For the Love of Ash (12 page)

"I'm his teacher. I do know him," Luke said, meeting my gaze head on.
 

"I think I'm going to get some food at the cafeteria," I told June, refusing to look at Luke. That jackass was challenging me—about my own brother! I didn't like it one bit.

"Want me to—"

"Nope. We'll talk Friday." I got up from the bench without a word to Luke and started back towards the building.
 

"What the fuck is your problem?" June asked Luke. Her voice was high, so I heard it well, even though I was at the doors already.

"I didn't know it was such a hot topic."

"Just shut up," she said. The doors shut behind me and I was removed from their conversation. I had about an hour to kill before my class with Luke. I didn't know anyone else. I had absolutely nothing to do, no homework yet, and I didn't bring bills.
 

I went into the bathroom on the bottom level of the school and read my text book in a stall. Since I missed class, I would have a little bit of catching up to do. I might as well start now then.
 

Chapter Eleven

Maggie

I finished reading Chapter Eight and still had thirty minutes left. I started going through the end of chapter questions, testing myself to make sure I absorbed what I just read. I was just finishing up question nine when my cellphone alarm sounded, telling me that I had ten minutes to get to class on time.
 

I packed up fast, bid my stall a farewell, and walked slowly up the two flights of stairs. I peeked in the room first and saw that it was empty. I was glad. Just as I walked through the barrier, a tornado of a person zoomed in and grabbed my shoulder.

"What the hell is your problem?" Luke asked as he whirled me around so I had no choice but to look at him. I ignored him, not wanting to say a thing to him. I ran to my seat, flopped down and stared through Luke, straight ahead at the empty board. It was a struggle not to look up at him.
 

He let me go, dropping his arms at his sides, and I walked towards my desk. I heard his heavy steps behind me. I sat down in my usual seat, him right behind me.
 

"Look at me," Luke said, tapping on my shoulder. I knew that Luke was going to keep bothering me until I addressed him, so I turned around and glared at him.
 

"I'm not talking about my personal life with you, ever." I made sure to draw the line clear in the sand. I didn't want to be the person I used to be. I was selfish, and I hated myself for not being there for Asher sooner.

I was an out of control college student. I lived in a dorm, smoked and drank, partied almost every night. Someone that looked like Luke would have never stood a chance against me.
 

But I had responsibilities now. Asher was my sole responsibility and any distractions were not welcome.
 

"Duly noted." He sat back and crossed his arms defensively. I smiled and cocked my head to the side before turning around in the seat. I was glad that I still had my aggressive spark and could put guys in their place.
 

Not more than five minutes later class began. Luckily, Atwater had a jam-packed schedule for today, and my mind was easily diverted away from the gray-eyed asshole behind me. I listened to every single word that came out of Atwater's mouth.
 

About half way through class, Luke coughed. When he did, a slip of paper happened to fall on my desk. I looked at it like it was a bomb. I was hesitant to open it, but my curiosity got the better of me.
 

 
Forgive me?

Fine.
 

I wrote back fast. Dr. Atwater was so oblivious to us that I knew he would never catch us passing notes. God. We were passing notes. What were we? Thirteen? I tossed the paper back. My stomach rolled knowing that his eyes were roaming over what I just wrote. Luke chuckled under his breath, and my stomach knotted up at the noise.
 

Why don't you talk about Asher?

because it's not your business.

I never said it was.

then stop acting like it.

Seriously, you need to relax. I brought up gym class. I'm his teacher! I think you can handle it.

it's not a problem of me handling it. I don't like people sticking their nose where they don't belong.

My nose is tucked away safe.

HA. HA.
 

 
You know he talks about you like you're a god.
 

What the hell was Asher telling people? His scribbled out words made me think that maybe Luke did know more about me. I brushed my finger along his last line, smudging the ink by accident. Asher had a tendency of making things seem better than they really were. I didn't want Luke to think I was this wonderful person, when it was far from the truth.

He talks about me?

daily.

what's he say?

oh now you want to know…

Yeah. Tell me!

give me your cell

NEVER

Seconds ticked by, and I knew he wasn't going to respond until I gave him the stupid number. I wanted to know what Asher had been saying to Luke so badly. Yet, I didn't want to give up my cellphone number. I could imagine Luke taking advantage of it.
 

It was a prepaid, so I guess I could easily just change it. Damn him. I quickly scribbled down my cellphone number and then chucked the wadded piece of paper behind me. This guy was good. Once the paper was out of my hands, I knew I was doomed. My heart sank.

