Two Days Later...

Dot a dot dot, dot a dot dot. The sound of rain drops making collusion with the glass of my window wakes me up from my wonderful sleep. I look outside and find grey clouds filling the sky as well as small water droplets falling from them. I look over at my clock and it marks 6:45 am. With a huff I stand up from my comfortable bed and make my way to my walk in closet. I put on a pair of black jeggings, white tank top, light blue vest, black boots, and black fedora hat.

I apply some light make up before heading downstairs. I enter the kitchen and the smell of pancakes fills my nostrils.

"Look who is finally awake." My mom states from the stove.

"Morning mom." I respond as I take a seat next to my dad who was reading the daily news as he drank his coffee and my annoying little brother. "Can I have some bacon with that."

My mom nods before starting on my batch of pancakes. My mom was one of the greatest cooks ever but her job was a party planner. My mom places my plate of food in front of me and I start munching on my delicious food.

"I want you kids to come straight home after school." My mom instructs as she takes a seat and starts eating her food.

Chris aka my younger brother puts his fork down and looks at my mom before asking, "Why do we have to come straight home? I was planning on going to David's house."

My mom turns to look at us and answers, "An old friend of mine needs to go to Australia due to a family emergency and she doesn't want her kids to miss five months of school so they are going to stay with us. They are coming over this afternoon so we can meet them."

"How old are they?" My sister Harper questions as she joins the conversation.

"They are Ashley's age. They even attend the same school as you Ash." My dad answers.

Curiosity starts filling my mind. I raise an eyebrow before asking, "What are their names?"

"Um Catherine and Ryder..." Please no, don't say Benson. Please dear god don't let her say, "Benson."

I feel the blood drain out of my body as I am frozen in place. Someone tell me I heard wrong please. I couldn't live under the same room with those two.

My dad worriedly asks, "Ashley sweetie are you okay?"

"They can't stay with us mom." I respond.

"What why not? I already told Kate they can stay here so they can."

"But mom,"

"No buts Ash now finish eating before you are late to school."

With a huff I put my fork down and state, "I am not hungry anymore."

I grab my book bag before walking out of the white two story house and into the chilly rainy mid September day. I am only two blocks away from my house when I hear my name being called. I turn around and spot Andrew standing there.

"Hey Drew." I state as I give him a hug.

"Hola Carter." He responds before we start walking to school. "Why the frown?"

I bite my lip before answering, "Remember about the whole kiss thing that happened on Friday?"

Andrew was the only other person that knows about the kiss that occurs between Ryder and me two nights ago. It had been my number one mission to avoid the Benson siblings at all costs after that night.

"Yeah what about it?" Andrew answers.

"Well results Ryder and Catherine's mom is besties with mine and for some stupid reason they have stay at my house for five months!" I explain.

"Damn I feel bad for you my friend."

"I know me too." I state as I put on pouty face.

Andrew laughs at my face and gives me a comforting hug before we continue our fifteen minute walk to the prison people call school.

***

Andrew and I push past the big iron doors and enter the four story brick building. Our first stop was Andrew's locker since it was the closets.

"Wow not even going to bother to say hi. I see how it is." Comes the voice of my other bestie Jakob.

Andrew and I both turn around to spot our friend standing there in a simple pair of jeans, and white t-shirt. His short blonde hair was spiked up like usual. Everyone meet Jakob, one of my four besties.

A blondy comes up to us and places her hand on Jakobs shoulder before asking in a flirty way, "Hey Jakob are you free tonight?"

"Um sure."

I roll my eyes at my friend before making way to my locker. Like most of the boys here at John Adams High, Jakob was the typical player. Unlike Jakob, Andrew wasn't a player. I put in my lock passcode before opening my locker. I feel a presence behind me and immediately think it's Andrew trying to pull one of his pranks on me.

"Stop it Andrew you know you can't scare me." I state as I take out my books and place them on my left arm.

"Sorry to disappoint you sweetheart but I ain't that Andrew guy." Came a deep husky voice that send goosebumps down my back.

Oh god please no, no, no. Don't let it be who I think it is. Pretty please!!!!! I slowly turn on my heel to come face to face with none other than Ryder Benson. It had been my mission since Friday night after the party to avoid any contact with Ryder but we had to face each other someday. I was just hoping that, that someday would never come. Just pretend like you don't know him and like nothing ever happened between the two of you, I told myself.

"What do you want?" I ask as I shut my locker and start walking away.

His hand grips my wrist and spins me around so that once more I am facing him. Damn why did he have to look like a freaking Greek god.

"Well now that you asked I want to talk to you about what happened on Friday night." He states as he runs a hand through his dark brown almost black hair.

"What about it?"

"Don't tell anyone about our kiss understood. I don't need some girl to ruin my reputation."

I raise and eyebrow at him before I respond, "Well you are in luck because I wasn't planning on telling anyone about what happened that night. In fact I was planning on forgetting all about it because I don't need people to know that I kissed a total self centered selfish bastard. I don't need some jerk to ruin my reputation."

