MATTHEW'S POV
After preventing a full-blown fight over bacons, we prepared ourselves for the competition.
I massaged my ankle to make sure it wouldn't act up later on. It didn't hurt the past few days so I think I would be okay. I brought my phone out to check the time and saw we were about to leave any minute.
A knock erupted from my door and Samuel made himself in.
"Oh, hey. Are we leaving?" I asked and stood up from the bed to grab my bag.
"Yeah... But I also wanted to talk to you."
"What is it?"
"About earlier... Can you not tell anyone about it? Especially Samantha." Samuel rubbed his arm, feeling uncomfortable about the request and the topic. "She already has enough on her mind."
'Being a big brother must be hard.'
Samuel really cares for Samantha. He always looks out for her.
"Sure, I'll keep it a secret. But I wanna know something."
Samuel gestured for me to continue.
"It's also about earlier. About Ashley." I didn't feel good talking about Ashley behind her back because I somehow feel I shouldn't even be speaking about this. Curiosity won over me again.
"Ah." Samuel said. "Well, when Ashley just joined the elites, let's say... She didn't have time for herself. She was always stressed on what people thought about her and her duties."
Samuel frowned deeply. I did too. "And let me guess... You made her realize she doesn't always have to please people?"
The corner of the captain's lips tugged upward. "Well, I wouldn't say it like that."
I knew he was just being humble, but what I said was the brief truth.
'Why did she care about what people think in the first place?'
I remembered the time the elites tried to make her summon her soul protector so they could see two strong soul protectors standing side by side. I had to admit, that would've been pretty amazing. Ashley rejected their offer and stayed cool after they started sputtering out how boring and a killjoy Ashley was.
Hearing how Ashley was caught up in people's expectations and remembering that time...
'That doesn't sound like Ashley at all.'
So, Ashley has been able to say 'no' because Samuel helped her? That's friendship goals right there. On a serious note, why did Ashley care what other people think? Comparing her past self and the present Ashley... I have to say, that's a lot of difference.
"Why did she care about other people's thoughts about her?" I asked subconsciously. I was still stuck in my head, I almost didn't know I said that aloud as Samuel answered.
"That's beyond me." He shrugged. "If you want to know so badly, ask her yourself."
I made a mental note to do it later. Samuel and I went down the stairs in a rush after hearing a car horn beep outside. Everyone was already lining up to enter the car. I looked around and saw Samantha and Zed already there, standing side by side.
For an unknown reason, I looked away at the sight. That's when I noticed Ashley wasn't here yet.
"Is everyone here?" The principal asked while he counted, his finger landed once on us.
"Ashley's the one that's not." An elite said.
The principal looked surprised for a second before realization dawned on him.
"It's the day of the competition. She must be preparing herself thoroughly." Mister Angelo muttered most likely to himself.
Now that I think about it, what class was Ashley associated in?
As we waited, a lot of elites started to get impatient and whispered amongst each other.
"We're gonna be late at this rate."
"Where is she? Does winning the competition means so much to her?"
"Probably. She at least has to keep up the reputation of being the daughter of the principal. Otherwise, she's just like her mother then."
"Yeah, I heard her ancestors were always full-blooded elites, but her dad married someone with normal blood. It must be hard on her."
"I wouldn't put it like that. About two years ago, you could see she was perfect in every way! Independent, smart, leader-like, and she would consider your requests. Now, she doesn't even bat an eye and say no. It's like she's been brainwashed by someone mean, blunt, and rude."
I bit my lip as I kept listening in silence. My lower back burned in pain.
Just because Ashley does not always accept favors from anyone doesn't mean she already let herself go. Don't they think about her feelings? That doing everything perfectly might've not been her happiness? Really, they should think before they speak! Also, her mother may have not been an elite, so what? That doesn't change anything. She's her own person.
I turned to the elites who were murmuring among themselves, ready to defend Ashley and give them a piece of my mind when a hand stopped me from doing that.
"I know what you're thinking, Matthew." Samuel said. "I dislike the way they're talking about Ashley too... But we should leave them alone to avoid distrust or hate among the others."
The words he said didn't make me less angry.
'Distrust or hate? But it's okay for them to talk bad about someone that could result in the same thing?'
The pain of biting my tongue back was no more painful than the burning sensation on my lower back, right where the rash was.
I blocked the whispers of the other elites and turned my back on them. My vision flickered of red as my hands trembled for a fight.
'I don't know what the normals see in you. If only they knew what's behind those smiling masks.'
