Chapter Twenty

Cats and Dogs!

Ashley POV

"Boo!" My breathing immediately hitch in my chest and I looked beside me to see Tyson.

"You asshole." I smacked my book against his arm when he stood beside my desk.

He started to laugh at my surprised face.

"Don't sneak up on me like that." I warned him as I looked ahead in the classroom.

"Class has been dismissed, so you can quit your daydreaming, blonde." He informed me.

That's when I came to realization while slowly looking around in the empty classroom.

I exhaled a small breath before I stood up and he raised a brow at me while I began to gather my belongings from the desk.

"I wasn't daydreaming." I finally spoke as I walked around my desk and he scoffed while following me to the exit door.

"You don't have to be ashamed if it was based on me." I looked at the smug look on his face while he smoothly shrugged his shoulders.

"You're so full of yourself." I rolled my eyes as we walked in the busy hall.

"And you seem rather blue today, so what's up." He claimed while I looked the other way.

"I'm hungry." I shrugged it off as we approached my locker.

"Who are you trying to fool?" He almost chuckle.

I silently stood at my locker.

"Look, if it's something you don't want to talk about, you can just say that." He told me while he leans against the locker next to mine and I glanced at him.

"Why are you suddenly being sentimental with me?" I slightly smirked at him as I opened my locker and he tilted his head to the side while staring at me.

"And why are you ignoring my questions?" He insisted on receiving an answer.

I sighed.

"It's just that my father has been acting a bit strange and my stepmom too...well, ever since they both got back." I admitted while I placed my books into the locker.

"And what do you think is the reason for that?" I heard Tyson questioning and I slowly looked at him to see the concern in his eyes.

"Well, I'm not sure, but I might be the reason." I said as I diverted my attention to the locker.

"And I'm just hoping that they both aren't actually planning to move to a new City, because I'm just starting to like this place." I slightly smiled to myself.

"Or maybe you're just starting to like me." I slowly looked at Tyson and he winked at me.

"You just had to ruin the moment, didn't you." I slightly groaned as I slammed my locker.

He chuckles.

"Well, I'm sure everything is going to be okay, but it's best to have a talk with them." He surprisingly encouraged me and I slowly looked at him while leaning against my locker.

"Yeah, I think you're right." I spoke as I stared at him and he nodded with his hands in his pockets.

"For once, of course." I poked him on the arm before I crossed my hands underneath my chest.

He scoffed, playfully.

"What's that supposed to mean, huh?" He motioned his head towards me while leaning up from the locker.

"Huh?" I played dumb as I stared at him and he narrowed his eyes into mine while placing a hand up against my locker.

We kept eye contact for a silent moment and my lips curled into a smile at his playful intimidation until I saw a figure shoving Tyson from my personal space.

Then I realized...

"Is this dude bothering you, Ashley?" Chad asked me after he shoved Tyson aside and I looked at him in surprise while he stood beside me at my locker.

"What?" I asked.

Then I turned my attention to Tyson and I realized he was giving Chad a death glare with a smile on his face for a split second before his jaw clenched.

"I'm guessing you don't know who I am, but that's cool, I'll make sure you get the memo to stay away whenever you see my face." Tyson chuckled while glaring at Chad.

"Well, that's if you manage to survive..." I quickly pressed my hand against his chest when he took a step foward then I looked between him and Chad.

"No, he wasn't bothering me." I told Chad and his eyes curiously stared at me for a while.

"And what if I was, huh?" I heard Tyson saying and I looked at him with a glare since he was adding flames to the misunderstanding.

"Who do you think you are dude?" Chad diverted his attention to Tyson while raising a brow.

"Your worst fucking nightmare." Tyson answered, boldly, while spreading his hands to the sides.

I realized students were curiously watching us in the hallway.

"Tyson." I called his name in a warning tone as I stood in the middle and he slowly looked at me with enthusiasm in his eyes.

"I thought you said, you didn't have a boyfriend." I heard Chad saying and I turned around to him.

"I don't." I shook my head and Chad slowly nodded while taking my hand.

"Who cares?" I heard Tyson chuckling.

Then suddenly, Tyson pulled me by the waist and a slight gasp escaped my lips when my back slammed against his chest.

"She still belongs to me." Tyson added as he wrapped his arms around me and I raised an eyebrow while turning my head to look at him, sideways.

My eyes started to widen when he placed a kiss on the corner of my lips while looking at Chad with arrogance in his eyes.