His mouth hangs open as he processes my words. A smirk makes its way on my face before I start to walk away. But the freaking bastard gets in front of me blocking my way and I frown.

"No one talks to me like that sweetheart. Don't you know who I am?"

"I know who you are. You are a little egotistic jerk who only cares about himself."

"You better watch your back because you messed with wrong person. I am going to make your life a living hell sweetheart." He growls sending goosebumps all over my body.

I try not to be affected by his words and respond, "Oh I am so scared. Guess what buddy you can threaten me all you want but I ain't scared of you."

With that I turn on my heel and make my way to my first period class, English.

***

I walk into the lunch room with Amelia and Andrew. We spot Jakob seated at our usual table and we make our way over to him. Seated next to him was Nikki my other best friend. A navy blue blue beanie rested on top of her red hair and a pair of black rectangular glasses rested on her nose.

"Hey guys." Her and Jakob state as we take our usual seats.

"Hola." Amelia, Andrew, and me respond at the same time.

After gabbing our lunch we all sit back down. Amelia and Andrew sat in front of Nikki, Jakob, and me.

"I read this book called It All Started With An Apple on wattpad and it was so romantic." Amelia states as I draw in my notebook.

"What was it about?" Nikki asked.

"It was about this girl who's friend told her to throw and apple across the cafeteria and whoever it landed it on was her soulmate. The girl threw the apple and it landed on the school's popular boy and then the two fell in love." Amelia explains.

"Ou so romantic. Because someone would totally fall in love with a person who threw a solid object at them because their friend told them too." Andrew responds and I laugh at his comment.

"Not it." Is said and I look up confused. I was so focused on my little doodle I hadn't heard Amelia asked, "Shut up now who wants to throw this across the room and find out who their soulmate is?"

"Well I guess you have to throw the apple across the room Ash." Amelia states as she extends her hand which carried the apple.

"You are crazy if you think I will throw this thing at someone. Plus who said it will actually work."

"Well if you don't I will throw it at that ugly dude seated over there and blame it on you." Nikki threatens.

"It's a loose loose situation Ash, so just throw it." Andrew adds.

"Five, four, three,"

"Okay fine give it." I reply before Amelia hands me the apple with a smirk.

What great friends I have right? Note the sarcasm. With a huff I place my arm in throwing position and cover my eyes with my other hand before swinging my arm forward.

Ryder's POV:

I watched as she walked away not once looking back. My jaw clenched as her words replayed inside my mind. Ashely Carter I promise you I will make your life a living hell. I turn around and walk towards my first period class which was Calculus Math.

I enter the crowded and noisy lunch room with my best bud Brian next to me. We make our way to our usual table which was located at the center of the lunch room. Our table was the best table here that's why it was only for the popular kids. Our friends were already seated in their usual spots laughing and talking.

"Hey Ryder, hey Brian." They all state as we approach them.

"Hey guys." We respond before taking our seats.

We were all laughing at something Daniel had said when Hannah asked, "Hey isn't that Ashely the girl Ryder made out with at Jessie's party?"

Everyone's face turns around to were Hannah was pointing. Seated on the table located at the far corner of the room was Ashley who was laughing at something one of her friends had said as she wrote on her notebook. I turn back around on my seat so I am facing Daniel now.

"Oh yeah that's her. I liked that girl she was fun." Parker states as he takes a drink from his juice.

"You kissed her?!" Came the voice from my sister Catherine.

I look up at her and respond, "It was a dare okay."

"But what about Sandra,"

"You know I don't like Sandra. She might be your little bestie but that doesn't mean I have to date her."

"But she likes you,"

"And? I never said I liked her. Plus as I said the kiss with Ashley was just a dare. I would never date..." I state but before I can finish something hard hits my head.

Ashely's POV:

I slowly open my eyes to spot my friends cracking up. I look around the cafeteria and try to spot who the apple landed on. I can feel the color drain out of my face as I realize who the apple hit. Why don't you love me god? I watch as Ryder picks up the apple and turns around. His eyes scan the room until they land on my table. Being the great friends they are Andrew, Amelia, Nikki, and Jakob all point at me. Ryder walks over to us with a smirk on his face which scared me. Why doesn't he have a furious expression on his face? He was up to something and I knew it. As he grew closer to my table my heart rate increased. Ryder takes the seat in front of mine his smirk never leaving his face.

"You know sweetheart if you wanted to get my attention you could have just asked or just walked up to me so we could talk. You didn't have to throw an apple across the cafeteria."

My jaw clenches as I process his words. "Stop flattering yourself too much." Was the only thing I could come up with as I tried to think of a comeback.

"Okay then why did you throw that apple at me?"

"I told her too." Amelia answers.

"Oh so if your friend tells you to jump of a bridge you will do it?" Ryder asks as he looks over at me. I stay silent and look down at my notebook before I continue my drawing. "Why are you so quiet sweetheart? What happened to your smart mouth from ear-"

Before he can finish I interrupt him, "No one plans a murder out loud now do they?"