As if my life just needed one more thing, Luke and I got paired up for a project due in two months. It was easy. All we had to do was read a chapter from our text and present it to the class. But it meant that I had to work with him and be civil. I couldn't just ignore him.
 

We were assigned chapter seven, which dealt with punishments and rewards for children. I started jotting down ideas for our visual display, while Luke did God knows what behind me. We were supposed to be working on a plan for the remainder of class, but I ended up doing it alone.
 

As I wrote in my notebook, I looked under my arm and tried to sneak a peek of Luke. Every time I saw him he was hunched over, ear buds in and not working at all. It was frustrating, but I needed good grades, so I wasn't going to slack. I tried to get as much done as possible so I would have less to do at home.
 

In my one-track mind to finish the work, I didn't hear Dr. Atwater dismiss class. Luke tapped on my shoulder, and when I popped free of my homework bubble, I saw the class thinning out.
 

"Here," I said to him. I dropped a group of notecards on his desk, so he could at least look them over. I didn't want him to fail for some asinine reason.

"What's this?" he asked me, flipping through them like they were a fan.

"I did your part of the project. I'll have the rest for you before we have to present," I muttered as I cleaned up my desk. I threw my notebook into my bag, zipped my pencil bag, and then shut my backpack. I paused, waiting for him to say something like a thank you, but he didn't. He remained quiet in his seat, so I simply got up.

"Hey, Sunny?" he asked as I was about to leave. Nothing like waiting until the last second. I paused, my back still to him.
 

"What?"
 

"You're good, you know?"

"I'm good?" I asked back, turning to face him with a frown.

"Yeah. I don't know your situation." I was about to object and run, but he held up his hand, stopping me. "It's okay. I won't ask again. But I'm not a bad guy."

"I never said you were a bad guy."

"You didn't have to say it."

"Well, you're good, too." I smiled at him when his face lit up in a real smile. I couldn't hide the utter joy that consumed me, so I turned and walked out of the room, resisting the urge to run before Luke completely took me over. I was giddy over making him smile, and my stomach twisted.
 

Who says that? You're good.
 

Chapter Twelve

Luke

She was an enigma. That's what I had come to the conclusion of. I didn't understand a single thing about her, but she was different in every way. I wanted to know more about that difference and not just because of Asher—because of her.
 

Why did she claim to not talk about Asher, yet I could see how proud she was of him? Someone had fucked up her past, and I felt this urge to destroy them for ruining such a smart girl. Maybe that was it. She was so smart that she was overthinking things. Shit. I had no idea what made the girl tick.
 

I pulled the piece of paper with her number on it from my pocket and laid it on my lap as I drove over to my parents' house. My father was still there, but that wasn't my reasoning for going. Lilly was going to help me apartment hunt today.
 

I parked in the front of the house, next to the fountain in the center of the circular driveway, and texted Lilly that I was here. I picked up the piece of paper and programmed Maggie's phone number into my cell, debating what to do with it.
 

I wanted to text her badly, but I knew that this wasn't going to be like any other girl that I saw. She wasn't a one-night-stand or hookup type. She had a son, and I didn't want to scare her off before things even got started. Something extra was within her that I wanted to understand before I committed myself.

"Boo!" Two hands banged against my window, making me jump in my seat and drop my phone on the ground. I glared through the glass at my sister who just laughed as she tapped on the glass, waiting for me to lower the window. I glared as it slowly screeched down.

"You're an ass."

"I got you so good!" she yelled, leaning into the window. She had a huge smile on her face, one I hadn't seen since before I left for school. She rested her head on her arms as she looked up at me.
 

"What's up, Lindsay?"

"Who were you texting? You had crazy eyes." She widened her own eyes for emphasis.

"I did not." I frowned down at her, shoving her arms off the window of the car. "It's not your business anyway."

"You live in my house; you are my business." She tried to keep up the tough guy act strong but failed miserably when her smile broke through and she laughed. "Kidding, but really. You are. Who's the girl?"

"It's not a girl. Just someone from one of my classes."

"I repeat, who's the girl?"

"She's nobody."

"So it is a girl. Good to know. Dare I say, Lukey Pukey is growing up and having big boy relationships? Gasp!"
 

"Can you at least try to be less dramatic? I have a headache."

"On a serious note, I'm an awesome listener and I love you, so if you need any advice I'm the sister to turn to." She clicked her tongue and winked at me, like I really had a choice.

"I'll keep that in mind."

"Oh, and before I go, Dad leaves tomorrow. So you're out of my place. I'm about ready to pull my hair out listening to Mother go on and on about new design ideas. The woman's never worked a day in her life, and she's trying to tell me how to run my business. Fucking ridiculous."