Chapter 40-Just strangers

•Third person's POV

Glancing at her wristwatch every intervals she flipped the page of the textbook she was reading, patiently waiting for Ashton to arrive.

The library was not filled with people, the librarian who is putting on a light blue turtleneck top tucked in a grey knee length pencil skirt, she compliments her dressing with a dusty blue velvet cone heels. Her brunette hair tightly packed in ponytail, her red lipstick well applied on her lips and her delicate makeup making her look like a responsible worker, a beautiful one. She and Kylie were the only one in the library.

Kylie is sitting on one of the four brown wooden armrest chair which surrounds the vintage oak table that was near to the bookshelf. Different modes of textbooks all about the past, scattered on the table. She heaved a sigh as she stop flipping the page and checked her wristwatch again. Seeing that it is almost the end of lunch break. She knew he is no more coming.

“ What was I thinking that he will come ? So silly of me...” She let out a mocking laugh to herself, she inhaled the air surrounding her trying not to cry then exhaled when she could not hold her breath anymore. “ I should have threatened him better, say something scary not something that won't happen. Like seriously why the hell did I tell him that. Now he did not take me serious.” She sighed sadly standing up, packing the books.

“ He is a jerk, a childish one.” She grumbled while packing it, the librarian raised her head staring at Kylie with concern wondering what is wrong with her. Kylie did not know that she was speaking louder, she thought her voice was silent but her incessant cursing at Ashton did not help her to realize that.

“-- I can't believe he will not do the project with me just because he is angry with me for a reason. Bullshit, damn him.” She cussed at him.

Tucking her stuffs in her bags, arranging the books back to the shelf. She then turn to the direction of the way out of the library, taking her backpack along with her. She slung her backpack over one shoulder as she made her way out of the library ignorant of the intensive stares the pretty librarian was giving her.

She halted her steps the turn facing the librarian when she heard her name being called by her. Raising a brow, “ Yes ?” she uttered, not feeling the strength to talk to anybody.

“ Are you alright ?” the lady asked which made Kylie confuse, wondering why she asked that. She assume that maybe because she is here when she is supposed to be on break.

“ I'm fine, thanks for asking.” She said adjusting her bag well on her shoulder, “ if I may ask, what was your reason for asking am I alright ?”

“ Well you were saying a lot of profane words, talking to yourself. Slamming the books on the table, doing a lot of weird of things that prompt me to ask.” the pretty lady, the librarian replied.

Doing a lot weird things, Eh... Like punching the textbooks; imagining it to be Ashton. Flinging it far away from her, going to take it then fling it ; she also imagined it to be Ashton. Those were the things she want to do to him when she sees him.

Kylie bowed her head in embarrassment, cursing at herself for speaking too loud. “ I'm sorry, ma'am.” said Kylie in a low tone.

The librarian shaked her head while saying, “ I'm not angry at you, just concern about your well being but since you said you are fine that's okay. But if you need someone to talk to, I'm here.” She smiled at her.

Kylie smiled back, her heart warms hearing what the lady said. She was about to ask for advice on what to do about Ashton but kept shut when the chiming sound of bell cut her off. The words that came out from her mouth were “ Thank you.”

The lady nodded her head at her with a smile lingering on her lips, Kylie walked out of the library only to see who she wants to kill right now, him not coming to the library to do their project, to her it felt like he did not show up in their wedding day. That pain of your husband not coming on your wedding day that is what she is feeling. Her eyes blurred with tears seeing Ashton infront of her.

*

Hearing those words from her brought a smile to his face but change to a frown remembering the reason why he is snubbing her. The image of Kylie and Eric kissing brought sadness to his heart, he still does not understand why he is affected so much about it.

He felt betrayed when he saw them together in that compromising way, he felt that should be him but he refused to accept that is what he is feeling.

Maybe she kissed him because of her uncontrollable hormones during her period, as she said. Ashton thought, trying to figure why on Earth Kylie will kiss Eric and Eric will kiss Kylie.

Sighing, knowing the answer is not going to come to him. He wanted to badly to confront them about it but he does not know what to say. He baded his friend goodbye, going after Kylie but walking slowly so she won't notice he is following her. He saw her entering the library, he could not enter.

It started thinking on how it will be like when he enters, what will he say ? It will definitely be awkward.

Seconds passed, minutes passed as he paced to and fro contemplating whether to enter or not.

“ I should enter,” He moved towards the brown metallic door, he turn back as he was about to enter. “ No I should not.” 

But our project, he thought.

“ Oh God this is so hard, what should I do ?” He bit his lower lip thinking of what to do, went into deep thoughts not noticing someone calling his name.The sound of the bell brought him out of his thought.

“ F**k !” He cursed, about to turn Kylie came out. He gulped waiting to see her reaction. But her in tears was not the reaction he was expecting to see.

“ Kylie...” Her name came out as a whisper from his mouth.

Kylie raised her head blinking her tears way trying very hard not to cry but it was avail. She stared straight to him and scoffed.

“ Why ?” she started as her lips quivers, tears strolling down to her cheeks. “ Why are you ignoring me ? Snubbing me ? What the fuck did I do ? For straight two days, you refused to talk to me. I tried to gain your attention but you gave me cold shoulders leaving me to wonder what the hell did I do to this dude...” She let out a bitter chuckle, raising her hands to her face wiping her tears but more was still coming.

Ashton's heart clenchef in anger seeing her in tears, he was angry at himself for being the reason she is crying. He wanted badly to stretch his hands to her face and wipe her tears. He controlled himself not wanting to complicate the situation at hand.

“ You are childish Ashton, very childish. No matter what I do, even if we are enemies of not. We have a project to do, I wonder why you can't put that aside. So childish.” She shaked her head, “ congratulations Mister Ashton, you have scored us zero in our project. I can not seem to understand why on Earth I'm being ignored by you. Ever since you went out of the toilet, you started behaving somehow, avoiding me. Well since you want that, I will give you--” Ashton raised a brow, wondering what is she going to say.

--that, we will act like we don't know each other. After our submission of our project, we are nothing but classmates who want nothing from each other, just strangers.” She sniffed, a pang of hurt in his chest as he heard her say.

“ It hurts that the people who you loves so much, people that you trust, that you are friends with abandon you, leave you. They hurt you more.” She said sobbing. “ It hurt so much but then I realized that people need to go for important people to enter.” She added, with her hands wiping her tears.

“ From now on I'm just Kylie Tanner. No body to you. I will give you what you want, to avoid each other and that is what I will do.” Kylie deadpanned, walking away not waiting to listen it.

Ashton released a breath that he did not realize he was holding, he ran his finger on his face to his hair.

“That is not what I want,” Ashton sniffed as he watched Kylie walk away till she was not in sight.

“ Did they kiss ? Or I just assume ? F**k !” He cussed at himself banging his head on the burnt orange coloured wall. 

The librarian came out to check what is causing that noise, she saw Ashton banging his head. “ Are you alright ?” She asked, feeling concern for him.

Ashton turned to look at her with his forehead still on the wall. He coughs standing up straight. “ Yeah I’m fine.” He replied coldly then walk away going to class.

The brunette lady shaked her head as she watch him go, “ This children really need help.” She said and enter back the library.