Free Ash by Julieanne Lynch

really don’t give a shit about school, but unless you intend on making a living doing whatever it is that makes your life so darned fantastic, I suggest graduating with your diploma. You never know when it might come in handy.”
    I sat upright and focused on her. “And who has given you the authority to judge me?”
    “Principal Boone, and if you’ve a problem with that, Ashley, it’s best to take it up with him.”
    She laughed and shook her head. Connie raised an eyebrow and stretched across the table, pulling my bag in her direction.
    “Hey, that’s mine.” I tried to snatch it back.
    “Too bad. I need to see what we’re going to be working with. Besides, you can tell a lot about a guy from what he packs in his bag.”
    “Is that so?”
    She removed her glasses, set them down beside her notebook, and pushed her hair back from her face. It was the first time I noticed how blue her eyes were. She wasn’t plastered in make-up, aside from a little mascara and lip-gloss. Less was definitely more in her case.
    Connie looked up.
    I avoided her intense scrutiny.
    “So, you’ve packed . . . comics?”
    “I needed something to read if I got bored.”
    “Ah, so you can read? That’s something, at least.” The sarcasm rolled off her tongue.
    “Are we going to do this? Or will you continue throwing insults at me?”
    “Well, it’s going to be a little hard with you over there, but whatever makes you more comfortable.” Connie smiled.
    She was clearly busting my balls, and I kind of liked it.
    “Right,” she said, sitting up straight and opening a book. “You need to get reading, since you have an essay on Othello, and you need to know a few basics.”
    “Basics?”
    Connie raised an eyebrow at me and shook her head. “Well, you need to know what the story is about in order to answer the question.”
    “Which is?” I smirked.
    She sighed and opened up her notebook. Connie read a few lines.
    “Analyze Desdemona’s role. To what extent is she a passive victim of Othello’s violence? Describe how her character changes when she is not with Othello.”
    Her words went straight over my head. I was too busy staring at her mouth, and the way her lips moved as she spoke. How she took small breaths and paused before speaking again. She was, without a doubt, the most gorgeous geek I’d ever seen.
    “Ashley,” she said. “Are you paying attention?”
    The sound of her voice broke through my reverie, and I shifted in my seat.
    “No idea what you’re talking about, but you can repeat it if you want. I don’t mind.” I winked at her. “Oh, and the name’s Ash.”
    Connie’s forehead creased. “If you’re not going to take these study sessions seriously, I can ask Principal Boone to have you reassigned with someone else.”
    “Aww, don’t be like that.”
    “Seriously, Ash.” My name rolled of her tongue with contempt. “I take my education seriously, and if you don’t, then that’s on you, not me.”
    I opened mouth to offer her a smart retort. Raised voices coming from the doorway got my attention. I turned around.
    Andrés and his crew entered the library, tossing chairs, flipping paper off the front desk, and throwing books.
    “Excuse me,” one of the librarians said.
    Andrés pressed a finger to her lips and shushed her. “Just go and be a good coffin dodger, and let me see my boy.” He smirked when he saw me.
    “Ash, my man.” He walked over to where I sat and held a hand out to me.
    I stood, and we shook hands.
    He pulled me into his arms and hugged me. It was his way of making sure I knew who was top dog.
    “So this is where they are keeping you.”
    I cleared my throat and glanced at Connie, noting the look of irritation on her face.
    “Yeah, listen, man, I have to be here. You know the deal,” I said, trying to keep my voice low.
    “About that, Ash. Fuck authority.” Andrés stepped back and looked at Connie. “Ditch the stiff and come ride with us. We’ve a job for