Step #2: Do the opposite of what other guys do

Charlie grabbed the toast out of the toaster and slathered it with butter. Popping it into her mouth, she took her backpack and waved a goodbye to her father. With that, she walked down the stairs and out of the house, just in time to see the bus driving past. She sprinted to catch up with it, but by the time she reached her stop, it was out of sight. She frowned; the bus driver hated her. She was the only person that rode the bus, and he wouldn’t even wait thirty seconds for her. The bastard. Dejected, she began to walk back to her house.

Halfway home, a familiar car pulled up beside her and honked its horn. She groaned and turned to it.

“Need a ride?” Ashton asked with a grin.

Charlie scowled at him. “Why are you even here?” she asked. “Shouldn’t you be off doing whatever it is that you do?”

Ashton rolled his eyes. “Do you want a ride or not?”

She shook her head. “I’ll just have my dad drive me.”

“Scared I’ll give you cooties?”

Charlie gave him a disapproving look and began to walk away. On the road beside her, Ashton trailed her.

“Go away,” she said, continuing to walk.

“I will if you let me give you a ride.”

She sighed. “If I let you give me a ride, then you wouldn’t be going away, would you?”

“Was yesterday really that awful?” he asked as Charlie arrived back at her house.

Truthfully, it wasn’t. He’d turned out to be much more interesting than Charlie had anticipated, but just as charming as she had thought he would be – when he’d let her out she’d practically skipped to her doorstep. She did not want to do anymore skipping.

“Yes.”

Her father walked out the door just as she approached it, briefcase in hand.

“Dad, I need a ride – the darn bus driver wouldn’t wait for me.”

Ashton gave a chuckle from his car as Charlie uttered the word ‘darn’. Charlie didn’t normally censor herself that much, but her dad hated cursing. Her dad furrowed his brow for a moment, noticing Ashton’s car behind her.

“Isn’t that the nice boy that drove you home yesterday?” he asked.

Before Charlie could answer, Ashton interrupted. “Yes, it is, and I’ll drive her to school too, if you’d like.”

Charlie’s dad smiled. “Really? That’d be swell. What’s your name, son?”

“Ashton.”

Charlie groaned.

“You’re lucky Ashton was driving by,” her dad said and with that, he got in his car.

As Charlie slipped into Ashton’s car, a smug smile formed on his face. “Just drive,” Charlie said through gritted teeth. She slouched in her seat and crossed her arms across her chest.

“Why are you so insistent on driving me to and from school?” Charlie asked with a sigh.

Ashton shrugged. “Just trying to be a Good Samaritan, help out the new girl.”

Charlie rolled her eyes. “Yeah right,” she said. “How did you even know I’d miss the bus today?”

Ashton grinned mischievously. “I had a feeling.”

Charlie eyed him suspiciously.

Charlie was right, Ashton thought, she does talk too much.

As he pulled up to the front of the school to let her out before he parked. Charlie babbled on about something, Ashton wasn’t sure what. Yet, he didn’t mind. It was almost cute. He gave her a small smile.

“... and so it’s not like I’m in love love with Tommy, ‘cause that’d be weird since he is eleven, but yeah...” Charlie blinked and realized that she’d been going on. She blushed and opened the door. “Thanks for the ride,” she mumbled and stumbled out of the car.

Ashton laughed to himself and pulled into his usual parking spot. Leaning against the car next to him was Kiki, arms folded across her chest, a scowl on her face. Ashton got out of his car and flashed her one of his award-winning smiles.

“What can I do you for?” he asked quickly, opening the back door and retrieving his backpack.

Kiki jerked her head towards the school entrance where Charlie had just run into the class door. “Who’s she?” Kiki asked slowly.

“Just a friend.”

“You never drove me to school,” Kiki said pointedly.

“You were never just a friend.”

Ashton slipped his arms through the armholes of his backpack and walked off, not bothering to hear the rest of what Kiki had to say.

Charlie opened up her locker and shoved her backpack in, heart still racing from her latest encounter with Ashton. It wasn’t that she liked him; she abhorred him, yet still, every time she saw him, it was as if they were playing a little game, a game that she didn’t mind loosing.

She pulled her books out and shut her locker. She set off for her homeroom, eyes locked to the ground, concentrating on finding her way. After a few seconds of walking her body collided with another. Her books flew into the air and she toppled to the ground. When she looked up her eyes met with a familiar face. Brown hair swooped over his forehead and pale grey eyes hid behind square, black glasses.

“Sorry,” she squeaked and grabbed up the nearest book. He began collecting the rest of the books off the ground. When all the books were picked up they stood up.

