Chapter 3

Laura parked her car at the parking lot outside the inn which was packed with teenagers. All the students who were at the game where now in the inn enjoying their time with their friends. Laura and her group of friends had to wait outside to get a table. 

They were waiting impatiently when they saw a black Bentley coming towards them and being parked at the parking space. 

“There they are.” Exclaimed Callie waving at them. Katherine felt nervous as she didn't know what kind of people they were. She wished they were not like the rude girl standing next to Callie who was nothing but insolent. Three guys got down the car and started approaching them. The car was parked at a distance hence, they could not see their faces, clearly. Callie and Laura rushed towards their friends to congratulate them for winning the game. Katherine was looking down and fidgeting with her hair, nervlusly when Ann pulled both Katherine’s and Hudson's arm and pointed at something. They followed her gaze and gasped loudly seeing the guy who has been gawking at Katherine for the past two weeks. She felt so furious at Laura for doing this.  

“Is this why Laura was friends with them? Did he ask her to be their friend so he could get to her?” she thought fuming with anger. She had to act calm. May be all this was just a coincidence and she was over thinking. She did not want to create a scene over such a silly matter. She made a mental note of asking Laura later. For now she would concentrate on finishing her dinner as fast as she could and leave this place. She was already feeling suffocated. 

“Do you want to leave?” asked Hudson, concern filled his eyes. 

“ I can manage, it's just a single dinner. Nothing can go wrong I guess.” She assured him giving him a small smile. 

“We can leave whenever you want. Feel free and let us know if you don't want to stay.” Said Ann giving her a side hug. Katherine nodded her head positively.  

They were acting all calm and normal when the group had come near them. Katherine noticed that Laura's eyes were twinkling with excitement.  

“Hey guys! Meet my new friends, Kathy, Hudson and Ann. This is Michael, Noah and this here is our soccer team captain Ashton.” Said Laura all excited. 

Hudson shook hands with all three of them. He was eyeing Ashton suspiciously. The girls just nodded their head with a small smile which was not genuine at all. Noah grabbed Ann’s hand and kissed on her knuckles which made her giggle like a four year old. Ashton as usual was eyeing Katherine with a small smirk. Now she was really annoyed and wanted to smack away that irritating smirk off his face. 

“You were amazing at the game. You gave a tough time to the opposite team. We saw Justin was about to cry when they lost the match.” Callie interrupted Ashton's staring much to her relief. 

“Yeah I made sure to make him cry. He deserved it for he was over confidently nagging us about his victory. So we were sure to not let them win". He said smiling. He hugged and kissed her forehead. His eyes did not leave Katherine's. Now Katherine was relieved because she thought they both looked like there were dating.  

“Shall we go in now? Looks like we have some tables available.” Asked Judy irritated. “ I'm famished".  

All of them walked in. Ashton wound his hand around Callie's hip.  

“Are you okay?” Asked Laura eyeing Katherine

“Yeah. Why wouldn't I be?” assured Katherine with a quick nod. 

“You look extremely quiet.” Said Laura 

"Oh it is nothing. I'm just tired and hungry. Don't worry.” Said Katherine and took a seat near Ann. Laura sat next to her and Michael on her left. Ashton and Callie were sitting together talking among themselves. Noah and Judy sat next to Callie on her left.  

“So, we basically know about you two. You are from the same neighborhood. We just haven’t talked to you before.” said Michael, pointing at Ann and Hudson. “Where are you from Katherine? Heard you are a transfer student”. By now, Ashton suddenly stopped talking to Callie and paid all his attention towars Catherine.  

“I’m from Staten Island. Did my schooling there and now I’m here in Manhattan under my scholarship program.” Said Katherine in a very low voice avoiding any eye contacts but she could feel two eyes drilling holes through her. 

“Have you moved with your family?” Asked Judy suddenly acting all interested.  

“...No.” She did not like proceeding further with sharing her personal information anymore. But Judy had other plans. 

“Ah. So where do your parents live and what do they do?” She was not ready to end the conversation yet. Now, that felt annoying to Katherine. She stopped fidgeting with her fingers and looked into Judy’s eyes. That bitch had an evil smile on her face.  

Katherine acted all cool and said sighing “Nothing much. My father left us for his mistress when I was around 3 years old putting my mom into deep depression who later took her life. So basically, I've lived my entire life alone. I was able to complete my education with the help of funds and donations.” Everyone stopped talking for a moment and starred at Katherine like she was an alien.

 They were all kids from rich families and no one had a difficult or troublesome childhood like Katherine. They were all well pampered and looked after. Even Hudson and Ann who were friends with Katherine for a month now, did not have any idea about her childhood. 

Laura cleared her throat and changed the topic as she could feel the tension in the air. “So, what are we ordering?” Everyone averted their eyes and started ordering their food. 

Callie started talking with Ashton again but his mind was constantly thinking about the brave girl sitting in front of him.He liked her even more now. He really felt like she was different from all the girls he had ever seen in his life. She must be beauty with brains to get an admission in such a great school were only either rich or highly brilliant students can get into. He knew all his friends could get in here because of their parents' money unlike him and Catherine  

It was around Eight Thirty when everyone was done with dinner. Laura offered to drop Hudson, Ann, Judy and Michael since their houses were on her way home.  

