Authors: Jorie Saldanha
“No…I-”
“You’re Indiana Jones’s assistant! You’ve come all the way from faraway places to whisk me off!” I added.
“No…I-”
“You’re Romeo and you’ve come to confess your love!” I said.
“You really do have a problem with interrupting people.” He looked behind him.
“Oh, sorry. Well, you have a problem with saying ‘no…I-’ all the time.” I told him.
“Touché.”
“So…Have you still been following me around?” I inquired.
“No. I didn’t mean to find you here.”
“What is that supposed to mean?” I turned towards him.
“Nothing…I just meant…” He stammered.
“Don’t worry about it.” I smiled.
“Thanks.”
“I’ve had a bad day myself.” I touched my hair in horror.
“Don’t worry. It’ll all come out after a couple cleanings.” He laughed.
“I hope so.”
“Well, you might lose all of your hair because you’ll have cleaned it so many times, but hey, at least it’ll be clean.” Adam joked.
“Not funny!” I chuckled.
“How long did it take you to grow it out that long?” He asked. My hair went down to my lower back.
“I don’t know. Two or three years, I guess.”
“Wow,” He said. “You’d think you’d want to cut it.”
“Why?” I questioned.
“Because it’s just so long!” He commented.
“Hey! I like it!”
“Sorry. You didn’t like my hair before, you know!”
“It’s okay, you’re right. Sorry. I’m just a little jumpy today.” I smile and leaned towards him, closing my eyes.
“Adam! Let’s go!” Lena yelled. Adam jumped back as I fell forward.
“You two know each other?” I looked at Adam.
“Well…yes….” Adam’s voice trailed off.
“Let’s go. I don’t want to be in the same room with Ashley for another second,” Lena spat.
“You two know each other?” I said louder in disbelief.
“He’s my date!” Lena looked at me as if I was a moron. “Which is ruined because of you.”
“Adam…” I was speechless.
“It’s not what you think.” Adam grabbed my hand.
“I think I know exactly what this is.” I jerked my hand back. “Why were you hitting on me if you were going out with Lena?”
“It’s not like that.”
“Adam!” Lena yelled.
“Oh, then what is it like?” My mouth still hung open.
“Well, not what you’re thinking.”
“Adam!” Lena came up and jerked him towards her. “I want to go!” Adam started walking with her, but he was still looking at me.
“She was on your lap and making out with you in the theater, was she not?” I followed after them.
“Yes, but you don’t understand.” Adam’s eyes were full of regret.
“I don’t think I want to understand!” I turned around and stamped back to the theater.
“Ash!” He called after me.
“The name is Ashley! Only close friends call me Ash!” I yelled back. His shoulders sunk in defeat as he got into her car. They drove off. As soon as they were out of sight, I broke down into tears. I couldn’t believe this. Lena was doing it again. This was awful. I didn’t know how she knew that I liked him, but she did. She never went out with anyone because she actually wanted to have a relationship with him. She didn’t work like that. If I ever knew anything about her, I knew that much. Lena was always a dirty creep that never did anything good. It was the same thing that she had done to Alan. She would toss him as soon as she knew that I wouldn’t want him anymore. It was this way every time. If she didn’t play her dirty jokes on me, she was playing them on someone else.
“Hey. Are you okay?” Betty came up behind me.
“No,” I answered, breaking into tears again.
“Oh! Don’t let Lena get to you!” Jennifer came up to give me a hug.
“Yeah, she’s not worth it,” Allie added.
“That’s not it though. Lena has always been that way, but I was really starting to like Adam!” I looked up at the sky and sniffled.
“You mean that extra fine Brad Pitt look-alike?” Tina asked.
“Oh!” I started crying harder. The girls gave her a shut-up-you-moron look.
“Maybe he’s not who you think he is.” Betty comforted me.
“No. He’s not.” I saddened a little more.
“Maybe it’s the same as it was with Alan,” Tina said.
“Oh. It took me so long to get over him!” I cried some more.
“You and Alan!” Keri laughed, Betty gave her a filthy look. “Sorry, Ash.”
“It’s okay.” I wiped my nose with a tissue.
“You know, maybe they’re cousins or something.” Allie shrugged.
“We’re not in the south, Allie.” I laughed a little. “I saw them making out.”
“You should at least give him a chance to explain,” Jennifer said.
