ASHLEY“What?” my mouth could as well be reaching my ear and Andrea has to swat my thighs to get me to quiet down.“Don’t scream it to the whole world.” She hisses lowly.“What do you want me to do? Andrea, you can’t marry someone you met two months ago!”“Three months,”“What is the difference?” I swing the pillow at her but she catches it before it connects with her face.“Will you listen to me?” she whisper-yells and I nod, promising her I’ll be quiet.“I told him no of course, at least not yet but I love him, Ash. I know I do.”I’m looking at the crazy doe eyed girl sitting in front of me and trying to relate her to my sister that didn’t care for men that way. I know she believed in prince charming but she doesn’t like love at first sight and this sounds an awful lot like it.“But how can he ask you to marry him? Is he crazy?” I whisper-yell in return, okay more like yell, the whisper part seems to have been lost in my throat.“Shut up!” I nod, putting my hand over my mouth to sil
ASHLEYI don’t forget to pray for good luck seeing how yesterday ended for me and I wouldn’t want a repeat, there is something in my mind but I can’t pinpoint what it is. It must not be important.I put on a band t-shirt and pair it with skinny jeans, the weather is warm so I don't bother with any jacket and after staring at the mirror for more than five minutes I finally decide to put my hair up in a ponytail.Waiting for Andrea would be fruitless because she takes very long in the shower. I find the table they are sitting at in the small restaurant in the hotel."Morning mum, dad." I peck both of them on the cheeks before sitting in between Sam and Theo.The former sits up and smooches his mouth as though expecting a kiss, I roll my eyes then push the garlic bread I reached for into his mouth, he spits it out immediately making a gagging sound which gains our parent's attention."Sam!" Mun exclaims, giving him the look mothers give when you're doing something wrong in public and the
ASHLEYSince we've already filled our information online we didn't have to go through all that hassle of finding our room or registrations, we only had to go to the admin and get our key then sign that we've moved in.Plus, since most students have not resumed we have a lot of time on our plate and space.Drea and I are sharing a room, nothing new there since we've been doing that basically our whole lives."This is amazing," Mum says, running her hand over my unmade bed.Theo, Dad, and even Sam helped in bringing our things inside, but not much really. Just my books, Drea's posters and things she likes then our clothes boxes."Oh, I'm going to miss my girls," I let her wrap her arms around me, letting her warmth envelop me.Drea joins in on the hug and the familiarity of it almost made me cry, especially when I remember she wouldn't be in the kitchen or backyard when I get home from school every day."We'll miss you too mum,""So much," Drea adds, and after a few seconds like that we
ASHLEYAndrea and I share a look mostly because we didn't see anyone when we came in and all, some people are already back but not most of them."Open it?" She asks and I shrug, having half the mind to shake my head.With the weird things that have been happening to me, I don't want any more horror movie shit."We'll be fine," Drea mutters and gets up to open the door. We find a girl standing with a wide smile on her face."Hi, I'm Mila. I'm in the next room." We share another discreet look before I muster a small smile."Can I come in?" She points to the inside laughing a little at how Drea is holding the door.She throws me a look over her shoulder and I nod before she lets her in. She finds a place to sit and literally starts chattering and telling us all about her. One thing I can tell is she is pretty jovial and seems nice.She is a sophomore and told us a few dos and don'ts, most especially the guys to avoid."If he wears a leather jacket, don't." She says counting the items off
ASHLEY"How many boxes left, Ash?" Andrea yells from downstairs, her voice echoing in the halls."Two more," I yelled back, heaving as I tried to drag the enormous suitcase with me, simultaneously hoping I didn't twist my ankle and fall down the stairs. I will be trashed if that happens."Let me get that, kiddo," I nod gratefully at Theo, my elder brother who acts like a father, much to my dismay.I place my hands on my waist and huff out a breath from all the stress of doing the barest minumum."Are you almost done? Oh, I will miss you so much, my babies." Mum says, pulling me into a hug.I wrap my arms around her, the distinct scent of cinnamon wafting through my nostrils.She has been baking, ßshe has been singing since morning that we needed cinnamon rolls for the trip."Well, you'll be with me for one more day, mum. There's not much to miss." I point out, earning a short chuckle."One day is not enough for me to get a fill of you, baby."My amazing but overbearing family thought
ASHLEY"A club?" My two brain cells are fried; maybe that is why I don't understand that four-letter word.I shouldn't be surprised, but I still am.I'm in slutty clothes with red lipstick and heels that probably touch hell, and it's midnight in a place I've never been to. Where did I think we were going? The library to give the books a show as we read my favorite contemporary romance novels?I really wish it was that."Yes, a club, Ash, now don't look at me like that." She states, seeing the look I'm giving her.I honestly hope she doesn't drag me to jail."This is one of the reasons I wanted to come to this great school, so we can go out clubbing without Theo and dad breathing down our necks." She says it like it is a perfectly, plausible explanation for dragging me out in the middle of the night in an unknown town to a club in God knows where."And your smart idea is to make me come to school a month early and.....and do what, Andrea?" I can't help my voice rising in the end.She g
ASHLEY"I made sure to keep you busy for the month before school starts, so make the most of it before you bury yourself in computers, just like I know you will," Andrea says the last part pointedly. I don't even argue because she is right.That was how I wanted my school life to be, based on the school. She's the social sister while I'm the sister that is plainly known as the sister and I am happy with that. It seems my sister isn't; it doesn't surprise me, she is always finding ways to make me more social and telling me to live a little."If anything goes wrong, it's all on you." She makes a cross my heart sign before walking forward."I'll take the blame if anything goes wrong, which I know won't happen." I fight the urge to tell her she doesn't have control over the universe, but I save my words. She wouldn't listen.We walked through two more doors with one buff guard outside. He didn't give us a hard time, only opening doors for us before reaching where I assume is our final de
ASHLEYWe walk out through a different door and I follow Drea’s lead like I’ve been doing all night. She could lead me to hell and I’ll eagerly follow but what can I say, I am the loyal sister.This walk is shorter and there are no buff men outside the door she pushes open. Thank God!She struts into the room like she owns the place and I try to keep and not look out of place, hoping I don’t look like I’m breaking a leg in these death trap heels.There are about ten or maybe fifteen women in the room, most of them dressed similar to us and those that aren’t dressed like that are wearing something more scanty, it made me want to ask why they even bothered but I keep my opinions to myselfß.“Come on,” Andrea says, already dragging me by the hand and I just let her lead, too tired of arguing. “Why are they—“she doesn’t let me finish before we move to the end of the room and join a line. Probably the line to hell but oh whelps.The line is a moving one and I think my body has shut down.