Megan’s POV

I plan to break up with Ashton, but he didn’t come, and I don’t know our status now, and we don’t have communication, and he didn’t even text me, so I guess what we had was over. I am no longer his girlfriend. I was walking lazily, and I know I should not walk at this hour, but I felt like walking even if my pace was slow. I suddenly felt so tired even if I like my new job now since looking at those colorful fishes on the fish tanks made me feel so excited when I look at them swimming around without care of the world.

“Megan!” I heard someone called my name, and I stopped in my tracks, and when I looked around, I found Anthony’s car pulled over beside me, and I can see his handsome face over the opened window of his car.

“Hey, get in, I have been calling you, and it seems you are really in deep thought.” He said, and since I felt so tired, I get inside his car even if our house is just five hundred meters away, and I can tell it is still near.

“I don’t want to pry, but I saw you were standing outside the shop for almost two hours; why didn’t you get inside the shop?” He asked, and I looked at him sideways, and I shyly smiled at him.

“I was waiting for someone,” I replied, and I don’t want to remember that I hated Ashton for being a no-show tonight.

“Oh, I see, a boyfriend?” He asked, and I shook my head.

“It is complicated,” I replied, and I felt glad Anthony stop asking questions until we reach our street. He stopped the car, and I thanked him before I climbed out of his car.

“I felt glad you are dating someone new, and I am impressed that you get over with Ashton Pritzgold that easy,” Dexter said the moment I get inside our house, which made me jumped on my feet. I didn’t know he was home at this hour because he comes home every day at almost midnight.

“How did you even know it wasn’t Ashton,” I said, and my brother raised his eyebrow.

“I know Ashton will always drive a luxurious car, Megan, and the one who drove you home is not bad, but I can tell Ashton will not drive a car like that.” He said.

“Yeah, you were right, it wasn’t Ashton, but we are not dating. It was Anthony, my new boss.” I said, and he nodded his head, and I excuse myself from him, and I smiled when I found my sister sleeping on her bed with a science book on her chest. I only answered my assignment, but I didn’t study anything because I felt sad and angry.

I wake early morning, and I tell Ava I will go ahead of her. I don’t want to see Zach either, so I go to the school early while I texted Alice and Oscar, and I didn’t go to the library, but I go to our favorite place. I was sitting on a bench while reading my book when Alice found me.

“What is your drama, Megan? Why are you here and not in the library?” She asked me while she crossed he arms over her chest, and she didn’t take a seat.

“For a change,” I replied, and I continue reading my book.

“He stood you up?” She asked, and I didn’t answer her question.

“Come on, Meg, don’t try to cover up the pain, he didn’t show up, and I think Ashton knew you planned to break up with him. Besides, why do you look upset that he didn’t come when you want to break up with him in the first place.” She said, and I sighed as I closed my book.

“Alice, I am breaking up with Ashton because of family issues, not because I don’t like him anymore. That is the reason why I was disappointed when he didn’t come last night. And I was hurt because it feels like he doesn’t want me anymore.” I said.

“Well, be happy because you are still his girlfriend.” She said, and instead of feeling delighted, I became more miserable

“I know I should have to stop myself from making friends with him, and now I am suffering, Alice. All I want is to have a boyfriend in senior, that is all, and I never thought it would be so complicated like this. And who could have thought that my brother had a deep relationship with Ashton’s sister, and it turned out so bad? And now we are taking the same path because I am aware that Ashton is the heir of his father’s empire, and Gregory will become angry with him the moment he will find out Ashton is dating me.” I replied.

“Well, I felt bad for you, Megan. Maybe you are not meant for each other, but don’t worry because I know you will have your second boyfriend the moment you break up with Ashton.” She said, and I shook my head.

“I hate to think that making Ashton my boyfriend was hard but breaking up with him became more burdensome. I don’t know if I can face him again, but I hope everything will go back to normal. I wish those girls will give me the peace that I need because I am so tired of their stares, and it feels like they are all planning to do something sinister to me, and I am tired of them, Alice. ” I said with a loud sigh.

