Megan’s POV

I can’t deny that I feel so happy that Ashton was sitting beside me during my first period in the afternoon. And I wonder why he changed his schedule, and I hate myself for thinking that it was all because of me. And I felt so happy that I am wearing his varsity jacket right now. And never in my wildest dream did I imagine myself having this moment because it would be impossible to be with him. But the way Ashton stared at me the entire time during our teacher’s discussion, I couldn’t stop myself from feeling so overwhelmed with happiness, but I know this feeling that I have with him comes with a price. And I am sure those girls who were looking daggers at me will come to me later. I know no matter how Ashton wanted to protect me, they are still going to hurt me.

Ashton sends me to my next class, and I can tell the girls are still flirting with him by calling his name even if we are holding hands while walking in the hallway. Alice was still walking behind us no matter how many times I signaled her to walk beside me. And the boys are looking at my legs as we continue to walk.

“See you later, Meg,” Ashton said the moment we arrived in my classroom.

“Okay, ” I replied in more than a whisper since I felt so nervous, and he turned to face me, and he removed strands of my hair from my face and tucked them at the back of my ear before he kissed my forehead, and then He turned his heels, and I smiled when I saw him sprinted in going to his next class.

“Hi, Meg!” I heard the boys greeted me as I get inside, and I felt so happy that my best friend walked beside me. Since I don’t know how to deal with them since this is the first time I get this kind of attention. I don’t know if it was because I was wearing a sexy skirt or because they realized Ashton Pritzgold is so crazy about me, and I raised my head and smiled at them, but I quickly averted their gaze as I realized for the first time they looked at me with admiration on their faces.

“Bitch!” I heard Lauren said as she looked at me, but I ignore her comment since I don’t want to get involved in a fight because I know I am going to lose my scholarship right away the moment I will get myself into trouble.

“Yes! The most pathetic bitch at all times!” Alisa seconded, and I am just glad Alice is with me.

“Don’t mind them, Megan. Just read your books so you can’t hear them. Besides, they only want you to get hurt to avoid Ashton, but I am now sure Ashton is serious with you. And I couldn’t believe he will let you borrow his varsity jacket.” Alice said, and I can tell the excitement In her voice, and even if I felt hurt right now, I can’t stop myself from smiling at my best friend.

“You are right, Alice, but I can’t stop myself from getting affected by their hurtful words,” I replied.

“I know how you feel, Megan because you are my best friend, and I feel the same way too. And I hate them for hurting your feelings even if you have done nothing wrong with them, and I want to tweak their hair right now.” Alice said, and I stifled a laugh since I couldn’t believe what she said.

“If I were you, you need to focus on how the boys looked at you, see? I have told you before; you need to change your outfit preference so all the boys will be drooling over you.” She said as I shook my head.

“I only like one boy, Alice, and so far, he loves my outfit, and I can tell my choice of clothing doesn’t bother him at all,” I replied, and before Alice could reply, our teacher arrived. The entire classroom fell silent the moment our teacher started discussing our lesson for the day.

Countless times I answered our teacher’s questions, and it feels like we are attending a quiz ball since Lauren, and I keep turn on answering the questions of our teacher. I felt delighted that I study in advance even if I find it hard to concentrate since I can’t stop myself from thinking about Ashton every night, and even during the day, he still occupies my mind and the feelings I have for him.

I felt so glad my last period was over without complications from the cheerleaders, but when I go to my locker room with my two close friends, I found Lauren and Alisa in front of my locker, and I don’t know what they did to my assigned locker this time. And when they saw us coming, they remained standing in front of my locker as they looked at me with anger.

“For how many times do I need to warn you, Megan? I already told you to stay away from Ashton, but you never listen, and right now, you are doing it again. And it became worse. How could you Ask Ashton to defend you? Aren’t you ashamed of what you are doing? I know your kind, Megan. You are a user. I know that your family is not well off. That is why you seduce Ashton, hoping he can help you with your financial problems, and this is your last chance. Stay away from him, or you will suffer the consequences.” Lauren said, and the girls nodded in agreement.

“Lauren, I will never use Ashton; I never seduce him because I still have my pride. He came to me and asked me to date him.” I replied.

“Ha! Do not make me laugh, Megan because I know you, and I will never believe in you since no one in this entire Academy can explain why Ashton would date someone like you. Stop dreaming bitch!” Lauren said, and she turned around and walked away from the locker room. And all her supporters followed behind her, and I released a sigh of relief when I could no longer see them. And I tried my best to follow Alice’s advice, but I can’t stop my tears from falling, but I wanted to stop them right away since I don’t want our fellow students to see me crying.

I opened my locker and got my things. Oscar walked with us to the cafe while they both remained silent since I know they saw me cry again. I felt so glad that many came to our coffee shop today, and I realized most of them are our fellow students, and some are Lauren’s friends, and they pretended to have some order, but I can tell they are here to spy on me.

“The best thing you can do, Meg, is to relax, and take a deep breath, and take their orders as possible, and I followed Alice’s words, but the moment I served them with their latte, they all complained I mixed up their orders, but I know I didn’t make any mistake, and they are doing all this to punish me, and I can tell they looked so triumphant now that my boss came to the front and try to talk with them. And no matter how many times my boss explained to them, it was impossible that I got their order wrong since it is one of our internal protocols to repeat the order of every guest.

“We want a refund since I can tell she also put something on my Caramel latte.” One of them said.

“Me too.” And the rest of her companion insisted on having a refund instead of serving them

another latte. 

“Okay, you will all be refunded.” My boss said, and the moment they were gone.

“I am sorry, Megan, I have to deduct their orders from your salary.” My boss said, and I nodded my head, and the moment he gets back to his office, I sat on the floor and bent my knees, and I felt glad we don’t have customers at the moment.

“I am sure those girls are also Lauren’s followers, and they came here as per her instructions, and can you imagine they have ten orders? And it is impossible if you got it all mixed up since I also helped you, and I am sure they did it on purpose,” Alice said. I can see the anger on her face.

“It is okay, Alice,” I replied.

“It is not okay, Megan. Maybe you were right when you told me you better stay away from Ashton. But I hate to think that it would be unfair on his part since he has not done something wrong to you. He was always sweet, and I can tell he is falling for you.” She said, and I know Alice has a point, and I felt sad.

“You better get up now, Meg. Someone is coming.” Alice said, and I fixed myself to look presentable in front of our next customer, and I smiled when I saw Zachary in front of the counter.

“Hi, Meg. I came since I need to pay for those ten cups of latte that my friends insisted on having refunds.” He said, and I wonder how he knew about it, and before I can talk, Alice beat me to it, and she motioned for Zach to go to her side, and I want to ask Zachary why he was paying for their order.

“Wow, it seems you have a savior, Megan,” Alice said after Zachary left, and I am still wondering how did he found out about it. My shift ended, and I said goodbye to Alice with a heavy heart because even if Zach paid the returned order, I still felt so down as I get out of the cafe.. I am walking at a slow pace, and I felt so confused at the moment, but my eyes widened when I saw Ashton leaning on his car with a beautiful smile on his face, and I suddenly feel the heaviness of my heart was gone the moment he gave me his sweetest smile.