Hidden In Plain Sight

Chapter 1

Ashton's POV

I could feel my heart beating in my throat.

The crowd's cheering was all I could hear as beads of sweat formed on my forehead.

We were 2-2 with South Valley High, and it was up to me to score the winning goal.

As the whistle sounded, I ran forward and my team mate Wesley passed me the ball.

I dribbled the ball all the way up to the goal and with one mighty kick, I scored it!

The crowd's screams were even louder now and my team mates dog piled me. It was like this every time I scored a winning goal.

By the time, I graduated I would be in a wheelchair.

We left the field and went into the locker room. After a brief shower, I changed my clothes and with more cheers and pats on the back I left.

Outside, I saw girlfriends talking and laughing with their boyfriends on the football team.

(You may call it soccer, but we call it football)

I wish I had that, a relationship with a girl that I love. Someone who would wait outside the locker room and congratulate me after every game.

"Oh, Ashton!"  Oh she totally burst my bubble.

Every time I heard that voice, I wanted to barf.

"Ashton, I told you to wait for me after the game," Courtney said before pouting.

Don't get me wrong, she's nice and all, but I don't like her the way she likes me and she is too needy.

"I didn't say that Courtney, besides I have a late shift at the cafe." I pulled my arm from her killer grip and dashed off. I swear I just set a new record.

                 *     *     *     *

The cafe was almost empty by the time, I got there. Good thing, a crowd followed me here, now the seats were filling up.

I worked at Jamie's Cafe. It wasn't all that popular, but after I started working it was full every night.

Jamie wouldn't dare to fire me, besides, I needed the money.

I took off my jacket and threw on an apron before grabbing my note pad. I head over to a group of girls who came here regularly even though the teen hot spot was the new Pizza hut down town. 

"Hello ladies, What would you like tonight?" I flashed them a dazzling smile and on cue they all blushed.

"We would like some iced tea and blueberry muffins." I wrote it down and a couple minutes later, I came back with their order.

As I served them,my eyes landed on the most beautiful girl, I had ever seen.

She had mocha coloured skin, with curly black hair and dark brown eyes. She had cute lips and blushed when she caught me staring at her. Aww, she was so adorable, like a little bunny rabbit.

When I left, I sat on a stool at the counter, I caught her staring at me and I couldn't help but chuckle  when she quickly looked away.

I got out my notepad and started to sketch. I made sure to get every inch of her face perfectly right and I even shaded her hair and drew some squiggly lines for the curls.

I even drew the window behind her and the street lamp outside.

When I was done, I labelled the picture Bunny, after the adorable girl who couldn't stop staring at me.

Afterwards, I went to serve another group of girls, who were calling my name. It turns out that it was Courtney and her group of friends.

"What would you girls like?" I asked trying to suppress the urge to run away. Far, far away....

"You shirtless with a cherry on top?" Britney or Becky suggested and I cringed.

"S- Sorry, I'm off limits," I stammered. When Courtney gave me their order, I rushed away. The sooner I gave them the order, the better.

After I served them, they gave me the money, with a hundred dollar bill, with little hearts on it.

"That's for you sweet heart," Courtney said, loud enough for everyone to hear, and before the poor, innocent eyes of everyone, she gave me a slap on the butt!

It hurt so much, that I almost blacked out. Talk about claws of steel.

I walked back to the counter, everyone was still watching to see what I would do with her tip. I gave it to the cashier and told her the exact same thing, Courtney told me.

"That's for you, sweet heart." I heard a soft laugh and turned to see Bunny flash me a small smile.