Chapter 4

Katherine was woken up by the Sun’s rays peeking through the window curtains, kissing her cheeks softly. She rubbed her eyes groaning and turned her head to look at the bedside clock. It was Eight AM and she did not have much to do as it was a Saturday. Though, she had to go to “Mugs and coffees” around 5 in the evening where she had to work part time, she was free until then. Covering her head with a blanket, he dosed back to sleep with a smile on her face. 

It was after an hour, that she stirred up to the constantly tinkering sound of her phone. She stretched her hands towards the side table to pick up the phone and glanced at it with half opened eyes. Hey eyes took a few seconds to adjust to the harsh light coming through the screen. Rubbing the sleep off her eyes, she sat leaning on the headboard. She saw some text messages from an unknown number. 

Unknown: Hey Beautiful! XX 

Unknown: Good Morning!! *** 

Unknown: Are you still asleep? 

“Gosh. Who is it early in the morning butting in on my beauty sleep?” Muttered Katherine peevishly to herself when she again received a text message. 

Unknown: Wake up sleepy head. It is Nine in the morning. XX 

Vexed at the constant chiming of her phone, she started texting back. 

Katherine: Who is this? Do I know you? 

Unknown: Think me as your secret admirer. Now, want to go out, grab some breakfast? XX 

Katherine was exasperated. She knew exactly who was messing with her early that morning. “Where did he even get my number from?” She thought. 

Katherine: Why do you even think I’ll go out to grab anything with you? And what’s with the hugs and kisses? How did you get my number? It was Laura who gave it to you, isn't it? 

Unknown: I didn’t know you would recognize me this soon.   

Unknown: Save my number for now but remember I’ll definitely take you out someday. XX 

Katherine rolled her eyes ‘the nerve of this guy’. She really hated Laura for this. She threw her phone beside her on the bed and covered her head with the pillow to go back to sleep. 

 

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Ashton got up at around Five thirty in the morning. He was always an early bird, right from childhood. He was well organised and spent his time wisely unlike other guys of hisage. His parents were very proud of their son. He was an all-rounder. He was a chess champion in the ‘under fifteen category’, school football team captain and a straight A-grade student. In addition to that, he was the only heir to the Schwimmer group of companies which mainly dealt with production and supply of computers and mobile hardware around the globe. He wished to persuade Bachelor’s in Business studies from University of Southern California. He always loved the weather at California and he also wanted to spend some time away from his parents’ constant attention. 

Wearing his grey Roadster hoodie and Adidas sports shoes, he left his home, running in a gentle, steady pace. He would always start his day with an hour of jogging followed by working out at gym for half an hour.  

By seven, he would be at home for a quick shower and then breakfast with his parents where they would be talking about their business related stuff. His father would always feel that his son had to be kept in loop about the family business for he has to take up the responsibility at any time soon. Ashton loved the business talks with his father. He also usually goes with him to attend certain meetings, which his father felt important for Ashton to know about.  

Entering into his room, he remembered he had to call Callie. Picking up his mobile, he dialled her number. After few minutes of ringing, the call disconnected. Thinking she was still asleep, he went through his message. He had received a text message from Laura late night which he hadn’t seen. 

Opening it, his lips curved into a cute grin. As said, she had sent Katherine’s number along with a reminder about the Math assignment that he had to help her with.  

Replying to her text message with a good morning and a thank you, he saved Katherine's mobile number to his phone. He was feeling excited to message Katherine but waited as it was still early and he did not want to look like an annoying person. 

To pass away the time, he took out his Mac and started working on his Literature assignment. He worked on his assignment for an hour when he felt exhausted. He couldn’t concentrate on his work and his mind was continuously thinking about texting Katherine.  He felt like he could no longer wait to text her and that’s when he took out his mobile and started texting her. 

Ashton: Hey Beautiful! XX 

Ashton: Good Morning!! *** 

After waiting for more than Twenty minutes, when he did not receive a text back from Katherine, he was starting to feel extremely anxious. He had never felt so restless because of a girl before in his life. 

‘Was she doing it on purpose? No, No. She must probably be sleeping yet.’ He consoled his chaotic mind and decided to send her a text message once again. 

Ashton Are you still asleep? 

Ashton: Wake up sleepy head. It is Nine in the morning. XX 

Thinking that she wouldn't be replying him any time soon, Ashton decided to visit Callie as he had promised her to spend the day at her place. He wore a black T-shirt along with his jean and Denim jacket. It was ten AM by the time he reached Callie's house. He was asked to wait in the living room as Callie was taking a shower. After Ten minutes Callie came down to the living room and eyed Ashton with a mild reproof for leaving her and not spending the time with her as promised. 

“Hey doll, good morning!” greeted Ashton hesitantly. He knew she was angry at him for leaving her yesterday. 

“Hey" she smiled and the smile did not reach her eyes. “Let’s go to my room.”  

Entering the room, Ashton scratched the back of his head and continued speaking.  

“Babe are you upset about something?” 

“Nope.” 

“Are you sure you are okay? Because I think you are angry on me for leaving you early yesterday night.” Said Ashton 

Callie stared at him for few minutes. She did not want to look like a nagging friend to him. So she decided to say “Yes I felt bad at first but then I understood. You like that girl, don't you?  

“Yeah sorry about that.” 

“That's OK. Next time just let me know if you are going to cancel on me.” Spoke Callie assuring him. 

“Don't worry. I won't be cancelling on you.”  

With a small smile she hugged Ashton. They decided to start with their Biology assignment. 

“I cannot draw this diagram. It looks so complicated.” Complained Callie. 

“Come on. It is not as difficult as it looks. Let me help you.” Ashton said pulling the notebook from her lap and helping her. 

“I'll  get us both some snacks.” Callie walked out of the room leaving Ashton alone. 

He was almost done with the diagram when his phone vibrated. 

His heart felt stuck at his throat when he saw the sender’s name appearing on the screen.  

Katherine: Who is this? Do I know you? 

Grinning like a fool, he started typing on his mobile. 

Ashton: Think me as your secret admirer. Now, want to go out, grab some breakfast? XX 

Katherine: Why do you even think I’ll go out to grab anything with you? And what’s with the hugs and kisses? How did you get my number? It was Laura who gave it to you isn't it? 

“Love her feistiness” thought Ashton. He was also happy that she recognized him, instantly. He thought she had lots of secret admirers like him and she wouldn't recognize him, that soon. His heart did a mini dance to that. 

Ashton: I didn’t know you would recognize me this soon.   

Ashton: Save my number for now but remember I’ll definitely take you out someday. XX 

“What's with the stupid grin on your face?” asked Callie entering the room with an amused smile on her face.  

“I was texting Katherine.” He replied with a lopsided smile. 

“What? Are you serious? How did you get her number?” Asked Callie looking shocked. 

“I got it from Laura. Why? is something wrong?” 

“Nope. I just never thought you would ever approach a girl on your own.” She said in a teasing tone. “You really like her, don't you?” 

Ashton just nodded his head agreeing to his friend. 

“ Are you going to ask her out?” Asked Callie 

“ I already did.” 

“And?” 

“She kind of refused.” Muttered Ashton pressing his lips into a thin line. 

“She must be crazy to do that. Does she even know that many girls are dying to talk to you?” Asked Callie shaking her head. 

“That's what I love about her, Callie. She is not like the other girls I have seen.” Said Ashton proudly to which she smiled at him happily. " But don't worry, I make her like me back." 

"If you say so." Said Callie.

He messed with her hair and they continued with their assignments.