Chapter 12

The loud roar has everyone turn their heads to see Russell run towards the jocks. The instant Russell reaches one of the jocks, all hell breaks loose.

"Never." Punch. "Touch." Punch. "Russell's." Punch. "Girl." Punch. "Again." Russell jumps on the leader, his whole body crushing the guy.

'Oh my god he's going to kill him.'

Ashley rushes to Russell's side as he plummets the poor guy screaming mercy. The elevated fist is stopped and Ashley is jerked forward with it. Russell tried to move the girl out of the way to avoid accidentally hitting her, but she stayed in his way.

Ashley kneels by Russell's side, massaging his knuckles gently. His fist is tense and bloody, a mixture of his blood and the jocks.

'Oh Russell. You were punching so hard you broke skin.' Ashley frowns.

"What is Russell's flower doing to Russell's hand?" He asks confused. No girl has ever touched him, too afraid to anger the barbarian. Although his loud and aggressive demeanor along with his crazy height and immense strength doesn't help his case. If they tried to get to know him, they would find out he has a big heart of a warrior poet.

Ashley doesn't reply, only massaging his hand. The other jocks have limped away cursing, swearing, and promising pay back.

A pained groan interrupts the teens from the jock on the floor, reminding them of his presence. Ashley nods at Petey to get the jock leader away to safety. He is hesitant but does it anyway. "You sure you want to stay Ash?"

Russell isn't fully calm. I barely managed to get him to stop punching the jock to a bloody pulp. Go take him to the nurse.

"Okay, I'll be back soon." Petey promises.

Petey wraps the injured jocks arm around his neck and he wraps his own around the jock's waist.

Returning her attention to Russell, Ashley intertwines her left hand with his injured one and uses the other hand to caress his arm. She carefully lays her head on his shoulder and successfully. Stops Russell's harbor breathing.

'Good. I got him to calm down.'

"Russell sorry." Russell apologizes in his usual broken speech. She couldn't help but giggle.

'I swear he's like an overgrown muscular child.'

"What's funny?"

She shakes her head. At this point she has stopped stroking his arm, but her fingers are still wrapped in his. She took this time to examine his massive callous hands, comparing them to her much smaller ones.

"Ashley have pretty hands." Her cheeks redden, the blush blooms across her tan skin.

Petey comes back, his worried look turns into one of surprise. "You got him to relax. No one has ever done that before. Not when he's in the middle of beating someone up."

It wasn't as hard as I thought it would be.

"Really? I've always thought that it'll take-" Petey is cut off by Russell.

"Dorky nerd can talk Ashley?"

The two friends share a look, "Uh, y-yea I can." Fear settles in Petey's eyes.

"What she say?"

Tell him that I want to be friends

Petey translates nervously, "She says she wants to be friends."

"Really? Ashley wants to be friends with Russell?" He questions incredulously. A bright smile adorns the girl's lips as she nods.

"Yes she really does." Petey confirms.

On one condition: Russell has to stop beating students up

Petey translates, "She says she'll be friends with you only if you stop beating people up."

Russell look unsure, but agrees nonetheless. "Okay, Russell promise to stop beating people up."

The bell rings, indicating that first period has begun. 'Oh no.' Ashley quickly gets up and starts running to class. 'If father finds out I'm marked tardy, I'll be as good as dead.'

Luckily Ashley runs into Charlie who happened to be making his way to the girl's first period too. "Hey what are you doing out of class? Don't tell me you're late."

I am. Something came up that needed my attention.

"Well don't worry, I'll bail you out. You don't need your dad on your case again."

Gratitude floods Ashley's body. Thank you so much Charlie.

The two walk in together, Gary is there, but doesn't acknowledges them. He's too preoccupied with his thoughts to care.

"Good morning everyone! Today we will continue to study on the history of portraits. If Mr. Williamson will be so kind as to pass out these packets, I'll greatly appreciate it." Ms. Philips asks.

Charlie gets up, "It'll be my honor m'lady."

Ms. Philips giggles uncontrollably, "Oh Charles."

'What?' Ashley glances between the adults puzzled. Charlie and Ashley, as well as her uncle and father suffer from the same curse. The curse of being beautiful. Well that is how Uncle Matthew puts it. No one can deny their charming smiles, their striking eyes, and desirable bodies. The four of the them can stop anyone in their tracks with a single look unintentionally. Three out of the four are approachable, something Matthew never objected to, however Ashley, Andrew, and Charlie wish they weren't 'cursed'. Especially Charlie, since he attracts the opposite gender. The wrong gender.

After given the packets, 15 minutes into class, Russell barges in.

"Russell, what are you doing here?" Ms. Philips questions.

"To learn," was his reply. The entire class gasps in total shock. A kid even went as far as to faint. Russell strides to the table occupying the girl he yearned to see again. Gary leans into Ashley and whispers. "What did you do to the guy?"

She swerves her head. What do you mean?

He rolls his eyes, "I don't speak sign language moron."

"Don't call Ashley moron!" Russell aggressively sizes the scarred boy. No one insults his friend.

Ashley knew Russell must of forgotten their deal earlier that morning, so she places herself in between them. Russell's attention is on his friend now and he wraps his huge muscular arms around her not so thin waist, pulling her into an embrace.

Charlie comes to the rescue."Hello Russell, remember me? I'm Mr. Williamson."

"You teacher who speak Ashley."

Charlie looks confused, but understands what he meant. "Yes I can speak... Ashley." He confirms slowly.

"What she say."

Let me go.

"She would like for you to carefully let her go." He translates.