Then Tyson looked into my eyes and I glared at him when I realized he was enjoying the commotion.

"I'm nobody's property." I said, angrily as I pulled away from Tyson and I stepped aside.

"You better back off." Chad suddenly warned Tyson and he exhaled a small breath of boredom in respond while ruffling his hair.

I crossed my hands underneath my chest while curiously looking between both boys.

"Or else?" Tyson slightly tilted his head to the side while questioning Chad and I rolled my eyes.

"Chad, it's unnecessary to continue this conversation, just leave it..." I said as I was about to touch him on the arm and he recoiled.

"He made it necessary." Chad claimed while pointing at Tyson and I diverted my attention to Tyson.

"He's clearly trying to take advantage of you and you won't do anything about it." Chad raised his voice at me and I raised an eyebrow while staring at him in confusion.

"Are you blind?" He asked, angrily as he grabbed me by the arm.

"You got it all w..." I was cut off when Tyson suddenly shoved Chad against the lockers.

"Shut the fuck up." Tyson growled while slamming Chad against the lockers before pushing him to the floor.

My eyes widened in surprise while hell broke loose before me and students gather around in the hallway while shouting 'fight'.

"Tyson...stop..." I quickly stepped aside as soon as I saw Chad charging up from the floor and tackling Tyson.

"Chad...don't do this..." I shouted as I watched both boys crashing onto the floor while more students circled us.

Tyson swung a punch at Chad and he flinched in pain while they both collided against the lockers.

Then I stood quietly as I watched the fight with the others in the hallway and I realized they both were starting to seem strangely attractive than normal.

I slightly smirked at the sight...

"Ashley...stop them before the situation gets worse." I realized Zoe was standing beside me with shocked eyes and I slowly turned my attention to her.

She gave me a weird stare when I asked..."What?"

"Tyson is definitely winning." I realized Lexi was standing at my other side while nodding as she watched the fight.

"It's raining cats and dogs..." Chloe pointed at the fight while she stood behind me and I discovered the fight was getting a little bloody.

I quickly entered the midst of the fight without any care in the world and I heard students gasping as I grabbed Tyson by the ear to pull him off Chad.

Tyson immediately looked in my direction and I watched as his glare softened after realizing it was only me.

I grabbed Chad by the ear as well and he winced at the contact while I managed to drag them both to their feet.

"Ashley..." Chad called my name as I tightened my grip on their ears.

"That hurts, blonde." Tyson groans while they both lowered themselves in closure with me.

"I know." I rolled my eyes, still holding their ears while I dragged them through the parting crowd.

I ended up kicking a feet against the infirmary door to open and I tugged them both towards the empty chairs.

At the moment, the school Nurse quickly approached us and she shook her head before sighing.

I watched as they both held their ear while taking a seat far away from each other in the room while the Nurse started to assist.

I stepped aside.

"Mr. King, I can see that you've returned, it's been a while." The Nurse informed Tyson as she started to clean the blood from his cheekbone.

Tyson rolled his eyes in respond.

"And you're also down to your last strike now." I reminded Tyson about the proximity of him getting expelled as I crossed my hands underneath my chest and he glanced at me.

"I'm pretty sure the Principal will be happy to hear that as well." I scoffed at Tyson while I looked over at Chad.

"Could you assist the other?" The Nurse said as she handed me a soft piece of fabric.

I nodded, generously.

I slightly dipped the fabric into the bowl which I found on the nurse's medical tray and I began to wipe the blood from Chad's face.

He winced as I continued.

"Thanks, Ashley." Chad looked up at me with apologetic eyes and I stared at him for a moment before rolling my eyes in disappointment.

"I will finish up, thank you." The Nurse told me after observing the expression on my face and I nodded, respectfully.

I quickly exited the infirmary and I grabbed a textbook from my locker before I silently headed towards my next class while receiving unusual glances from students in the nearby halls.

I entered the classroom, regardless of being late.

When I was about to find a seat in the half unoccupied classroom, the Teacher suddenly decided to stop me at her desk.

"Miss Ashley." She narrowed her eyes at me while slamming her textbook against the desk.

I curiously stood at her desk.

"And where do you think you're coming?" She questioned me with knitted eyebrows and I looked at the class before returning my attention to her.

"Geography class." I stated in an obvious tone and I heard small chuckles from the students.

