Chapter 30: Chapter 29. Ashley Woods was Jealous of Claire Walker!

BLAKE

A week had passed since Christmas, and a week since I last saw Claire. She was avoiding me, that much was clear.

I’d spotted her in crowded places, but every time I tried to approach her, she seemed to vanish. I could never catch up with her!

Today was the first day back at school. January second, a fresh start to a new year.

I entered the school with a purpose, weaving through the throng of students.

I was dressed in dark blue, ripped jeans, a red tee-shirt, and my black leather jacket. I flicked my hair to the side with a quick jerk of my head.

Ignoring the calls of my name, I made a beeline for the cafeteria.

My gaze swept over the bustling teenagers until it landed on a familiar blonde head with dark green eyes. The girl was surrounded by friends and admirers, laughing and chatting.

Initially, I thought I’d rather face death than talk to her, but Ashley was the only one who knew the truth. With a sigh, I tightened my grip on my bag and headed towards her.

Her friends fell silent and the guys slowly backed away, sensing my agitation. ~Smart move.~ I was on edge, not having seen Claire in a week was taking a toll on my mood.

Once I reached Ashley, I grabbed her arm and whispered in her ear. “I need some answers. Now.”

She shivered as my lips brushed her ear. I always had a way with the ladies.

Despite my inner voice screaming at me to steer clear of her caked-on makeup, tight clothes, and overpowering perfume, I knew I needed answers.

She swallowed hard and nodded. I turned to her friends, forcing a smile. “We’ll be back in a few minutes, girls,” I said, leading Ashley towards a janitor’s closet.

My steps faltered as I spotted a head of brown hair and a pair of dazzling hazel eyes. Claire didn’t even glance my way as she hurried past.

For a fleeting moment, I saw a clear emotion in her eyes: Pain.

Claire was hurting. I wanted to know why, but I shook off the thought and continued to pull Ashley into the closet.

Once inside, I flicked on the light and took in her outfit: a blue skirt, tight leggings, black heels, and a snug blue jacket.

The strong scent of her perfume made me want to gag, but I held it back and got down to business.

“I need answers about Claire.” At the mention of her name, Ashley’s face contorted in disgust.

Before she could interrupt, I held up a hand. “Hold on. You’re the only one who knows the truth about Claire. I have questions, and I need them answered,” I said, determination etched on my face.

She raised her eyebrows, seemingly shocked by my words, then slowly nodded, a sly grin spreading across her face.

“Okay. But why are you so interested now? You’ve known her since seventh grade. Why the sudden curiosity?” she asked.

I shrugged. “I wasn’t curious then, but I am now,” I lied. From the moment I first saw her, Claire was an enigma.

Ashley nodded again. “What do you want to know?” she asked, leaning against the wall.

I didn’t hesitate. “Everything. I want to know everything you know about Claire,” I said.

She nodded, a habit she seemed to have. “Alright.” I was surprised by her agreement. “But...” I knew there was a catch. “You have to go on a date with me,” she finally said.

“Hell no!” I shot back immediately.

She shrugged. “Your loss. Guess you won’t learn anything about dear little Claire.” She moved to leave, but I stopped her.

“Fine. Just tell me everything,” I conceded.

She grinned wickedly and leaned back against the wall. “Where to start...?” she mused, deciding what to reveal first.

“Why did you two drift apart? I know you were best friends,” I said, eager to know the reason.

Her eyes hardened. “No,” she replied.

“I need to know, Ashley. What happened?” I asked, crossing my arms and leaning against the wall.

She sighed and looked at me. “If you breathe a word of this to anyone, I’ll deny it,” she warned. I nodded, urging her to continue.

“I was jealous,” she began. “She was good at everything. Running, drawing, looks... even ~fighting.~” She paused, emphasizing the word ‘fighting’.

~Why does everyone keep saying that?~

“She outshone me in every way. One day, I confronted her about it. We were at the park, and she told me I wasn’t being a true friend.

“She said if I wanted to remain her friend, I should stay. If not, I could leave.” She paused, lost in her memories.

A bitter laugh escaped her lips. “My pride wouldn’t let me stay, so I left. This was in sixth grade. In seventh grade, I decided to start fresh. I became popular and eventually, the stereotypical Queen Bee,” she finished.

I nodded, absorbing the information. ~Ashley Woods was jealous of Claire Walker!~

That was something I never thought I’d hear! All I could do was nod, a little taken aback by her confession.

Suddenly, a cruel grin spread across her face. “As for the information I have on Claire, you’ll have to wait until our date, won’t you?” She raised her eyebrows in a challenge.

I swallowed hard. “When and where?” I asked, resigned.

Her smile widened as she stepped closer. “Trust me, I’ll tell you everything once our date starts. Meet me after school on Friday.” With a quick peck on my cheek, she was gone.

I wiped the lip gloss off my cheek and left the closet. I was ten minutes late for class, but I didn’t care. My mind was spinning with thoughts about Claire.

~Why does Ashley keep punishing her? She doesn't deserve it. If Ashley's jealous, why can't she just leave her alone?~

~

~She's already won. Claire's life is a mess now. So why keep twisting the knife?~

~

~And why is Ashley planning to spill everything on our date? Why call it a “date”? Why wait so long?~

~

I felt like screaming, my mind a whirlwind of questions. But I kept my cool, pushing open the door to my English class, bracing myself for the inevitable lecture.