CHAPTER 4

                                    

                                          
Ashley’s POV
No matter how much I tried to not think about it, the incident of that night kept popping into my head.
I woke up with the dread of that man coming to my doorstep any time.
I was freaky all day.
Marie noticed my bizarre behaviour but did not make any comment about it.
What could I tell her?
I wasn’t even sure if it was real or if my mind played tricks on me. There was no news regarding any murder or a dead body found behind the club.
I didn’t want to believe it either.
But I could not deny what I saw.
Nathaniel shot a person and I was the witness to it.
“Ashley?” I was shaken out of my thoughts. “Mr. Walters is calling you,” Kate pointed toward our professor.
“Okay,” I nodded.
Kate went back to her seat and I went to Mr. Walters’s desk.
I discussed the details of the ongoing project with him. I was so happy when he announced that we would go solo on it instead of working in pairs.
I wanted to be left alone for now.
I got up once I was done with the discussion and went back to my table.
“How did it go?” Kate turned her chair in my direction when I sat down.
“Good.” I arranged my papers and opened my laptop.
“I am glad you are okay now,” Kate smiled when I looked at her. “Let bygones be bygones.”
“Yeah,” I replied and laid out the drafts in front of me. “Let bygones be bygones.”
“Let’s finish this and head to the canteen, yeah?” Kate asked.
“Sure,” I nodded and we got back to our work. “Let’s get this over with.”
And forget about that night for good this time.
*****
“This project was the worst thing that happened in all these years,” I whined to my mother.
“Don’t fret over it too much, baby. I know you gave it your all. Just be calm and cool with the output, okay?”
“I am not fussing over it.” I dragged my feet along the way. “It’s just that you know I don’t do anything half-hearted. I either give it my all or not at all.”
“I know but stop pushing yourself too much,” Mom reasoned. “You are doing just fine. We are already proud of you.”
I smiled at her words.
“One more day until semester break and I will spend a whole week with you. I can’t wait.” I said excitedly.
“Me too, kiddo.” Mom chuckled. “I can’t wait to see you too.”
“I need to hang up now. Marie will kill me if I don’t reach the car before her. I am so not in the mood to bicker with her. I will call you later, okay? I love you, mom. Take care, bye.”
“Be careful, Ash. I love you too. I will always love you.”
I disconnected the call and put my phone back in my pocket.
I groaned when my phone buzzed again. I was just too lazy right now to even answer a single call.
“I swear if it’s Marie-”