“It’s alright,” he said, flashing her a crooked smile and handing her a book. “I believe this is yours.”

Charlie took the book. “Thanks,” she said. “Really, I’m sorry. I’m awful clumsy.”

“Do I know you from somewhere?” he asked, leaning back and pointing a curious finger at her.

Charlie shrugged her shoulders.

A smile lit up his face. “Chemistry,” he said with a chuckle. “You came in late.”

Charlie’s blushed. “Yeah. I really should be getting to class, I’m awful at finding things and I’ve already wasted time.” She paused, then added, “not that you’re a waste of time or anything! It’s just –”

He laughed again. “Right, I get it,” he said. “I’m Wes, by the way.”

“Charlie,” she said and turned around, hurrying off to class.

At lunch, Ashton arrived at Charlie’s table again, Vince not far behind. Charlie sighed. “Stop following me,” she whispered as he sat down.

Rebeccah, who had just arrived at the table, looked to Charlie then Ashton. “Why are we whispering?” she whispered, taking a seat next to Charlie.

Charlie blushed. “No reason,” Charlie said quickly, taking a bite of her food.

Ashton laughed and opened his bottle of water. Vince sat awkwardly, clearly feeling out of place at the table. Hunter and Nicole arrived on the scene a few moments later. Noelle glanced at Ashton and Vince.

“Are they sitting here again?” she asked Rebeccah taking a seat. Hunter took the only seat left, next to Rebeccah.

Rebeccah nodded solemnly. “Yes,” she said. “Poor Charlie here has made quite an impression on Blondie, and Mr. Muscle follows him everywhere, poor thing is probably in love.”

Ashton let out a chuckle, remembering the gay comments Vince had made a few days ago. Vince glared at Ashton. Charlie’s blush deepened and she began to shovel food into her mouth. After a few minutes of silence, Charlie finished her food and leaped to her feet.

“Well,” she said with false brightness. “I better be getting off, wouldn’t want to be late to chemistry.”

Ashton stood up. “Well, I’ll show you the way, make sure you don’t get lost,” Ashton said. “I have chemistry next anyway.”

Charlie stopped and eyed him suspiciously. “I’ve never seen you in class.”

Ashton shrugged his shoulders. “I usually skip it, but for you I’ll sit through it, this once – see what all the fuss is about.”

Charlie turned her head defiantly and began to walk off. Ashton ran to catch up with her. “Is that a yes?” he asked.

Charlie shook her head. “I can find my own way, thank you very much.”

Ashton laughed. “Sure you can.”

“I can.”

Charlie stalked out of the cafeteria, Ashton not far behind. She headed left and felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned around and Ashton smiled at her.

“Other way,” he said.

She scowled at him. “I’m taking a shortcut,” she lied.

Ashton laughed. “Really? Show me.”

“I – I don’t want to,” Charlie said turning in the opposite direction. “Wouldn’t want to let you in on my little secret.”

“Right,” Ashton said.

They walked in silence for a few moments and Charlie came to another turn. She stopped abruptly. Which way had it been to chemistry? She bit her lip.

“Left,” Ashton whispered in her ear.

She turned. “I know,” she said. “I was just... thinking.”

Ashton shrugged his shoulders before following Charlie as she continued to walk.

“You just past it,” Ashton said pointing at a door she’d just passed. Charlie blushed and turned on her heal. She wrenched the door open to see the room occupied by only a few students. A quick glance at the clock told her it was ten minutes before class.

Her eyes locked on an open desk that was surrounded on both sides by students. On its left was a small girl, with jet black hair and multi-colored highlights. On its right was Wes. She smiled and found her way towards it.

“Hey Wes,” she said with a quick glance towards Ashton who had found his way to a seat in the back row.

“Hey Charlie,” he said. “Saw you coming into class with Ashton...”

Charlie shook her head fiercely. “Coincidence,” she lied.

Wes seemed to brighten at this thought.

Ashton watched Charlie and the boy – what was his name? Will? Wade? Wallace? – throughout class. Ashton could tell, even though Charlie didn’t seem to be able too, that the boy was smitten with Charlie. The way he laughed every other minute, the way he jumped every time Charlie touched him. Ashton leaned back and propped his feet on his desk. This boy, whoever he was, had just made Ashton’s plan a whole lot easier.

After class, Ashton jumped up and breezed out of the classroom without a second look at Charlie. He caught up with Vince who looked slightly alarmed when he saw Ashton appear at his locker.

“Thought you’d be off annoying Charlie right about now,” Vince said, inspecting his fingernails.

Ashton raised an eyebrow. “Were you jealous?”

Vince rolled his eyes. “You wish.”

