Chapter 14

The ringing of the alarm goes off, ending the quiet girl's dreamless sleep.'I knew letting Pinky spend the night was a bad idea.' She thought groggily. The spoil princess let herself in, insisting on yet another sleepover, and didn't let Ashley sleep until it was nearly 4:00 A.M. Ashley twists her head to stare at the clock.

5:04 A.M.

'I am going to stay at my house from now on.'

Grudgingly get up and getting dress, the only thing Ashley did was brush her teeth and tied up the black long locks in a high ponytail. Today is Friday, the day her father leaves for his year long trip, and Ashley promised to be home extra early to bid him goodbye. She texts Charlie in hopes of waking him up, knowing him he probably didn't set his alarm. Almost immediately Ashley receive a response.

To: Liebling

I know, I know. I'm up. Your father got up awhile ago, rechecking his belongings and such. How you feeling Ash?

To:Charlie

Fine, thank you Charlie.

Ashley focuses all her attention to the road, the hum of the engine soothes her wild emotions that threaten to break free. The past few days were horrible, with the constant reminder of being

alone. The only moments she would be able to see him is through a screen, and his calls home are rare. Then her beloved Uncle Matthew would be leaving soon after. Her eyes start to burn, small tears threatened to spill.

'No.'

Ashley forces herself to stay strong. They always left for business trips, this time isn't any different. Except the pain is always the same, it's there every time.

The gates came into view. Pushing in the code, Ashley slowly Ashley slowly drives up to the door. 'You maybe distant father, but I will always love you.

--

Russell may not be the sharpest knife in the crayon box, but he does have some intelligence to tell when his friend is in a bad mood. Upon seeing Ashley walk on campus with a sad pout, his immediate response was to beat the living shit out of the person who dared make his friend sad. He had to hunt Petey down so that he can translate, and once Ashley convinced the both of them she's okay, Russell insisted on carrying her things as he walked her to class. The Bullworth students' murmurs and stares have gone down some, but have picked up now that they are witnessing a new historical event in Bullworth Academy: gentleman Russell walking a girl to class. Those damned gossipers. Ashley may be immune to them, flawlessly deflecting them like a mirror against sunlight, however, she wanted the world to fade away and disappear.

Her bitter goodbye with her father that morning put her in a bad mood. As much as she loves her father dearly, the old man can be a complete jackass. Charlie suggested to surround herself with friends, but all the broken-hearted girl wishes is to crawl in bed and sleep the day away.

"See Ashley at lunch." Russell gently states. Maybe if he got the girl another flower, it'll make her happy again. He should probably get some chocolates too. He vaguely remembers that girls love chocolates, especially that Eunice chick. With that thought, he plans on buying (stealing) the items he needs.

Thank you Russell.

Welcome.

That's right. Ashley successfully managed to teach Russell the very basics of sign language in three days. It was extremely difficult, but it wasn't impossible. Even in sign language, his speech is broken which she finds a tad bit comical.

Gary is already in his usual seat, staring out the window. He looks at the girl as she moved the chair to sit down. "Goodmorning Sunshine." He sang. He heard about her dad leaving so he thought he can try to cheer his friend up. Ha, isn't he hilarious?

Ashley simply gives him a charming smile. They don't usually communicate much in classes that don't have Charlie or Petey in them. He doesn't bother to talk and she doesn't bother to write. In a way, they're comfortable with the unspoken agreement of not talking. Although he does steal many glances her way, Ashley pretends not to be aware of his actions.

Today, Gary interrupts their 'agreement', "What's up?"

The whiteboard secured underneath the desk comes out of hiding.

You're vague, be specific.

He rolls his eyes. Women, ever so difficult. "Something is different with you, does it have to be because your daddy left?"

No, my father leaves for business many times before, I'm used to it.

"So the Daddy's little princess is going to be alone and she isn't bothered. Are you even going to miss him?"

Do you miss your parents? Ashley didn't expect to write what she did, but she sort of snapped being asked personal questions. She rather enjoyed not having to speak with Gary, finding it strange yet oddly satisfying that he is the only student in Bullworth who seemed to understand her without having do anything. And here he goes ruining their thing.

