A little while later, I was surprised that I was actually having a great time. We had done alright in all our events so far and up next was the balloon toss. We lined up and began to toss the water balloon gently back and forth to each other. We had gotten pretty far apart and we were the only team left in it besides two others. I counted to three and tossed the balloon at Tessa only for it to break and soak her completely. Tess was a girly girl who needed her makeup and hair just right, so you can imagine the fit that ensued after that. I tried not to laugh at her over exaggeration, I really did, but when I found myself giggling at a soaking wet Tessa, my laughter was matched with a boys laugh from behind me.
Noah came striding up with a big smile on his face. His skin was tanned olive and his black hair glistened in the bright sun. “I really shouldn’t laugh at her, but her facial expression was priceless.” He came and stood beside me causing me to look up at his silhouette.
“I know, I feel so bad, I really nailed her.” Tess was trying to dry off with a small towel that one of the faculty had provided for her, but it wasn’t working. She had stomped off with mascara streaming down her face. I really hoped she wasn’t too mad at me. “Maybe I should go make sure she is okay...” I went to go after Tess when Noah gently touched my shoulder.
“You two are signed up for the three legged race next, right?” I glanced at his hand on my shoulder briefly and he immediately dropped it letting it fall to his side. It bothered me, not a lot, but nearly all touching bothered me in some way.
“Well, now that Tess is gone I don’t have a partner.” I said meekly. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about Noah. He was handsome, and super nice, I just still wasn’t sure.
“I can be your partner, I mean uh… if they allow subs or whatever. I would do that for you.” He was stuttering and nervous but I didn’t know why. Did I make him nervous? Deciding not to make the situation anymore uncomfortable I nodded my head.
“Sounds good.” His face lit up into that bright smile that made him look handsome, and yet boy like at the same time. We went to the booth and got signed in where they gave us our rope. Noah and I put our legs side by side where he proceeded to tie our two legs together. We were so close I could feel and smell his body. He placed his long arm around me and I proceeded to do the same to him telling myself it was okay. He gave me a wink before the starting whistle blew. I wasn’t expecting it but Noah took off practically dragging me. When I couldn’t catch up with his pace after three or four strides, his arm that was on my waist, constricted and he lifted me like a rag doll causing me to shriek in surprise. I allowed my leg to go limp he picked up the pace after that and practically carried us across the finish line, in first place. He let me down, but I wobbled, being unbalanced, causing us to fall to the ground with Noah slightly on top of me, we both were laughing and out of breathe.
“You cheater,” I managed to get out. He laughed even more.
“We won didn’t we?” And then, something happened. It was like the air changed and got more humid, and the rest of the noises around us were all muffled. Noah was all I could see, and the way he was looking down at me; I know he felt our little connection as well. As quickly as it had come it was gone when we heard a loud throat clearing in front of us.
There Tess stood all dry and changed with her arms folded over her chest and her hip cocked to one side as she looked down at us on the ground. “Well don’t you two look cozy?” I gave Noah a slight push off of me and he quickly began to untie our legs. I stood and began to brush myself off. “Real smooth Noah, tackle her to the ground why don’t you?” Tess was making fun of him but he only shrugged his shoulders.
“Whatever, I will see you later Ashton.” I nodded before he walked away.
“I’m hungry lets go eat.” Tess announced. We walked around for a little while before stopping at the BBQ pit where they were cooking burgers and hotdogs. Tess and I opted for burgers and found seating on some picnic tables and dug in. We were sitting, eating, and chatting with a couple of the others at the table. The weather was beautiful and I was having so much fun and then it hit me, I didn’t have to hurry home, or worry about consequences when I did. I was free to relax and have a good time. I knew in that moment that I had made a good choice in coming here. Yeah, it was new and I had a whole year of things to get through, but even if I was forced to go home tomorrow, I would be happy with my decisions this far. Today alone was worth it.
“I AM so banging a few of these dorm girls this year! Did you see that one with the tight black pants?” Zach and I were walking into first day of school, of our last year. I shook my head and looked around to see what he was referring to. There were a couple cuties I wouldn’t mind taking to bed, but that was all.
“I don’t know why you bother with these new girls Zach. They live in that damn dorm and can’t ever go do anything. They have a crazy curfew with way to many other rules.” He was not even listening to me; he was distracted by the girls in front of us and there asses swaying back and forth as they walked. I swung the door open and headed for the senior lockers. Finding mine, I opened it and began to put my back-pack and stuff away. I was silencing my cell phone when I heard a loud sigh followed by a bang on the locker down from mine. I glanced up from my phone and was caught off guard by what my eyes landed on. Five lockers down was a new girl and she was smoking hot. She had long natural blonde hair that flowed down to about the middle of her back, her skin was a fair milky shade with no blemishes. She didn’t have much makeup if any on but that was fine because she so didn’t need it. She wore washed out jeans paired with a green t-shirt that wasn’t too tight but still showed off her attractive form. She had her backpack at her feet and was looking at a small crumpled piece of paper, trying to open her locker. When she was unsuccessful again, she cursed under her breath. I’m pretty sure it was the cutest thing I had ever seen; I let out a small chuckle. She turned and looked at me with sky blue eyes. God she was gorgeous. I walked the few steps over and reached for her combo she had wrote down. “Here let me give it a try.” She gave me a quizzical look and slowly handed me the paper. I glanced at it momentarily before popping the locker open, no problem. She let out another defeated sigh and looked at the floor. “They can be a little temperamental sometimes.”
