When I arrived at school, I ran straight for the guy with jet black hair and ocean blue eyes. Days melt away so fast and Monday finally rolls in. Two days had passed, but his words kept repeating in my mind, leaving me in the abyss of my thoughts.

"By the way, Ashton is the name." I could practically sense the smirk on his face.

"Ashton?"

"Why sounds so surprised?" He asked. I heard the ruffling of sheets at the end of the line.

"Why-How--"

"Why do I have your phone and how did it happen?" he chuckled lowly, his voice bitter. "You left it in my car the night before."

Memories of last night flashed in front of me. It was the first time I saw him so distressed. The first time I saw pain in his eyes. It was then I realized that Ashton is not far from me. Even though he doesn't admit it, people's judgment bothered him.

"Did you... Did you open it? My phone I mean?" I asked cautiously. Please tell me you didn't. Say you didn't dare --

"So what if I did?"

~~

"Ann?" a familiar voice called from behind. When I turned around, I was greeted by a grin from Phillip.

"Oh hello!" I exclaimed. I brushed past him, still looking for the jet black-haired guy who stole my phone—well, not really stole it, but you get the idea. He has my phone, for Pete's sake! And he refused to turn it back.

Phillip followed my gaze and then looked back at me. His brows knitted together.

"Looking for something?"

"Actually someone. I'd been looking for him since I get here." I admitted.

"Him? Who? Maybe I can help." He offered, flashing me a smile.

"No!" I exclaimed. "I mean no," I said, faking a laugh. I wouldn't dare to ask about Ashton's whereabouts. Knowing that they don't seem to get along? Ha, n No, thank you. Phillip gave me an odd look. His smile had faded and been replaced by fervor.

"Why not?" He probed.

"Because you don't know him."

His light brown eyes were fixed on mine, searching my face as if I were a puzzle he was trying to solve. His frown deepened, and after a brief silence, he spoke..

"Am I wasting your time Ann? Are you looking for a reason to get away from me?"

My eyes widen. Why would he think that? Do I really appear to be in such a hurry to get away from him? Phillip was the nicest person I'd ever met. He was so kind to offer a smile to me when we first met. I would never get on the wrong side of someone who has been kind to me. I felt a pang of guilt when I saw his face fall and look dejected.

"Phillip that's not what I meant." I said softly trying to cover up the hole I put myself in.

"I thought you don't like my company." He smiled. "Anyway, I better get going."

He turned around and began walking back to the building. I bit my lower lip and ran my fingers through my hair. I took another look around, and when I couldn't find any trace of the person I was looking for...

"Phillip, wait!"

~•~

"Who are you looking for, by the way?" Phillip asked again the moment I matched his pace.

"Forget about it. He's not that important." I dismissed. Phillip cast a doubtful glance at me. He gave me a look that says he doesn't believe me. He opened his mouth to say something but then shut it again. I know he knows the underlying meaning in my tone, but he chooses to ignore it. He smiled at me and wrapped his arm around my shoulder, drawing me closer to him.

"You know you can trust me Ann. I know it sounds unbelievable, but in the short time I've spend moments with you, you already taken space in my heart. You become close to my heart because you're like a sister to me."

I smiled up at him and said a small thank you. A pang of guilt rushed through my veins, and I couldn't even open up about my encounter with Ashton. That I'm afraid they'll judge me and I'll screw things up for them. I'm ruining the friendship I'm trying to build with them. My head was cast down. I feel like a wretched friend for not trusting a friend who cares for me like a sister. I'm sorry, I cannot even repay him by telling the truth..

Phillip gazed down at me and squeezed my shoulders. "Hey, what's wrong?" He murmured. I shook my head. "Look, whatever making you feel so down, forget about it. If you're not comfortable to open up to me, it's fine. It's completely fine. I won't judge you by that." He said softly. "Remember this, don't let other's judgment affects you. Just be yourself. Love the way you do. Do the things you like. And let everybody loves and likes you of just the way you are."

I looked up, a grin smeared across my face. "Thanks for the words of enlightenment, father Phillip."

He chuckled. "No problem. Now come on. I bet they're all worried about you. You just vanished like a bubble last Friday night." He said and dragged me to the busy crowd.

"Good morning." I greeted when we spotted them in the lobby.

"Morning." Mia replied dryly.

"Bad morning." Steve whispered to me and chuckled.

"Bye squid. I have to meet my girlfriend. Be careful with her," he motioned to Mia. "She might bite." He mouthed.

Mia hurled a book at Steve, which landed squarely on his head. His laughter erupted in the hall. "I know, I know. I love you, too," he laughed yet again. When he saw Mia about to throw another book at him, he jogged and retreated..

"Jerk." She muttered. An amuse smile spread across my face. Mia raised her perfect eyebrow at me. "What?"

"Why in a bad mood?" I asked.

"Nothing."

"I think she's PM's-ing." Phillip whispered. I laughed.