Besides, she still has those irritating tingles erupt within her body every time she's near the scarred boy. Whether it's -god forbid- a crush or some sixth sense warning her to be aware of the boy, she decided to play it safe and avoid Gary as much as possible.

Gary's entire body went rigid, his face morphs to an aloof glare, guess Gary has his share of family trouble.

"It's none of your business sunshine."

And it isn't. As much as he hates to admit, her response threw him off. No one has ever been bold enough to come up with a retort that has been able to stump him and if they did come up with one, it would be a poor of an excuse insult not worth his time. The school body has learned their place: and it's out of his way.

Just how my family is none of your business.

His glare becomes undone, it's replaced by a smirk. "Touché, sunshine, touche." Gary looks to be in thought, "How did you manage to get rid of Edna and hire a new chef?"

'His mood sure does change.' Ashley thinks to herself cautiously. I didn't do anything. My father saw the food we're forced to eat, he made the call. She lies. It's better that Gary knows nothing of her plans to rejuvenate Bullworth Academy. Especially since he plans to overthrow the school's hierarchy,n. it'll get ugly if he were to have competition, you learn that competitions are threats, and if you want to be the winner in the end, you'll have to get rid of that threat..

Gary seems to buy it, "Tell your pops that on behalf of the Bullworth students, we are eternally grateful."

Will do Gary.

"Come by the boys' dorm sometime, there's somethings I want to talk to you about." Gary changes the subject.

Ashley was unsure if she should accept his offer, but to avoid any difficulties, she agrees. The bell rings, both Smiths walk to English with a tired looking Jimmy. "Don't worry about it." was all he said when the female Smith pointed out the dark purple bruise forming on his cheek.

The first three classes went out a hiccup, until fourth period.

Mandy and Beatrice are both in this class, and if there's something Ashley learned about the cliques here, is that jocks and nerds are sworn enemies, unfortunately, Mandy is a jock and Beatrice is a nerd. Can you see the dilemma?

"Watch it metal mouth, you're going to get those nasty sores all over my perfect face." Mandy hisses, initiating what would become a war.

Beatrice is a fragile person with an equal fragile temperament. However, even she doesn't allow herself to be subjected to Mandy's cruel condescending ways.

"Why don't you watch it Mandy, the whole world does not revolve around you!" Beatrice bursts out.

"Oh ho? So the loser decides to talk back?" Mandy steps up to Beatrice threatenly. "What are you going to do nerd?"

'Why does the teacher have to be out of class?' Ashley thought miserably. 'They're arguing right behind me.'

"-Ashley will beat you up!"

She swerves her head so fast she could have snapped her neck. 'I will do what now?'

Mandy glares at the said girl briefly before reverting her gaze back at Beatrice. "So you're going to have this muted freak defend you? How pathetic."

The other day, Beatrice and Ashley were forced to wrestle again, this time she didn't put up a fight. After class, Ashley had Charlie interpret that she wishes to be friends. Beatrice was head over heels for Charlie, making it easier for her to agreed. In the end, Ashley promised that if she ever needed anything, to not hesitate to ask for help, since that's what friends do. Although this isn't what she had in mind.

I won't fight her Beatrice.

Mandy, being the nasty girl she is, seethes, "Why don't you talk loser, instead of using your hands? Are you too stupid that you forgot how to pronounce? Maybe you and Russell are meant for each other."

People like her crave attention, they can't stand being ignored, so that's exactly what Ashley determines to do. Ignore her. Calmly, the black haired girl turns back around and continue to work the assignment. Beatrice figures out her intentions, so she pulls up a chair next to her new friend and does her own work as well.

"What are you losers doing?" Mandy sasses.

Beatrice nudges her partner to compare answers.

Mandy scoffs, "So metal mouth and mute freak are friends? A match made in heaven."

Both got the same answers. Ashley takes out the book for English, Beatrice takes out her science notes.

