Megan’s POV

We walked faster in going to the locker before our first period in the afternoon will start. I stopped in my tracks to find Ashton and Zach in front of my locker, and I realized they tried to erase the paint on my locker room. And I saw the girls, primarily cheerleading squad members, lingered around the locker room, and Oscar had nudged me. In contrast, I saw Alice grinned as she watched them cleaned the paint on my locker, and when Ashton noticed us, he stopped what he was doing. He walked closer to me, and I can feel my heart is pounding against my chest, and I want to run away from him because my mind is telling me to stay away from Ashton to keep my heart safe, but my own heart betrayed me as I remained footed on the ground.

He caressed my face, and I felt so excited, and I tried my best to stop my body from shaking. And I hate myself for hoping he will kiss me again, but instead, he takes some strand of my light brown hair that covered my face and put it at the back of my ear. And I found his gesture so sweet. And I admit his nearness makes my mind goes blank, and it feels like we are the only ones standing in the locker room as the noise faded away in the background. I can hear the loud thumping of my heart as I watched him stared at my face without blinking his beautiful mesmerizing eyes.

“I am sorry, Megan, if someone is immature enough to vandalize your locker. I want everybody to know that you are the most lovely girl I have ever laid my eyes on, you are sweet, and your smile alone can make my gloomy day bright, and I strongly disagree that you are a bitch because, for me, you are the most adorable girl I have ever known.” Ashton said, and my knees turned like jelly; then he held my waist with his strong hands and grabbed me closer to him, and he hugged me, and then he kissed my forehead before he pulled me to my locker. He asked me to open my locker, and I felt so shocked when I found a long red stem rose inside, and he took it out.

“It is for you, Meg, and I am sorry that this is all happened to you, and I know this is what you were talking about, and I understand now why you were so afraid to date me, but you have to believe me, I will be there for you, and whoever will bully you I will face them, and I don’t care who they are.” He said, and I don’t know how to answer him because all the things he did for me in one day put me on overdrive, and my heart is filled with happiness.

“You don’t need to answer me right now, Meg, but I will never surrender, and I will prove to you that we belong together.” He said before he walks away from me, and the girls followed him like leeches, and my friends come closer to me, giggling.

“OMG! I am going to have a heart attack right now, and I still couldn’t believe that Ashton is very crazy about you, Megan. And I couldn’t reckon that you just stood there like a statue, and you never utter a single word like you want to date him too. I heard everything he said to you.” Oscar declared.

“You are the luckiest girl in the entire Academy right now, and yet it feels like you don’t feel happy about it. Please, Megan, give yourself a break and stop being stubborn. He will never do something like this if he is not serious about you. Can you imagine he removed the bitch word just for you? I know you like Ashton too, but you are so worried about what will happen next, but stop worrying about it, because what is important now is you caught his attention, girl. And don’t mind those freaking bitches because Ashton is the one who chases you, not the other way around.” Oscar said, and since his speech was so long, I couldn’t even remember a single word because Ashton’s thoughts occupy my mind, and I can’t stop myself from inhaling the fragrance of the red rose on my hand.

“Yes, Oscar was right, Meg. Don’t overthink about it, and you know what is our problem right now? We are almost late.” Alice said, and I realized we still have a class. I get my books and closed my locker hastily, and we ran going to our next class, and I felt so glad that we are just on time. We arrived as our teacher started the roll call. I am still controlling my breath when our teacher asked a question regarding our assignment, and I felt glad I always study everything in advance. I immediately raised my hand, and I can see out of the corner of my eye Lauren raised her hand too, and I felt so glad our teacher called me.

“Very well said, Ms. Corteza, and I can tell you always study your lesson in advance.” She said, and I smiled. She continued her lectures while my mind wonders towards Ashton, and if before I daydream about him kissing me, it feels different now that I know how it feels to be touched and kissed by him. I felt so glad that my remaining classes in the afternoon were over without complications.

“Hey, how do you feel now, Megan?” Alice asked as we walked towards our locker, and I am glad she waited for me outside my classroom because I am still afraid of the cheerleaders who are giving me hard stares, and I wonder what they will do to me next.

“I am fine, and I just hate to think that what will happen next,” I said.

“Stop worrying about things, Meg; this time, I am sure Ashton is willing to clean any mess just for you. You told me once, Meg, that you will only allow yourself to have a boyfriend if Ashton Pritzgold will ask you out. And now that it is happening, I don’t think you will back down because a promise is a promise.” Alice said, and I remember how many times during our yearly school fair I always asked Megan to accompany me to stalk Ashton. I always ended with a broken heart because girls always surround him, and most of the time, I saw him linked his arms with Lauren. That is why during the school fair in tenth grade, I promise I will stop myself from crushing Ashton.

I could hardly breathe when I caught Ashton leaning on my locker, and he looked like a model on a magazine, and the moment he smiled, I could tell he is drop-dead gorgeous, and my stupid heart is beating so fast again. And I worry if I continue to feel like this every time he is around, I could have a heart attack. But I don’t have a choice but to walk to my locker because I need to get my books and notes.

“Hey, would it be alright if I will take you to the coffee shop?” He asked, and I nodded my head since I felt like I lost my ability to speak again, and I am afraid of what my voice be like if I will talk now that I felt so nervous.

“Meg, please go ahead with me since I need to go somewhere else,” Alice yelled at me, and before I can answer her, she already ran to the other side of the hall. I am sure she intentionally left me because she wants me to have some time alone with Ashton, and I just shook my head.

“Meg, I am sorry about the locker incident this morning, and don’t worry, I already seek some help to find the culprit.” He said, and I stop walking as I look at him.

“Ashton, it is not worth the trouble, and don’t worry, I am fine. And thank you for removing the paint for me, and thanks for the rose.” I said, and he takes my hand, and I can feel the electricity that travels from my palm to my inner core, and he didn’t let go of my hand as we walk to the parking lot. I know the cafe is not so far away from our school, but he needs to get back right away for his football practice.

“Megan, I hate that someone did something like that to you because of me, and right now, I am telling you it is my business because you are my future girlfriend, of course, when you are ready. I know I should ask you to be my girlfriend first in a romantic place, but base on your busy schedule. I don’t think we can have a date at the moment, but I was hoping one of these days I can take you out.” He said, and I can’t stop myself from smiling.

“You don’t need to answer me right now, Meg, because I know you are so different from all the girls in our school. That is why I want to take it slow.” Ashton added while I can feel my heart is about to leap from my chest because of the happiness that I felt.

“There is just one thing I want to hear from you because I don’t want to force you, Meg, and I respect you. That is why I want to ask you if I can court you?” He asked, and my mind is confused right now, and Alice’s words are playing on my mind.

“Ashton, I don’t know, but to be honest, after what happened this morning in the locker room, I am so afraid of what they are going to do to me on the next day and the coming days. But to answer your question, yes, you can, and if it would be okay with you, maybe we can be friends first.” I said, and the beautiful smile that appeared on his handsome face took my breath away.

“Thank you, Megan, of course; it would be lovely to know you more, but knowing that you give me a chance to be friends with you is enough to make me feel so happy today..” He said as he squeezed my palm, and Ashton opened the passenger’s seat of his pick up, and he helped me climbed to his car, and his scent made me so drawn to him, and I am excited to know Ashton more.