Chapter 25

Monday morning came too soon. Ashley woke up later than usual, a sign that meant something was up- something bad. Then the bathroom door jammed, and as she attempted to loosen the wooden heap of junk, she accidentally punched herself in the face.

With these two omens, Ashley's guard was on all high. Any sudden movement made her jumpy, although she tried to not make it obvious. She hadn't seen Gary Sunday or in her morning classes. If the devil was watching her, the last thing she wanted was for him to know she was on her guard. Ashley would rather get hit by a truck full of Twinkies than let Gary believe he got under her skin.

"Hey Ashley! Wait up!" Russell shouted down the hall. The moment she heard his voice, her lips curled upwards in a huge grin. She gladly pivoted and open her arms to embrace her gentle giant. Russell ran and hugged her, picked her up then twirled her round.

"How are you today flower?" Russell asked, with Ashley in his arms. She smiled brightly, his question answered. Ashley was beyond proud of her gentle giant now that his speech had improved greatly.

And you Russell?

"Russell- I mean, I am fine now that I got to see you." Russell grinned.

Ashley rolled her eyes at the cheesy line, but the smile on her face never wavered.

"Want to eat lunch with me?" Russell asked, hope layered behind his voice. Ever since Ashley arrived, she grew popular, especially with the male population, much to Russell's dismay. As of late, she began to have a busy schedule. The meetings with the nerds, the dance club she created, the cooking club she also created, auto shop after school with the greaseballs, forced shopping with Pinky along with the other trust fund babies, and something else that nabbed her attention no one knew about. It had been weeks since he had alone time with his flower and he felt the need to force himself onto her agenda.

Ashley's smile dropped a little, a feature Russell noticed. His shoulders sagged, he knew what her answer was.

Russell I can't I have- she stopped typing. She erased her response from her phone. It had been a while since she had any quality time with Russell and she wanted to know what he was up to.

I would love to!

Russell's entire mood brightened. For sure he thought she would deny him again, but now that he had her all to himself, he would treat her like a queen so that she would hang out with him more often.

"Great! Let's go get food!" Russell walked towards the cafeteria, Ashley still in his arms. She wiggled in his steel grip, a hint for the Barbarian King to let the girl go.

"Is Ashley- I mean are you not comfortable?" Russell asked. He readjusted himself to carry Ashley bridal style. "Better?"

Ashley typed ferociously Russell my skirt!

Russell glared at all the males who dared look in their direction. "Don't worry I'll make sure no one looks at Russell's flower."

Still, I can walk perfectly fine. Please let me down. Her plea fell on deaf eyes. Ashley huffed in irritation, she knew he wouldn't let her go.

Russell set his flower on the bench in the cafeteria and left to get them their food. Ashley tapped her fingertips on the cool surface of the table, she was surprised she was able to see her reflection on the table. A smug smile bloomed on her lips, Catherine must have Edna on a tight leash.

"Edna! You better wash your hands after that coughing fit you just had or your ass is mine! Remember that!"

"Yes ma'am!"

Yep. A tight leash.

"Hey Ash, what's happening?" A tray filled with nutritional, delicious food planted itself in front of her, followed by none other than Johnny Vincent.

She waved her hello.

"So do you always have that ape carry you around or are you two together?" Jealousy surrounded the greaser's words. Ashley didn't know whether or not the boy meant to let his jealousy slip out his mouth or he was too preoccupied with his thoughts to have noticed. Either way, Ashley found it adorable.

'I knew it.' Johnny thought disdainfully after he saw a smile grow on her perfect kissable lips. Of course someone like her would have countless of suitors chase after her. It was a smart choice to pick the only guy in Bullworth capable of protecting her from all harm. Russell may be the stupidest guy he had ever met, but the boy knew what loyalty was.

"What are you doing here?" Russell not too nicely slammed down his tray, then he gently placed Ashley's in front of her. A bit of salad spilled out of Johnny's tray after Russell accidentally pushed his plate out of the way.

Apparently, boys had a silent code between them. One look and both party of penises knew if they were crossing boundaries. Russell glared at Johnny for interrupting his lunch date with his flower and Johnny glowered at Russell for.. for. For something that pissed him.

Johnny stood up, so did Russell. No words were thrown and thankfully no punches either. Ashley swore she saw sparks of lightning shot between the two boys' dangerous gaze.