"Listen here dweeb, not only am I the prettiest girl in school, but also the most popular. Geeks like you don't ignore me, I ignore you, so-"

"Miss Wiles, please sit back down at your desk. Leave those two girls alone, if I see you bullying in my class again, you will be having detention with me. I am in need of having my dictionaries dusted." Mr. Matthews enters the class having heard Mandy's insults.

Mandy's face was priceless, it almost made Ashley crack a smug grin. "Yes sir." She spats as she shoots a deadly glare at the innocent girls.

"Any day now Miss. Wiles." Mr. Matthews exasperates.

Mandy goes to sit next to Ted, her boyfriend, who also happens to be the leader of the jocks that Russell beat to a pulp the other day. Ted turns around in his seat, gazing straight at Ashley.

'Are we going to have a problem now?' She dreadfully thought.

Class ends and as she walks out of class, Ted 'accidentally' bumps her shoulder, causing her to drop her belongings creating a mess. She was about to pick them up, but Ted had other plans.

He roughly grabs Ashley's shoulder, pinning her against the wall. "I don't care who you are, no one gets my girl in trouble and gets away with it." He adds more pressure onto the shoulder.

"You may have Russell and his gang of idiots, and those trust fund babies at the palm of your hand-"

Beatrice who was with her the entire time pipes in, "Don't forget the nerds!-"

Poor Beatrice shrank back into the wall, trying to hide herself from Ted's menacing stare.

"Shut it bitch."He snarls. Ashley eyes narrow dangerously.

"Where was I, oh right. And have those nerds at the palm of your hands, doesn't mean shit. You mess with me and my team, you'll live to regret it."

Just when Ted thinks he got his message across, Ashley thrust the sole of her right foot towards his knee, incapacitating him. Just as he fell on his knees in pain, she weakly strikes at his vagus nerve located right below the ear on his neck resulting in a muscle spasm. Ted wheezes in intense pain, cradling the side of his neck. Quickly, she smacks his nose with an open palm, gripping his face to push him on his back. Finally, Ashley places her own knee on his chest, applying pressure to assure he does not get up.

Ashley doesn't have time to whip out a whiteboard or phone, so she did the next best thing.

Never threaten me again. She mouthed.

Ted rolls around in pain, gasping for air. The blow to his face combined with the aggressive take down winded him. Beatrice didn't have time to rave about what her ass kicking friend did because some of Ted's friends manage to see some of the beating the mute girl inflicted on their leader.

"You crazy bitch! What did you do?!" One of them roars.

Without wasting another second, Ashley grabs the nerdy girl's arm running to the cafeteria. Speeding down the stairs with her struggling to catch up, the jocks were hot on their trail. 'If only we could slide down the railing'

They reach the cafeteria just in time to see Jimmy sit down alongside with Russell. 'Thank god.'

The jocks enter the room yelling the black haired girl's name, ending their shouts with obscenities. Everyone in the cafeteria stared at the scene. Cat comes out of the food line crossing her arms holding a ladle.

"What in hell's name is going on? Nobody comes in my cafeteria with that kind of fuc- language." Cat barks at the very much pissed off group.

Ashley hid Beatrice behind Russell in case things go south, and he will be able to protect the weakling. Both teens threw confused looks.

'I will not hide. As my uncle once told me: Own up to my shit.'

She holds her head high as she marches on up to the front.

One of the jocks spoke up, trying to answer Cat's question. "This chick beat up T-!"

Two other jocks shut him up, noting that if he revealed that a girl took down Ted, his reputation would be tarnished.

Cat cocks her eyebrow at the said girl. Catherine may not been around the girl as often but she's a Smith, one that is related to the Matthew Aiden Smith. That alone screams TROUBLE, not implying she's the cause of it, but whenever something is fishy, a Smith will always be near by. "What did Ashley do?"

Kirby butts in with hint of fear in his voice, "She just caused some trouble that's all Ms. Moore. We just want to settle the problem. Promise." Cat's been here for four days and already the students feared her wrath. With good reason too.

Ashley knew he was lying, anyone with a brain knew they were lying. They all wanted to get back at her for hurting their leader. Twice. 'Oh yeah, the whole Russell incident..'

"You boys either get your lunch or leave, you all know that Ms. Moore doesn't like to have a ruckus in the cafeteria." Edna adds in her two cents.

