|♡| ASHLYN'S P.O.V. |♡|
229Please respect copyright.PENANABFErWRPlid
Vanessa was desperately flirting with Chase and the gap between them was exceptionally close and Vanessa was slowly filling in that gap. I considered backing out of the gym for a moment. But then I realized that it would be fun to interrupt Vanessa when she was in such a situation.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAJvGUUiXdye
"Ahem... Ahem!" I cleared my throat loudly.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAU3oFML4Ryf
Chase jerks his head backwards and he stares at me for a minute and then a small smile creeps onto his mouth.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAlxeTqTYtad
"Hi Ash," he calls.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAX0KYECMQq7
"Hello Chase, I'm sorry if I interrupted your... um, special moment. But I just wanted to ask where the rest of the class was?" I ask.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAzEeF7jwlWw
"Oh! They are in the basketball court. We were just coming but Vanessa wanted to talk to me alone. And yeah, you don't need to say sorry. Its alright," he says with a smile.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAwplxDjBaZB
"No, its not," Vanessa screams. "Its absolutely not fine. I know you did this intentionally. You bitch, how dare you?"
229Please respect copyright.PENANAD6EKDoIb6t
"Vanessa stop screaming," says Chase. "Ash, you go to the basketball court and we'll just follow you."
229Please respect copyright.PENANAowPws9LMfc
"Yeah, that would be fine but the problem is that I don't know where the basketball court is. I'm new here remember?" I say in a mocking tone, even though I had my map with me. It felt nice to trouble Vanessa once in a while.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAjWURFskamX
He laughs. "Okay, Lyn. I'll take you to the basketball court," he says and then grabs hold of my waist.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAhN2Lm0uAnb
Lyn. He called me Lyn.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA2kP7S04sfL
"Don't ever call me Lyn again," I say, coldly.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAQ0vM0BLTTq
"Why ever not?" he asks.
229Please respect copyright.PENANArRepIzlstn
"Just don't," I tell him.
229Please respect copyright.PENANASLqrLwRtqD
"Okay, Ashlyn Wood. You know, you're like a book filled with secrets. Pretty approachable, if you ask me." He surely did know how to lighten up the mood.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAdvUIoqDpVn
"Yeah, right," I say, coming back to my normal mode now.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA32eqlzPFKc
"Thank you, Ash," Chase says in a hushed tone after some time.
229Please respect copyright.PENANALKeewkimbd
"Thank you for what exactly?" I ask him, confused.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAlBTkb3DmEJ
"For saving me from Vanessa." I start giggling at his words. "What? She was getting a bit too cheesy for my taste," he replies, defensively.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAiyK5GSETqp
"So why didn't you just back off?" I ask.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAQevo5eOvxb
"She's pretty good at seducing, you know. By the way, you look really sexy in your gym clothes," he says, with a smirk playing on his lips.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAYqJer0s7mQ
Oh, right. My gym clothes. I was wearing black shorts with a white top and Nike sport shoes.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAeYdL7ScuUi
"You know, I will look sexier when I punch your face and then kick you hard on your ass," I deadpan.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA9hWl3qaAzQ
"Now, now. Don't sound so desperate to touch me," he says, pulling open the doors of the basketball court.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA1TD1xTn22g
"You wish, Austen," I tell him, as we enter the court together.
229Please respect copyright.PENANANCR7ABtS9s
The whole female population present in the gym was shooting daggers at me.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAuOvS9aZCjA
I wonder why?
229Please respect copyright.PENANA8trMuBuhO6
Then I see one girl narrow her eyes at something on my waist. When I look down to see what kind if dirt was there on my shirt, I see Chase's hand still on my waist.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAKHzVjC0OTU
Instantly, heat rushes to my face.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAfFPhxyjVeJ
I look up at him just to see him smiling at me.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAzIVJzYy7zz
"I challenge you to a game of basketball," he says.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAwzsPpWh71G
Wait, what?
229Please respect copyright.PENANAP9HuM1z2pZ
"Why do you wanna challenge me to a basketball game?" I ask him.
229Please respect copyright.PENANArxV7SmjWZ6
"Why are you scared?" he asks.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAQvrl1napV4
"I'm just feeling sorry for you, Chase, cuz I'm gonna beat your ass."
229Please respect copyright.PENANAGvvyTYbNxw
"Oh, we'll see about that."
229Please respect copyright.PENANA2jchIUDazt
"I openly challenge Ashlyn Wood to a game of basketball," he announces to the whole class. "So Ashlyn, do you accept the challenge?" he asks.