“Yeah, maybe it really isn’t what you think.” Keri nodded.
“What if it’s exactly what I think?” I looked at them.
“Then at least you know,” Betty hugged me.
“At least we didn’t have to deal with Liz and Jill today.” Tina squeezed my shoulder.
“That’s true. It was pretty funny seeing them at the dance the other day.” I closed my eyes picturing it. “I wonder if Jill and Liz are still in the hospital getting checked out by the doctors!”
“I felt so bad for them.” Tina laughed covering her mouth.
“I didn’t.” Jennifer continued, “The girls made complete fools of themselves because they had been drinking.”
“True.” Keri shook her head.
“I just can’t believe what happened today. I mean I had a catfight with Lena, and I found out that she’s dating the guy that I like.” I summed up.
“That’s kind of a lot.” Tina wrapped her arms around me. “You’ll be okay. We’ll help.”
“I know. I love you guys! You’re the closest things I have to sisters.” I rubbed my temples.
“Too much to take in at once?” Betty knew what I was going through.
“Just a little.” I stood up.
“I think it’s time to go.” Allie stated the obvious. We all got into Betty’s car and drove home. As I stuck to the upholstery of Betty’s car, I fumed. I couldn’t believe that Lena had beaten me today. I was keeping a little tally of what our scores were since the beginning of this year with the football game.
Ashley: 2 Lena: 2
So far we’re tied, but I’ll change that. There has to be a way to get back at her. It was as if I was back in fifth grade again. We were playing all these stupid little pranks on each other, and it was so much like it used to be. I hadn’t missed it all because it was such an emotional roller coaster. It looks like the score is going to have to change.
Chapter 5
Study Hall
Study hall is one of those classes where you have an inept teacher who knows nothing, kids who are rodents, and lots of note passing. It’s a rule in both books and movies that any characters that are important to the story must all be in the same classes. Not only that, but also only one teacher is ever seen teaching or watching the students. My story isn’t any different. I have to defend myself, though. The reason that everyone’s in my class is because the class is study hall. Practically everyone is in the same study hall together. And as for the only teacher I tell you about, Mr. Backs, it’s because the interesting stuff only happens when he’s teaching.
After the weekend I had, I didn’t really want to go to school, but it’s not like my parents are going to let me stay home because of some “boy.” It’s not fair at all, I really wasn’t up for seeing Adam today, but what made things worse was he was in my class. I had been practically sad all weekend. I know that I shouldn’t let him to get to me, but I mean how can’t I? At least he got rid of his Mohawk, right?
“Can you believe that Mr. Backs is our new study hall teacher because Miss Rosemary fired Miss Ascot?” Keri clapped with joy.
“Yeah.” I nodded, looking around for Adam.
“Ash, you’re not looking for you-know-who, are you?” Jennifer asked.
“Maybe…” I hung my head in shame.
“Get over it! Jeez! You girls are so overly dramatic. He’s just a guy! Does it really matter THAT much?” Tad asked.
“Well, maybe it doesn’t matter to you because no girl has ever noticed you and because you have no feelings, but it does to me,” I snapped.
“Ash, come on. That was a little harsh,” Big Al said to me.
“Do you guys even know who I’m mourning over?” I asked.
“I do!” Jack answered.
“What?” I looked over at Betty giving her an I-can’t-believe-you-told look.
“Sorry, Ash. He and I tell each other everything. If it makes you feel any better, Ben wet his pants until he was ten.” Betty offered.
“Hey!” Ben gave Jack the same look that I had given Betty.
“Sorry, man, but you heard what Bet said.” Jack put his arm around Betty.
“So are you guys going out or what?” Jennifer asked.
“I don’t know.” Jack and Betty looked at each other as they said this at the same time.
“Oh, for gosh darn sake! Either you are or you aren’t!” Allie rolled her eyes.
“Wow! Such strong language, Allie!” Tad scolded Allie in a mocking voice.
“Shut up!” Allie crossed her arms.
“Anyway, are you two going out?” Tina asked.
“No.” Betty answered for the both of them. She looked at Jack for his approval. He shrugged his shoulders and brought his arm back up from around her. “You’re not mad at me are you, Jack?”
“Whatever,” Jack answered. You could tell that he was hurt.
“You mean you thought we were?” Betty asked, evidently she was very confused.
“No. I was just…” Jack’s voice trailed off as if he had suddenly noticed that everyone was there.