“You are right; besides Ashton worth all the hassle, but if you feel unhappy, no matter how much you love him, I think it is time to let go,” Alice said.

“I am always happy when I am with him, Alice, but I think I can’t handle the pressure of his female friends and my family, and you are right. Those things made me unhappy, and I know it is better to break up and forget about him.” I said, and I smiled as we walked to our first period, and I wonder what happened to Oscar why he didn’t join us.

My plan suddenly vanishes when I arrived in our classroom, Ashton was waiting for me. He was sitting next to my seat again, with a bouquet of fresh flowers in his hands, and I can tell all eyes are on us. And I felt so glad our teacher came, and I don’t need to deal with the drama of my high school life.

“This is for you, Meg.” He whispered as he handed me the bouquet, and I wanted to throw it away on the floor, but I couldn’t do it because this is the first time I received a bouquet, and I love the flowers, and I think all girls do, especially if it comes from their loved ones. I can’t stop having butterflies in my stomach when I felt his arm brushed against mine, and I have to admit, I am losing this battle.

“Thanks,” I replied as I took the flowers from him.

“Is it your birthday, Megan?” Our teacher asked me, and I felt my entire face blushed.

“No, sir, it wasn’t Megan’s birthday, but I just want to make her day.” Ashton answered for me that made me feel more uneasy while I saw our teacher smiled and shook his head while I can hear the boys said the word “sweet,” and it was mixed with the word “bitch” from the girls, but I am tired of them.

“I couldn’t stop myself from inhaling the fresh flowers, and it made me smile, and when I looked at my side Ashton was gaping at me, and I frowned at him, and I turned my gaze towards our teacher.

“Megan, please wait.” I heard Ashton calling my name, and I was walking with Alice to our next class.

“Thank you for the flowers, Ashton, but I can’t talk to you right now because I need to go to my next period, and I can’t be late,” I said.

“Okay, I am sorry.” He said, and he turned his heels and walked away from me.

“He looked so sad, Megan,” Alice said.

“I don’t care, Alice, I waited for him for two hours last night, and he didn’t even bother to text me that he will not show up. And this bouquet can’t compensate for the humiliation I felt during Lauren’s party and the time I spent waiting for him, and I got nothing.” I replied.

We didn’t eat at the cafeteria since Alice brought some food for us, and Oscar was absent the entire morning; I already texted him, but he didn’t reply. Ashton didn’t bother me the whole afternoon, and I felt glad and sad at the same time, and I hate myself for feeling this way. I smiled when I left the school grounds and found the football players busy on the fields, and I am shocked when Zach was waiting for me at the academy’s main entrance; and I felt guilty when I realized he saw me as I throw the bouquet on the trash bin.

“Hello, Megan.” He said.

“Hi, Zach,” I replied.

“Please, Meg, give Ashton time to speak with you.” He said.

“Zachary, if you were in my shoes, I think you will understand why I am avoiding him, especially after what happened last night,” I replied.

“Let him explain, he is my best friend, Meg, and I know he is serious about you.” He said.

“I couldn’t believe you will sacrifice yourself to be punished by your coach for the sake of your best friend,” I replied.

“Yes, because I know he cares about you, Meg. He wants to see you, but he missed a lot of practice already, and we need him to play with us this coming Saturday, so I volunteer to talk with you.” He said, and I felt guilty that Zach will have some punishment if he will be late for his practice.

“Okay, just informed your best friend to communicate with me,” I replied.

“Thank you, Meg,” Zach said before he ran back towards the field while I was shaking my head. 

There are many customers during my shift that I got so busy, and I didn’t notice it is time for me to go home. Alice didn’t show up today because her mom asked her to do some errands. I quickly got out, and my step faltered when I found Ashton waiting for me outside the shop. His hands are in his pocket, and he smiled at me, and I felt my entire body turned like jelly as I continue to stare at his handsome face, and I realized I couldn’t trust myself anymore.. I am sure just watching at his beautiful eyes, it will be harder for me to tell him about my decision about us, and I hope I will have enough courage to do the right thing.