Megan’s POV

On the following day, I found Zach’s car on our driveway once again, and my sister ran towards the car while I am feeling worried about what will happen in school today. Ashton didn’t bother me the entire afternoon yesterday after I gave him the note, and I felt relieved, but deep inside me, there is a voice telling me I miss Ashton’s company. When we reach the school parking lot, I felt disappointed that I hadn’t seen Ashton outside his car waiting for me. 

I said my thanks to Zach as I made my way to the library, and I can’t stop myself from looking at the football field, and I realized they are already started their practice, and I felt guilty for Zachary that he will be late of his training because of me. I was wearing a light yellow mini dress, and I felt comfortable with my dress, but my heart feels so restless. 

Ashton didn’t wait for me, and maybe he realized I am not worth his time. Well, it is better this way because I no longer need to break up with him. I don’t want to end my relationship with Ashton, but I know my brother was right. I should stop my fantasy and go back to reality. The Pritzgolds are unreachable stars for us to have. I don’t want to experience what Dexter had been through, and right now, I am having a hard time dealing with my fellow female students who looked jealous and angry at me since I became Ashton’s girl.

“Are you alright, Megan?” Alice asked me the moment we meet at the library entrance, and I only nodded my head because I don’t want to lie to my best friend. After all, the truth is I will never be okay after I learned the reason why Ashton asked me to date him. Oscar joined us after ten minutes, and we became busy reading our books.

I should not be bothered that Ashton didn’t come to sit beside me during our first period, but I hate myself for feeling sad about it, and it feels like everything came back to normal. The girls circled him around like he was a beehive. I ignored their laughter until our teacher arrived. I can tell our fellow female students are still looking at me with contempt in their eyes, but they are still giving me hard stares even if it seems Ashton is no longer interested in me. The day ended in my favor, but I got more lonely.

I ride the bus with Alice as we go to our new part-time job, and it made me wonder how her aunt gave us a job together. It was a mystery for me, but I am glad I am with my best friend because I need her now.

My new job is exciting, and I realized it was a fish shop. Today is our second day, and I felt so happy that our boss is friendly and seemed so calm, he looked so young to me, and I almost laugh when Alice was staring at his face the entire duration of our orientation on our first day. And I could tell Anthony is young, and when Alice asked him his age, we learned he is only twenty-two years old, and even if my friend is in love with her boyfriend, she can’t stop herself from ogling him. 

I enjoyed watching the different types of fish in the aquarium tanks, and I was captivated by their beauty. I never got the chance to visit a fish shop, and this time I realized these colorful species in front of me could make me feel relax and helped me forget my dilemma about my relationship with Ashton. As I got busy assisting customers, I temporarily forgot about my heart problem. I can’t help smiling at the kids who came with their parents, and they looked so adorable when they tried to convince their mom and dad to buy them goldfish or other kinds of fish found in the tank.

Anthony is good at dealing with customers, and when it is time to close the shop, he told me he could send us home, but I told him I could ride the bus since our house is not so far from the shop, but he insisted, and Alice got so thrilled.

“Wow, it seems Anthony got start struck with you, Megan,” Alice said.

“He is just friendly, Alice. And kindly tell aunt Sonia thank you for finding us another job.” I said to my best friend.

“Don’t worry, if ever Lauren will find another way to fire you with your current part-time job, I think her power will not work out this time since I can tell our new boss is crushing on you.” She said, and I can’t stop myself from shaking my head.

“I can’t believe you, Alice,” I said as I walked going into the bus stop, and I waved my hand to Alice as she waits for her boyfriend to come.

“Hi!” My sister said the moment I get inside our room.

“Hello, Ava,” I said as I smiled at my sister.

“Are you okay?” She asked me.

“Yeah, I am fine, thank you. I know your friendship with Cole is affected by what happened to Ashton and me, and I hope you are not angry with me.” I said.