"It's a free country, I can sit where I damn please." Johnny spat.

A growl emitted from the Barbarian King's chest. He would have gotten closer to the greaseball if it weren't for Ashley's soft hand that found itself on his cheek. She caressed his face, her soft touch automatically calmed Russell down.

A seed of hate and sadness was planted in Johnny's stomach. His a knot painfully embedded itself in his throat. He was suffocated. That gentle touch shared between them was more than enough evidence of their new found relationship. Johnny may have the hots for the rich girl, but he isn't one to force himself between a couple. He knew the meaning of unfaithfulness and its aftermath. Trust him when he says it hurts like hell.

Johnny clenched his jaw, he forced himself to utter the words he wished he didn't want to say. "I'm sorry for intruding on your guys' couple time. Last long."

Wait Johnny, Russell and I aren't a couple. Thank the heavens for Petey and his exceptional punctual timing.

"What was the dork?" Johnny wanted to hear that again. And again, and again and again.

First of all, Petey isn't a dork so please don't call him that. Second of all, Russell and I aren't a couple. We just haven't hung out in a while so we're having lunch together.

Johnny muttered his apology, he knew Ashley would have wanted him to. "Then what was up Russell's carrying you and shit?" Johnny that still irked him.

"I like carrying my flower, what of it greaseball?" Russell glared.

Johnny returned a menacing glare himself. "Was I talking to you numb nuts?"

Russell moved to have punch the daylights out of him, but the look in Ashley's eye made him rethink his brilliant decision. "Tch."

Johnny Vincent you play nice.

"Yes ma'am" He smirked.

"Hey Ash, I don't mean to disturb you little lunch date, but I need help with this one problem for Dr. Watts." Petey shyly asked.

Ashley didn't have time to turn to her friend before Earnest took a sit next to the girl's right side. "Lady Blood Caster, I must speak to you in a private chamber. I beseech you! Tis urgent matters!" He cried.

"Who the hell is Lady Blood Caster?" Derby asked, disgusted. He took a seat on the other side of Russell, for he refused to be anywhere near his mortal enemy.

"Oh that's what I call Ashley. It's her Dungeons and Dragons character name." Earnest explained.

"Ash I really need help with Dr. Watts!"

"Lady Blood Caster!"

"Hey yo Ashley, wanna swing by the auto shop later? The fellas and I need your help on the bikes."

"Oh Ashley, I do wish you would stop hanging with these peasants. Why don't you and I get around that date we didn't get a chance to have? Say the movies at 5?"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! ASHLEY WAS RUSSELL'S FIRST!" The Barbarian King roared as he slammed his fist on the table top. A dent was evident of his fury. His chest rose and fell rapidly, his nostrils flared. His lips twisted into a snarl that revealed his teeth. At that moment Russell very much indeed resembled a wild animal. "Ashley is Russell's flower. No one takes Russell's flower from Russell!"

The upset giant wanted nothing more than to wreak havoc onto the entire school. Smash trash cans, destroy lockers, break windows, decorate the halls with fist-sized holes, disfigure faces. The whole nine yards. He only wanted to spend alone time with the one person that made him feel different, that made him feel human. Everyone in school regarded him as the dumbest kid on campus, not once did they give him a chance. Due to gigantism, they all cower and fear him. All except Ashley, his flower. He remembered the day she smiled at him, that day he knew it was his chance to start anew. She never feared him, never made him feel stupid. Ashley was kind and patient with Russell. That made Russell feel happy for once. Truly and utterly happy.

Now his one happiness was being taken away: right in front of him.

The cafeteria was dead quiet. All the students held their breath for they feared the giant would rave mayhem.

"You can have her," muttered Russell before he stormed off.

Ashley would had been hot on his trial, but sudden slow claps echoed throughout the cafeteria stopped her. Slow claps gained speed, it became a full on applause.

"Bravo! Bravo!" Ted stood up from his seat. "The whore of Bullworth made big bad Russell cry."

All of the males that sat on her table stood up, ready to defend Ashley.

"Ah look Damon! Her dicks for hire are going to protect the damsel in distress." Ted jeered.

"Ha ha, yeah. Gary was right, she's like the Whore of Babylon, the queen of prostitutes." Damon laughed.

"Back off man, you don't know what you're saying," Johnny warned.

"Yeah! Lady Blood Caster is a lady of class, well educated and beautiful. She, in no way, is a common whore who lays with any man." Earnest added his two cents.

