The Girl in Cleats

⚽️Chapter 10⚽️

"What did you get on that English Essay?" Dustin asks me as we head to our next class.

"You don't wanna know." Usually I'm so good at English. When I saw the grade I didn't even look to see what I did wrong.

"C'mon Kiera. It can't be that bad." Dustin says.

I glare at him and he throws his hands up in surrender.

"D-" I complain. Dustin draws in a breath and I punch his arm. "Ouch." He says rubbing where I hit him. I laugh at his pain.

I'm a great friend, I know.

The bell rings signaling that we have two minutes to get to class. Me and Dustin look at each other terrified, then sprint down the hallway. Teachers are yelling at us as we go by, but we're sure to hide our faces so we can't get detention. That wouldn't be fun.

We slide into our seats just as the bell rings for the last time.

Whew, that was a close one.

I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around and gasp. Well that was a mistake. Mrs. Wellington turns around and scans the room for the source of my noise. Thankfully, she's got awful eyesight without her glasses and doesn't see me.

I turn back around to face the person who tapped me. It was Asher. Oh how I've missed him. We haven't talked at all except for texting.

"Hey" he whispers, giving me a cute smile.

I smile back at him and whisper "hey". He hands me a piece of paper and I turn around again, opening it. He has awful handwriting.

Kit Kat, wanna hang out after school? And maybe kinda sorta help me with my homework?... -Skittles

I turn my head around and nod, stuffing the note into my backpack. He smiles and pretends to listen to the teacher. I roll my eyes and take notes. If I'm gonna help him, I better know what I'm doing.

_____________

Ah finally, lunch. I thought it would never come. I stand in line waiting for my slice of warm pepperoni pizza and tap my fingers on the tray to the beat of "Stressed Out" by Twenty-One Pilots.

I watch as the lunch lady brings out my pizza. Her name is Val, but most everybody calls her Nanna. She's the nicest lunch lady, she's also worked at this school for twenty years. I would've quit long ago. Some of these kids are so rude. *cough Kaitlyn Green cough*

I smile as Val gives me the deliciousness. As I walk to my table, Kaitlyn is making her way towards me. She looks madder than a hornet nest. I spin on my heel and head in the opposite direction.

Too late, somebody grabs my shoulder and pulls me back. I grimace as I'm spun around to face Kaitlyn, the "goddess of beauty".

"So, Kiera. I need to talk to you." She says in her annoying high-pitched voice. I roll my eyes. "What do you need?"

She leans in next to my ear and whispers, "Stay away from Cameron. He's mine." I pull my head away and say "um heck no. You're not the boss of who I can and can't hang out with."

"Why do you hate me so much?" I say, my voice getting shaky.

No, stay strong Kiera. Don't let her get to you.

"Oh honey, I don't hate you. I'm just having a little fun." She says. "Stay away from Cameron." And with that, she flips the tray and the pizza is all over my shirt. She covers her mouth with her perfect hand, her perfect long nails sparkling and says "oopsies, my bad. Here let me help you with that." She pours coke all over my already pizza stained shirt.

I was really looking forward to drinking that.

I just can't help it anymore. Everybody's staring at me, including Cameron. Then everyone starts laughing. I cover my face as strong arms wrap around me and lead me out of the cafeteria.

When I finally move my hands from my face I notice that it's Dustin, Asher, and Alexis standing there, and we're in the janitors closet. I know, right? Sounds like some kind of sick disney channel movie.

Alexis comes over to me and gives me a hug, muttering, "I am so sorry. Kaitlyn is just a jerk and doesn't like that you hang out with Cameron, she needs to be stopped."

Dustin pounds his fist into his hand and starts to stand up. Asher grabs his arm and slowly shakes his head with a slight laugh.

I laugh at this and say, "Dustin, you can't just beat people up."

"Well why not?" He asks, pouting.

"Because you'd get expelled." I roll my eyes and laugh.

"Ohhh so she can laugh?" Asher says and smiles. "I wonder if she's ticklish?..." Suddenly he starts tickling me and I can't help but laugh, tears pouring out of my eyes. "S-Stop! Ash I'm serious, stop!" I barely make out between laughs.

He finally stops and I take a deep breath of air. We all just sit there in a comfortable silence.

The end of lunch bell rings and we all sigh, getting up. Dustin and Alexis walk out first, but Asher stops me before I can walk out. I turn around and face him, my eyebrow raised.

"Look, Kiera. I need to tell you something."

I nod my head, encouraging him to continue.

He rubs the back of his neck with his hand and mutters, "I like you."

My jaw drops and I say, "Wait, what? Did I hear you correctly?"

He looks up at me and nods. "If you heard 'I like you' then yes, yes you did." He says with a smirk.

I've never thought about him liking me. Yes, he's cute and I maybe had a teeny weeny little wittle bit of a crush on him when I was younger, but he likes me? I'm not pretty in any way, shape or form. I look up from the battle I'm having in my head to see Asher looking perplexed.

"Too soon?" He asks. I shake my head no and give him a hug. He hugs me back, his muscles relaxing. Wow, he must've really worked out where he lived because he has giant muscles.

Ok, maybe not giant, but they're bigger than my non-existent ones.

I pull back and take his hand in mine as we walk out the door. Maybe we will work, maybe Asher is the one I've needed all along. Not Cameron. Besides, did Cameron come help me after my little "incident" at lunch? No.

As we walk out, Dustin and Alexis are standing there. Dustin winks at me. He knew all along. I'll get him back someday.

________________

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, I didn't really know what to write. Comment your thoughts and I'll answer your questions!

Oh and remember to check out my best friend's book, "One Wish" by Jazzyg6 !!!! She's gorgeous and has great writing skills😍

Ily!❤️

-KD Montague