Chapter one

Ashley was seated in her dad's mini van. Her forehead was wrinkled, her eyebrows drawn together, her lips turned downward. She was angry. Angry that they had to relocate, angry that her dad enrolled her in a boarding school because he'll be going on a business trip alongside with her mom, angry dad she's gonna have to start a new life in her new school, angry that she got separated from her friends. In fact, everything happening around her angered her. 

What angered her most was the fact that it was the sixth time they were relocating. "I'm sorry princess, but we have to move" Her dad always said whenever they were relocating. Those words irritated her ears. She just wanted to live a normal life, not moving from one city to another like some kind of tourist. 

Her dad and mom never cared about how she felt, her opinion did not matter. They always do what they want.

Her dad stepped on the brake and the mini van screeched to a halt. She sat still with her hands folded on her chest in a rebelling manner. 

"Come on princess, we're there" He said, ducking out of the car. She sat still, pretending not to hear what he said and it didn't seem to go well with her dad.

"Come on princess, you don't want to be late" Her dad said again. He was getting angry, but he didn't want to show it. The sound of "princess" irritated Ashley's ear. 

"Don't call me princess, I'm not your princess!" She snapped as she ducked out of the mini van. She was trying very hard to blink back her tears. 

Her dad exhaled deeply. A line appeared on his forehead. He had explained everything to her, but she didn't seem to understand the situation. He wasn't ready to try to make her understand, she just won't listen to anything he had to say. 

"Let's go complete the formalities" He said with a hint of command in his voice. 

Ashley tagged behind him as they walk through the school gate. The students were staring at her, murmuring in each others ears. She was irritated. "Do I look like an alien or something? Why in the world are they staring at me?" Her inner mind was screaming. 

She couldn't deny the fact that the school was big and beautiful, but that doesn't make her any happy. 

Her dad stopped in front of an office and she read what was ascribed on the door. It was the principal's office. Her dad knocked softly, followed by a husky voice telling them to come in. 

Her dad and the principal exchanged pleasantries while she stood still, frowning.

"How are you young lady?" The principal asked, a smile curled on his lips. 

"Don't call me young lady, my name is Ashley!" She snapped. She was already upset that her dad calls her princess but he doesn't treat her like one and here is one damn looking man calling her young lady.

Her dad was getting pissed off with her behavior, but he remained calm.

"I apologize for her rude behavior.... She's just a little bit upset about the whole thing" Her dad explained.

"No no, it's fine. How are you Ashley?" The principal asked again. 

"I'm fine" She rolled her eyes. 

After completing the formalities, the principal called Miss Jane to his office. After a while, there was a knock on the door and a young looking lady in a knee length black skirt and a white shirt strolled in. 

"Miss Jane, take Ashley to her dormitory and see to it that she's comfortable" The principal Instructed. 

Ashley, alongside with Miss Jane and her father, went to get her things from the car. Miss Jane led them through a narrow hallway, then finally to a big building which had "FEMALE DORMITORY" designed at the top. They moved into the building, taking the stairs. 

"This is your room" Miss Jane said as she flung the door open. Ashley and her father strolled into the room. Ashley's eyes scanned the room. The room was very big and spacious. It had four beds, and two bathrooms. Each bed had a reading table by the side and there was a closet too. 

The room didn't look that bad to Ashley, she just wasn't happy about the new school thing. 

"You'll get to know your roommates later" Miss Jane said. 

Ashley carefully arranged all of her things. When she was done, she turned to Miss Jane. 

"It's not too late to attend classes yet. If you don't mind, I'll show you to your class young lady" Miss Jane suggested and that was it. Ashley flew off the handle. 

"Why are you calling me young lady, My name is Ashley!" She yelled and Miss Jane flinched. 

"A-S-H-L-E-Y" She emphasized. Now, that got her dad.

"Ashley, manners!" he sterned and Ashley rolled her eyes. 

Miss Jane drew in a deep breath. 

