Broken

• Chapter 29 •

Ashton doesn't say anything. Ms. Shanice shakes her head, rubs her temples and motions towards me. I'm going to shit myself.

"Take a seat next to Clementine, child."

Ashton does a very shocking and rare thing at this point. He shows human emotion and has a different facial expression. And I'm not sure I'm amazed more than I am anxious, considering it isn't amused. He frowns and turns to Ms. Shanice.

"Why are we changing seats? Why her?" he hisses in a pretty low voice, but I can hear it pretty well considering I'm near her desk.

I try not to take it personally, but I want to jab him in the throat. What the hell? What did I do to him? Sleep with his dad? I clench my jaw and keep my composure.

"Inspections. Also, I wanted to. You've already wasted enough of our class time Mr. Ashford, so why don't you take a seat?" she barks with eyes narrowed to slits.

Ashton clenches his jaw and makes his way towards me, without looking at me at all. He plants himself on the chair, drumming his fingers on the wooden desk. His eyes are focused on anywhere but me. Am I going to have to sucker punch his boy and rip his nipples out? What is his problem?

Be nice, Clementine. You have to be partners for this shit. Just try to be civil. And whatever you do, do not go off on his ass.

"Hey. I'm Clementine," I try.

Silence. No response, no nod, no glance, nothing. He puts a headphone into his ear and stares off into the distance. How edgy.

I'm pretty sure my jaw has dropped. I can feel the embarrassment and rage building up inside me. Calm down, Clem. Not worth it. Do not beat his ass.

"Okay, everybody. I need you guys to write up a research paper and present it to the class on a topic of your choosing. This way you get to research what you're passionate and interested about, and I test your skills. Now there are rules, and you have to follow the rubric and use all the techniques we have learned..."

Ms. Shanice goes off to explain our assignment, all the while I'm thinking of how I'm going to get through this project with this asshole if he won't even acknowledge my presence.

"... This is due a month from now, on the thirty-first of October. Yes, Halloween. I know some of y'all were planning to ditch. But if you do, it's a zero. No excuses."

I feel Ashton glance at me, and I'm confused. I thought I didn't exist to him? I shift uncomfortably in my seat.

"Are we gonna have in class time to work on it?" a girl asks.

My cheeks start flaming, is he still staring? I can't tell anymore. My heart starts beating at a faster pace. Why am I reacting like this? Ugh, what an intimidating shit. Why is he staring at me? Go back to pretending I don't exist.

"Nah, baby. We got other things to do. This is on your own time. But ima give you today to figure out what y'all wanna do and such. I will be passing back your tests now. You may begin," she says, and everyone goes off talking to their partners.

I snap my head to Ashton, determined to catch him staring. But he isn't. I clear my throat. "What do you want to do it on? I have a couple ideas in mind—" I start.

He snaps his head up at me and acknowledges my presence for the first time. "What's your last name, Clementine?" he asks directly, confidently, tauntingly. His head is cocked to the side, his gaze is unwavering. I hadn't noticed how blue his eyes were.

My heart drops into my stomach and my mouth runs dry.

"Noodlemort."

I cringe internally. I'm going to kill dad.

Ashton's lips twitch slightly, almost as if they were going to form a smile. "What an unfortunate name. Almost as if it was picked for the sole purpose of giving you a hard time."

I frown, is he onto me? Does he know something? He couldn't. I think he's just an asshole—

"Clementine, good job sweetie," Ms. Shanice smiles as she hands me my test.

98. I suddenly forget all about Ashton's asshole-ness and am filled with relief, I was scared I did badly. It was a confusing test.

Ms. Shanice goes through her list of papers and pulls out Ashton's. "You too, Ashton. I wish your attendance reflected off of your grades," she gives him a knowing dimpled smile.

Ashton hastily takes the paper from her hands to stuff it in his bag, I frown as I see his score before he hides it. 100.

What the fuck?

She walks away from us and I turn to Ashton. "I didn't know you were smart," I blurt out.

I cringe, I must come off as extremely judgmental. I feel ashamed for having assumed anything in the first place. That's the second time I've done that with him. I should really stop.

He gives me an indifferent look, "Cool."

That's it? I sigh and shake my head, whatever. "Okay, so anyway for the project. I was thinking—"

"Bore someone else with your thoughts," and with that, he stands and storms out of the class right before the bell rings. This time, I'm sure my jaw has dropped.

Lord give me strength.