“Admit it,” Ashton said as Vince shut his locker. “You’ve been harboring a secret crush on me for years.”

“Oh yes,” Vince said, his words dripping with sarcasm. “I just want to tear those clothes off and bake sexy cookies off your hot body.”

Ashton paused for a moment, and then the two boys laughed. As they walked to their last class of the day, a girl appeared at Vince’s left. She was a full head shorter than Vince and had a mane of messy blonde hair.

“Hey Billie,” Vince said, looking down at her. She tugged on his arm and glanced at Ashton for a moment.

“I just need to steal Vince for a little bit,” she said with a sweet smile. “You don’t mind, do you? It’ll just be fifteen, twenty minutes. Have him back by the end of class.”

Vince grinned and Ashton shrugged his shoulders. “It’s your education you’re missing out on,” he said, though he didn’t really care. It wasn’t as if he didn’t skip class every other day.

“Oh trust me,” Billie said. “I’ll teach him a thing or two.”

With that, she pulled him in the opposite direction. Ashton stuffed his hands into his pocket and let out a small, private laugh. Billie was the only thing that convinced Ashton that Vince wasn’t gay. Though they’d never been on an official date, or considered themselves a couple, Billie was always “borrowing” Vince.

Before going to class, he stopped by the office. He scribbled something on a piece of paper, folded it up and put the bus driver’s name on it before walking up to the secretary’s desk.

“Hey Ashton, sweetie,” she said with a grin.

“Hey Ms. Wheaton,” Ashton said. Ms. Wheaton was a forty-some, peroxide blonde, divorced mother of three with a very cougar like attitude – not that Ashton would know from experience, he preferred his woman closer to his own age. “Could you give this to the bus driver when he signs in?” He handed her the paper flashing a charming smile.

Ms. Wheaton took the paper and nodded. “Of course.”

Charlie knew she had been on time to her bus today, she’d nearly run from her last class to the oak tree, yet she’d seen the bus speeding away just as she arrived. With a sigh, she whipped out her phone and dialed her dad’s number.

“Charlie?” he asked when he picked up.

“Yeah, Dad,” she said, biting her lip. “I missed the bus again, but only because the bus driver hates me! Could you pick me up?”

Her dad sighed. “I can’t right now, Charlie I’m in the middle of something. Why don’t you ask that nice Ashton boy.”

“I don’t think he can today,” Charlie lied, she hadn’t asked him yet. She glanced over to his usual parking spot and saw him leaning against his car chatting with Vince. “Please.”

“Unless you want to wait until five, just hitch a ride with someone.”

“But, Dad –”

“Charlie, I have to go.”

“Dad –”

“Bye.”

There was a click and the line went dead. She sighed and racked her brains, trying to think of who could drive her. Hunter and Rebeccah had something after school, she couldn’t remember what. Nicole’s mom had already picked her up... That left Ashton. She frowned and began to walk over to him. When she was halfway there, he looked up and their eyes connected. She let out a small smile and gave a weak wave. He almost nodded at her then turned away and got into his car. He pulled out of the parking spot and began to drive away. Inwardly, Charlie debated whether she was desperate enough to chase after him.

Before she could make up her mind, Vince tapped her on the shoulder. Charlie turned around. His expression was a mix of guilt and pity.

“I’ll drive you home,” he said and frowned.

Charlie shrugged her shoulders, not bothering to wonder what had just happened. “Thanks,” she said.

He gave her a small smile and slipped into his car. Charlie followed his lead.

“And he just drove away, the minute he saw you?”

Charlie nodded solemnly and lay down in her bed, phone clasped in her hand. Right after Vince had dropped her off she’d rushed into her bedroom to call Jennifer.

“You know,” Jennifer said on the other end of the line. “I can’t hear you when you nod.”

Charlie blushed. Her friend knew her so well. “Oh, right.”

“I thought he liked you,” Jennifer said. There was a moments silence. “I got it, he’s playing one of those man games. Like act like you don’t care – most girls go nuts over that stuff.”

“Well, if it means he’ll leave me alone, I don’t care what games he’s playing,” Charlie said, although she wasn’t entirely convinced of herself.

Ashton turned into his driveway, a smile on his face. The boy that Charlie had been talking to had made Ashton realize something: he wasn’t the only one that was intrigued by Charlie. Which meant, he’d been going about it all wrong. If he wanted to ensnare Charlie, he had to show her how much he “didn’t” care.

Author's Note: Sorry this one took a little longer. But hopefully you'll consider it worth the wait? I just wanna give a big shout out to all my reviewers, I've gotten way more feedback than I thought I would, especially for just the first two chapters. Thanks so much!