4: A Lesson In Despair
The three reached the campus of Washington High with about fifteen minutes or so before the first bell rung. Normally this would give them time to split up and do their own thing before they’d meet back up with each other during lunch.
Ashley would be in either the library or the computer lab working on coding one of her programs. And Nathan would make attempts at wooing over one or several of the female students. Will, on the other hand, didn’t have a set morning activity yet. This wasn’t really an issue for him; at the very least he could sit at one of the vacant tables in the courtyard area and listen to his CD player until it was time for homeroom.
None of these things would happen on this morning. Nathan wouldn’t be nursing the bruises on face caused by the slaps of the girls he tried to court. Will wouldn’t be listening to his CD player anymore. And Ashley wouldn’t press a single key on any keyboard; nor would she eat another of the blueberry muffins that fueled her programming prowess. In fact, crumbs fell from her mouth and the half-eaten muffin in her hand dropped to the ground as she looked in anxiety at the scene that was set in the drop-off point near the George Washington Statue.
There was a large gathering of students and even some teachers surrounding the drop-off area. More importantly, the gatherers were being blocked from approaching the curbside by a considerate number of the school security team. It was fair to say they were tasked with making sure nobody came close to the black luxury sedan that was parked on the street.
Will had only seen cars like one that was parked in commercials. He remembered those commercials in particular because whenever his family saw them as they watched television together, he remembered his dad pointing at the TV and saying, “one day family. One day we’re gonna ride around in something like that.” Each time the commercial played, Will’s dad reiterated the guarantee he made to his family, that they were going to make it out of Salem and into a better life.
Will didn’t know the exact model of the car, but he knew that it was a Mercedes from the silver emblem placed on the hood of the car.
“Is that an S-Class?” Nathan asked. “That is!” he answered himself.
While Ashley still stood in awe, her eyes wide open in concern, Will pointed his index finger in the direction of the gathering from left to right. He was counting, to himself, the number of security officers policing the area. In the end, he noted that there were far more officers on duty here than there were attempting to put an end to Freshman Friday.
The trio made their way to the spectating crowd. As they drew closer, Ashley became more and more anxious; small beads of sweat started to fall from her forehead, something Nathan took note of.
“Dude, you okay?” Nathan silently asked her as they continued to walk.
“No, not really. You don’t think that’s...” She answered back, with an even more silent tone.
“No way in Hell, dude. She’s in that ultra-fancy private school remember?. Why would she come here of all places?”
Will couldn’t help but notice the fear on Ashley’s face. Not even when the three were hiding in the closet along with Rob last Friday, did he see her this scared. Nathan looked only slightly better; his face became a bit pale. But it seemed as if he was trying his hardest to keep a brave face if only to reassure Ashley.
To Will it looked as if the car, that commanded the gathering’s attention reminded his friends of a ghost. Their facial expressions reminded him of the look on his face when April’s spirit first came to him at his locker.
Despite the anxiousness that overcame her, Ashley began to work her way through the crowd towards the middle and front of the man-made blockade. Nathan followed, not wanting to leave her by herself; Will did as well, still not 100 percent sure as what was going on and why it had Nathan and Ashley on edge.
Seconds later, and with great effort, the boys met back up with Ashley at the front of the blockade; the three had a front row seat to what was about to happen next. The buzzing crowd became silent as the front passenger door of the car opened.
Coming out of the car was the tall Asian woman that Will encountered in the hallway outside the principal’s office a few days prior. Her outfit was a bit different, she was now wearing a cream white blazer with a grey shirt underneath. The slacks she wore were nearly as white as the blazer and so were her heels. What was the same, however, was the lanyard around her neck and the intimidating scowl on her face.
While Will recognized her from last week, Ashley and Nathan recognized the lady from further back in time. Her exit from the Mercedes filled Ashley with even more fear as she walked to the door of the back-passenger side.
“Oh crap, dude, that’s M,” Nathan said identifying the lady.
“M? I think I’ve seen her before. Who’s she supposed to be?” Will asked.
Ashley softly answered, “M, it’s short for Mitsuyo, Mitsuyo Suzukaze. Head of security for the Taylor Corporation and personal bodyguard for the CEO himself, Donovan Taylor.”
“So that guy WAS Donovan Taylor,” Will said to himself but not quiet enough for Nathan and Ashley to ignore.
“Huh? Dude, what are you talking about?” Nathan asked.
Will explained, “A few days ago, I was in the principal’s office. Before I walked in, I saw her, M, standing outside of the office. Inside, Donovan Taylor was talking to Principal Caine. They were talking about how Washington would be a perfect fit for ‘her’ and that she’d be here on Monday.”
“Then that would mean,” Nathan said.
“..that our greatest nightmare is now a reality, that Leslie Taylor is back.” Ashley finished.
Mitsuyo opened the back door of the Mercedes, and as Nathan and Ashley feared, it was Leslie who exited, to the excited reaction of almost everyone in the gathered crowd.