"What?" Mia asked.

"Nothing." Mia's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms across her chest. I tried to hide the smile on my face, which is actually difficult.

"I know that smile Ann. Now spill."

"Do you have your period?" I asked softly.

"What? Of course not! How many times do I have to tell to people that I wasn't on my- argh! It was Steve's fault. That jerk." Mia rebuked. She took her phone from her pocket and scanned something. She showed a picture in front of us. It was a picture of a couple kissing. It was difficult for me to figure out who these people were.

"So? Who are these people?"

"That's Victoria and Ashton. Seeing them together makes me barf!"

"Oh." Was all I can say. "What's wrong with this? It's normal. They are couple, Mia."

"I know!" she said exasperated. "It's just... I don't know anymore. I hate Ashton. I despise Victoria. I got pissed this morning when I saw it all over the internet. Seeing them together makes my blood boil in range."

I took another look at the picture. A wave of unknown emotion washed over me. They appear to be inseparably in love; they are like absolute pieces that complement each other perfectly.

"Do you like Ashton, Mia?" I asked slowly. Her eyes widen like a golf ball. Her expression was like a deer caught in the headlights. The question had caught her off guard. That's for sure. I, too, was surprised that it came from my own mouth.

"No," she said firmly. "I don't like him. I will never like a selfish guy like him."

"Besides, he's taken; his girlfriend is so possessive that she transforms into an evil witch whenever Ashton isn't around; last time, she accused and hit a girl when she heard Ashton go out with a girl hand and hand in her party."

"She-she hit a girl?" I repeated nervously.

"Yes. That's why nobody messes with her. They all scared of her, after all. While Ashton is... Ashton." Zonia stated.

"They are both perfect for each other. The school female dog and the school bad gangster." Mia spat bitterly. We arrived at the locker room, and she opened her locker and began fishing out his notes for her morning class, casting them in her bag.

"What happened to the girl then?" I asked my voice lacing with concern. Poor girl. She's not supposed to experience that.

"She cried of course! What else suppose to happen?" Luvelle butted in a duh tone.

"Anyways, let's not deal with the girl. We were all concerned about your being! How did you get home?" Mia said.

"With the help of my feet." I reasoned.

She raised her brows and crossed her arms across her chest. She has this look on her face that says she doesn't believe my nonsense and that there's a card above her head that says, 'Seriously? '

"Then?" she asked, waiting for further information. Mentally, I rolled my eyes. Will she please just drop it? What am I supposed to say at this point? Actually, yes. I was almost publicly harassed physically at the party, but Ashton came to help me and tadah! Things happened, and he was gracious enough to drop me by my house. Or maybe just say that I asked Harry Potter if I could borrow his broomstick. Or ask Aladdin if I can ride on his flying carpet! Yeah right.

"I-I--"

"I helped her. She saw me and asked if I could send her home." Said the person who I wasn't expecting to save my lousy butt from the interrogation.

"Brett?" I said charily. Brett shrugged and scratched the back of his neck.

"She looked so pathetic that time. I took pity on her because she's like a soaked azkal and was about to cry when she found no one of you." Brett stated. I rolled my eyes at his snide remark, but I was grateful nonetheless.

"Then why didn't you tell me? Or at least text me?" Mia asked me.

That's because I don't have my phone with me. I never thought Mia is one hell of a reporter. She asked too much questions.

"My phone died, and I forgot to pm you," I lied. She appears to be satisfied with my response and drops the subject. When they were all busy with their stuff, Brett approached me and whispered something into my ear.

"I saw you with him. Stay away."

"Why?"

"He's a bad news. And you can never have him."

He spun around and walked next to Mia. I opened my locker. You'll never be able to have him? Psh. I didn't ask for him because, first and foremost, I don't have feelings for him. I just want to be his friend. And I'm just curious as to why they despise Ashton so much. What has he done to deserve this treatment? He's not a murderer, nor does he have a contiguous disease to be despised this much because he seems kind.

But I can't say much about this because I don't know the roots of their hatred. I can't even judge a person based on his name alone. When I opened my locker to get my books, I gasped as I realized what I'd been looking for was inside, sleeping peacefully on my piled books.

I grabbed it and immediately looked around for the jet black-haired with ocean blue-eyed guy.

There he is, leaning on his locker across from us, his hands pocketed in his jeans pocket. His bag was slung lazily over his shoulder. Our eyes locked for a brief moment, enough for me to saw a small smirk emerged on his face when he glanced at the phone I was holding.

I clutched my phone across my chest. My heart thumping so fast in his simple action and a small smile spread across my face. No matter what they say, for me, Ashton is not that bad as what they thought.

~~

Hey Peps! Thank you for a hundred votes and 3k reads for the whole book. I never expect that this book will be notice by such an amazing person as you. Thank you. Thank you in a hundred times. Comments and votes are much appreciated.💞