She gave me a small smile and started putting her books inside. “Thanks, you saved me from beating on it. I was getting so frustrated.”
“I can jam it for you if you want? That is what most of us do, it’s just easier and saves time.”
“Um… sure I guess that would work.”
I gave her my best panty dropping smile and reached over and worked my magic. “Ta-da.”
She nodded then looked away again.
“So what do you think of our school so far? Your new right?”
“I just got here, so I can’t really form an opinion on things just yet, but from what I’ve seen, it seems cool.”
I nodded and she didn’t speak again. I wasn’t ready to walk away from her just yet.
“So… Do you like Hockey? I am the captain of the hockey team you should come to a game this season, it’s a pretty big deal around here.”
“Yeah maybe.” She did not seem impressed.
“I’m also student body president.” She gave me yet another unimpressed look.
“So if you ever need anything else, just come to me. I’m kind of the alpha dog around here.”
She looked at me with those piercing blue eyes that made me feel exposed. Like she could see through all my bullshit. “Yes I’m sure you are” she said sarcastically. She was a hard one to crack. Usually girls were putty in my hands.
“I’m Charlie by the way.” I reached my hand out to shake hers. She looked at my hand like she wasn’t sure she wanted to touch me. Hesitantly, she gave me her hand. I gently clasped her hand in mine and an instant zing shot through my fingers and sent tingles all over my body. It freaked me out, but felt amazing at the same time. She must have felt the something similar because s
he quickly withdrew her hand out of my grasp. She had a look on her face like I had just done something wrong. She quickly grabbed her backpack and turned away from me and practically ran away down the hall.
What the hell was that???
ALL THROUGH first and second period I couldn’t get that girl out of my head, I didn’t even get her name because she ran away from me so fast. That was a first for me; most of the time, girls were running towards me not away. I kept thinking she would come back to her locker and exchange books for her different classes but she didn’t. I was sitting in the far corner of the classroom waiting for the bell to ring when in walks my mystery girl. I couldn’t believe my luck, I had a class with her. My day just got so much better. As the teacher rattled names off for roll call, I watched her like a hawk. “Ashton Becker,” she raised her hand just slightly and the teacher nodded continuing down the list. I had her name, now all I had to do was figure out my next move. She had run away from me so fast, it had thrown me off my game. Plus, she barely spoke to me, but that only intrigued me more. I decided right then and there that I wanted Ashton Becker. When the bell rang she jumped from her seat and dashed out the door. I rushed behind her trying to push my way through the crowd and catch up with her. When I finally managed to make to make it out of the doorway she was talking to a guy I didn’t recognize. Must be a fellow dorm kid. He was making her smile. I hadn’t seen her smile like that yet; it was definitely a sight to see. I didn’t like that this guy was the one making it happen. All right, a little competition. Game on.
I HAD told myself, long before I got here, that I would not let anyone or anything get in my way of the goals that I had set. I was here to graduate, play some senior sports, and go to college. End of story. What I was not here for was hot as hell hockey players who made my insides tingle with one stupid handshake. From the moment I had heard him chuckle at my lame attempts at locker opening, I knew he was trouble. He had the greenest eyes I had ever seen, and the way he looked into mine with them, was hypnotizing. His hair was a sandy color that was a shade between dark blonde and brown, kind of both and it was messily spiked and shaved to perfection on the bottom. His skin was slightly golden, just a hint of sun kissed. He was tall, definitely over six feet, and you could see how athletic his body was just with a t-shirt on. He had full pink lips and when he smiled, damn that smile, it was something he had perfected over the years and he knew how and when to pull it out. Unfortunately, it had worked on me. I wanted to melt into a puddle when he smiled at me like that. But I knew his type, he had player written across his forehead and when he went into the giant spiel about all of his personal attributes and how wonderful he was, he reaffirmed it for me. Yeah, so not going to happen; I needed to stay far away from that one.
I had third period next and was a little frazzled by that time. I walked into the class, scanning the room for an empty seat, when my eyes locked on to two very green, smoking hot ones. He was in a class with me, there was no escaping it. I had to take this class to graduate. I chose a seat as far away from him as possible and focused my attention on the front of the room. I swear I could feel his eyes on the back of my head. I tried to sneak a glance in his direction; yep sure enough, he was flat out staring at me. What was this guy’s deal? The teacher was taking roll call when he called my name. I gave my hand a slight raise and he nodded. Good, I didn’t draw too much attention my way, maybe he didn’t even see me. The rest of the class passed by in a blur and before I knew it, it was over. When the bell rang for fourth period I practically lunged for the door. I had to get out of that room, it’s like he sucked all the air out of it. I was so focused on getting away from Charlie, I did not watch where I was going and ran smack dab into Noah’s hard chest.
“Whoa there, slow down.” He braced my arms helping me find my balance.