Kirby forces a fake smile, "Yeah, we'll eat. Ashley why won't you eat with us?"

Cat cautiously searches for my reaction. The mute girl shows none.

Eating with the jocks is tense. It feels like any sudden movement will set them off. The food Cat has prepared is nothing compared to what Edna use to cook, that help put the Jocks in a good mood. "The steak is awesome!" Casey exclaims with a mouth full, the rest agree. Their unwelcomed guest silently nibbles on her salad, praying for lunch to end. Mandy rests comfortably on Ted's lap, the couple occasionally glaring at the girl from time to time. They weren't the only ones to glance at her either.

The preps notice that one of their own is out of place, looking tense. Obviously she's waiting for her knight in shining Aquaberry vest and dashing golden locks to save her. Derby along with Tad and Bif walk up to the table. "Is everything alright here Ashley?"

She nods feverishly. 'GO AWAY YOU'LL MAKE THINGS WORSE.' Ashley mentally screams in her mind hoping that somehow, Derby will hear the thoughts.

"You sure?" If this was a different situation, she would be more than happy to leave with him, and that says a lot.

Ted gets annoyed, "She said she's fine, now leave Richie. You're stinking up the place with your channel cologne."

Derby snaps, "I didn't think I was address you, you ill-breed buffoon."

"What did you call me jerkwad?" They are chest to chest. Their stiff postures, curl up knuckles, and clench jaws warn everyone a fight is going to break out. If Ashley were to try to get in between them, the only outcome is ending up with a bruised face. Ted doesn't like the rich girl and at the moment Derby is frustrated with the girl for continuing to hang out with Jimmy.

"Gentlemen please! Let's not quarrel in front of Lady Ashley." Earnest chimes in.

"Shut it nerd."

"Oh do leave peasant."

Russell and Jimmy get up from the table they were seated at. They make their way towards the on growing mix of Preps, Jocks, and Nerds.

'Please leave, all of you.' If she could cry out loud Ashley would.

Jimmy grunts, "If you guys are going to fight, go ahead. Just leave Ashley out of it." He grabs her hand, "Let's go."

Another hand grasps black haired girl upper arm. "Don't you touch her with your poor filthy hands, thug." Derby snarls.

Ashley shakes both their hands off, but she's snatched up in big, muscular arms. "Russell save Ashley."

'Excuse me, when did this become a reverse harem?'

Derby and Jimmy began to argue, Ted roughly turns Derby around to face him. "Hey, I ain't done with you nancy boy."

Derby violently shrugs off Ted's hand, accidentally bumping Earnest, who fell on top of the Greasers' table.

"Watch it you pathetic piece of human being." Johnny and his gang stand up. "You shitbags looking for a fight?" He cracks his knuckles.

Ashley starts praying for a miracle.

Cat rushes out of the kitchen once more, looking the most angry anybody has ever seen her.

Ask and you shall receive.

"What in the hell is going on here?! I thought I told you to quit it!" Cat seeths. All the boys ignore her, too invested in the upcoming fight to care. Ted throws the first punch, Derby moves, resulting Jimmy to get a face full of fist. Russell sets his precious friend aside, as he rush to his side. Ashley makes the stupid decision to run after him.

'If Russell gets involved, it'll be total chaos.'

As much as Ashley tries to get in between the guys, all the yelling, flying fists, and shoving, she receives a good upper-cut to the jaw. The injured girl falls against Bif, he barely manages to catch her at mid-fall after knocking out a greaser.

"Ashley!-" He had no time to ask how his friend was because Russell tackled him to the ground.

The fire alarm went off followed by the sprinklers. Dr. Crabblesnitch, Charlie, and Cat are standing at the entrance of the cafeteria, safe from the emergency rainfall. "Everyone, detention after school." was all the headmaster said.

The bell rings, indicating fifth period.

'Where the hell was that damn bell when we needed it?' Ashley thought bitterly, her swollen chin throbs in pain. 'Whoever jabbed me, got away with a free pass.'

