Ashton’s POV

Ever since I started liking Megan, I always want our football practice to be over earlier than usual since I want to spend some time with her before our first period, but it seems like our coach knew I am beginning to like someone. And I can feel that he intentionally dismissed us with so little time to spare that we are running to our first period. I can’t deny I like to attend my first class in the morning since it is one of the subjects that I have with Megan, and I felt so happy that we are classmates in literature, and I want to be inspired by the entire day.

“Hey, have you heard that your ex was harassing Megan?” Zach said as he walked with me going to our literature class while some of our teammates are walking behind us.

“What? How did you know about that? I haven’t talked with her for the past few days, and I thought she was busy with her cheerleading practice.” I replied.

“Oh, I see. My reliable source told me Lauren was busy hurting Megan. If you are not going to stop her, I am sure Megan will push you away again. You need to know that this is the second time she insulted Megan, the first time she warned her not to date you. And this time, I received another picture of Megan sent by an unknown sender. But today is worse. The cheerleaders led by your ex surrounded Megan, and Lauren tore Megan’s assignment in our literature subject, as per my source.” Zachary said as he showed me his iPhone message with an attachment. And I can see Lauren grabbed Megan’s bag in the first picture, and in the second image, my future girlfriend was already picking up her things, and I can tell Lauren throw her stuff on the ground.

I released a heavy sigh, and I shook my head. I thought Lauren already moved on with me. How could she ruin my chance to be with the girl I like. I know that is one of Megan’s reasons why she doesn’t want to date me, and even if I promise to protect her, but I can’t be with her during the entire day since we only have few subjects together this school year, plus I have practice in the morning. And I wonder why it has to be now that I want to date her when during our junior year we were classmates in almost all the subjects.

“I think you should keep your relationship with Megan from the public; in that way, you can protect her. She needs to maintain her scholarship, bro, and you need to help her.” Zachary said.

“Why should I hide my relationship with her if ever she will accept me as her boyfriend? You must understand, Zach, this is the first time I feel something like this towards a girl, and there is no way I will hide it because I want to be with her every chance I can have when we are here on campus. Megan is very busy with her part-time jobs.” I said.

“How are you going to protect her from those girls, Ashton, especially from Lauren?” He asked.

“I will talk to her today. There is no way I will allow her and her friends to continue harassing Megan.” I replied, and I couldn’t understand why they have to do this to her. Megan always stays on the sideline unless we are inside our classroom, and our teacher will ask some questions. She always has answers whatever question our teacher throws at us. That is why I was captivated by her wits.

Even if Zachary wants me to stay away from Megan every time we are in public, I couldn’t stop myself from staring at her during our first period, she was still wearing an ankle-length dress, and I smiled when I saw her sneakers shoes, and I find it so cool. I didn’t expect that our teacher will notice me gaping at Megan. And I couldn’t stop myself from smiling and telling our teacher that I am so fascinated by this girl, and I don’t care if I was being reprimanded by Mr. Diaz as long as everyone will know that I am into Megan. And I also want her to know that I am so serious about her that I am not afraid or ashamed to tell it to everybody. And I hope my message was clear enough to stop them from hurting Megan.

I wanted to walk beside Megan to her second subject for the day, but Zach talked to me, and I know he has a point. Instead, I find time to speak with Lauren before our teacher arrives.

“Hey, can we talk?” I asked.

“Of course, you know that I am always waiting for you, Ashton. I hate that you got so busy lately that you didn’t even ask me on a date, one time I came to your house, you weren’t around, and I waited for you until your mom asked me to go home since it was already late.” She declared as I motioned her to walked to the back of our classroom.

“Our friendly date,” I emphasized, and I can see her beautiful face grimaced, and she looked at me with hatred on her face.

“Do you want to hang out tonight?” She asked, and I shook my head.

“Lauren, I know we broke up a long time ago, and we go on dates as friends,” I said.

“For you as friends, but for me, it wasn’t a friendly date Ashton. We were sometimes kissing, and how could you call that friendly dates?” She asked, and I want to tell her she initiated all those kisses, but I don’t want to hurt her more.

“Look, I am sorry, Lauren if I lead you on, but this time I want to ask you to please stop hurting Megan,” I asked in a soft voice.

“What? Are you crazy? How could you say that to me, Ashton? You were my friend before we became a couple, and then after we broke up, we remained close with each other. I don’t like her for you, Ashton. I am sure your father will never approve of Megan being your girl. Besides, I didn’t do anything to her.” She said in a loud voice that made our classmates turned to look in our direction, and her face reddened when I showed her the video.

“You have to listen to my side of the story before you listen to any gossip. You could have at least ask me first before you conclude I hurt that stupid weird girl. She was disgusting, and I couldn’t believe you were falling for her.” She said.

“Yes, I am falling in love with Megan, Lauren; that is why as your friend, I am asking you to please stop all your schemes,” I said in a stern tone, and I could no longer keep my anger towards her, but I am shocked when she moved closer to me and kissed me abruptly.

“Megan, what are you doing?” I asked her after I pushed her away.

“That is to remind you that I am the only one who is worthy of your love and affection, Ashton, and I will never let any girl have you.” She said before she turned her heels away from me, and she walked with grace in going back to her chair. I let out a heavy sigh as I moved back to my seat.

I tried to avoid Megan the entire morning because I am afraid Lauren will hurt her again. During lunch, I am controlling myself not to go to their table because I can see Lauren is giving me a hard stare, and she was looking daggers at Megan too. After I talked with Lauren, I realized I need to stop her, but I need to make Megan my girlfriend first so that Lauren will understand that we can’t be together anymore.

I am shocked when I saw one of Lauren’s friends intentionally throw her disposable paper cup at the back of Megan’s. I can tell one of Megan’s friends defended her, and I felt glad that Oscar tried to protect her, but I suddenly felt a pang on my chest as I realized he was handsome and had a muscular built. And my jealousy got me that I stood up from our table, and I ran when I saw Megan hurriedly walking to the cafeteria’s exit, and I felt glad I was about to catch up with her. And I realized I need to do this now because even if I stay away from her, I realized Lauren will never stop harassing her, now that she knew I am into Megan.

I can feel the knots in my stomach the moment I put my arms around Megan, and her heavenly scent is making me lose my sanity. When I felt her relax a little, I took her hand and brought her to Lauren’s table, and I can see the wrath on my friend’s face when she takes a look at our intertwined hands. And I squeezed Megan’s hand to let her know everything will be fine.

“Alisa, I want you to apologize to my girlfriend,” I asked as I tried to calm myself, and I heard the cheerleaders gasped, and some of them covered their mouths with their hands. And I know Megan is shocked too, but she didn’t react since she understood I am doing this to make these girls stop what they are trying to do with her. And Alisa stood up from her chair, and I looked at her face, and she lowered her head before she speaks.

“I am sorry, Megan.” She said.

“What? Why are you asking? Sorry, Alisa, it wasn’t your fault.” Lauren growled.

“Even if it was unintentional or she did it on purpose, Lauren. Your friend must apologize knowing she soaked Megan’s dress because that is the right thing to do. I believe you are adults, and you must know the difference between right and wrong.” I said, and Lauren’s face reddened, but no words came out from her mouth.

“Let us go, Meg; you can use my jersey,” I said, and I saw how Lauren’s face got so big since I know she was dying to wear my jersey, but I didn’t allow her, and I wish she will stop bothering Megan from now on.