And so he does. Ashley creates distance between Gary and Russell to prevent a fight. She didn't want to see Gary in the hospital.

What are you doing here?

"Ashley would like to know what are you doing here." Charlie explains without sounding rude.

"Russell want to see Russell's friend." Was his response.

More gasps are heard and whisper start to formulate.

"Is she sleeping with him?"

"Probably. I've never seen Russell like this."

"Is it the end of the world?"

More and more things are whispered making Ashley sigh irritably. Russell notices and yells for them to shut up. If he can't beat them all up for making his friend upset, then he'll just have to scare them into submission.

Which works because the whole room is dead silent.

Russell, you can't be here. Don't you have a class right now.

"Yea, Russell don't care. Russell want to see Russell's flower." He pulls her in for another hug; a deadly one.

'Has he never given people hugs! Oh my god, did my back just pop?!'

Charlie quickly pulls the two apart. "Russell you have to be careful when you're hugging. Try not to break her."

'Why on earth would you give advice on hugging?'

"Like this?" He hugs the girl again, but much gentler. Like she was a fragile doll.

'Much better.'

But Russell you need to be in class. You can't just leave to see people.

"Russell wanted to see Russell's friend." He repeats nonchalantly.

I understand that but isn't Petey in your first period?

"Dorky nerd?"

His name is Petey.

Russell tries to pronounce Petey's name, "P- Peti?"

Charlie helps him out. "Petey."

Yes Petey. He's your friend too. Why don't you go back to class and sit by him.

"Dorky nerd-" Russell stops as he sees the pointed look his friend shoots at him.

"Petey Russell's friend too?"

Yes he is.

"Russell has two friends in one day? Russell so happy." Russell hugs her again, forgetting how to not crush people as he hugs them.

'I don't know who I rather be hugged by, Eunice or Russell.'

It took not only Charlie, but Ms. Philips and Gary to get him off Ashley. When she get some feeling back in her arms, she asks Charlie to thank Russell for helping her with the jocks.

Thank you Russell.

"No one hurts Russell's friends." His comment melts her heart. 'He is so adorable.' Ashley stands on her tippy toes, giving him a kiss on his cheek.

Russell blushes, his hand slowly creeps up to his cheek, tenderly rubbing the spot her lips touched.

If you would like, you can sit with me at lunch today.

He has a daze look, he is in utter disbelief. "Russell eat lunch with Ashley." With a hand still on his cheek and a goofy smile, Russell silently walks out of class dumbfound.

"Geez now what did you really do to him," Gary smirks.

--

It's lunch time. Petey and Ashley are sitting together, waiting for the rest of the group to get here.

"I cannot believe you told Russell we're friends. He sat next to me the entire time and followed me to my next two classes. I don't even have him for those two classes!" Petey exasperates.

Calm down Petey. It's not the end of the world.

"It might as well be. What if I do something to piss him off. He is going to kill me!"

Then don't piss him off.

"Easy for you to say, you're a girl. He already likes you." He concedes.

No he does not.

Petey gives the oblivious girl a bland look. Do not give me that crap. You are smart enough to know when someone likes you.

How would you know?

For a 12 year old graduate, you sure are oblivious. By the way, you would have had to be outrageously intelligent to graduate at such a young age. It's insane, why would you want to go back to hell.

I was 9 when I went to high school. It was nothing like this hell hole.

True.

Gary slams his tray in front of the two, Jimmy not far behind him.."Hello ladies, talking about me I see."

"Don't you have anything better to do Gary?" Petey grunts.

"Let's see" Gary lifts up his hand and begins to count "school just started, so no homework; not interested in any of these empty headed buffoons; lost my medicine; so no I have nothing to do."

"Quit calling me Femme Boy Gary." Petey complains.

Gary ignores the smaller boy, "So Sunshine, when is your boy toy coming?"

Ashley shrugs her shoulders. She scans the cafeteria for Russell, only to see Derby glance at her table, his eyes held nothing but pity and disgust. Then there's Johnny with his gang, but there's a girl sitting on his lap. The leader of the jocks, who she learned who is Ted Thompson, is nowhere to be seen. 'Not surprising.'

Yet no sign of Russell.

Did you see Russell anywhere after your classes Petey?

Petey nods 'no', going back to what should be called food.

Ashley gets up, taking everyone's tray right where it belongs: the trash can.

"What gives Ashley." Jimmy grunts.

I won't let my friends eat this garbage.

"What are we supposed to eat then, air?" Gary sneers.

She smirks, No

Right on cue, Charlie strolls in with three large boxes of pizza. Russell is right behind him, carrying two liters of soda along with cups and plates.

Charlie sets down the pizzas, glad the kids don't have to be forced into eating garbage. "Here you go guys, one large bacon and sausage pizza, one large combo pizza, and one large classic pepperoni pizza." Charlie finishes.

"Thanks Charlie!" Petey bubbles.

"Alright man! This is what I'm talking about." Jimmy cheers.

Jimmy and Petey dive in taking their respective pieces. Gary grudgingly takes one slice, mumbling a soft thank you.

"No problem guys, enjoy!" He encourages.

Before Charlie takes his leave, he winks at the mute girl. Ashley nods her head in understanding. She abruptly stands, excusing herself, taking a camera with her.

"Where are you going Sunshine? Not going to stay for the party?"Gary jeers.

I have a meeting to go to. Enjoy the food.

-----

A/N: I went on a study trip yesterday and it was great. Enjoy this chapter because it's been a blast writing this story and I really hope ya'll are loving it.

Till next time

~Artemis