“It is okay, I understand, Megan. Besides Cole said, it would be better if we remained as friends for now, and he said he would wait for me.” She said, and my sister giggled, and I want to tell her it is better to forget Cole than to expect something from him because I know she will only get hurt in the end since we can’t deny Cole is also a son of Gregory Pritzgold. Still, I don’t want my sister to get upset with me again. So, instead of giving her advice to stay away from Cole, I talked with her about my new job.

Ava became thrilled when I told her I would buy an aquarium and some goldfish after receiving my first salary on my new part-time job. She became so ecstatic about my plan of buying an aquarium because I know she wanted to have a dog for a while now, but I can’t afford it at the moment, especially now that I will be the one in charge of paying our utility bills.

Wednesday came, and I felt so restless the entire day, but I got so frustrated when Ashton didn’t even try to look at me even once. And I can tell he is now avoiding me, and I hate that I feel this way when I was the one who asked him to stop chasing me around campus. I can tell the girls are still watching me, but I am not afraid of them anymore. I already suffered too much because of Lauren. The day dragged on like forever, and I can’t wait to talk with Ashton for the last time tonight, but I can’t deny that I felt so excited to meet him tonight.

When we arrived at the fish shop, Anthony asked me to do the cashiering while he went out to pick up some supplies. 

“Are you excited to meet your prince charming, Megan?” Alice asked when the last of our customers got out, and we are now closing the store so we can have an inventory of our stocks while waiting for our boss to come.

“How can I be excited? Ashton ignored me for two days now.” I said, and I stop counting the bills on my hands as I looked at Alice.

“You asked him to stay away from you, and I guess it was his way of telling you, he is willing to do everything for you, Megan,” Alice said, and I know my best friend has a point, but it still hurt me to think that he didn’t steal a glance on my direction while he was having fun talking with his friends.

“Yeah, you are right, and I think I don’t need to break up with Ashton anymore because I can tell he will not come tonight since he already ignored me, so I guess there is nothing we should talk about, and Ashton didn’t text or call me, so I guess, he got tired of me,” I said. I recounted the bills, and I smiled when I got the balance with the cash register report for our shift.

“Are you serious? I thought you would give him a second chance after what happened.” Alice said, and I let out a soft sigh.

“I want to be with him, Alice, and be his girlfriend, but I felt guilty to continue dating Ashton knowing my brother is suffering, and I know we can never be together because of our status in life, so I guess it is better to end it now while it is still early, and I think it is also a blessing in disguise that Lauren embarrassed me in front of everyone so I have a reason now to break up with Ashton.” I declared.

“Wow, it seems you are now so determined to break up with him,” Alice said, and I weakly smiled at her.

“I don’t have a choice Alice, and I am just an ordinary girl while Ashton is a son of a billionaire,” I said.

“But I think Ashton doesn’t mind, Meg.” She replied.

“I know, but I already told you what his father did to my brother, so I should stay away from Ashton before it is too late. I should do it before his father intervenes.” I replied.

“Good luck, Megan. I hope you will not regret the decision you are going to make today.” Alice said, and I can see the concern written on her face, and I wish the same thing.

“Don’t worry, Alice, I already make myself ready. I know I will be miserable for the coming days, but I need to deal with it,” I said, and I smiled at Alice.

I felt glad our boss arrived just on time after we finished our inventory. We both said goodbye to him, and Alice walked ahead of me while I waited for Ashton to come. I don’t know what I feel at the moment, and I know once I will face Ashton, it would be hard for me to think, but if I want to live my life in peace, so I should stop seeing him.

One hour had passed, but he didn’t show up, and I am getting anxious as I wait for him, but it became two hours, and it is getting late. I realized he would no longer come, and I felt like a fool that I waited for him for two hours even if he already ignored me for two days, and I still couldn’t believe Ashton stood me up.. I moved away from the fish shop and walked home with tears in my eyes, and I realized I would never forgive him for what he did today, and I will never talk with Ashton ever again.