The bell rings signaling lunch was over and I could get as far away from Ryder Benson as possible. I quickly grab my books and walk towards the cafeteria exit before Ryder can even reply to my statement. Take that Ryder. One point for me Ryder zero.

***

I was able to avoid Ryder for the rest of the day and now I was heading to my save haven which was my room. I pull out my keys and unlock my door before entering my home sweet home. I stop dead on my tracks as I realize who the people sitting in my living room are. I quietly tip toe past the living room entrance and just as I was about to make my escape to my room the wooden floor underneath me creaks. I close my eyes as I try and stay silent hoping no one had heard. Unfortunately like always luck wasn't on my side.

"Ashely honey is that you." Comes the voice of my mom. Damn you stupid floor.

"Yes mom." I respond sweetly before muttering some more curse words under my breathe.

"Will you please come to the living room honey."

"Sure thing mom." I reply before walking to the living room. All seven heads shoot up as I enter the living room.

"Hey Ash what are you doing here?" Ryder asks with a half smirk on his face.

"You two know each other?" Came the voice of our parents as they all shared questioning faces.

"No!" I yell out just as Ryder exclaims the opposite.

"Ashely why didn't you tell me you knew this handsome young man." My mom ask with a frown. Ryder walks over to me with smug smile lingering on his face as comes and stands beside me before slings his right arm around my shoulders as if we were the best of friends.

"Oh Ashely and me go way back Mrs. Carter." He answers for me as I spot him smirking from the corner of my eye.

My parents turn to me and my mom gives me a playful wink. Why couldn't he have just gone along with it and saved us from all the follow up questions that were to come? Oh wait I know why, because he is total douchebag who made the promise of making my life miserable. Curse Ryder freaking Benson.

"Oh how nice." Ryder's mom Kate chirps. "How did you two meet?"

"Well Ash here is friends with my friend," Ryder lies smoothly. "Parker. And so one night we went to the same party which is were we met."

Suddenly an idea popped into my head. It's payback time Ryder. A mischievous smirk made its way onto my face before I state, "Oh yeah I remember that night." Ryder seems taken aback by my sudden excitement but covers it up with a fake smile. "It was the same night you came out of the closet."

Catherine looked over at Ryder with shock in her eyes while Mrs. Benson almost choked on her tea before looking over at Ryder, "Ryder you are gay?"

Ryder throws me a deadly glare before answering, "No, I was just...confused that's all,"

I bite my lip to keep myself from bursting into laughter. "Didn't seem like you were confused when you kissed that Dylan guy at the party."

"You did what?!" Mrs. Benson exclaims and I couldn't help but let a small chuckle escape.

Ryder threw me a murders look before responding, "Ash is joking,"Ryder looks at me with a threatening stare. "Right Ash?"

"Yeah sure let's go with that." I respond with a smirk.

"Oh okay." Mrs. Benson states relief visible in her voice.

My mom looks at me with a sweet smile and ask, "So Ashley why don't you show Catherine and Ryder to their new rooms." I give my mom a confused look. She never told me where their new rooms would be. My walks over to me and discreetly hands me a post it note. "Go sweetie." She responds before gently pushing me out of the living room.

I open the post it note and it states where satan's kids are going to be staying. Catherine and Ryder are right behind me as I walk up the wooden stairs leading to second floor. I show Catherine to her room which was the first one to the left.

"This is gonna be your room." I state as I open the door.

"Ahh it's okay. Ou maybe my bed could go here, and my sofa over there..." Catherine started blabbing on as she mentally decorated her room.

"While my sister is mentally decorating my room care to show me to line sweetheart?" Ryder asks and I nod before walking to the right down the hall and stopping in front of the door leading to room next to mine. Ugh you have to be kidding me. Just what I needed. Ryder staying in the same house as me was already bad enough, but having to share the same bathroom as him was just over the top. You see my room and the room next to it aka Ryder's new room are connected by a bathroom. Great just great.

I open the door to his new room and state, "Welcome to your new room Benson."

"Ah it's ight, I have seen better." Ryder responds and I roll my eyes at him. I was about to make my way out of the room but a grip on my wrist stopped me. "Not so fast sweetheart." Ryder pulls me into the room and shuts the door.

"What the hell Ryder." I respond as I take my hand out of his grip.

"What was that little scene back there?" He asks and I smile remembering my little revenge scheme.

"It's called revenge." I answer while smirking.

"Well sweetie you are going to regret it."

"I already told you that you don't scare me." I respond as I point at him and smirk.

"What ever floats that boat of yours princess." With that Ryder is out the door and walking back to the living room. I hate you Ryder freaking Benson.

•~•~•
Hey my lovelies!!! I really hope you guys enjoyed this chapter because I really enjoyed writing it. Don't forget to vote, comment, and share. Thank you for reading. Adios my lovelies xoxo ❤️❤️❤️

P.S.- It All Started With An Apple is a real book on wattpad so go check it out, it's an amazing book!!!