229Please respect copyright.PENANADzpTRF3AKb
Do I? I need to get a reputation here but I really don't know how well he plays. But I am not scared of losing.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAQKUSEZKud2
"Yes, I do," I tell him.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA6YRpeJV8hj
"The match will be held after school in this court. Call as many people as you can," he bellows again, at the class.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAfwpeJmB3NI
My mouth hangs open. I realize that with a start and close it. At a distance, I see Vanessa, Zara and Nicole whispering to each other. I turn around to face Chase, only to see him smirking victoriously.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA3HYYjK04Lr
He is such a royal pain in my ass.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAWyRBqqy0st
The crowd cheers. After some time, our gym teacher enters the basketball court with a number of basketballs.
229Please respect copyright.PENANASUjDNgdeM4
She then divides us into groups of seven. I, unfortunately, am grouped with Chase, Vanessa, Zara, Nicole, Eric and this other guy called Sam.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAL5nyZtBiqM
I remember Eric from my calculus class. He was the first one to ask Laura about me.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA3qG4n5jcMH
We were supposed to be doing lay-ups in a relay. So we all played basketball for the time till the bell rang outside, signalling the end if the class. Our teacher quickly dismissed us and so everyone filed up into the changing rooms. Chase and I were about to go and join them when I hear my name being shouted out for the second time in the day.
229Please respect copyright.PENANADx7ffZL5zs
"Ashlyn, hey, Ashlyn," I see four girls running up to me. I quickly recognize them as the popular girls from one the tables.
229Please respect copyright.PENANATDaLmyTyGE
"Hi Ashlyn," one of the girls says. "I'm Sasha. This is Victoria, Clarissa and Stacey," she says, pointing to each girl in return. "So, we were wondering if you would like to join us in lunch?" she asks, with a sickly, fake, sweet smile plastered on her face.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAEv1lUGt3Kz
"Actually, I would love to sit with you in lunch but I already have friends and I can't really ditch them, right?" I ask. "I hope you understand."
229Please respect copyright.PENANAj54hjJXYLl
Sasha's mouth twitches, like she just tasted something sour. "Yeah, its totally fine. Come on girls."
229Please respect copyright.PENANANuy2wMqBot
"No girl ever turns them down. But there are only four of them because they never really ask anybody. Any ordinary girl would do anything to just talk ti them," says Chase, surprise evident in his tone.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAvJbCVYFaN7
"Well do I look like the ordinary girls?" I ask.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAUCVpZcpJTf
"I have physics next," Chase and me say at the same time.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA1sEkqabeaS
"What the hell?" I ask.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAYsJlIM4WTX
"So you are stuck with me. Anyway, we'll change and then meet outside gym gates," he says, making his way towards the boys changing rooms while I make way towards that of the girls.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAEthNdeqtG1
I grab my duffel bag which has my dress and then file inside on of the bathroom stalls.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAb7sUPRW1tX
I put on the outfit I was wearing in the morning. As I'm about to change from my sports shoes to my boots, I hear voices.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAK4QPcPC5fN
"That bitch actually interrupted you and Chase?"
229Please respect copyright.PENANAB3nFq8cSme
"She's a filthy piece of-" says the unmistakable voice of Vanessa.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAO223E5fwUE
Vanessa is cut by the voice of another girl. "You know, I'm gonna ask her to join the cheerleading squad."
229Please respect copyright.PENANA8sXqZ5fJe6
"What the hell is wrong with you, Nicole?" says the other girl.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAXHYK0yMTtf
"There is nothing wrong with me, Zara," says Nicole. "If she joins the cheerleading squad, I'm gonna make her life a living hell, me being the cheerleading captain and all."
229Please respect copyright.PENANAqkLHrpxNkk
"Anyway, I'll talk to you later girls," says Vanessa. "And, by the way, Nicole the plan sounds amazing," she adds.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA9hcMGB1rm4
And with that, they exit the changing rooms.
229Please respect copyright.PENANApExUZIyyEo
I walk out of the gym door, exit the basketball court and then make my way towards the gym. Sure enough, I see Chase waiting for me at the gates.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAkwZuQOsJDy
"What took you so long?" he asks.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAAlV2VR6IfD
"Nothing," I tell him.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAeypyWHttpX
"Okay, lets go for physics then," he says. "Oh, by the way, Tyler and Laura are also going to be with us."
229Please respect copyright.PENANAi7dqotLWjW
"That's great," I say, sounding enthusiastic.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAVZTr3fesgS
"They are gonna sit together like they always do," he says.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAuA2ErhEoag
"That means I'm totally stuck with you?" I say, trying to sound less enthusiastic. I'm not sure it works.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAd0YMtktTDt
"Anyway, I'm inviting everybody to my house tomorrow. Not a party, just a small get-together," he says.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA9U0XZ8E5R5
I go awn. "I love parties," I say longingly.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAof66qLdJhE
"There is one, you know, at April Banks' house," he says. "Wanna come with me?"
