CHAPTER THREE

Here I am, walking confidently... who am I kidding... walking super nervously through the hallway of Blue Lake High. I've gotten used to the attention from paparazzi at the red carpet and obsessed fans, but I can never get used to the creepy stares from students in our school. The rumors, the gossips, I prefer everything said to my face. I look over to Stacy, she looks so relaxed. I breathe out a sigh wishing I had her life... No worries.

Hakuna Matata...

"Locker 65, locker 65..." I mutter to myself while looking for it. Stacy's new locker is at the far end of the hallway, so she skips towards it leaving me alone.

I find my locker and open it. Gosh it's so dusty. I clean it up with a paper towel and start my monthly ritual of stacking my locker with the usual:

2 Granola bars, 5 Mars, 5 Twix, 5 Galaxy, 5 Toblerones, 5 Snickers, 2 packs of m&ms and the love of my life- a jar of Nutella.

Is that too much? Will my bag and books still fit? Am I a crazy foodie? The answer- No, Yes and Yes. And I lied about the 'monthly' stuff it'll all probably finish by next week.

I'm about to fix a mirror in my locker when the owner of the locker at my right opens theirs. I can't see their face but I can tell the person is chewing gum. The person is chewing so loudly it nearly burst my eardrums making me want to pull it right out of their freaking mouth. Exactly what I would have done to Jenny.

Jenny was my best friend at a summer camp I went to when I was 12. We had stayed in touch for a long time until I lost her contact when I was 16.

I stash my bag into my locker and slam it close. Ha! I told you it'll fit. Turning towards the person, a very unladylike squeal escapes from my mouth. It sounded like a dying piglet.

"Jenny!" I pull her in for a hug. For a second, I think I'm hugging a stranger but looking at the birthmark shaped like Carlifonia on her neck, I know it's her.

"Ashley, OMG! What are you doing here?" She's smiling so brightly.

"Silly girl, I should be asking you that," I correct, still admiring the hot looking brunette in front of me. Damn she's changed. The last time I saw her in person- we were 14 then- she had a really flat chest... really flat... Like 'spray on flat surfaces' flat. But now...

Thank God for maturity.

"I actually moved here last week with my mum and Milly. Dad's coming tomorrow," Jenny explains. I nod remembering her cute younger sister who might not be so young again. I last saw her when she was 3.

"You still do that?" Jenny asks out of blue.

"What?"

"Spacing out, when you space out, you touch your necklace and you start smiling," I'm about to say something when Stacy walks up to us.

"Wow, who's the new girl?"

"Stacy, this is Jenny we met at camp, Jenny this is Stacy," I introduce.

"I've heard a lot about you," they say almost at the same time and we burst out laughing.

"It's nice to know she talks about me," Jenny finally says.

All of a sudden, the air around us changes and the whispers increase making the three of us to turn. I notice everyone- actually- every girl divert their attention towards a group of 'drop dead' gorgeous guys and the one in the middle is to die for. Guess who. Skylar Anderson in all his glory. He looks just as hot as he did the day we met- or rather bumped into each other. Wearing a simple grey V-neck and jeans. His black hair carelessly tousled to the side. Girls swoon and ogle, guys wish and hold on tight to their girls.

Stacy catches me staring and snaps her fingers at my face.

"I could swear I saw you drool," Jenny teases. Hell yeah girl, of course I'm drooling. I mean, who wouldn't. He is Skylar Anderson, heir to the Anderson music industry. The son of Ray Anderson, the one and only 'Guitar Dragon'. The guy who's pictures are still on my bedroom wall. The guy who Madison cheated on Chase with. The guy who was so nice to his biggest fan when they ran into each other... Oh wait... He wasn't.

"I ran into him at a restaurant yesterday," I tell Stacy and Jenny. Their eyes widen in surprise.

"OMG... you guys are both celebs and you'd make a cute couple," Jenny cooes. I roll my eyes at this.

Stacy chuckles, "What happened, did you tell him about your music or did you go all 'motor mouth' on him?"

"None of that... He was rude. He looked at me with this heart shattering scowl. I... I think he hates me," I say watching Skylar stride down the hallway to what I assume to be his locker.

Few seconds later, a tall brunette in a sapphire blue romper with rather too much red lipstick skips towards him swaying her hips exaggeratedly. She gives him a peck on the cheek ignoring the bored look on his face. You guessed it right, that's Madison. Poor Skylar. He looks like he'd kill to be anywhere but there.

"Should we kidnap her and dump her in an alley full of cranky cats?" Stacy teases. Mhm tempting offer, but I'm not a monster... Or am I?

"Who's that bimbo?" Jenny asks eyeing Madison in pure disgust.

