"Ash stay still!" Ryan commands and I huff a frustrated sigh and sit still while she finishes my 'perfect' messy bun. After I stayed with her through the weekend she decided that she wanted to dress me for school today.

 She's driving me crazy. 

I look in the mirror and see the outfit she's put me in. It's pretty cute, a simple gray t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up. 

Everything topped off with a cute black bracelet, some dark blue jeans, black strap sandals, and a black handbag to match. I have to admit, Ryan does do an amazing job. It took forever, but we compromised on the makeup. Some foundation with mascara and light Baby Lips lip balm.

"Done," she said and stood back with a nod of approval of her work. "I'm a genius," she states and grins while I roll my eyes.

"Yeah, yeah your incredible now hurry up we're going to be late!" I stress and she rolls her eyes and grabs her light brown knee-high boots putting them on quickly and on our way down the stairs she grabs her keys and her bag off the rack going in the kitchen quickly with me following. 

"Hey, mom!" Ryan quickly greets her mom kissing her on the cheek.

Sarah Lockheart is Ryan's mom and it's not hard to tell. With long blonde hair, grey eyes, and the figure of a Victoria secret model it's clear where Ryan got her beauty. 

Sarah laughs and greets her daughter back while eating her healthy granola cereal with fruits. "Hey sweetheart," she smiles. 

 "Hey Aunt Sarah," I greet and steal a blueberry from her bowl.

Ryan and I have been best friend's since I can remember. Our mothers have been best friends since college, the special bond of sorority sisters. 

Ryan's dad, Jackson Lockheart, is a man of power, gorgeous looks, and intense intimidation.

As if on cue he walks down the stairs in a crisp black Armani suit, his blond hair gelled back and suitcase in hand. In their mid-thirties, the Lockheart parents don't look a day over twenty-three. It's shocking really. 

"Hey sweetie," Aunt Sarah greets me and stands to kiss me on the cheek, "We're having barbecue dinner at your house so after school you and Ryan go to your house and we will be there." She says with a smile and I nod already hungry for that barbecue. 

Behind us, Uncle Jackson chuckles, "Yeah and I'll be trying to copy your father's recipe for ribs." We all laugh because every time dad tries to show him how to do it he ends up messing it up and my dad has to fix it, but they both have fun and get to have some guy friend bonding time. They're like best friends too which works out because our families are together a lot. 

"Oh crap!" Ryan says looking at the time then grabs an apple off the table and grabs my hand running with me behind her out of the kitchen, "Bye!" We both say and Aunt Sarah and Uncle Jackson return our departure. 

We both giggle running out of the house to my car rushing as quickly as we could. We split at the hood and she throws me the keys across space above the car and we both rush inside, put our seat belts on, and I reverse out the driveway onto the road. 

We both laugh and Ryan yells, "Success!" 

I take a second to breathe and decide to check the time only to be surprised when I realize we still have twenty-five minutes to get to school, "Ry', we had like twenty some minutes left, what's with the rush?" 

She smirked. "What? I wanted Starbucks." 

Of course. 

We pull up into Starbucks, through the drive-through of course, and we both order our drinks. After we head out to school and park just in time with about ten minutes to spare. 

Perfection is key. 

We both get out and go to walk to school. As we're walking I notice something weird. When we open the double doors everyone turns to look at me and some point and whisper. I scrunch my eyebrows in confusion, then suddenly remember the events of Friday night. 

This is bad, this is very, very bad.

I gulp the sudden ball in my throat my pulse quickening.

"Ryan," I whisper to her and I look to see her face scrunched in confusion to looking around as people turn to stare. 

The whispers suddenly get louder and you can hear what everyone is talking about. 

Me. 

"Yeah, that's her. You think he's going to do to her what he did to Rodney?" I hear from a girl in a floral shirt and my eyes widen. 

Another girl in a very mini skirt and a tight shirt whispers, "I think her name is Ashley? That's the bitch that did that to Bain. How could she? Does she even know who he is? I texted him and told him if he needed anything, he has me,"

You've got to be kidding me.

Ryan must have heard what she said and rolled her eyes muttering under her breath, "Skank." 

I giggle quietly and nudge her. "That's so mean." I love my best friend. 

Suddenly a tall Trip Livingston comes into sight holding his Chemistry textbook in his left hand, "Hey," he greets with a small smile looking at Ryan and I. Ryan blushes and smiles looking at him and I smirk. 

"Hi." she greets back her cheeks slightly glowing pink.

Ah, young love. 

Trip then looks at me with an apologetic look, "Hey Ashley, listen I'm sorry about what happened at my party." I raise my eyebrows in surprise. Usually, Jocks are self-centered jerks here, but Trip seems genuinely sympathetic. 

I smile reassuringly, "It's fine. I appreciate it." I nod nervously. I usually don't talk to anyone but Ryan at school, but looking at the puppy love face my best friend is giving him right now while his attention is momentarily focused on me, something tells me he's going to be around a lot more often. 

He nods then turns his attention back to Ryan with something sparkling in his eyes. I'm guessing that's my cue to get out of here. 

"Well, I guess I better get going to class," Neither of them glance at me not daring to break their intense gazes. I laugh internally and just walk away.

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Later I'm at my locker switching my books for my last period when it gets slammed shut hard almost catching my fingers. I yelp and I look to my left to see, of course, my worst nightmare. 

Bain White. 

 His presence was intimidating, to say the least, and I hadn't even thought about what I'd do if I saw him today. 

Before I could say anything his deep rumbly voice chimes in, "Hey there, Airwood." He takes my textbooks right out of my hands. "You and I are going for a walk."

My eyes widen as he tosses my textbook on the ground in front of my locker then grabs my wrist leading me towards the exit of the school. Everything was happening so quickly I didn't even know what to do. 

At first, I was surprised to see how gentle he was being, but then realized it's all a show. Because there are cameras. Cameras that could prove him guilty of whatever he's about to do. Being in a situation like this is something I never thought I'd have to consider, something I wasn't prepared for. He leads me outside and leads me to his ford truck when he grabs the handle of his door opening it and commands me, "Get it."