"Alright Ashley, I'll take you to your class" 

"Let's go princess" Her dad gestured. 

"Can't he quit calling me that huh" She muttered beneath her breath. 

Miss Jane led them to another building. 

"Good morning Miss Jane" a group of girl chorused in the hallway and Miss Jane waved at them. They fixed their gaze on Ashley. 

"What? Is there something on my face?" Ashley asked in a disgusted manner and the girls scurried away. 

Taking a left turn, Miss Jane placed her hand on the door knob and pushed the classroom door open. Everywhere suddenly went silent as Miss Jane strolled in with Ashley and her father. 

The class was big and spacious.It had a projector. The lockers were at the back of the class.There were three rows in the class. The first row had three seats on each line, the second had two seats, and the last one had three seats too.

"Good morning students" Miss Jane said. 

"Good morning Miss Jane" They chorused. All eyes turned to Ashley.

"This is Ashley. She's a newbie, be nice to her" Miss Jane announced. 

"Hi Ashley" They chorused, waiting eagerly for her to respond. Ashley kept mute, she didn't utter a word. 

"Hey, say something" Miss Jane whispered in her ear. 

"I don't wish to" Ashley muttered. Miss Jane sighed. 

"She's a bit shy.... I hope you guys get along" 

"Make sure you make new friends princess" Her Dad said and turned to leave. She watched her dad walk out of the class. Her heart was racing, she won't be seeing her parents for months and it baffled her. 

"Bye dad" She managed to say even though she was upset. He stopped and turned back. 

"Bye princess" Her dad waved at her and her eyes stung with tears. She watched him till he got out of sight. 

"You can sit beside Alex" Miss Jane's voice caught her attention again. She gestured at the empty seat which was at the back of the class, close to the window. 

Ashley made her way to the back of the class, dropped her backpack in an empty locker, locked it and tossed the keys into the pocket. 

Next, she moved to her seat. She noticed 

The seat on her left was empty. 

"Daddy's girl" Alex mocked. He was sitting to her right. She shot him a deadly glare, resisting the urge to smack his head. She rolled her eyes and placed her head on her table. 

"Hi, I'm Alex" He said, pissing her off the more. 

She raised her head up from the table. 

"I'll like it if no one talks to me" She said calmly. 

He chuckled. 

"You're pretty you know" He didn't stop which angered her the more. 

"I said, I'll like it if no one talks to me!" She yelled, attracting the attention of the whole class. They all fixed their gaze on her.

Alex was about to say something, but another young lady walked in. 

"Ashley James" She called and Ashley stood up. 

"Your materials are ready, come with me" She announced and Ashley followed her out of the class. She led her into an office. 

"There" she said, gesturing to the table on her right. She stared at the materials which consisted of notebook, textbooks, stationaries and a laptop. Bit by bit, she carried them to her locker and arranged them neatly. 

Tired, she slumped against her chair. A teacher strolled into the class. 

"Good morning Mrs Jones" They all chorused. 

"Good morning students" She replied, then her eyes landed on Ashley. 

"I've never seen you in my class before" Mrs Jones noted, her eyes fixed on Ashley. 

"I'm a new student" Ashley said. 

"Oh! That explains it..... What's your name?" Mrs Jones asked, flipping through the textbook in her hand. 

"Ashley James" She answered.

"Sit down, let's get to work" She turned to the projector. Mrs Jones was their mathematics teacher and Ashley hated mathematics. 

The lesson continued for two straight hours and Ashley felt like dying. That was how much she hated mathematics. 

"That's all for today. I want your assignment submitted tomorrow" She turned off the projector.

"Yes Mrs Jones" They chorused. Ashley breathed a sigh of relief as Mrs Jones left the class. She glanced at the assignment, then closed her book. 

"It's time for lunch" Alex said with a smug smile. 

"What part of don't talk to me don't you understand" Ashley yelled and in a flash, she felt a hot slap land on her cheek.