"A witch. She used to be our best friend until she stole Ashley's man in sophomore year and dissed her in front of everyone". I roll my eyes at Stacy's introduction. But yeah, it suits her.

"I hate her already," Jenny hisses.

Okay... Meet Jennifer Parker. My no nonsense best friend at summer camp. The only person who talked to me even when I isolated myself from everyone. I was going through a lot at that time. She was my rock. She fought for me when the other kids where being unfair to me. That's why I know that right now she'd fight for me in a heartbeat if anyone wants to bitch at me.

I look up to see Stacy and Jenny whispering to each other. Glad to see they're getting along. Then realization hits me. They're talking about me.

"So what, I space out, deal with it," I flip my hair in their faces and turn to my locker getting a hand full of m&ms while they giggle.

"You still have a sweet tooth?" I meet Jenny's gaze, but before I can reply the bell for first period rings.

"Bye, I've got Literature class now," Jenny says looking at her phone.

"No way, we've got Literature class too," Stacy and I exclaim. Jenny squeals as Stacy drags us towards our class. "Can today get any better?"

After Literature, I had AP Environmental science while Jenny and Stacy had Chemistry class. So yeah... Today didn't get better. The last period before lunch is a free period for me, so I decided to spend it all on stuffing my face with Nutella and m&ms . They actually taste really good together. I'm still savoring the taste when someone passing stops right beside me. I turn around to see Chase Kendall looking down at me with an amused expression. Way to embarrass yourself yourself Ash.

"Hey," I manage to say partly wondering if this is real. Chase has talked to me exactly twice. First time was when he asked to borrow a pencil in junior year, right before a test. Second time was when we ran into each other at Wal-Mart and he offered to help me carry groceries to my car.

"Hey pretty girl," Oh my heart... I could just melt. I scan the hallway to see if any other girl is around. But no, the hallway is scanty and the only people around are at the far end. Like I said before, it's not like I'm not pretty. I know I'm pretty, but I just don't think it's me... You know what I mean.

"Are you talking to me?" I ask raising an eyebrow realizing I'm the only girl around. He chuckles. Baby boy... This isn't funny... Well it sort of is... But still.

"Yes you," he says flashing the million dollar smile I used to admire from afar. Oh Ashley, please don't blush, please don't blush. Oh no I'm blushing... Traitor.

"I just came to say hi and remind you about our Literature project on 'Othello' when I saw you doing what girls normally wouldn't," he says still amused. Oh Ashley, haven't you embarrassed yourself enough. I turn my head to my locker when I notice his gaze towards it. My Chocolate collection.

"Well, I'm no normal girl," I quietly close my locker before he melts my babies with his eyes .

"I can see that". And then ladies and gentlemen, there was silence.

More silence.

Awkward silence.

"So how're you doing?" He asks, but suddenly- I don't know why but- I burst out laughing. He starts laughing too and knowing Blue Lake High gossip site, this is gonna be the trending gossip before 5th period.

"Why are you laughing?" Chase asks amidst laughter.

"Well maybe because I've been waiting for this moment since sophomore year and now it has come, I have no fucking clue on what to say". I did not just say that, did I just say that? Damn this stupid mouth.

Sometimes I wonder why I have a mouth... Oh wait, that's a lie.

A smirk instantly appears on his features. Not the cocky type. It's the really cute 'Is that so type'. I can tell he wanted to say something but suddenly changes his mind.

"Hey, do you maybe wanna go grab a smoothie after school while we talk about our project. It's due this Friday and I thought that it'd be a good idea to start on time," he finally says. I squeal internally and try to keep my cool. You can't keep what you never had. Shut up brain.

"Sure, but I hope you don't mind my body guards following at a safe distance". I can't go anywhere without them, last time I did, I literally got stampeded by fan girls.

"I don't mind at all... So all see you after school?"

"Yeah.. bye".

He winks at me and starts to walk off. He stops midway and turns, "Oh Ashley?"

"Mhm?"

"It's a date". He flashes his million dollar smile and finally walks off. Just then, the bell rings signaling lunch time.

Like seriously, what just happened? Also, I might need a change of underwear because I think I put the 'P' in pants. Oh wait... Nevermind. OMG, I got asked out on the first day of senior year 'BY' the love of my life... Okay crush of my life. I'm pretty aware of the daggers my brothers are gonna shoot at him if they see us together. But then again, this is my life.

I walk towards Stacy's locker when I sight her and Jenny giggling about something.

"Hey, how was your class?" I ask Stacy when I finally reach them despite knowing the exact answer she is gonna give me.

"Super boring". Yep. Suspected. I bite into the Snickers I had grabbed before heading towards them.