229Please respect copyright.PENANAvcOdzFAIfr
"If its a party, sure," I reply.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAADFgDhYyex
"Then be ready at eight on Friday night. I'll pick you up so text me your address later," he says.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAlVk6LrdcKJ
"Number?" I ask him.
229Please respect copyright.PENANARZqC8kIPRj
"Its already there. I took your number from Tyler. Actually, all give of us have your number and we texted you. So you have all of our numbers," he says, smirking.
229Please respect copyright.PENANASrcjuSSXWY
"All of you are geniuses," I say, with a tinge of sarcasm.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAdVgt3tdvzn
"We all know that," he says, bowing.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAKPmruN8ghm
"Yah, right."
229Please respect copyright.PENANAkjtcQJyWH4
When we enter the physics class together, I see Tyler and Laura waving at us from the second-last table. They had, apparently, caught places for us in the last table.
229Please respect copyright.PENANABFk9fVGOlW
"Hello guys," says Laura, with a grin.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAy98vkCMKGb
"Hi," I reply.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAIGSW1gNutG
"I challenged Ashlyn to a game of basketball," Chase butts in.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAVOMB5uIAB5
"You what?" asks Tyler, incredulously.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAB3tk884wSv
"I said I challe-" Chase starts to repeat but is cut off by Tyler.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA1R1O9mznov
"I heard what you said," says Tyler, scowling.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA8c7KvpheI8
"I'm sorry to say this, Ashlyn, but you're gonna lose," says Laura, patting me on the shoulder.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAf4WPGpPhFF
"No chance. Ashlyn is going to win," says Tyler.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAit9jm3qPGH
"Bet?" asks Laura.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAP50ePO6HGt
"Bet," Tyler confirms.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAvH4KWQ45WI
"Fifty dollars it is?" asks Laura.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAwS0nr4HMOl
"Fifty dollars," Tyler agrees. "Text Melody and tell her about the bet and I'll text Zack and Logan. All of us will place a bet. One sec..."
229Please respect copyright.PENANA8r18A9nnsm
Quickly, he types something in his phone while Laura continuously jabs her own.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAxjZUut3zB3
"Logan says that Chase is gonna win though he supports Ashlyn. Zack also says that Chase is going to win," Tyler says, happily.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAUEVyjiBkT3
"So does Melody," Laura confirms.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAzkdYyxV7PK
"You're that good?" I quietly ask Chase.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAcSn4ZODISi
"Seems so," he replies in a superior tone.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAfduP9njvC6
"You're gonna lose Tyler, so why do you look so happy about it?" asks Laura.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA9bTxSUWNJ9
"Because I know that I am gonna win," Tyler says.
229Please respect copyright.PENANATNAGqz10FY
"Whatever, stubborn jackass," states Laura.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAvcC0vJcfuG
"So what's up with Mr. Wren? He is never late for class," Chase asks Laura.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA8eJyMwwhpf
"Mr. Wren is not here today to enlighten us with his presence," says Laura, sarcastically. "So we have a dear substitute teacher," she continues, motioning her fingers in the direction of a man who was fast asleep on the table.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAkyEcFreqJn
"So is it a free period?" asks Chase, hopefully.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAjBYzzzllrD
"I guess," replies Laura.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAKJhhat8yn2
And so we resume our chatting.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAFxmb6Gp5fg
"Hey Ash, I don't think I'll be able to come to your house tonight but tomorrow, we have a get-together at Chase's house," says Tyler.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAFrHGZjc8Ko
"Yeah, I know. Chase told me," I reply.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAhlAF80m1zX
"And there is also a party on Friday night. I know you love parties," he continues.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAQXI8a0rN42
"Yeah, Chase told me that too," I say.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAIFr64MO9GD
"What the hell?" Tyler says, pouting like a kid.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA2Q0jAFlqdZ
Chase, Laura and me chortled at Tyler.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAReojiJrds1
The bell rings and we were free.
229Please respect copyright.PENANANcJhez5KCc
"Basketball match," Chase whispers to me.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAaJ02eGPRXL
"What?"
229Please respect copyright.PENANAf53XIqLdQh
"We have our basketball match," he repeats.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA1jMmqoqwDF
Oh, right.
229Please respect copyright.PENANA8EJBLFQJig
The basketball match.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAwhdqDHQFWf
I almost forgot.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAIQvTDuA67h
I have to win. I have to prove Tyler right. And I didn't want people to mark me down on my first day at South Boston High School.
229Please respect copyright.PENANAgDehGlKFLA
°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°°
ns 172.69.58.225da2