Persona Book I (BWWM)

...Afia

Chapter 1

Edited

Afia P.O.V.

Afia was currently looking at the second bead of sweat escape the forehead of Benjamin Waters as he listened to whatever his coach was saying. He didn't know that she came to watch him every day while he practiced making the excuse that she liked natural light while she did her homework or that she was intrigued with the sport. But to be brutally honest she did not understand the sport that people call Football. Afia did not understand why they would call it football if they do not use their feet in any way, but she came anyway just to catch the boy she has been obsessing over since she landed in America 5 years ago, and he offered to help her with her English. To be frank, she knew English quite well but that was something he did not need to know and she wanted any excuse to spend time with the boy. She always knew that what she felt for him was a crush and that was all it was ever going to be, for two reasons one, he has not talked to her since or even glance her way once, and two, her parents would never allow that. Afia's parents expected her to marry someone or be with someone they chose.

Afia escaping into her own imagination she did not realize that a large brown ball was spiraling towards her head with a mission to cause a major headache only pills could fix.

"Holy shit, are you ok?" The voice that was unrecognizable said running up to her.

"Not really, a football hit me in my head." She said holding the throbbing spot trying not to burst into tears right there.

"Shit, I am so sorry..." he faded off waiting for Afia to say her name.

"Afia, its Afia." She said eyes shut not looking at the person who was the source of her pain.

"Afia, do you need any ice."

"Ice would be great."

He carefully helped her off the bleachers leaving the scattered and unfinished homework to be swept up by the wind. They walked in the direction of the boy's locker room which caused a slight jump in her heart rate.

"Uh, why are we going to the boy's locker room?"

"Because the clinic is too far and that bump looks serious." He said simply opening the door and sitting her on the bench.

Afia looked around the locker room and it looked just how she thought it looked like, jersey's thrown on the benches and bags clustered everywhere creating tripping hazards, and it smelled like sweat and Axe perfume which caused her nose to sting. The door suddenly swung open and in came the person who has been stealing her thoughts for five years. Benjamin Waters.

He looked at her with an apologetic gaze and in two steps he towered over her looking at the place she was holding. "I am so sorry I should have been looking where I was aiming."

Lost for words she just said, "I can see why you're on the team."

He chuckled still looking at the spot.

"Here." Finally identified as Benjamin's best friend, Ryan Harris said handing her the ice.

She gratefully took the ice and placed it on her head and winced at the sting. "Thanks."

"No problem, why were you sitting on the bleachers anyway?" Ryan said scratching the back of his head.

"I like to do my homework," and watch Benjamin Waters, "in the natural light and it is much better than sitting in the library and hearing Ms. Jamieson talk about her latest book collection on cats."

"Yah I don't blame you once you get her started on cats you can't stop her." Benjamin said smiling.

She nodded in agreement and quickly wincing from the throbbing pain. She got up and quickly regretting her decision because the world turned into a swirly fest and her knees started to buckle and then Benjamin slipped an arm around her waist.

"I got ya." Benjamin said his hot breath tickling her neck.

"I-I'm fine." She stammered out silently hearing her mother's scolding words in the back of her mind, 'Afia, ladies don't stutter we should be sure of what we say when we say it.'

"At least, let me take you back to where you were sitting." He said not even bothering to wait for her decision and already taking her back with Ryan following behind.

---

With her securely back in the same spot that she was before. She collected all the homework that had not fallen victim to the cruel wind and placing them in their appropriate folder and put the work in her bag. She stayed there for a while with the melting ice was dampening her hair. Afia still left in a daze about what had occurred no less than five minutes ago, she grabbed all her things and left the bleachers to the parking lot leaving a trail of water behind her. She placed her things in the back of the car quickly pulling out of the lot and heading to the place she dreaded the most, home.

She pulled into the driveway and collected her bag and walked into the tension filled house. Classical music was playing and her mother was sitting on the couch reading the newspaper, nothing out of place as usual. Her mother didn't even look up she just said in a clipped tone, "You're late."

"Sorry, I lost track of time when I was doing my homework."

When she did look up she noticed the already melted ice pack and frowned slightly, "Why do you have an ice pack then?"

"I bumped my head on a bookshelf and the librarian gave me an ice pack." She lied smoothly. Her mother fell for it because all she gave her was a short nod and turned back to her newspaper.

"You need to get dressed your father is bringing home a potential client and you can't be seen in that." She said flicking her finger toward her outfit in disgust.

"Yes mother, has Akua called?" With she stiffened at the name, that she has been sworn to never say around her father.

"What have I told you about mentioning her?" She snapped.

"But-"

"No I have told you I do not want you to speak of her, especially with those being here." Her mother said pointing at the camera.

Afia nodded and climbed the stairs, dreading getting ready for another stupid dinner.