--

Gym class is full of tension. All five clique leaders, plus Jimmy are here. They all look equally piss, the clique followers and the bruised chin girl pray there will be no repetition of lunch.

"All right you babies, today we will be playing a little game I like to call: dodge-ball." Mr. Burton shouts with a smirk on his face.

'So much for no repetition of today's incident.'

"Ted, Jimmy, you'll be captains. Pick your teams we'll start in 10." They flip a coin to determine who goes first. Ted won. His team consist six of his posse, Derby, Gary, and Russell. Jimmy's team made up of Johnny, Petey, Bif, Earnest, herself, and the other four that was left, equaling ten people on each team. The only ones who weren't playing were the girls. Mr. Burton knew better than to let them participate in this vicious game. Ashley didn't count apparently since her athletic record almost exceeds that of his prized player Ted. He knew the girl can handle herself just fine, like she did during her wrestling matches. Petey and Ashley briefly look at each other with caution. Mr. Burton's whistle blew.

Dodgeball tests individuals in their flexibility, durability, strength, and most importantly their capability to dodge. It's a fun game when no one is holding a grudge.

This, however, was no dodgeball game: it was a massacre.

Right off the bat, two member on each side were taken out. It hasn't even been five minutes.

'Damn!'

A bright red rubber flew by the brown eyed girl's head. Lucky for her, she took gymnastics as a kid, so bending backwards was no sweat. Both teams are vicious and powerful. Petey just got a hit to his nether region by Gary. His smirk didn't last long when Jimmy got his shoulder.

'It's only been 6 minutes and we're down 4 members.' Ashley's legs spreads apart, performing a split to avoid another ball directed to her face. Ashley glares at Ted as Jimmy helps her up. That brief aid prompts an easy shot to Jimmy's arm.

"That's not fair. He was aiming for a head-shot!" Petey exclaims.

Mr. Burton ignores him.

Both teams are down to two members: Johnny and Ashley versus Ted and Russell.

"Ladies and gentlemen, we are down to two members. Place the balls back in the middle, on my mark you go in. Ready?" Mr. Burton prepares the death match.

The four of dodge-ball members walk to their respective places. The reason Ashley has only made it this far is because of her amazing dodging skills. She recognizes Johnny's strength, so the strategy she came up with is to continue giving him the ball, maybe then they will be able to win this. However...

With Ted's athletic nature and Russell's monstrous strength, they have the upper hand.

"GO!"

They students run as fast as they could towards the middle. Ashley grabs two balls and Johnny one, leaving Ted and Russell with only one ball. It is a standoff. No one threw anything for what felt like hours. Finally Ted threw his arm back, releasing their single inflated ball. Immediately, Johnny let go of his, opening up his arms to catch Ted's ball. It bounced off his chest, Johnny struggles to keep it stable, but he finally caught it.

"Ted Thompson, you are out!"

He stomps off the court, not before demanding Russell to finish the pair off. Russell never once paid any attention to Ashley the moment game started, clearly having no intent of aiming for her. Johnny on the other hand.

'We have to win!'

Russell runs up to the line, letting out a fearsome battle cry. He raises his arm so far his back many of the students swore he could have dislodged it. "Russell smash!"

The sound of rubber hitting flesh sounded throughout the entire gym. The silence made it more eerie. Blood starts to stain the mats. Russell's throw was so strong, skin broke.

"Oh my God! Somebody call the medic." Russell freezes in utter shock. The students push past him to get to the injured player on the floor, the player on the brink of passing out.

"Is she going to be okay?"

"She's dead!"

"Holy fuck Russell murdered a student!"

Charlie shoves them away, "Ashley." His voice is soothing. His panic ridden face isn't. "Everything will be okay, just stay with me." He tries to calm her down. She doesn't know why though. Her body is shutting down, black dots fill her vision. In no way is she in stressed. "Please, don't close your eyes. Please." His voice cracks.

'I'm sorry. I don't think I can.'

The constant worry chatter is fading out. The last thing the semi-unconscious girl is able to do is see her friends' faces and Charlie's teary eyes before letting the darkness take over.

'My face hurts like a bitch.'

----

A/N: YE.

Till next time!

~Artemis