9: Elementary

"So basically, the university was established by super rich people, who had high connections, What is so rich about that?" I said.

It was Monday and I was sitting in the library with Carson talking about the assignment we were given in history. We had been going through the few books we found in the library on Eastwood for an hour.

"No, that may seem the case, but in reality it's more complex than that, they all were intelligent individuals and started the university to give the unfortunate a chance to do something with their lives, but once the place was up and running, they all got lost, they were misguided and torn apart," Carson said, he had his reading glasses on and he looked absolutely stunning, I really wanted to ask if he was going to a photoshoot straight from here.

"Can't that mean that they were very different from the start and eventually showed their true colors?" I asked.

He chuckled, "Not necessarily, it can also mean they trusted the wrong people and were driven away from each other."

"Don't mind me asking, but you said the objective of Eastwood was to give the unfortunate a chance to do something with their lives, that doesn't seem to be the case here, the place is divided in these three groups, the powerful, the rich and the Nerds the normal people stand nowhere."

"That's exactly where the problem began, although all three of them were beautiful minded people, they were made believe that the other two look down on them, Polo who came from power was misguided by people who wanted to benefit from Eastwood themselves , they planted the idea in his head that the other two look down on him. He was convinced that he should take people like him who came from power in Eastwood to show his superiority, the other two followed his footsteps and admitted people that benefitted them. Malcolm who was filthy rich was convinced by others that Polo and Evans used him for his money, and he started filling Eastwood with unworthy rich brats as revenge. Evans, the third founder was from a honourable family, he soon came under the impression that only people like him deserved to be in Eastwood and as a result these three groups were formed." Carson said, as I took notes.

"So that's where the groups came from, it's sad to see how things turned out, Right?"

"Yeah, after the founders started filling Eastwood with their own kind, there was no place left for the unfortunate, which went against the objective of this place."

"But people like me are here now."

"It's because of the law and for it's reputation, believe me if it were like old times I'm sure they won't even let 10% of the seats go to normal population, it's a shame that people like you are the least in number here."

He took me by surprise, getting referred to as 'people like you' is not the best feeling in the world.

"I need to work a lot for the assignment, I am still clueless about what we're going to submit," I said.

"We can get together another time, we have a lot of time," he said giving me a smile.

"Yeah, we have to," I said, "Wait a minute, if you are from the founding family then that means you came from the family of one of them."

He looked a little shocked, as if I said something I shouldn't have said, "Yeah, I come from the family of Polo."

"What? Then shouldn't you be the leader instead of Derek, but I heard you're not even a part of it."

"As everybody knows Ashley, I don't believe in such groups and stay away from all of it, I want my life simple," he gave me a dimpled smile, but I can't help but feel that I shouldn't have talked about it, he looked a little shocked by my straight forwardness.

"I'm sorry if I was out of line, I didn't mean to-."

I was cut short by Carson, "No, don't be silly, it's just that generally everyone here knows everything about me, sometimes even more than me, it was actually strange that you asked," he whispered the last part.

I laughed at him, "No way."

"It's true, just last week a girl was arguing with me about which camp I went to in my 7th grade."

"Oh God, Seriously?"

"Yeah, and that's not even the worst part, the worst part is she was right and I was wrong," he said rubbing his neck, feeling embarrassed.

My jaw dropped open, and I started laughing in the library, everyone gave me an angry look and I stopped while Carson looked at me with an amused smile of his own.

"But, it was the limit when this other girl started arguing with me over my favourite color."

"Oh my God, I can't hear it stop, please stop," I said between fits of laughter, he continued as he was unaffected by the daggers flying at us. He knew none of them had the guts to stand up to him, he sat there telling me his story, like absolute Royalty.

"Yeah, I repeatedly told her It was Green, but she was adamant that it was Blue, Apparently according to some instagram page, Blue has been my favourite color, since I was 13."

"Yeah, What is it with Eastwood and Instagram pages, Why does everyone has one," I said laughing.

"What's so funny?" A voice came from behind me, where Carson was now looking, and his jaw tightened, I recognised the voice at once, obviously you did too.

I turned around and Derek was standing there with Blaze, who had a lot of books in his hands. This is exactly the type of situation I didn't want to be a part of, and by the looks of it, I could tell Blaze didn't either.

"Apart from your face? Derek?" Carson's voice came in, I looked at him and his entire posture has changed, gone was the carefree, trying to make me laugh Carson. What sat there now was the boss of it all, he had straightened his posture now, and his relaxed features were now hard.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realise we were still in elementary," Derek smirked at him.

"Not the place guys, Not the place," Blaze interrupted and gave both the guys a look.

Carson and Derek kept staring at each other, Carson was the first to look away, he grabbed his bag and stood up.

"Can I walk you to your next class Ashley?" Carson asked me.

"What are you? Her legs? She can walk just fine without you," Derek replied for me and I looked at him annoyed.

"Yeah sure, since yours is in the way," I said. Carson waited for me to grab my things, not looking at Derek. Just when I was about to walk past Derek, he grabbed my hand and pulled me back, Carson turned around and his eyes zoomed in on our hands.

"She's not going anywhere," Derek said to Carson.

"Again Derek, not the place," Blaze said to Derek. Although I don't know what he was worried about, all heads were 5 feet under their books, even though many of the books were upside down, everyone acted like this is a bank on robbery.

"Oh, I'm not talking to my very good friend Carson here, I'm just speaking to Ashley," Derek said making innocent eyes at Blaze.

"Aha! So you said 'she's not going anywhere' to Ashley?" Carson replied, amusement dripping from his voice.

"Well, You know what I meant," Derek explained.

"So, you are talking to me, interesting!" Carson said, putting his thinking face on.

"Are you both in elementary?" I said.

"My thoughts, exactly." Blaze said.

Carson looked at me, "Let's go Ashley," he said trying to reach out for my hand, while Derek's hold on my hand tightened.

"Actually, I think I'll go alone," I said dodging Carson's hand and taking my hand away from Derek's. They both looked at me, and I gave them a 'not interested in your drama' look.

I started walking out and heard Blaze cheering me from his place "You go, Girl!"