“I’m sorry Noah, just crazy first day.”
He looked down at me with concern in his eyes. “You doing okay?”
“Yeah, I am fine. Just trying to get situated with where all my classes are and everything.”
“Well here, give me your books.” He took them from my arms I handed them over willingly. “Before you drop these all over like your hair dryer.” I laughed. Noah was really cool. I’m glad I met him, and Tessa. I felt like I might have the opportunity to make some real friends for the first time in my life; ones that didn’t know my history and didn’t associate me with the chaos that was my former life.
The entire school was required to attend a welcoming assembly in the gym. Noah and I walked in and found ourselves a seat high up on the bleachers.
Noah reached into his sweater pocket pulling out a bag of skittles. “Want some?”
I nodded my head yes as he poured some into my hand. I popped a couple in my mouth and scanned the bleachers, looking where Tessa might have sat. I was just about to give up on my search when my eyes landed on his instead. He was leaning against the wall watching me, a small smirk played on his lips. I looked away instantly and let my hair fall over the side of my face attempting to shield myself from his stare. The principal stepped into the middle of the floor where there was a microphone set up. He welcomed all of us new kids and went on to say how he hoped we would feel welcome and if we have any questions to come see him in his office and so on and so on. He was beginning to sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher in the cartoons. I guess I should have been listening, but I couldn’t think about anything except for the boy to my right. He kept catching me sneaking little peeks at him.
Noah noticed me looking over his shoulder. He leaned into my side close enough where I could feel his body heat. “Who are you spying on?” His breath tickled my ear.
I mouthed “Tess” to him. He looked in the direction I had been looking.
“I don’t think she is over there.”
I faced forward, one of the teachers was droning on something about student council. I glanced to my right but he wasn’t there anymore. As I was wondering where he went, someone behind me nudge me in the back. I figured it was by mistake, it was crowded and we were all practically sandwiched together. Then I heard it.
“PSST”
I turned and there he was, sitting on the bleacher behind me with that smile. I frowned at him and turned around facing forward again trying to ignore him and the fact he had come over to sit by me. How much longer was this damn assembly going to go? A tickling sensation pricked my scalp causing me to turn around. I found Charlie playing with a strand of my hair. I smacked his hand away pulling my hair forward and off my back, out of his reach. Charlie just continued to smirk. Noah looked back at him with a perturbed look on his face. I nudged his shoulder playfully making him smile and letting him know that whatever Charlie was doing I could handle on my own. The assembly finally ended, and we were all dismissed. Thank god. I hooked my arm through Noah’s and began to walk out of the gym.
“See you later Ashton.” He called out. My name sounded amazing coming from his beautiful mouth, like he was the only person in the world meant to say it. He had his hands in his pockets and was walking backwards, looking me right in the eye when he said it. I gave him a frown as he winked and turned back around sauntering away. Yep that was such a player move.
I WAS sitting at the desk in our room reading when Tess came in and flopped face first on her bed.
“Rough day?” I asked slightly amused by her skills to over exaggerate everything.
She screamed into her pillow, then began to tell me the horrors of her first day. Her head was still in the pillow so the sound was muffled, but I made out what I could. Her math teacher was Satan reincarnated; her locker smelled like something had died in it; and the very worst one, she was not hit on by one single boy. I snorted at the last part. Boys were so very important to her, where I could care less… sort of. When she finally raised her head from her pillow, I told her I had looked for her during the assembly.
“Yeah, I got there late and sat on the bottom with a girl from my math class.” She looked at me asking
if my day was as bad as hers.
“It was fine, minus this one guy that thinks he is god’s gift to us all.”
“Oh yeah? Do tell.”
“I don’t know Charlie something.” Her eyes got so huge I thought they might actually bug out of her head.
“Wait, please tell me you are not talking about Charlie Ingram?”
“I didn’t get his last name… he is on the hockey team.” I motioned my hand in the air dismissively, not taking my eyes off my book.
“O. M. G. Charlie Ingram was hitting on you?! Do you know how lucky you are?”
“Lucky? Please! The guy has player written on his forehead. He annoyed me, you can tell he is used to getting any girl he wants.” Tessa threw her hands in the air this time.
“You are so beyond clueless Ashton! Charlie is the hottest hockey player in the state! Colleges from all over want to recruit him, there is even talk about him going pro after he finishes this year. He is the hottest guy I have ever seen! Every girl within a hundred mile radius wants him and you say you’re not lucky?!”
How did she know so much about a guy that she never even met? Okay, he was super-hot and he played hockey well, but his attitude was cocky and he came off like an arrogant prick. Besides, all he wanted was to get into my pants and then I would be yesterday’s trash, just another name on a long list of heartbroken girls left behind by the beautiful Charlie Ingram. Nope, I could not let that happen. I would avoid him at all costs, it was the only way that I knew I would be able to protect myself. All he had to do was touch my hand and smile at me and I was like a freaking zombie under his spell. I had never been so affected by a guy in my life and I didn’t like the way it felt; like I was powerless in the situation. I hated feeling powerless. I had felt that way most of my life and I was hell bent on not feeling it again.
Getting Out Page 3