"Really Ash? Just before lunch?" Stacy asks raising an eyebrow.

"Mind your own business!" I snap playfully and walk towards the cafeteria swaying my hips exaggeratedly.

I hear Jenny shout, "Keep doing that and that poor junior over there will piss his pants". Crazy girl. I roll my eyes though she can't see it.

As usual, when we enter the cafeteria, eyes dart towards me and the whispers increase. Man, I can never get used this.

"You get this much attention alot?" Jenny asks when we had gotten our food. I nod.

"You'd get it even if you weren't a celebrity". I raise an eyebrow. I think she notices this, then she explains once we're seated. "Have you looked in the mirror lately? Your skin tone is perfect, your figure is flawless, your hair is to die for and your fashion sense is amazing," she says casually. Oh Jenny, if only you knew how much you're describing yourself.

"Thanks," then I remember, "Chase asked me out. Well he didn't really ask me out. We're just hanging out to discuss our project after school while we go grab smoothies. But that's bullshit because he turned to me and was like 'Hey... It's a date', I nearly pissed my pants and I'm so sure my face betrayed me. I was blushing... Real hard. I've been waiting for that moment my whole life and it finally came. We'd probably start dating and then get married, Sophie will be my maid of honor and you'd both be in my bridal train and-"

"Breathe dummy, breathe," Stacy cuts me off. I scowl at her but follow her instructions anyway. Breathe in, then out.

"I have so many questions," Jenny says while putting her last fry in her mouth.

"Fire on," Stacy says, "I'll answer them... Mrs Kendall here needs to calm her nerves". I slap her arm although the part where I need to calm my nerves is true.

"Who's Chase?" Jenny starts.

"That cute guy over there," Stacy says pointing to where Chase and his friends- Josh and Michael- were sitting, "Ashley's man, the one who Madison stole from her,"

"Okay... Who's Sophie?"

"Ashley's soon to be sister in-law,"

"Okay... why does she sound like a deflating balloon when she hyperventilates?"

"That's because she's actually deflating so blah blah bleh bah bloobdy buh boomba Blum buaha blam bum..." That's all I start to hear in a helium-like voice. I slowly drift away and start thinking about what I said earlier we would make cute babies if we got married. 'Oh get a hold of yourself Ashley. From all the bad TV you watch you should know that the first date is always a disaster and girl, you do not know how to kiss'. My brain says.

I've kissed a couple of times as a guest star in Damon's sitcom 'The Johnsons', but it was acting, so it wasn't a real kiss so I wasn't judged.

"Hello, earth to Ash," Stacy snaps her fingers at my face. I hear her mutter, "I'm gonna have to slap her next time". Looking up, I notice there are fewer people in the cafeteria which means lunch time is over. I didn't even hear the bell. I smile sheepishly at Stacy and Jenny while we drag our lazy asses to our various classes.

Hey... that rhymed.

#~#~#~#~

"Your eyes are really pretty," Chase says staring right into my eyes. Pretty? I don't think so bruh. My eyes are boring green. I once fell asleep while looking at them in the mirror. Okay that's a huge lie.

"Thanks," I say anyway. We're currently sitting on a bench in the park after taking our smoothies to go. Stacy took my car back to my house and it was easy for her since her's was parked in our parking lot this morning. Chuck and his team saved us from getting mauled by fan girls asking if Chase and I were dating. Sigh. One can only hope.

So we ended up talking about our project here. He teased me a lot when we played 'never have I ever' because I haven't done a lot of things normal teenagers do. In general, Chase is better than I imagined. He is really sweet and funny and I'm glad he never for once talked about Madison.

"What're you thinking about?" his gaze on me was intense probably noticing I'm not on planet earth. You. I want to say, but I know better than to say that.

"Ice cream," I say with a small smile. As if on cue, I hear an ice cream truck and I can't stop myself from screaming, "Ice cream!"

Chuck and his team almost run towards us, but when they hear the ice cream truck, realization hits them and they nod in understanding. They know me too well. I drag Chase towards the direction of the ice cream truck while Chuck and his team follow us.

"You gotta try butterscotch ice cream with M&Ms, it tastes like heaven," I say almost moaning at the thought of it.

"I like you. You're... you," he says all of a sudden. My whole world comes crumbling down, but in the good way. I lower my head to look at the ground, using my hair to cover my crimson colored face which he chuckles at. Oh that sound. I like you too Chase.

#~#~#~#~

A/N

Hi pumpkins!

(I really don't know why I called you guys that...)

Another chapter is down guys...

Fact: I actually used to keep a jar of Nutella in my locker... don't judge me:)

Next update: soon...

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STAY WILD♡♡♡