Ashton’s POV

“Please, Zach, go after Megan and bring her home safely, and let her change her wet clothes,” I asked Zach after he helped me to stand up from the ground.

“I’m sorry if I have to hit you in the face, Ashton, I couldn’t control myself when I heard about that scheme, and I am shocked you didn’t tell me about it, and I wouldn’t say I like the way you hurt Megan,” Zach replied, and I gave him a weak smile as I caressed my face and I can still feel the pain on my face.

“It is okay. I want you to beat me one more time, and I know I deserve the punches that you gave me and thank you for caring about Megan the way you do, Zach. I am also aware that you are doing this because you like her, but I am sorry, bro, I just can’t let Megan go.” I said, and he tapped my shoulder before he left me, and I heard him calling Alice and how I wished my best friend will help me win back my girlfriend.

“Wow! That was intense.” Lennon said as we walked into my car.

“So, what is the crime of Megan’s brother against our lovely sister? Can you at least share it with us so that we will have an idea about it? And it seems not Isabelle at all, she used to play boys around her fingers, and I couldn’t believe she will ask you to do something like that unless a cupid hit her in her heart, and she fell in love with this dude.” Lennon said, and I nodded my head as I walked on the road, and I looked at Zach’s street hoping I would see his car, and I would like to know if he convinced Megan to change her wet clothes in his house.

“Yeah, Isabelle got it bad for Dexter,” I replied.

“Wow, it seems you are not the only one who is crazy about the Cortezas siblings,” Lennon replied as he looked at Cole in the rearview mirror, and I half laughed as I realized my brother was right. Isabelle fell in love with Dexter while I am also crazy about Megan, and there is no denying Cole likes Megan’s younger sister, Ava. I don’t know how we are going to deal with our feelings towards the Cortezas siblings.

“Maybe if Megan has another sister, you will break up with Sherry,” I replied, and he answered right away.

“It will never happen, Ashton. I will be in love with Sherry until the day I die.” He said, and Cole coughed.

“I don’t think it will happen, Lennon; watch out for your girlfriend because I know she will find another boyfriend before this school year ends,” Cole said that it made Lennon turned his head towards our younger brother.

“And where did you get that crazy idea, Cole?” He asked, and I can tell Lennon is upset with Cole.

“I don’t want to say this, but in case you haven’t noticed, your girlfriend is not crazy about you at all. She was crazy about our elder brother, and you have to accept it, brother, and that is the reason she wants to hang out with you, hoping she can have a score with Ashton. I caught her so many times checking out Ashton.” Cole said before he opened the car door, and he quickly climbed out and ran towards the house while I am left dumbfounded and Lennon.

“You knew?” Lennon asked me in more than a whisper, and I looked at my brother, and I shook my head.

“I have no idea, Lennon. Don’t listen to Cole. Besides, you don’t need to worry. I only have eyes for Megan.” I said, and I got out of the car, and I won’t go to my room and be alone when my mom met me in the living room.

“How’s the party, son? Why are you home early?” My mom asked, and I smiled at her.

“We just want to sleep early, mom.” I lied, and I kissed her cheek before I said good night to her.

When I reached my room, I lay in bed thinking about what happened at Lauren’s place. I know it was a big event, and I can tell all the students of Astikoz Academy will know about it by Monday, and they will laugh at Megan again, but I will make sure no one will hurt her. I was looking at my phone the entire time, hoping that Zachary will call me and update me on what happened to Megan. And I know I couldn’t sleep tonight thinking about her and all the things we have done together. I know I have never felt this way towards a girl before, and I hate that it turns out this way. God knows I don’t have any intention of hurting Megan because I know she is sweet, innocent, and still naive about dating, and that is what I love about her the most.

Suppose there is only a way to stop her from hurting right now. I will do it in a heartbeat because I don’t want Megan to suffer and experience a broken heart. She became my girlfriend not so long ago, and I hate that we are undergoing this kind of test even if we are only dating for more than a week. It is unfair for both of us, and I hated Lauren for ruining my chance to be with Megan. 

