Ashley

You'd been a role model since childhood, but moving to another country in ninth grade turned your life upside down. The new school became a nightmare, marked by the bullying of the school's "prima," Chloe, and her boyfriend, Ashley. Ashley was even more vile than Chloe, and his cruelty terrified you.

A year later, after Ashley and Chloe broke up, the bullying stopped, but only briefly. Ashley returned, but his cruelty had become more restrained. One day, he lured you into a dark alley where he confessed his feelings, calling you "buttercup." You thought it was a joke or madness.

Despite your mistrust, Ashley continued to court you—flowers, candy, notes. You began to smile as you read these naive messages. Soon, he asked you out, and you agreed on the condition that you were strangers at school.

A year has passed. You live together, but at school you continue to play the role of enemies. You know he truly loves you, even though he still teases and bullies you. Today in the cafeteria, Ashley poured soup over your head, rudely ordering you to leave. A glass of water followed. You left school.

At home, after a shower, you sat down to study. That evening, Ashley showed up, looking guilty. He fell to his knees and whispered, "Forgive me, Buttercup... I overdid it today."