Finally, Ashley appeared at the door. The footsteps of the blue-eyed girl led me back to reality, my sight went back to its original color. I blinked as I felt a sting and tears from my eyes.
'What was that just now?'
"It seems everyone's here!" The principal said as he finished counting the rest of us. He opened the door to the driver's seat and everyone followed. I was left standing and stunned as I processed what had happened.
'I think I saw red... Now that I'm aware, this isn't the first time it happened.'
There's a rash on my back that manipulates my words and actions and I started seeing red every time I was angry. I was perturbed at the odd activities my body was doing lately. I wanted to tell someone about it, but I was afraid they wouldn't believe me or that they were going to be scared of me.
'I'll just keep it to myself for now until I find someone who can help.'
A hand on my shoulder made me tense and looked behind me, alarmed.
My gaze struck a familiar blue-eyed shade of someone's eyes - that person happened to be Ashley.
"You were burning holes through the car door with a stare so intense." Ashley showed me a ghost of a smile. "You could see Samuel eyeing you from the window, he looks worried."
As soon as she said that, I looked at the translucent window of the limousine. I barely saw a Samuel peeking from the window, his eyebrows were knotted and his lips were pressed in a thin line. Invisible question marks were surrounding him as he made that face.
'I didn't notice I was spacing off...'
I smiled at Samuel to show I was fine. Then, I turned to Ashley again.
"Sorry about that, should we go inside?"
She nodded and I went to open the door. I left it open when I got inside so Ashley wouldn't have the trouble of opening the door. This led us to be seated next to each other.
The door closed and the engine revved to life. I felt the movement of the limousine. Out of the corner of my eyes, trees, buildings, and houses passed by. The black hair of a certain someone blocked half of the view.
I saw Ashley retrieve something from her bag. It was a notebook. She then flipped to a page and her blue orbs began taking in on what was scribbled.
Curious about what her class was, I took a glance at the notebook. It was math formulas and equations. Her handwriting was neat so I could see all of her solutions and answers clearly. I did some in my head and so far, it was all correct. I didn't need to solve the rest as I had a guess it will all be perfect.
I soon realized something. When the other elites talked about Ashley two years ago, they seemed to like her much more... Now, I knew why.
'She was perfect, yet easy to take control over.'
That was what I thought. With their use of words, they liked Ashley because of her trying hard to please everyone to cover up her mother was normal-blooded - not that being a 'normal' was bad anyway.
I wonder if this was all related to Samuel helping her realize that she doesn't need to tend to people's unnecessary wants and favors. And that her mother shouldn't be a reason for her not to be herself.
'Knowing Samuel, it's something he would do.'
Ashley noticed I was staring and waved a hand in front of my face. "You're staring off to space again! Tell me, did you get enough sleep? You shouldn't be excited the night before the competition, your nerves will only keep you awake. The next day will be an obstacle for you considering you need lots of sleep and energy for gym class."
I didn't answer her. I was surprised she was concerned about whether I slept adequately last night.
Because of that, I smiled. Ashley blinked in confusion. "What? Did I mention something funny, Martinez?"
I shook my head as no, the grin still attached to my face. "You didn't, and I promise you, I at least had six hours of sleep."
"Six hours? You need eight."
She's done it again. She may appear to other people as blunt, rude, or mean, but to me, she just had a different way of showing how much she cares. Sure, she might lecture or scold you, but that's the way she's comfortable at expressing herself. She's not sugar-coating her words and speaks what's on her mind, telling it as it was. No lies. That's why people had the impression of her being crude.
'I may not met her two years ago...'
I kept my gaze on Ashley who rambled on why sleep was important if you had an important day tomorrow.
'... But something tells me a part of her didn't change.'
"And that's why you should - why are you laughing?" Ashley looked at me perplexed as a chuckle escaped my lips.
Her stern eyes became sharper. She frowned and scoffed. "I was giving you advice about getting sufficient sleep. You weren't listening, were you? And the nerve you have for laughing..." She turned to her notes. "I'm not wasting my time again with you."
"Don't be like that." I gathered up my courage and nudged her on the shoulder. "Thank you for your concern though, I appreciate it."
Ashley's hair covered her face when she lowered her head, casting a shadow over her eyes, but I could see a tint of pink on her ears. "Whatever, It's already common sense to get enough sleep."
And at that, we have arrived at school. Students from fifteen to twenty-one were waiting at the school gates, the noise of their chatters overpowered the passing cars from the street. We parked in the parking lot that's just behind the school gate, the first thing you would step foot on the school.
