Chapter 14 - I Hate Lauren

Megan's POV

I know I have never dated anyone before, and the feelings that I feel right now are all new to me. Still, I have watched romantic movies and read romance books, so I have an idea how it feels, and now that I am experiencing it for the first time, it feels nice to be with someone that I like for so long now. Ashton doesn't know that I like him even before he asked me to go out with him. I know I tried to push him away, but right now, I can tell that I wanted to have a date with him even though it means I need to face his fans, and even if I felt scared about what would be their next move, I want to meet them with my head high to be with Ashton.

He turned on his car stereo, and I smiled as I listened to his mellow music again, and I find him so adorable as he sang along with the artist. I know almost every girl in our school liked him, and I felt so lucky to be seated beside him in his car, even if I know the possible outcome of all this. I need to prepare myself for whatever kind of hardships those cheerleaders are trying to throw at me.

"Do you have a day off from your part-time job, Megan?" He asked as he looked at me sideways.

"I don't work during Saturdays and Sundays at the cafe, but I have another job," I said.

"Wow! You are a hard-working, Meg, and I am so proud of you; what kind of job do you usually do during weekends then?" He asked, and I felt shy, but I know I should be proud of whatever I do to have some savings because I am afraid if something will come up. I can't maintain my grades, but I know I have to be consistent with my grades so I can keep my scholarship because I know my parents can't afford it, and I need to look for ways to help them financially too.

"We usually cleaned houses at the big subdivision, and we tend gardens, anything we can just to have a decent amount of money," I replied.

"So, if I ask you on a date this Saturday, you are going to turn me down?" He asked, and I smiled at him.

"I am sorry, but I already have a schedule for this coming Saturday and Sunday, and I am sorry, but I have to say no," I said, and I saw his face fell, but he smiled and looked at me again.

"How about next weekend?" I asked.

"Well, so far, I don't have any schedule for next weekend yet. Actually, it was Alice's aunt who gives us jobs every weekend because she has connections." I replied, and his face lit up.

"I hope we can have a date next weekend, Megan." He said, and I blushed.

The moment we arrived at the school parking lot, the same crowd gathered near his favorite parking slot, and I can tell his teammates are waiting for him once again.

"Meg, would it be alright if I can't walk with you in going to the library, our coach is already watching me closely, and I am afraid if he won't let me play in the next match." He said, and I looked at him and smiled.

"Of course, I know you have practice; you already have done enough for me, Ashton. You don't need to pick me up from our house." I said.

"I love picking you up, Megan, because I want to see your beautiful face early in the morning because I am more inspired to play after seeing your lovely face." He declared, and his words made me blushed.

He climbed out of his car, and before I can get down, he was already on my door, and he opened it for me, and I can see. The eyes of the cheerleaders are looking daggers at me, and when Ashton held my hands, I wanted to run away from him because I know these girls will mess with me again. Still, I can't even move my legs, and before I can say goodbye to Ashton, he pulled me closer to him and then kissed my forehead.

"Goodbye, Meg, see you later." He whispered in my ear that made me feel goosebumps all over my skin, and I nodded my head. When he let go of my hands, I turned around from him and walked fast, going to the library, and I can't stop myself from smiling, and I can't wait to date Ashton, and I need to tell Alice I need to have a day-off next weekend.

I am stunned when I am being circled by cheerleaders headed by Ashton's best friend, Lauren, and she put her arms over her chest as she watches me, and I don't have a choice but to stop and face her.

"Well, Megan Corteza, I thought being number one in our class will make you understand my warning with you the last time we talked, but it seems you are really planning to date Ashton, and I can tell you believe him. I can't blame you, though. Ashton is handsome, hot, and most of all super-rich, so there is no question why you didn't listen to my advice, but I hope this time you will pay attention to what I am going to say." She said, and I felt impatient because I need to study my lesson, and she makes me late for my time for my review.

"Listen, Lauren, I need to go to the library before my first-period starts, and I don't have time to listen to your advice because I know what I am doing, and as far as I know, you are not Ashton's girlfriend," I said. I can see the wrath written all over her face, and before I know it, she grabbed my bag, and I tried to pull it back. Still, her friends helped her, they hold my arms while Lauren opened my bag, and she was looking for something, and my eyes widened when she found what she was looking for, my essay assignment on my literature subject, and right then and there she tore my paper in front of me while her friends are laughing hard.

She empties the contents of my bag, and I can see my books and notebooks fell on the ground while they continue to laugh, and she threw my bag and looked at me.

"I already told you to stay away from Ashton if you want to have a peaceful senior life, Megan. Besides, you should be ashamed of yourself because you looked like an old maid, and you have the face to walk around campus with Ashton Pritzgold in that kind of outfit? I think you have to wake up, girl, you are just a scholar at this school, and you will never belong in our society whatever you will do. You will always be inadequate, and you should look at yourself in the mirror before you date Ashton." Lauren said, and she stomped on my books and notes before she walked away followed by her friends, and my limbs are trembling as I get down on my knees, and I couldn't stop my tears from falling on my cheeks, and I suddenly felt someone helped me picked up my things.

"Lauren is a bitch; stop your tears, Megan. She doesn't deserve your tears." Oscar said, and I wanted to cry more, and I hate Lauren for doing this to me, and then I saw Alice running to us.

"What happened to your things, Megan?" Alice asked, and I felt glad Oscar answered her on my behalf.

"It is Lauren, I heard everything she said to Megan, and I want to pull her up by the neck, and I felt glad I control myself, and I am sorry, sis, I haven't been able to defend you. You know their kind. I don't want her to dig on with my personal life." Oscar said, and I looked at him as I wiped my tears.

"It is okay; at least you were here after she humiliated me, and it is enough for me, Oscar," I replied.

"Oh no, I can't believe she tore your assignment in our literature." Alice noticed as she picked up the pieces of my assignment.

"Yeah, and I need to go to the library now to make another essay," I said, and I wiped the dust on my books and notes, and I am not sure if I can finish my assignment on time since I only got a little time to spare. I got up, and we run to the library. And I can tell Alice and Oscar wanted to talk about what happened out there, but I don't have time. I need to finish my essay. My hand is shaking, and I try to calm myself before I started writing again.

While writing, I couldn't stop myself from remembering Lauren's hurtful words, and right now, I am getting confused again about what to do with Ashton. I can tell he was sincere with his intentions towards me. Still, if I have to deal with this kind of drama every day, I don't think I can take it, and I want to fight back, but I know I have nothing to be proud of, and I am sure Lauren's parents are one of the sponsors of our school scholarship program. And I am just hoping she will not do something like that because I am already in my senior year, and I need to graduate, and I can't afford to lose my scholarship before graduation day.. My heart is pierced because I pity myself, and deep inside me, I want to become Ashton's girlfriend.