No Strings Attached

Chapter 3

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          After I’d scrubbed away at the grime of my designated area, I hurried to get my things from Mr. Abbey and practically flew out of the cafeteria. I didn’t stop running until I reached the front of the school, slipping out of the gate and pressing my back against it to catch my breath. 

I needed oxygen to reach my brain after that long hour with Ashton. 

The trek home would take about thirty minutes. Thirty minutes of me gathering my thoughts and catching my breath again. I didn’t need to be around a troublesome guy that could cause so many things to feel so wrong with my body. 

I liked breathing, thank you very much.

“Pigtails, let me give you a ride back home.” 

The fine hairs on my neck rose as I heard that deep voice behind me. When I peeked over my shoulder, I found him leaning against the school’s iron gate, his keys swinging around his index finger.

“I-I like walking.” 

Dark brows knitting over his pale grey eyes, Ashton pushed himself off the fence, throwing up the keys before skillfully catching them on his finger again. “Then I guess we’re walking.” He snickered with a shrug, falling in step beside me. 

Coming to an abrupt stop, I bowed my head when he glanced back at me. “Why are y-you talking to me?” I murmured, my hands squeezed tightly behind my back.

I was a loser sophomore with only one friend. Ashton was the ideal senior superstar, with his class clown ways and heart-stopping good looks. There was just no possible way that he could actually enjoy my awkward company. No way. 

His gaze shifted towards the afternoon sky, the soft orange hue lighting up his normally pale skin. Raking his hand through his black hair, he shrugged. “You’re weird as fuck, that’s for sure.” Glaring down at my feet, I pouted. Well, ouch. It hurt actually hearing it come from his mouth. “But, somehow, you’re the closest thing to normal I have in my life. And I like it.” 

Peering up at him, our eyes locked as he then leaned over, poking my cheek. “Why are you blushing, kiddo?” 

Blinking, my hands went up over my cheeks. True enough, they were on fire and I let out a quiet laugh. “I don’t know. My face only goes all stupid around you.” As the words left my lips, I instantly slapped my hands over my mouth as I vigorously began shaking my head. 

“Oh? Do I really, kiddo?” With a sinister smile curling his pink lips, he leaned in closer. My heart hammered in my chest as I squeezed my eyes shut. I couldn’t bare to see the appalled expression on his face at my stupid outburst. 

When I felt a slight tug on my hair, my eyes fluttered open, blinking up at him. Ashton was analyzing my pigtail, twirling a strand of it around his slender finger.

Squealing, I leapt away from him, checking in my hair. He must have put something in it. 

“Your hair’s soft.” 

Clutching the two pigtails tightly, I pouted with a nod. “I sure hope so! I put tons of olive oil in it before my showers to make it this soft.”