The school bell rang. It was time for lunch. Adrian and his new friend, John Stewart, took their food trays to a corner to eat. He turned, watching Ashley from afar. No one knew they were neighbors. Adrian won't tell anyone. They haven't even had a conversation yet.
"Tell her already, Adrian! Ask her to prom." John persuaded.
"Prom? Forget it, I can't ask her to prom! Ash would never accept.... I don't want to get embarrassed like the other guys." He looked around in curiosity and replied in a low tone, so John would reduce his voice, too.
"But it's clear that you love her. You barely concentrate in class because she's there. If you don't ask her now, you might lose a chance." John pointed out with an unblinking, eye contact.
"Adrian, you've been over Ashley Hill since you transferred to this school. All the insects in Whittier High can testify to it. Won't it be cool that you at least, try? This is an opportunity, go grab it by its head!"
"I want to try but... What do I tell her?" Adrian frowned.
"Meet her first and say hello."
Stealing another glance at her not to get caught, Jason Andrews, one of the best football player in Whittier High School, walked up to Ashley and gave her a soft peck.
She blushed as they started a conversation. Denis King-Ash's best friend and Fabian Charms-Jason's friend, started a gist. Looking at the pair, they were so engrossed with each other, forgetting they were in the cafeteria.
Adrian looked away immediately, closing his eyes tight and praying not to see any more of them.
"They're so good together. I'm no good." He explained to John with a hand covering his face.
"You are better than those bullies. Do what you have to do, okay? See their swagger, their charms, and they're financially dependent."
"But I'm not financially dependent. She won't get impressed." Adrian pointed out.
"Not all girls care, though. How would we know if you don't try? You are the guy, Adrian. Not the girl. Talk to her." John raised an eyebrow while Adrian adjusted his glasses before raising to his feet.
"Okay, bye." Jason told her before they parted ways.
"See ya!" Ashley replied and giggled along with her friend. They went to pay for their meal. Just then, Ashley tapped on the side of her jeans. As if something was missing. She checked her bag over and over.
"Hey, Ash! Is everything alright?" Adrian interrupted, raising an eye brown in concern.
"I can't find my wallet! So annoying!" She hissed. Denise wanted to pay, but Ashley was adamant about collecting the cash from her bestie.
"Where did you keep it?"
"I'm sure I kept it here just now." She continued searching her tiny black handbag.
"Don't worry, I'll pay for it." Adrian flipped a $20 note to the cashier and asked her to keep the change.
"Awwwn... What can I say?" Ashley blushed with a sparkle while her slim fingers brushed through her honey blonde hair. "Thank you."
Adrian smiled with both eyes and lips as he watched Ashley, and Denise walked into the crowd. It got him lost at the thought of what had just happened.
"That was easy." He said to himself and 'tsk!' A hot blow landed on his jaw.
Adrian noticed nothing at first, until a drop of blood tickled out of his mouth. His puzzled eyes raised at Jason's angry face in front of him. John, whom was walking towards him a while ago just ran away like a scared cat. Other students surrounded the both of them, ready to watch how the drama was going to unfold. With their wide and curious eyes staring at them.
Adrian haven't had any contact with Jason since he got transferred from South Carolina. His right hand held his lips that were now hurting. Jason threw him against the wall while Adrian struggled not to fall. His teeth gritted in fury as Jason added pressure. As if he would strangle him to death right that instant. Adrian's bloody hands held him back with fear while Jason glowered with so much hate. All Adrian smelt was trouble, and he wasn't prepared.
"I have little to say to you, fool! Don't dare speak to my girl with your sheep-stinking-breath, ever again. Got it?!" The tightness in his hoarse voice was a roar.
Adrian groaned in pain, trying to pull out, but all his efforts were in vain. His knees were wobbly and his hands were sweating with fear boiling in his chest. Just then, a hand tapped Jason at the back.
It was Ashley.
While she leaned in, her smile radiated as they stared into each other's eyes.
"C'mon, Jay. If you get suspended before the last day of school, who's going to be my date to prom? Leave Adrian alone. He's an innocent one." She persuaded in her sweet voice.
Jason turned to Adrian with red eyes.
"Next time, you won't be saved, nitwit!"
He jerked a fist at Adrian, not hitting him, but his head made a loud thud against the wall because of the fear burning down his chest. Jason just left, alongside his buddy-Fabian Charms, fuming in anger as they walked away. Adrian swallowed the lump in his throat while his eyes rolled to Ashley in embarrassment.
"Umm... I could stop him if I wanted to, but thanks." Adrian stammered even though he tried being brave.