“Why don’t we just go sit down in our seats?” Keri said. We all sat down in out assigned seats just as the bell rang. I could feel Adam’s eyes on me. They were pleading for me to look at him, but I just couldn’t. It was time for me to move on. He was the enemy now. I mean, how could he just make-out with her one minute and then in the next kiss me? It just didn’t work. Besides, my mom told me, “Once a cheater, always a cheater.” There was no way that I was going to go out with him after what he had done. He sat diagonally behind me, which of course was way too ideal for me. I mean, what is fate trying to do to me? Is destiny trying to rip out my heart and just tear me in two?
“Ash…Ash…” I could hear Adam whispering my name, trying to get my attention.
“Shhhh!” I turned to my homework, and I got totally absorbed in my work. I decided that I would go on the computers and e-mail people. Our school had just gone high tech. Since our school was semi rich, everyone had a laptop underneath their desks. (I know, don’t you just wish you were us?) I reached under and opened up my account. There were three new e-mails. Two of them were junk mail and one was from Adam! How did he know my e-mail? I looked back at him and he was on his laptop chewing on his lip nervously. His eyes were intently staring at the screen. Ugh! He was so cute! Jeez! This was not fair at all. Why do all the jerks have to be totally hot? I opened my e-mail from Adam to see what he had to say. Although, I wasn’t about to just forgive him.
From: [email protected]
Subject: Chat
We need to talk. Please just let me explain for myself. You don’t have to believe me or even forgive me. I just want you to know the truth.
--Adam
I snickered. Yeah, sure that’s what he wants me to think. I’m so sure!
He just wants me to know the truth? Yeah, right! Why did he think that I would just listen to everything he had to say? What, as soon as I heard his story I would accept him with open arms or something?
From: [email protected]
To: Adam121212@ gmail.com
Subject: Re: Chat
Why do you think that I would want to listen to you? Besides, it takes too long for me to hear what you have to say through e-mail.
--Ashley
I sat there congratulating myself for having shot him down. It wasn’t the easiest thing to do, believe me. All I wanted to do was just tell him that I forgave him. He was the cutest guy I had ever met and he made me feel so great. Well, at least he did until I found out he was a lying scum! There was a new e-mail in my inbox.
From: Adam121212@ gmail.com
To: CoolCatAsh@ gmail.com
Subject: Re: Chat
Please, all I want is for you to listen. If this takes too long then we could IM each other. My sign on name is just Adam121212. I’ll wait there.
--Adam
I snorted. Why did he think that I would just be so open to discussion? He had really hurt me. Oh well, I was really bored. I signed on.
CoolCatAsh:
What do you have to say for yourself?
Adam121212:
Sorry
CoolCatAsh:
Not good enough
Adam121212:
What else I can do to make you believe that I’m not into Lena?
CoolCatAsh:
Oh, so the fact that you were sucking face doesn’t mean that you like her?
Adam121212:
No! I like you
Adam121212:
I always have
CoolCatAsh:
Oh yeah. Ever since you saw me walk into the office it was love at first sight
CoolCatAsh:
It was like a scene out of a movie. My hair was blowing in the non-existent wind, right?
Adam121212:
Come on, Ash. Give me a break here. If you knew what actually happened you would just laugh at me
CoolCatAsh:
Try me
Adam121212:
It’s really embarrassing
Adam121212:
You probably won’t believe me
CoolCatAsh:
The more embarrassing the better. I don’t believe you now anyway
Adam121212:
Ok
CoolCatAsh:
So are you going to tell me or what
Adam121212:
Sorry
CoolCatAsh:
So you’re not going to tell me
Adam121212:
I will but it’ll just take a while
CoolCatAsh:
I’m waiting
Adam121212:
Lena, heard that I liked you. I was talking to some of my friends about you
CoolCatAsh:
All good things I hope
Adam121212:
Of course. She and I have known each other since we were little and we used to go out. I dunno if you’d call it going out though. We were only in fifth grade
CoolCatAsh:
Wait. Is Adam really your name?
Adam121212:
Of course it is. What do you think I’m some secret agent or something?
CoolCatAsh:
Maybe. I knew everyone that she went out with though
Adam121212:
Oh that’s right! I went by my middle name back then because I thought that Adam was such a stupid name.
