Chapter 53: Chapter 53

Navaeh turned around and her eyes widened upon seeing the girl.

The same girl that has been absent for some days without any information if she was sick or anything. She was just listening to music and staring at the bus and it was obvious her mind was far away.

Connie let out a sigh and pushed her body off the bark of the tree deciding to talk to Ashley about it once and for all when her eyes met with Navaeh's wide ones and Quinnel's cold ones.

She shuffled on her feet not knowing whether to greet them or just walk by like she didn't see them.

She finally decided to the former as she didn't see any reason to do the latter. She wasn't fighting with them. It wasn't them she had an argument with.

She removed her earphones and walked towards them. Navaeh watched with keen eyes at every move Connie made till she stopped in front of them.

"Hey." She greeted and Navaeh nodded her head.

"Hey, Quinnel." She greeted once she saw the guy didn't even acknowledge her. Hell, he wasn't even looking at her.

She nodded when he didn't answer her muttering a "I deserved that."

"What happened to you? Why didn't you come to school since all these days?" Navaeh asked and Connie let out a soft laugh.

"Always caring as ever. I was feeling indisposed. I had to be admitted to the hospital that's why I haven't come to school for a few days." She explained in a low voice almost gagging at the thought of the injection and the smells in the hospital.

"Hospital? That much?"

Connie nodded her head slowly. She let out a sigh and spoke up.

"I'm sorry for not telling you guys about my sickness even though I know you might not care but-"

"-Of course we would care. Ashley would care." Navaeh said cutting her off.

"No. No, I won't."

All six eyes snapped to Ashley behind Connie who was glaring at her like she wanted to kill her. Zaire was behind her his head hung low as he had failed to keep the secret from his sister and he couldn't even contain her.

"I won't give a damn if she dropped down dead right this minute." Ashley said staring straight into Connie's eyes.

Connie felt her heart drop at the cold voice of Ashley. Tears prickled her eyes threatening to fall and she cleaned them away immediately.

She took a deep breath and gave a weak smile.

"Ash-"

"It's fine, Navaeh. It's really fine. I deserve it." She rushed cutting Navaeh off.

No one knew what had transpired between the two girlfriends and they weren't willing to say it out.

"You know what hurts me the most?" Ashley asked and everyone looked at her.

"The fact that I thought I loved a conniving lying bastard like you. I fucking hate myself for it! And it kills me every fucking day."

"I'm sorry, Ash."

"Don't you dare. Don't you dare fucking call me Ash. I'm not your damned toy!" Ashely yelled and Navaeh jumped at the loudness.

"Fuck you, Cornelia. Fuck you. Fuck you. Fuck you." Ashley yelled tears now streaming down her face.

Zaire pulled his sister into his embrace while she bawled out into his shirt. Why did she have to come? Why did this have to happen this morning?

"You can leave now, Connie. Thank you very much for succeeding in making her cry. You know, she was happy this morning. Excited for this trip. And your stupid presence just had to ruin all of that didn't it?"

"I didn't- I didn't mean to. I'm sorry."

"Just get the hell out of here." Zaire said pulling his sister tighter against his body.

Connie sobbed as her shoulders shook before she made her way into the school.

Navaeh was now at a loss. She was confused as hell as to what happened but it seemed like Connie was at fault with the way she kept apologizing.

She turned her head to Quinnel who was already looking down at her.

Ashley soon stopped crying but she still buried her face in her brother's chest who didn't actually care.

She was covering his whole cloth in salty tears and snot but he didn't push her away. He rather patted her head while hushing her.

"Alright! Alright! Gather round everyone!" The coach bellowed clapping his hand to get attention and all eyes turned to him.

"Basketball team... Get over here." He yelled and Navaeh looked at Zaire who was still holding his sister.

"I'll hold her. You can go." She said and moved towards Ashley who left her brother's chest before Navaeh could touch her.

"I'll be right back." She said and walked into the school without as much as a backward glance.

Navaeh stared at her hands and Zaire sighed. He whistled and she looked up at his face. He sighed before nudging his head in the direction of where Ashley went.

She looked to the entrance before she looked at Zaire again who gave her a firm nod.

"Thank you." She greeted and ran into the school.

She walked to the girls bathroom pushing each stall open. She pushed the last one to see Ashley sitting on the bowl urinating. The latter raised a brow at her with a horrible face.

"Oh my God! Sorry!" She yelled and immediately pulled the door close.

She adjusted her bag on her back and sighed leaning on the wall beside the cubicle she was in.

Once she heard the flushing sound, she pushed herself off the wall and the door opened revealing Ashely who simply walked to the mirror like she didn't know someone was waiting for her.

"Ash-" She opened the tap water to block out her voice. When she was done, she moved to the paper towels and dried her hand all while staring back at Navaeh through the mirror.

Once Navaeh saw she wasn't doing anything, she opened her mouth to talk.

"I know-"

Ashley cut her off by walking to the hand drier putting her hand under it. The machine made a sound and she dried her hand while keeping eye contact with Navaeh.