Ashen had gotten Freya to promise she would help him with his essay. But to make sure she didn't slip away from her word, he decided to stick to her like glue through every single class of the day.
"Man, I've got to say…" Ashen stretched his arms as they walked out of the school building. "First day of school wasn't so bad." He glanced at Freya, waiting for her to agree. "Wouldn't you say so?"
Freya gave him a side look, her expression flat. "If I didn't have to babysit you all day, then yeah… it wouldn't have been so bad."
And she wasn't joking. Keeping Ashen in line had drained her.
Ashen grinned. "Oh, come on, Miss Grumpy. Don't tell me you don't like my company?"
She kept walking, ignoring him.
"Not even a little bit?" He leaned forward, searching her face for answers. "Seriously? Not one tiny, teeny, bit of like for me?"
Freya stopped in her tracks. Slowly, she turned and stared straight into his eyes.
She didn't speak a word. She didn't need to. Her icy glare said everything.
"Wow," Ashen sighed dramatically. "I knew you were boring, but I didn't think you'd be blind to fun when it's standing right in front of you."
Freya scoffed. "And you think you're fun?"
"Have you met me?!" Ashen spread his arms wide like the answer was obvious.
This time, Freya actually chuckled. His ridiculous confidence, his overinflated ego was enough to make her laugh, even if just a little.
They reached the parking lot. Freya led him to a sleek sports car, polished to perfection. Its sharp design and luxury parts screamed wealth from every angle.
Ashen blinked. "You never told me your parents were loaded."
Freya pulled the door handle but paused to reply. "You and I aren't close enough to be sharing family details." She slid into the driver's seat, her tone firm. "And don't forget, lwhatever this is only lasts until your essay is done. After that, we're finished."
She lingered, watching him with her hand still on the door. She wanted him to know she meant every word.
Ashen smirked. She really is a feisty one. "Fine, Miss Cold-Hearted Redhead, I hear you. Now, would you open the door instead of keeping me waiting forever?"
That made her smile faintly. At least he understood the rules.
She unlocked the car, and Ashen reached for the handle to climb in. But before he could, someone slammed into him from behind, shoving his body hard against the car with a loud thud.
"I told you to stay the hell away from her, didn't I?!"
It was the bully from earlier. He grabbed Ashen and banged him against the car again, then spun him around and started throwing punches before Ashen could even speak.
Fists smashed into Ashen's face, kicks struck his stomach. Pain flared with every hit. But in the chaos, Ashen found an opening.
He shoved his attacker back with all his strength, sending him stumbling to the ground. Without hesitation, Ashen pounced on top of him.
Now it was Ashen's turn. He rained punches down, paying him back for every blow. He kept going, smashing fist after fist until Freya rushed in from behind and pulled him off.
By then, a crowd of students had already gathered, drawn in by the commotion. More arrived with every second, cheering at the fight unfolding before them.
The two boys weren't finished, though. They rolled across the ground, trading blows, each trying to overpower the other.
"Enough! That's enough from both of you!"
Freya's voice boomed through the noise. She dragged Ashen back and held him in place. But the other boy, Edward, wasn't done. He lunged forward, fists still swinging, desperate to land another hit.
"That's it, Edward. That's enough out of you!" Freya shouted, stepping between them with her arm stretched out to stop him.
Edward froze, his face twisted with anger. "Damn it, Freya! Why the hell are you taking his side?!"
Ashen blinked in surprise, his face aching. Wait… they know each other?
"I'm not taking sides," Freya snapped. "You jumped him first. Don't try to twist this."
"I only attacked because he wouldn't leave you alone!" Edward shot back.
Ashen squinted. Wait, are they siblings or something? From the way they argued, it almost sounded like it.
"Do you see me complaining about it?" Freya's voice was sharp. "I can handle myself, Edward. I don't need you watching over me."
Ashen grinned through the pain. There you go, Redhead. Tell him to back off.
"Are you seriously going to treat me like this?" Edward's voice cracked with anger. "You know what's at risk here!"
Ashen leaned against the car, wishing for some popcorn. For some reason, the fight had turned into a drama show, and he didn't mind watching it play out.
"Yes, I know," Freya said firmly. "And I also know you're overstepping. So back off."
As her words rang out, the air shifted strangely. A sudden wave of heat brushed past, almost like a hot wind sweeping through.
Ashen frowned. Weird…
Freya turned back to him. "Come on, new guy. Let's go." She stormed into her car.
Ashen grinned. "Uhm, the name's Ashen," he corrected as he grabbed the handle and pulled the door open. Then, before sliding in, he turned back to Edward. "Oh, and one more thing. Sucks to be you, dude. Getting all worked up over a girl? What are you, twelve?"
He laughed and jumped into the car before Edward could react.
Edward stood frozen, his fists trembling as Freya's car pulled out of the school grounds. His fury grew with every second.
First, at the thought of Ashen sitting next to Freya in her car.
Second, at how openly Freya had defended Ashen when it should have been him she supported.
And third, the worst of all, was that it had happened in front of everyone, with dozens of eyes watching.
Freya had chosen Ashen's side. Publicly.
Edward's teeth clenched. His nails dug so deep into his palms they nearly broke skin. His whole body shook with rage.
Ashen Freeman? To Edward, that boy was already dead.