Ted and his cronies glared at the handful of men. If only they heard what Gary said, then they would all see what kind of person she truly was. "Are you guys idiots! Stop thinking with your dicks and see who she actually is."

"An amazing person, that's who she is. Ashley is by far the nicest person with the purest heart on this entire campus. All she wants is for all of us to live in peace. She hadn't done anything wrong and you're just being a jackass whose butt hurt because you got your ass handed by the new girl." Petey stated.

'Oh's' and 'Ah's' along with some 'burns' sound out throughout the cafeteria.

"That never happened fairy! Why don't you go sniff my jockstrap, punk!" Ted shouted.

Please gentlemen, stop arguing.

"Oh shut the hell up with your peace speech. Why don't you go suck my long bomb like your mom did last night." The jocks laughed and jeered, high fives thrown here and there. When they were busy being dumbasses, they failed to notice the deadly ambiance that surrounded the mute girl.

"Haha, yea maybe that's why the mute freak is a whore, she got it from her moth-" Juri screamed, not able to finish his sentence. His wrist was bent in an awkward position, certainly strained if not broken. Ashley had her grip on his wrist, added pressure with every passing second. Her face was void of any emotion, she released a dangerous and terrifying atmosphere.

"Please, please let go! Please- gahh!" Juri crumpled onto the floor as he fondled his for sure broken wrist.

"What the fu-" Kirby didn't finish his sentence either. Ashley swiped her foot, successfully knocking him down. In an instant, she rammed her elbow on his neck, effectively rendered the tiny jock unconscious.

Ashley rose from the ground, her wild curly hair grouped in front of her face like thorns. No one can tell how she looked like, besides her eerily resemblance to the Grudge.

'Jesus Christ.' Johnny thought petrified. He knew he wasn't going get his ass handed to him, but the girl took down two football players in less than a minute. That right there terrified any man. Period. He briefly glanced around, and he only saw that everyone else mirrored his facial expression. No one moved to stop the girl from her rampage, too afraid for their own well-being.

'Well I would do the exact same thing if I were her.'  Johnny reasoned. 'The jackass insulted her dead mother.'

Damon blinked, one second she was there, the other gone. "Where did she go?"

Giggles. Creepy, sinister giggles were heard.

Suddenly, legs wrapped around his chest. Ashley loomed over his face, in an upside down manner. Initially he thought she adorned a frown, however he made a horrible realization. She was smiling.

A deranged, psychotic smile.

Ashley tightly wrapped her arms around Damon's neck. She then threw herself backwards to flip their position. Damon landed face first, and before he could move, Ashley twisted his arm to the brink of snapping it. He cried out in pain. "No! Stop please I'm sorry."

She listened.

Once again she rose from the ground. No movement, no sound. She stayed frozen with her head down hair covered her face like a black veil.

"You're fucking insane bitch!" Ted screamed. "A complete lunatic."

Ted bit down on his tongue as quickly as Ashley took down two of his men. He was the only one left in his posse. If he wanted to make it out of that place unscathed, he better shut his trap.

She finally shown signs of life by the quavering of her shoulders. It was as if she was laughing. Ted felt scared. Real fucking scared. He never thought one chick would have him near shitting his pants.

Alas, Ashley's shakes come to a complete stop. Nobody made a sound, their hairs standing on end. Earnest gulped anxiously, his nerves and excess saliva were off the rails. The antsy mechanism broke the freakish quietness. Ashley snapped her head to face Ted Thompson. Unlike with Damon, she wore no smile. Her face was a vast void of nothingness. Her eyes were dead and blank.

It was in that moment, Ted Thompson knew he fucked up.

Jimmy whistled solemnly. Leave it to James Hopkins to ruin the moment. "Shoulda never talked bad about her dead mom dude."

Ashley Sierra Smith ran with all her might and jumped, legs stretched out. She drop kicked the hell out of Ted.

"It's like in the animes," whispered Bucky.

Ted flew backwards, he knocked over a table and flipped over the table. He felt pain everywhere, especially in the chest. He had trouble breathing properly and thought it would be best if he stayed down.

Ashley brushed off her skirt, a hand propped itself on a hip.

"Hmph."

Ashley picked up her bag and left the silent cafeteria.

"I love that girl." Jimmy declared love struck.

----

Ye, another one

Till next time!

~Artemis