“Katherine you have to go to your hostel, right?  It is on the way to Ashton’s place. So, I guess he will have no problem dropping you?” Asked Laura looking at Ashton whose eyes were twinkling like night stars. 

“Of course not. I can do that for you”. Spoke Ashton animatedly hugging Laura slightly. 

“But you told that you will be spending some time with me. It’s weekend. You know?” whined Callie. 

“It is okay. I can walk. It’s not that far.” Assured Katherine, nervously. 

“Are you kidding? No way you can walk 2 miles at night. And that too all alone." Said Ashton looking into Katherine's eyes.

"Babe, I’ll meet you tomorrow morning. We have to finish the Bio assignment. Remember?” Said Ashton rubbing Callie’s arm. 

“Will you be okay with the plan? Do you want me to come drop you at your place? Asked Hudson with concern.  

“I’ll be okay. Looks like they both are seeing each other. So, he won’t be hitting at me.” Whispered Katherine in Hudson's ear with a naughty smile. 

“I don’t think so. He has been staring at you the whole time.” Said Ann quietly shaking her head in denial.

“May be that guy has a cross eyesight”. Uttered Katherine with an amused smile. “I’ll call you after I reach my dorm. Bye” saying that Katherine walked silently behind Ashton, Noah and Callie. 

Callie took the passenger seat whereas Noah and Katherine sat at the back seats. Ashton drove his car to Noah's place, dropping him first. 

“Aren’t we going to drop Katherine first?” Asked Callie  

“Nope. I will have to come again all the way back if I drop her first. I will drop her after you, that way, I can save 20 minutes.” Lied Ashton rubbing his neck. He knew that his best friend would find out that he was lying but he really wanted to spend at least some while with Katherine alone. 

Callie eyed him weirdly to which he just shrugged.  He got down reaching Callie’s place and kissed her goodnight. Callie said her goodbyes to Ashton and Katherine, before running towards her front door. 

“You can come to the passenger seat.” Said Ashton walking around the driver seat. 

“I’m okay. It is just for a while”. Said Katherine hesitating. 

“Come on. I won’t eat you and moreover I do not intend on being your driver.” Ashton said looking turning back at Katherine. 

She sighed and got down the car silently to come sit in the passenger seat as he steered the car back on road. 

Ashton focused on the road glancing at Katherine from time to time who was looking highly strung. There was this silence between them which suffocated Katherine. She wanted to ask him the reason why he has been looking at her for the last two weeks but somehow, she couldn’t. What if she was just imagining things? He looked like he is in a relationship with that girl Callie.  

“Are you nervous about something?” Asked Ashton, breaking the silence between them.  He gently touched her hands.

She immediately pulled her hands away glaring at him. “He is way too much” She thought. This was the right time to question him. He cannot continue staring at her. 

“Why do you always stare at me so openly”? Questioned Catherine with an irritated look on her face.  

“Ah.. So, that’s it all about. What if I tell you that you are very beautiful to look at and I like staring at your pretty face?”  

She cringed her nose “What? Are you serious? Aren’t you and Callie dating or something?” 

“.. And are you jealous?” Asked Ashton, lifting his brow.

“Of course not.” Confirmed Cathy. “So, here’s it. Stop staring at me, really makes me uncomfortable”. 

“I do not intent on stopping. Sorry” Said Ashton stopping the car in front of the hostel gate placing his elbow on the steering and cupping his chin. 

“You are unbelievable”. Muttered Catherine getting down the car. “Thanks for the ride."

He really liked her feisty persona. Ashton had seen girls throwing themselves at him all the time but she was way different from all those girls. He started the engine and the car roared back to life. 

Reaching home, he checked his phone which had two calls from Callie and a text message from Laura. He decided to call Callie the next morning, texting Laura back. 

Laura: Hope you dropped my friend safe at her place. XX 

Ashton: Yup. XX 

Laura: Did you guys talk? How was she?  

Ashton: Well played all along, bringing her for dinner and asking me to drop her at her place.  

Suddenly his phone started ringing. It was of course, Laura. 

“What are you talking about? I did not do anything like that.” mused Laura over the phone. 

“Laura, Babe, that looked so obvious. Even a child could tell”. Laughed Ashton on the other side. 

“Whatever. But did you talk to her? You like her right? Isn’t she cute?” 

“Yes, that she is.” Admitted Ashton. 

“Judy was being a bitch to her”. Said Laura in a low voice 

“That’s nothing new about that girl”. Murmured Ashton. 

“So? No “Thank you’s” for helping you?” asked Laura. Ashton new probably she would be pouting her lips. 

“For what? I was anyway going to ask her out before you?” Said Ashton playfully. 

 “But you Didn’t”  

“Okay fine fine. Thank you, a lot.” 

“So, are you going to ask her out anytime soon?” 

“Yeah. Probably next weekend. Can I ask you for a favour?”. Asked Ashton doubtfully. 

"What's It?"

"Can I have her number please?"

"What do I get in return?" Asked Laura.

"You tell me".

"Helping with my Math homework?" Asked Laura

"Consider it done" He said firmly.

"Okay I'll text you her number."

"Thanks a lot"

“Okay.. good luck with that.”  

“Thank you. See you on Monday. Good night”. With that they both hung up their phone.