I texted Zachary, but he didn’t reply to my text messages, and when I called him, his number is unattended or out of the coverage area. I became more frustrated when I couldn’t contact him, and I don’t have a choice but to got up from my bed and get outside of my room. And I got my titanium bike and cycled towards Zachary’s house. All the guards of the King’s residence know me, and that is why I can get in and get out any time of their house. When I got inside, I realized Zach hadn’t gotten back yet, and I stayed in his spacious living room feeling so lost and alone.

“You scared me, Ashton!” Zachary said the moment he opened the lights on the living room, and I intentionally switched them off, hoping I can sleep.

“I can’t contact your phone, and I felt desperate to know how she is doing.” I said, and he sat across from me while he leaned his back on the sofa.

“What do you expect, Ashton, you broke Megan’s heart, and I don’t think she will be okay, and not for a long shot. Megan is in love with you, but you only toyed with her feelings.” He said in an angry tone, and I thought he already forgave me after he punched me twice, but it seems my best friend is still mad with me. 

“I am sorry, but you know I am not playing with her heart, Zach. If you only knew how much I am suffering right now because of what happened to us, then you will realize she means a lot to me. I don’t want to hurt Megan, and you know that, and my only mistake is I didn’t tell her about it, and did you think I can tell her?” I asked my best friend, but he remained speechless.

“My sister was hurt and humiliated by her brother. I know Isabelle only asked me to know Megan. And yes, there was a time she asked me to help her to get back at Dexter, but I told her I would try to know his sister, but I didn’t tell her I will follow her request to make Megan my girlfriend and break her heart in the end, because you know me, Zach, I am not that kind of person” I said.

“I don’t want to play with someone’s heart. And you know that is one of the reasons I rejected those girls to have a date with me because I don’t want any of them to get hurt in the end. Because I know once there is a feeling involved, it will only complicate things, that is why I avoided dating after I dated Lauren, but I couldn’t stop myself from falling for Megan no matter how I tried to avoid her.” I added, and Zachary’s face softened.

“I know, I am sorry. I am just devastated that you didn’t tell me anything about it, and I hope you will not keep any secrets from me starting today.” He said, and I smiled and nodded at my best friend.

“Don’t worry from now on. I will never hide anything from you, especially about Megan,” I said.

“So, what did Megan’s brother do to Isabelle?” He asked, and I sighed before I spoke.

“Isabelle told me they are both so in love, but Dad is against their relationship, and maybe that is the reason why Dexter finds someone new. He didn’t break up with Isabelle until one day she found her kissing another girl, and when she asked Dexter about it, he just told her they are not meant to be, and it is about time that they should break up.” I said, and I can see the look of concern on my best friend’s face.

“Oh, that is a bad way of breaking up with a girl. He could have at least break up with Isabelle on private.” Zachary said.

“Yeah, that is what I thought, and I couldn’t blame Isabelle if, until now, she wants to have revenge towards Dexter,” I said.

“And I felt pity towards my sister, and I wish she didn’t experience that kind of pain, but if not because of her, I will never find time knowing Megan. I will never learn how to fall in love, and I realized it was a beautiful feeling, and that is why I won’t allow Megan to break up with me. I will show to her that my intention is pure, and I am asking for your help, Zach.” I said, and he smiled at me.

“Of course, you know I will always be here for you, but I hope this time you won’t blow your chance. I will help you in any way I can because I know even if you hurt her, Megan still wants you, and that is why she is hurting, and even if I hate you right now, I don’t have a choice but to help you to get back together..” He said, and I can’t contain my happiness, and at least I felt better knowing I have my best friend who will be there to help me when I felt so down, and I know it would never be easy to win back Megan’s heart, but I know she is all worth it because Megan Corteza is special in my heart.