CoolCatAsh:
What’s ur middle name
Adam121212:
Jonathan
CoolCatAsh:
What’s ur last name
Adam121212:
Houston
CoolCatAsh:
Oh my gosh! You’re Jon Houston?
Adam121212:
Yeah. So what
CoolCatAsh:
I used to know you!
(That’s why I thought he was so familiar. Jon…er…Adam was Lena’s first boyfriend. She used to brag about him all the time and how she said that she thought she was in love with him! Then she dumped him because she said he wasn’t being good enough to her. Lena was really controlling, and come on they were only in fifth grade. She said that there was a really neat mysteriousness to him that made him so hot, but she never said what it was. She said he was “dangerous.” Adam…dangerous?)
Adam121212:
You did?
CoolCatAsh:
Yeah
Adam121212:
What’s your last name?
CoolCatAsh:
Benson
Adam121212:
Ashley Benson
CoolCatAsh:
Yup
Adam121212:
Doesn’t ring a bell
CoolCatAsh:
That’s not cool
Adam121212:
Sorry
CoolCatAsh:
Whatever. I thought you’d remember me
Adam121212:
Well I dumped her
CoolCatAsh:
I thought she dumped you
Adam121212:
She got really mad
CoolCatAsh:
You dumped her?
Adam121212:
She knows stuff about me that no one else does
CoolCatAsh:
Like what
Adam121212:
If I told you
Adam121212:
you might not like me as much
CoolCatAsh:
Don’t worry. My opinion of you is so low you can’t go any lower
Adam121212:
Oh. Well I used to be a really bad kid. I did stuff that wasn’t good
CoolCatAsh:
Like?
Adam121212:
Drugs, beer, stealing
CoolCatAsh:
Oh
Adam121212:
My mom died when I was ten and my dad left us when I was five. So I had no supervision
CoolCatAsh:
Oh my gosh, I’m so sorry
Adam121212:
It’s not your fault
CoolCatAsh:
You’ve changed since then. You’re a better person now right
Adam121212:
Yeah. I went to therapy and I got help. I turned my life around. The only thing that I didn’t stop doing was wearing a pink Mohawk.
CoolCatAsh:
Yeah, but if both your parents are gone, who made you get rid of it?
Adam121212:
No one made me.
CoolCatAsh:
Then why did you
Adam121212:
I was sick of it
CoolCatAsh:
Oh. Then why did you say that she made you and what about the stink bomb?
Adam121212:
I wanted to impress you so I fixed my hair and I never made any stink bomb
CoolCatAsh:
Jeez! How many lies have you told me?
Adam121212:
I only said that to impress you too
Adam121212:
Hello?
Adam121212:
Ash?
CoolCatAsh:
Then why were you in the office
Adam121212:
I had the highest GPA. They wanted to tell me that there was going to be a plaque put up in my honor
CoolCatAsh:
ok…
Adam121212:
Well anyway, this one time before I got help I stole from a store and that’s how I met Lena. Her dad owned it
CoolCatAsh:
So did you steal a lot
Adam121212:
Yeah that’s why I had to go get help
CoolCatAsh:
How much
Adam121212:
Look at me
CoolCatAsh:
What
Adam121212:
Look back at me
I looked at him. He put a hand up by his mouth so that no one else could see what he was about to say silently. When he mouthed how much he had taken, I yelped in surprise. I almost fell off my seat.
“Miss Benson?” Mr. Backs brought the entire class to attention. They all looked at me.
“Yes?” I answered.
“Are you all right?” He looked concerned. “You look pale.”
“No. I’m fine.” I shook my head.
“Then will you please get back to what you were doing?”
“Yes, Sir,” I answered.
“I really wouldn’t want to send you to the principal’s office or keep you in detention again,” Mr. Backs told me.
“Of course not, Sir,” I replied.
“You don’t want that either then do you?” Mr. Backs asked me.
“No I wouldn’t like that either,” I said.
“Well, then could you please not disturb us anymore?” He asked. Adam was snickering behind me.
“Mr. Houston, would you like to go to detention?” Mr. Backs’ attention turned to Adam.
“No, Sir. I really wouldn’t.” Adam’s smile faded.
“Then I guess that you don’t find that funny?” Mr. Backs asked.
“No, Sir, I don’t.”
“Really, Adam?”
“Yes, really.” Adam nodded.
“Then I suggest that you keep your mouth shut next time.”