Ashlyn's POV
Monday finally came, and Mom offered to drop me off. I had no choice, so I agreed. We hadn't spoken since that awful breakfast with Walter. There was still tension between us and honestly, I preferred it that way. If she wasn't going to come clean about the marriage, about all the lies she'd stacked up, then I wasn't going to waste my breath.
As we drove in silence, I read everything I could about Les Hurleurs Noirs High online. I stumbled upon the profiles of the student leaders.
The football captain, Kayden Shaw, had a highlighted quote beneath his picture: We howl at the moon not because it answers, but because it is what we crave. Let that be your guide. Find your own moon, and in the silence of the night, howl for it with everything you have.
I had read it three times, because it was beautiful.
Beneath Kayden's was Noah's highlighted quote. He was the vice-captain. His words: There is a difference between wanting and needing. The first is a wish; the second is a command. Your instincts will tell you what you need. Trust them. Follow them. And take it.
I scoffed. Noah didn't seem like the type to string together something like that. Surely, he must've copied it from somewhere.
"We're here," Mom said, killing the engine. I didn't respond, so she turned to face me. "Ashlyn…."
"Save it, Mom," I cut in, holding out a hand. I opened the door, stepped out and walked a distance. Then I stopped to stare at the building before me with my books clutched to my chest.
"Les Hurleurs Noirs High," I took a deep breath, as I squared my shoulders. "Time to survive this."
Inside, scanty students filled the hallways. People laughed, people chattered, people slammed lockers. I on the other hand kept my eyes on the floor until I bumped into someone. My books clattered to the ground.
"Oh my goodness, I am so sorry," I blurted, picking my books up. "I wasn't paying attention."
"It's okay, it's fine," he said with an English accent.
I looked up, and my breath hitched. It was Kayden Shaw. He was even better in person. Hazelnut-brown hair, sharp jawline, amber eyes that one can get lost in. Pictures online hadn't done him justice.
"Hi," he said. "Are you new here?"
"Yeah," I said, a little flustered. I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear and extended a hand. "I'm Ashlyn. Ashlyn Haymitch. Senior. And you're…?" I pretended not to know.
He took my hand. "Kayden Shaw. Senior."
I smiled. "Nice to meet you, Kayden."
"Likewise." His lips quirked into a smile.
I had prayed for a distraction, and my goodness I got exactly what I wanted. I was shocked by how humble Kayden seemed for a football captain. I had expected a haughty, arrogant brat.
He let go of my hand and we walked together. "Usually," he began, "there's a tour guide for new students. But something tells me I shouldn't leave you in their hands."
"Oh?" I said. "You don't think they're capable handling me?" Shit, Ashlyn, what are you doing? I thought to myself.
He chuckled. "It's not that I don't think they're capable. It's just..." His eyes shifted to me. "I don't want to entrust some random tour guide with something so precious."
I giggled, with a blush forming on my cheeks. "Kayden…."
He frowned. "Wait. Don't tell me you thought I was talking about you?"
I immediately felt embarrassed. Why would I think I was the 'something so precious?'
He jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "The person I'm talking about is right behind us."
I spun around only to see a handful of passing students, all throwing us curious or downright hostile glances, and a mirror, posted up an open locker. My lips twitched as I turned back, shaking my head.
Noah nudged my shoulders. "It's you, silly."
I smiled so hard that I forgot myself, until I saw him out of the corner of my eyes standing by his locker; Noah. Our eyes met, and the world seemed to slow down. My smile, Kayden's voice, the noise, all of it faded. I blinked as he stared at me, and I stared at him.
And then she appeared; Natalie. She slid into his side smiling, claiming his space and drawing his attention all away from me. And just like that, I couldn't see him anymore.
As the bell rang for first period, Kayden offered to walk me to class. I followed him through the crowded hallway, trying not to notice how heads turned as we passed. He didn't seem to mind the attention. If anything, he moved with the ease of someone used to being stared at.
Kayden opened the door to the classroom and gestured for me to go in first. I took my seat, and he slid into the chair beside me. That, of course, brought even more stares. I glanced around quickly, scanning for Noah. It was stupid, I know, but I had to.
I stylishly searched the back rows, the corners, and every face I didn't yet know. He wasn't there. Natalie was, though, sitting two rows over with her legs crossed. Shortly, the teacher walked in and set his books down on his desk.
He scanned every face before landing squarely on me. "You must be Ashlyn, the new student?"
I nodded. "Yes, I am."
"Please, do stand up and introduce yourself to the class."
I stood reluctantly and faced rows of strangers. Kayden's eyes caught mine, and suddenly my brain scrambled. His stare was too direct. How was I supposed to sound confident when the hot football captain was watching me like that?
He winked at me and mouthed, "You got this."
I finally got my name out, "My name is Ashlyn Haymitch, I'm 18, I'll be turning 19 this fa—"
I paused at the sound of the door opening. My attention and everyone else's were diverted because of Noah. The moment he entered, our eyes caught, and a soft gasp escaped my lips. Noah had a way of making everything else disappear. Nothing and no one else mattered when Noah Calloway walked into a room.
The teacher's annoyed voice broke me from my reverie. "Noah, Noah, Noah. Do you make it a ritual to always come late on the first day of school?"
The class chuckled. But Noah didn't care. "Can I have my seat now?" he asked impassively.
The teacher shook his head, muttering something about disappointment, before waving him through. I sat down quickly.
"Okay. Good morning class," the teacher announced. "And welcome, Ashlyn."
"Good morning Mr. Dumont," they all chorused.
Class started and I couldn't focus. Noah had taken the seat behind me. It was as if I could feel his hot breath against the back of my neck even though he never moved.
It didn't take long before the bell rang, signaling the end of the period. Everyone bolted out of the room. Noah was gone in a flash, but Kayden stayed behind.
"Hey, if you want I'll show you around," he said simply. "Help you settle in."
I didn't know what to say. I smiled without teeth and humbly accepted his request. I'd found something rare in Kayden Shaw already: a friend. An unlikely one, maybe, but a friend all the same.
The way people stared at us as we walked together told me not everyone was happy about it. I could feel their anger. I knew the one question in their head; who was this new girl who had the football captain wrapped around her finger in less than 24 hours?
Kayden noticed how shy and nervous I was getting. "Don't worry about them," he assured me, pulling me in closer.
During break, we made our way to the cafeteria. Kayden and I had just sat down with our trays when a group of girls passed by. Some girl, leading the clique, pretended to stumble.
She "tripped" and "accidentally" poured her orange juice all over my head. My hair, my clothes, everything was sticky and drenched.
"Oops," she said sweetly. "Oh-my-goodness, I'm so sorry. It was an accident, I swear."
The whole cafeteria had seen it. Everyone laughed and mocked me.
"I'm really sorry, Claire. It's Claire, right?" Her small voice did nothing but infuriate me.
"It's Ashlyn, Odette," Kayden said with a hardened voice. "Now get the hell away from her."
His reaction wasn't enough for me. My fists clenched at my sides. I wanted to scream, to throw my own juice back at her, to claw that smug smile off her face.
Instead, I swallowed it down, biting back every ounce of anger, because I knew how this looked. New girl. Easy target.
"Excuse me, please," I muttered, rising from the table.
Kayden stood immediately. "Do you need any help?"
I forced a brittle smile, hiding the tears in my eyes. "No. It's fine. I can find my way myself, thank you."
I left before I could break. The message was clear. Odette and the whole school hated the way Kayden dotted on me. Just after I thought I had found a distraction, now I had to stay away from him.