“Oh my God, it’s her!”
“No way! Is that who I think it is?!”
“Yeah it’s her. She’s way cuter than I heard she was!”
“Is she going to be coming to Washington?! Please, God say she’s coming here!”
More phrases like these filled the crowd as Leslie made her debut. While the girls were in amazement of her appearance, the boys of the crowd were instantly in love. Compliments of her beauty were shared among the crowd. It was hard to not notice Leslie’s attractiveness; even Will, who previously didn’t pay much attention to these things, took note.
Leslie had fair skin, there was not a blemish or scar to be found on her face. She had baby blue eyes and curled, black eyelashes. The makeup on her face consisted of vibrant, light blue, eyeshadow, pale pink blush, and rose pink lipstick that drew attention to her full, soft lips. Her hair was voluptuous in volume. Wavy in form and platinum honey blonde in color, it flowed flawlessly down to her hips; her slim eyebrows matched in color.
Body wise, Leslie was slender in frame. She stood about five foot two and looked to weigh a few pounds short of one-hundred. Regardless, she fit into her designer clothing perfectly.
She was perfect. And she knew it too. It was that perfection that gave Leslie the air of confidence that she displayed when she walked towards the campus. With one hand on her hip, Se walked forward, one leg in front of the other and vice-versa, as if she were a seasoned supermodel walking down the runway. The crowd grew at least three or four times in size when word spread throughout the campus that it was her in the Mercedes.
A few of the students in the crowd foolishly tried to get closer to Leslie as she walked passed them; their attempts would be rewarded with detainment from the security officers. Some of the apprehensions looked like something out of an episode of Cops. Will witnessing this served as Exhibit A into just how high-profile Leslie was.
Leslie smiled and waved at the onlookers. She verbally greeted some of the students at random; those she thought would make good friends for her. “Hi! Loving your dress! Hey, cutie, you look like you could bench-press a truck! We should do lunch soon!” so on and so forth. Whether she meant what she said as she said it remained to be seen; but her tone implied that she wanted to make an friendly introduction to everyone.
And then the dreaded moment came. Leslie spotted Ashley in the front of the crowd near the statue of George Washington. Ashley’s fearful expression had turned to one of scorn as Leslie made her way straight to her. After locking her eyes onto Ashley, Leslie gave a cocky smirk that stayed on her face as she closed in on the trio.
Leslie spoke to Ashley, but not in the welcoming tone like she did with the onlookers, but with an arrogant one instead.
“Well as I live and breathe. Ashley Baker. I never thought I would ever see you again.”
“Feeling’s mutual. In fact I prayed that I’d never see you again.”
“Oh, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley, Ashley. Are you still bitter over what happened between us? My God, I thought would’ve let that go. I mean, you’ve must’ve gotten involved in something or with someone that could better occupy your time. Or maybe what they said about you is true. Maybe you are a loser with zero life, because I cannot possibly think of any other reason why you still hold a grudge over something so trite.”
Ashley clenched her fists and now her look of scorn became one of anger. Will could see her face turn a shade of red.
“Trite? You don’t think stabbing your best friend in the back is..”
Leslie interrupted her. “Oh wow! You really are hanging on to that! You really don’t have a life! I mean, for crying out loud, you’re still hanging out with Nicolas!” She pointed at Nathan and looked at him with disgust.
“uh..it’s Nathan,” Nathan corrected.
“uh..it’s,” Leslie replied mocking him. “Who cares? You’re nobody, she’s nobody, and.” She looked to the right of Ashley and saw Will and his look of disapproval with the conversation. She continued by asking Will, “and you are?”
“I’m going to go with Nobody?” Will answered in a sarcastic tone. He could’ve stood up for his friend Ashley, and in any other case he might have. But he felt as though his brave words would fall on deaf ears when it came to Leslie.
“My my, you catch on quick, a quality that almost makes up for those bargain bin clothes you inaccurately felt were appropriate attire to wear at my debut.” Just then, and without warning, Leslie moved her hands to Will’s upper body and straightened the collar on his shirt.
“Now I would love to continue to grace you three rejects with my presence. But A: I’ve already spent a hundred more times than you’re worth doing so.”
The first bell for homeroom class rang.
Leslie continued, “And B: I’m going to be late for class. So move aside, you’re in my way. And Ashley, I don’t have to remind you what happens when you get in my way now do I?” She concluded in a condescending tone, “of course I don’t.”
Before Leslie resumed walking, the two security officers closest to her advanced to Will and friends. They directed the students in the immediate area to separate the crowd into half, giving Leslie a clear path to the campus proper. Nathan and Ashley ended up on one side of the separated crowd, while Will ended up on the other.
Eventually, the security team ordered the crowd at large to disperse and to make their way to their homeroom classes. Before heading to his class, Will reunited with Nathan and Ashley, whose look of anger remained the same; her head was down and her fists were still clenched tightly.