High School Trio

Ashley is anxious. Sitting in the school bus full of unfamiliar faces, and smiling and nodding to those who meet her eyes make her want to throw up. She has been like this for two weeks. “It’s going to be okay, darling,” her mother would always say just before she leaves the house to wait for the school bus. She would smile upon hearing this, but she knew she’s not going to be okay. How can she be okay?

“Hey Ash, move over,” Dion says as she sits beside Ashley. “Mom said she won’t be home until tomorrow, so I’ll stay at your place tonight.”

“Again?”

“I know, right? She said it’s a work thing. Dad doesn’t look pleased with it but says nothing. All he wants is me out of the house whenever mom is not around.”

“It’s a movie night, then,” Ashley said excitedly.

Dion is the only face she knows in the school bus, even at school. For two weeks, she depended on Dion on how to survive school.

The bus stops, and they get ready. Dion is talking about watching a series instead of a movie.

“… they finish in just about an hour two. We should try a series this time, we could start tonight and then continue next week. It would be thrilling, you know, waiting for another week to know how the story goes. What do you think Ash?”

But Ash is not listening. All these people around make her sick. Some would throw glances at her, some would smile, others smirk. But she could not make out of it. Should she smile? Should she ignore them? She wants to go home instead.

It takes at least two minutes of walking from the school’s gate to its entrance. There are benches on the side of the walkway. Those who arrive at school early usually stay there. For two weeks, she concludes it has always been this way. She could have been one of them before.

“Before”.

Students, teachers and school staff would sit on the benches as they wait for the school bell. Some students are busy with their books, most of them are gathered in circle talking. They would wave their hands to those they know walking by. But none of them waves at her, or Dion. She wonders if it’s because Dion is with her. Sometimes she feels guilty that Dion is stuck with her.

“Ash?” Dion asks worriedly. “Movie or series?”

“I guess we could try series tonight,” she answers weakly.

“Good choice! Let’s hurry. I don’t wanna be late.”

They have enough time, of course. Ashley is sure that Dion could feel her uneasiness, so they always walk fast. They enter the school’s entrance. It is a huge three-storey building with ten classrooms on each floor. Five of the rooms on the first floor are for the school’s offices. The rest are laboratories and their school library. The place feels familiar.

“Very familiar.”

Their classroom is on the second floor. They are in their last year of senior high school. That means they are in their 6^th and final year in this school. Six years.

“Two weeks for me.”

She chuckles.

“What?” Dion asks her. She looks worried, or scared, or shocked. Ashley could not tell.

“Nothing. Can we slow down now?”

Dion stops abruptly. As if she was disturbed from a deep thought. “Oh, I’m sorry. Are you okay?”

“Am I?”

“Let’s go up now,” Ashley says instead. She holds Dion’s wrist and drags her to the stairs.

They hurried to their room. It’s a large room, enough for 30 students. Unfortunately, her desk is in front while Dion is seated at the back.

Two weeks ago, she was very lost when she entered this room. Her classmates looked flabbergasted when they saw her. The room became quiet as well. Dion entered after her and escorted her to her seat. Her classmates then continued whatever they were doing. Nobody approached her that day. Nobody looked at her. She did not dare leave her seat unless she was with Dion. Her teachers were a little bit awkward with her at first, but eventually became casual. It’s the same with her classmates, after three days, some would look and smile at her. But not really talk to her. She wondered why. She wonders why.

She checks her wristwatch. Ten minutes before the bell rings. She searches for Dion at the back of the room, unfortunately she’s not there. She wants to go to the bathroom before the class starts, and she always goes out with Dion. She hesitates whether to leave or not.

“Oh well, the bathroom is only three rooms away.”

She stands. She walks to the bathroom, and enters a cubicle.

“Ash, are you here?” she hears Dion calls out. “I dropped something earlier so I went out to look for it. I’m sorry.” She’s about to tell Dion she’s inside one of the cubicles when another student speaks.

“Dion,” the voice sounds familiar, but Ashley could not tell who it is.

“Gwen,” Dion replies.

“Gwen? Gwennyth?”

Ashley is confused. How come the name is too familiar?

Dion sounds unsure, intimidated. “You haven’t seen Ash here, have you?”

Ashley is not sure what to do. She wants to go out of the cubicle to let Dion know she’s there. However, she feels weak, her head aching.

“Gwen, are we stopping by Dion’s house later?”

“Of course, Ash, she needs us, remember?”

“I heard you go to school together. How come none of you came to see me in the hospital?” the girl Dion calls Gwen asks.

“Things are complicated with Ashley, Gwen. Please let’s not talk about it here. Have you seen Ash?”

“Things got complicated. You know who’s at fault.”

“Gwen… please.”

“Gwen.”

Ashley’s head is about to burst in pain.

“You know Gwen and I are here for you Dion.”

“… and what I don’t understand is Ashley being with you. I can’t even forgive you for doing that to us, to her, and now you’re always together?”

”I hate you and Gwen. You being so perfect in every aspect, and Gwen for being okay with that. I hate that both of your parents are okay, that your lives are perfect. I hate that both of you do well in everything.”

“I’m sorry Gwen. I wish I could undo everything.”

Ashley’s confused. Her head is aching so bad, and she is running out of breath. She wants to scream and let Dion and Gwen know she could hear them. But she is too weak, confused. She wants to know, too. But what is there to know?

“What happened?”