comes in front of us,

"Hey! Why don't you guys come sit with us?" We both look at each other. I was about to say something when Mason takes a hold of our hands and drags us to their table where all the boys and Mia are already seated and talking amongst themselves.

As we approach, all of them stop talking and look at us. The guys except for Ashton welcome us with a smile while Mia looks confused.

"Hey Lyd and Vi. It's good that you came to sit with us for lunch", says Blake as he makes place for me right next to him. Vi sits next to Mia, who by now looks a little less confused.

"I've been searching for you both since 10 minutes and you guys are sitting here, eating lunch and not giving a damn about me", comes a voice from behind me which belongs to none other than Nick.

"Oops sorry Nick. In our defense, we were literally dragged here", replies Violet with a sheepish grin on her face.

"Hey Nick. Come join us man", Aaron says.

"Sure".

"We haven't met officially but I've heard so much about you. I'm Mia Greyson, Aaron's girlfriend and the only girl in this group until now that you both are here".

"Hi Mia, I'm Lydia Johnson. Nice to meet you".

"I'm Violet. We have biology together".

"Yes I know you. We haven't talked before though".

"Ladies, you'll get alot of time to catch up, so can we have lunch now?", says a very impatient Mason.

"How can you be hungry when you ate three sandwichs and a burger with fries for breakfast?", Jason asks him and all of us try to hold in our laughter. Mason turns red because of embarrassment.

"So? I'm a growing man. I need food and I'll eat as much as I want".

"Boy", Blake coughs which makes us laugh out loud and Ashton to chuckle.

"I'm a man", Mason argues childishly proving Blake right. I swear this guy is eight years old in the body of eighteen years old.

"Okay boys, let's not fight over this and finish our lunch", comes Mia's commanding voice which shuts up both of them.

"Hey guys! You started eating without us?", comes an annoying voice. Macy and her minions come in front of us. Her eyes turn to us and her fake smile turns into a scowl.

"Who invited trash to sit here with us? And why is she sitting in my seat? Ashy tell her to get up from my seat. I want to sit with you", she says in a voice which was highly irritating.

"First of all, DO NOT CALL ME ASHY, second, they can sit here if they want to and third... ", before Ashton could complete his sentence, Mia stood up and pointed an angry finger at her,

"You're not a part of our group. These both are way better than you and are you that dumb? Can't you see, no one wants you or your minions here. We all hate you and the one time you and Ashton had a 'thing' doesn't mean you are welcomed here. You both are over which he has told you a number of times and still your seed like brain cannot process it which is not our problem. So for goodness sake, leave us all alone", she says all this looking right in her eyes and my respect for her increases. I actually feel proud of her. Damn, we are going to get along really well.

Macy takes a deep breath and turns to Ashton as if Mia didn't just insult her.

"Ashton, can you please tell her to get up from my seat? I need to have my lunch". Before Ashton could say anything, I got up from the seat to confront this evil bitch,

"Listen here Macy, I am not going anywhere. We all are friends at the least but you and you're wannabe's are not needed here so 'please' leave before this gets any worse", I snap at her.

"Are you not going to say anything to her?", she questions Ashton who looks irritated and just gives her a blank stare. She huffs and finally leaves. The bell rings, signalling the end of lunch break.

We all finish our other classes and I'm on my way to the gym, which I share with all of them except for Mia.

As I'm about to enter, a hand clasps my wrist and pulls me near the back and the person slams in the wall.

"Stay away from Ashton. He is mine", is the first thing that Macy says,

"And also from my friends".

"You can have him but I think we both heard what he and the others said at the lunch. You are not together and you don't belong in the group".

"Everyone knows, we are practically a thing, just taking a break".

"You think I care. Nah, I don't". I free my wrist from her grip and trap her in a head lock.

"Try to hurt me again, which you have already done twice, then I won't be so gentle on you bitch", I say in a calm yet threatening voice, which I have mastered over time.

I release her and walk towards gym but stop short when I feel eyes on me. I turn around only to come face to face to Ashton and his calculating eyes.

"How did you do that?"

"Do what?", I decide to play dumb.

"That head lock was tight enough not to let her escape but not tight enough to choke her. How did you do that?"

"Adrenaline rush, I guess".

"Bullshit. You're hiding something. That was a move that only the trained ones can do".

"Am not. And I told you it was just a reflex action".

"Lie all you want Lydia, I'm going to find out what you're hiding", after saying so, he makes his way towards gym. Man, that was very close. I need to keep my profile low key and stay away from Ashton.

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A/N

Here's the fifth chapter. Sorry for the wait. This chapter is longer than the others as a compensation.

How do you guys like Mia? What do you think is Lydia hiding?

Do tap the star.

Love you guys!