Ashley just smiled, realizing how cute he sounded. She brought out a pink hanky from her tiny black handbag and wiped off the blood that was still lingering. The side of his lip was a little swollen, too.
"I always feel your eyes around me, even at home. I would hate to see you go through so much pain just because of me, but you know what? Guys that stand up for themselves are who I love. The lions are not the scared mouse. The wolves are not the crazy sheep. Now, which are you, Adrian Knight?"
She stared into his darting eyes, focusing on him as if studying lines from an intense romance novel.
Adrian swallowed on his breath, gazing into her eyes with the same intensity. The school bell rang and their eye contact broke in a snitch.
"Get out of trouble, okay? See you later." Ashley smiled before pulling back.
She planted a soft kiss on his cheek before walking away. Dumbfounded, Adrian watched her meet Denise before stepping into the class.
A quick burst of smile escaped Adrian and then he realized he was still with her hanky at hand. He looked at it with the pain and pleasure in his happy, brown eyes.
***
At football tryouts, the coach offered Adrian, Michael's spot on the varsity team, despite only being a sophomore. Michael Moore was the team captain before he transferred to another school two days before Adrian's and the school's football team was out of captain for the major time.
"Ow!" A loud grunt escaped Adrian as he got kicked in the butt.
He looked up and realized it was Jordan.
Holding back the pain, his thick eyebrows furrowed upwards while trying to stand up.
"What's it, Knight! We don't have all day, you know!" Mr. Clayton, the football coach, alerted. A little pissed.
With this, Adrian stood up at once, but a sudden headache made his vision blur because of his shortsightedness. The day was bright. An invisible doodling clouded his eyes, but he managed. And since Adrian doesn't see clearly without his glasses, he gets hit now and then, but he was determined to make varsity.
Fabian grabbed the football with ease and threw it at Jason since they were teammates. Adrian ran in his direction to get the ball. At least, he shouldn't run away from him, since they were players and Mr. Clayton's eyes were focused on him. Jordan held the ball in a tight grip under his arm while Adrian struggled to reach for it. He attempted to seize hold of the ball and got tackled by a misstep, falling on his face this time.
"Ahhh!" he cried under the pressure of pain and dropped to his back. Unable to move this time.
"There you go again! Stand up, Mr Knight! Come on, I said get the fuck up!" The coach psyched. "If you want to make this team, you're going to need more effort!"
Everyone stopped and watch Adrian struggle. Jason and the other team players snickered as he took off the helmet. His head was bleeding from under his hair.
"Augh!" A long low sigh heaved out of Adrian while he moaned continuously.
"We would definitely need a replacement for Michael in a week!" The coach hissed and snapped his fingers towards Jason.
Jason came forth as Mr. Clayton stared vividly at the both of them with seriousness in his eyes.
"Would you like to be the team captain?" Mr. Clayton asked Jason.
"Yes, sir."
Adrian caught the crooked smirk on Jason's lips and rolled his eyes at him.
"Good." The team coach praised. "Progress is impossible without change, and those who cannot change their minds cannot change anything. Among the both of you... Whoever impresses me the most within a week will be the next team captain. Got that, Mr. Knight?"
Unable to answer, Adrian gazed back at Jason as the coach took the ball back to his backpack. Jason moved closer to Adrian, giving him a distant look.
"Now, you will never make Varsity. Don't bother trying, loser." he warned before touching Adrian's head that was still bleeding but he snitched. It was the second time of the both of them having an interaction and Jason injured him again. Adrian hissed irritatedly, though he does not care about any of it. He wasn't good at football, anyway. He just had a passion for it and wanted to play.
Mr. Clayton zipped down the sport backpack, and a green chameleon jumped to his face.
"Ahhhh!!!" He screamed out in terror and threw away the ball in fear.
"Click! Click!! Click!!!" Stormie took shots of him, screaming.
It surprised Adrian to see the chameleon-Dragon, Stormie's pet.
Stella and Helen, Stormie's school friends, busted out laughing at his weird facial expression. Mr. Clayton slapped the chameleon off his face and walked to the three rude girls. Their smile dropped immediately while Stormie hide her camera behind her back.
The coach seized the camera right away, sending the three of them to the headteacher's office.
"Isn't that your dummy sister, Adrian?" Jason brought up and others started laughing at him again.
"No, she's not. We are not even family!" he defended, as they tittered even louder.
In embarrassment, Adrian just had to leave to avoid their mockery. It was so annoying that Stormie would act so foolishly.