We were separated from the rest of the normal students, making a couple of them stare at us. It was too late to become one of the 'normals' so I hid behind the elites. But then I thought about yesterday when Zed introduced me as a potential elite.
'I have no reason to hide anymore. Do I?'
I was debating with myself. I had concealed myself because of my two friends who I lost in the end. There was nothing that's holding me back now. So why do I feel like I shouldn't reveal myself just yet?
I scanned the crowd for familiar faces. After what felt like hours of searching behind the mass of students, my gaze landed on a pair of emerald eyes that held their usual shine, though, upon thorough concentration, the light was a bit darker than before. Her fair skin glistened under the sun. Her red/orange hair danced with the sudden gush of wind that pushed some of my brown locks to my face. I spat out a few strands of hair out of my mouth because I happened to stare at the girl with my mouth open.
I forgot about my crush on Sasha. But...
My eyes flitted to the blonde-haired girl who wore a sweet and blinding smile that laughed with Zed. The black-haired boy caught my gaze, smirked, and whispered something to Samantha. Samantha blushed and hid her face away from him. The action caused a pang on my chest as I glared at the two. The sun suddenly felt hotter on my skin as I gritted my teeth and my eye twitched. My lower back might as well bleed because of the pins and needles that felt like they're penetrating my back.
'Are they doing it on purpose?'
I took a step forward but halted abruptly. I suddenly had mixed feelings.
Who was I to interfere with their sweet moments? Samantha and I were nothing, and Zed helped me a lot of time regarding Samuel, though the way he saw me staring at them and making Samantha redden the moment I did settle a wave of anger and frustration deep inside me, also the painful burn in my back. I started thinking...
'Does Zed notice something between me and Samantha? He shouldn't have... So why is he doing that? Is he trying to make me jealous or something?'
I glanced back at them to see they were facing upfront. I barely detected the principal and the vice-principal preparing their speech at the center of the parking lot.
"A week has flown by! And very fast, might I add. Today, the competition will officially commence! Now, your hardships won't go to waste... Whoever wins in their class will receive a prize. Not just the additional grades, but a prize from your respectable teachers." The principal beamed. "Students! I wish you good luck! I won't take much of your time. To your classes!"
My ears perked up the excited murmurs of the students. The crowd dissipated until Zed and I walked towards the gymnasium, but as I saw Ashley pass by, I snatched her attention.
"Hey, Ashley. Do you mind if we talk after the competition?"
Ashley quirked an eyebrow at my request. "Why?"
I may not know Ashley for that long... But I needed to tell someone about the rash on my back. Whatever that was affecting my actions and words. Ashely's smart, she'd know what to do. She's also scary, yet dependable and trustworthy.
"I have something to ask... Since we still have a competition to attend to, I figured my question can wait after school."
Ashley sighed. "Fine. Meet me in the library then. Don't make me wait, I still have things to do after it."
I nodded and waved goodbye, going with Zed to our destination. I didn't notice Zed waited for me.
The trip to the gym was silent, though I would consider it a journey since our pace seemed to be achingly slow - so slow, I started to believe the gym moved further from its original place.
Zed, not liking the silence, spoke first. "If you don't mind, what was that about?"
"What was what?"
"You know... You said you have a question for Ashley." Zed clarified. "Can I know what it is? Maybe I can help?"
I began to get confused. Not a minute ago, he shot me the most arrogant look I ever saw. And he's currently attempting to help me? What's going on?
I knew I shouldn't be mad at him, but remembering how he acted towards Samantha left me annoyed, yet this was the chance I could grasp.
If he's offering, then...
"Can I know what Ashley's like back then?"
Zed almost tripped on a pebble stuck to the ground at my question. I stopped and caught his arm before he could fall further.
He apologized and gained his composure. "You're going to ask Ashley that?"
Not really... I just think Ashley knows something about a rash. But I don't have the guts to tell Zed about it.
I was getting sick of lying, yet I spew the words out of my mouth like it's my second nature. I was bothered by it.
"I'm curious, okay? And what's better to ask the question directly to Ashley? I'll take your offer in explaining things to me though."
Zed stopped walking. I got a few steps ahead of him so I had to turn around to look him in the eyes. When I did, he wore a sad look combined with slight anger as his knuckles turned white at how hard he clenched them. The words that came out of his mouth made me flinch.
"Ashley was... just like a puppet you could control with words."