"You're extremely late, once again and I don't appreciate your repulsiveness." She ignored my tone as she stated the obvious too.

"I can reassure you that there's a reason for me being late." I informed her as I ran a hand through my hair.

"You always tend to have an excuse for my classes." She claimed while she leans back in her chair and I gasped, feeling a bit offended.

"But it's always a good reason." I said as I placed a hand against my hip and she gestured a hand towards the class.

"Just take a seat." She told me, probably feeling annoyed.

I smiled, mischievously, while I quickly went to take a seat in the classroom with my textbook.

**********

When I exited the school building, I walked towards the spot where I would regularly meet with the girls after school is dismissed.

As I continued to walk in silence, I realized Chad was approaching me from the parking lot with a short wave.

"Can we talk for a sec?" He stood in my path when I was about to walk around him.

I realized he had a small bandage over his nose and his cheekbone was badly bruised while his left eye was slightly swollen.

"I'm listening." I told him while I looked the other way and I heard him sighing.

"I'm sorry about earlier today." He claimed while he held my hand and I remained silent.

"I only thought he was trying to mess with you and he made it clear that he's a total prick." He continued to speak and a small chuckle escaped my lips.

"I didn't mean to offend you or anything, I was just angry." He told me as he held my other hand as well and I looked at him.

"I'm really sorry, Ashley and I hope you forgive me for my ignorance." He apologized.

"So, let me make this up to you." He suggested with a slight smile and I stared at him in curiosity.

"What about a friendly movie night, this weekend?" He asked with enthusiasm in his eyes.

I shrugged my shoulders.

"Don't speak, just think about it, plus you already have my contact info and I'll be hoping that you agree." He told me as he released my hands and I watched as he slowly walked away.

A small smile slowly crawled up my lips at the moment while I started to walk once again.

Soon after, I saw the girls sitting at our random spot which was a double sized outdoor bench.

I silently approached the bench and I took the seat beside Zoe while Chloe was already sitting with Lexi on the other side.

"It's about time you arrived." I heard Chloe saying and I glanced at her while I fixed my hair into a messy ponytail.

"Don't spread you're issues." I heard Lexi scoffing.

"For your information, I don't have issues." I heard Chloe raising her voice at Lexi and I looked at Zoe with curiosity.

She shrugged.

"How fortunate." Lexi said as she looked down at her nails.

"Are we going to talk about this?" Zoe asked in a low voice and they both narrowed their eyes at Zoe.

"Talk about what?" They both snapped at once and I raised an eyebrow at their tone.

"What's going on with you both?" I questioned while Zoe looked the other way with an awkward smile.

"Oh...nothing." Chloe shook her head and I looked at Lexi.

"She has issues." Lexi said, boldly, while pointing a finger at Chloe.

Chloe glared at her.

"She claims to say that Mason is cuter than Tyler." Chloe blurted while looking at me.

I laughed, unbelievably.

They both glared at me when I stopped to catch my breath.

"Seriously?" I said while looking between Lexi and Chloe.

"You know it's true." Lexi told me with a scoff and I rolled my eyes.

"I don't see the point, they both are cute, but I definitely think Noah is cuter than both." Zoe spoke while looking at Lexi and I watched as they all started to babble away.

"I didn't say Noah wasn't cute, but Tyler is way cuter." Chloe smirked at Zoe and she shook her head in respond.

"Plus, you like Noah, so you would most likely say that." Chloe added with a short chuckle.

"So, what if I like Noah...what's wrong with that, huh?" Zoe fluttered with red cheeks.

"Don't you like Tyler?" Lexi flashed Chloe a mischievous smirk and she rolled her eyes.

"Mind your own damn business." Chloe snapped at Lexi while she stood up from the bench.

Then I watched as she turned on her heels and walked away.

"She's so immature these days." Lexi sighed while she ran a hand through her hair with her eyes closed.

"This conversation was really disturbing for me." Zoe said as she hid the smile on her face.

"She has never actually acted like that before." I admitted while I looked at Zoe.

"Zoe...what's wrong with your hand?" I heard Lexi asking and that's when I realized Zoe had a burnt spot on her wrist.

"What happened?" I asked as I took a hold of her hand.

Her eyes widened.

"Oh...I...got burned when I was preparing...breakfast yesterday morning." Zoe stuttered while withdrawing her hand and I stared at her.

"You have to be more careful." Lexi informed Zoe and I slowly nodded in agreement.

She sighed with a simple nod.