Life in Color ✔️

4~ Water Break

I walk in and greet Mrs. Jackson before sitting down in my usual desk by the window.

With the gifted program I can work at my own pace instead of matching a teachers so I'm already ahead for the week. I pull out my sketchbook and begin to draw the image that popped into my head at lunch, ignoring the urge to add color to the image.  The swirls come to life as my pencil curves with preciseness.

I zone out for the rest of class, finishing the piece with a new found clarity.

*****

Turns out I also have U.S. History and study hall with Ashton. I was stuck with him and his smugness almost all day. How wonderful.

By the time the final bell rings my head is feeling 95% better. I've also managed to calm down tremendously from this mornings series of unfortunate events. I change in the locker room, hiding behind a set of lockers, before practice starts. Already counting down the minutes 'till it's over.

"Have you seen the new guy?" A hushed voice asks.

And the locker room gossip begins. One person's reply sticks out against the sea of yeses.

"Did you see that Scarlett has him wrapped around her finger?" I recognize it as Elsa Vincent, one of Avery's minions.

I most certainly do not! He just likes my friend group. Any one of them can have him, they'd be doing me a favor.

"Do you think he's as messed up as she is? I mean surely there has to be some reason he would talk to her." Anna Jones asks what no doubt the entire squad is thinking. My blood begins to boil as I wait for someone to say something.

Ella and Stella have already changed, picking up Saffron for me. Surely though, someone will be on my side.

Eventually, Avery fills the silence, "Don't be ridiculous. No one can be that good looking and as fucked up as Scarlett. He just needs a little push in the right direction." 

That's true family love right there.

Before they can continue their plan to wow Ashton, Madison Sims, head cheerleader, walks into the locker room. "Enough chit chat. I want everyone outside in five minutes, stretched and ready to go!"

I take her appearance as a good opportunity to sneak out of the room unnoticed. Their words echo in my head the entire walk down to the practice field. I'm not a total basket case. I have problems, sure, but who doesn't? But maybe they're right.

Perhaps the only thing keeping Ashton with us was the fact that he doesn't know any better. Eventually he'll move on and it will still be just me, my two friends, and my siblings. Just the way things should be.

I start stretching for practice, watching Ashton walk to the football field, pads in hand. A small part of me can't help but admit that he looks good in football clothes. He's wearing a skin tight tank top and pants that accent his muscles. I expect him to walk by me and my gawking but he stops.

"Enjoying the show, Sweetheart?" His gray eyes bright with amusement.

I don't allow myself to blush in embarrassment, that would only fuel the fire that is Ashton McClain's ego. "Nope. I was just wondering why you have your football stuff when we're about to play the first round of playoffs?"

He puts down his gear and begins to toss his football in the air, drawing attention to his arms. "Last I checked your team just lost its star quarterback and Coach begged me to play."

I wince thinking about Gavin Dean. He was tackled last game of the regular season, his leg snapped basically in half. How convenient that Ashton is a quarterback, like he wasn't cocky enough already.