Ashley Cooper's Arc

Chapter 3 of 37

Tyler stared at the bare bone. He said nothing. The hall went quiet around them, and every second stretched longer. Ashley's sleeve was still pushed high. Her heart slammed. She watched his face for any sign, but he gave her nothing. His silence pressed on her like a hand at her throat. "Say something," Ashley said. Her voice cracked. "Anything." Tyler opened his mouth. He closed it again. His eyes moved from the bone to her face and back. Ashley saw his jaw work. She knew that look on other boys. It was the look right before they ran. A laugh broke the quiet. Down the hall, Mike Henderson pushed through the crowd. He was the basketball player everyone loved, red jersey on, mustache above a wide grin. He never seemed to fear anything. He walked straight up to Ashley and looked at her arm. "Whoa," Mike said. He leaned close. "That's real bone? That is the coolest thing I've ever seen." He held up his hand for a high five. "Do it. Come on." Ashley froze. Then she lifted her skeleton hand and slapped his palm. Bone met skin with a soft clack. Mike laughed, loud and easy. A few kids near him laughed too, but not the cruel way. The tight air in the hall started to loosen. Ashley turned back to Tyler. Mike had shown the whole hall it was okay. Now Tyler had no crowd to hide behind. He still stood there, pale, hands stiff at his sides. "Tyler," Ashley said. "You've been quiet since you saw it. I need to know. Are you disgusted?" Tyler flinched. "No," he said. His voice was rough. "I'm not disgusted." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I just don't know what to do with it. You lied to me. Every time I got close, you pulled away. I thought that was about me." "It was never about you," Ashley said. "It was about this." She raised the arm again. Tyler looked at the floor. "I liked you," he said. "But I don't even know who you are." He stepped back. "I need time. I can't do this right now." He turned and walked away. The crowd split for him. Ashley watched the blonde Mohawk move toward the doors until it was gone. Mike stayed beside her. "His loss," he said. He shrugged. "For what it's worth, I think it's awesome." Ashley pulled her sleeve down slowly. The silence was over. She had her answer. Tyler wasn't disgusted, but he was gone, and he had walked out in front of everyone. The whole school had watched her get left. She wiped her eyes before anyone saw. The bell rang. Kids drifted to class, still glancing at her sleeve. Ashley stood alone in the loud, purple hall, knowing the boy she wanted had said no, and now the whole world knew her secret.