Wanting You (Book 1)

Astrid's POV Holy Dingballs! I was late!! And was rushing down the hallway towards my locker. My alarm clock must have malfunctioned because it didn't wake me up earlier that morning and mom was too tired from her late double night shifts at the restaurant. As I round the corner, I collided with something hard and fell backwards on my bum. My glasses slid off my face and fell into my lap. I looked up from where I had fallen and gulped. I had collided with Trent Ambrose's chest. Trent Ambrose was the most popular senior and star quarterback of the varsity football team. He pride himself in such a field and held the ego of a self-centered king. Life was easy for him but he made mine difficult. He dropped to my level, grabbed my glasses and held it up for the onlookers to see. "Now I have a question," he spoke. A chill ran down my spine. "How is it that you're wearing the world's biggest glasses but yet for all you've managed to bump into me?" he asked and everyone laughed. I squirmed like a soiled child before he tossed the glasses on my lap and stood up. I exhaled with relief when he and everyone else walked away. I picked myself off the floor, dusted the baggy pair of jeans I picked out and continued to my locker. ~ "Astrid Beltown, you're late," Mr. London, my socials teacher stated as if I wasn't already aware. "Rough morning, Mr. London," I responded. "I'll say. You look terrible. Do you need a minute?" "Thanks but no thanks," I answered and sat next to my only but best friend Keri Lee. She and I had been friends since the beginning of highschool when she fell prey to being bullied too. She was of Chinese Vietnamese decent and when 'being exotic' 'being foreign' came as a culture to the highschoolers, Keri ranked higher on the Popular Chart. But she never stopped being my best friend. I couldn't make the chart even if my life depended on it. "Hey, are you okay?" Keri asked in a whisper. "Yes and no. Those dreams are back," I whispered back to her and she gasped. "Let's talk after class." ~ Keri held my arm and led me to a private room after class. "What's going on, Astrid?" "I cannot help but think about him and resent him for what he have done to mom. To me. He walked out on us like we were and meant nothing to him. I've been having countless dreams and nightmares, seeing him as a monster, hurting me and mom. I'm begging and pleading him to stop, to be my dad again, to come back home but to no avail," I expressed. "Have you told your mom?" "No. She's only going to usher me right back into therapy with Dr Lynch and I don't want that." "But it did help at some point." "I felt vulnerable, Keri. It hurts having to talk about him with you much less a therapist all over again. Besides, mom already has too much on her plate and I don't wish to trouble her with this too. I'll be fine." "Okay. As long as you'll be fine." She then pulled me into a comforting hug and we went on to our other classes. ~ I managed to steer clear of Trent, his girlfriend and their awful friends for the day. After school, Keri gave me a ride home where I found my mom on the porch, face buried in the palms of her hands. "Mom, what's the matter?" I asked with concern. I've never seen her like this since dad left and I was beginning to ask myself if she too were having intruding dreams of him. "How was school?" she asked instead of answering my question. "School is school, but why are you sitting here looking like you've been fired?" Mom sighed and I gasped. "The restaurant made some cuts because of relocation and unfortunately, I was one of them." "Mom, I'm sorry." "I know, sweetie. Now, I've got to pick myself up and start job searching," she said. I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and we walked through the threshold together. ~ It was late evening when my phone buzzed with a text message. Keri's name flashed across the screen and a phone call followed afterwards. "I cannot believe it," her excited voice came. A spot for two cheerleaders had opened on the cheerleading squad and Keri wanted to be one of them. I however had other things on my mind, like finding a part-time job to help mom with the bills I knew were coming soon. "There's a vacancy at the ice-cream parlor across town. My mom is friendly with the owner. Perhaps she can vouch for you." "Please. That would be amazing." "No problem." I slept a bit better that night. _________ The next afternoon at lunch in the cafeteria, Annalise McQueen and her close friends on the squad, Trisha and Stormi, walked in and commanded the attention of everyone as they stood in the middle of the room. Even the food servers looked on. "Yes, it's true. Two spots are open for two cheerleaders only," Annalise started and Keri beamed with delight. I rolled my eyes at her. "Aduitions would be held this afternoon after last period in the gymnasium. Bring your flash drive and your A-game because I'm only interested in the best of the best," she finished and winked at her boyfriend across the room. I rolled my eyes again. Everyone dispersed afterwards, including Keri and I. She rushed to her car for her music and anticipated the audition. She would make a great cheerleader though. She had what it took and I was rooting for her to get a place of the squad. ___ "Line Up! One behind the other!" Stormi commanded, "Let's have some decorum here, people." I accompanied Keri to the gymnasium as moral support. She was nervous as a kitten in water and I thought it would be best to be there for her. She was always there for me, even during my first couple of sessions in therapy. When it was her turn, she executed her movements flawlessly and Annalise appeared to be pleased. I applause from the bench and pulled Keri into a hug afterwards. "You were amazing," I told her. "Let's get out of here before my knees buckle under excitement." We headed towards the door but was stopped by Annalise's voice. "Not so fast, you two. It's Glasses' turn," she said, referring to me as Glasses. "But she didn't sign up for aduitions. She's only here as my moral support," Keri explained. "Does it look like I care, Keri Lee?" Annalise asked, "You'll only be considered if Astrid auditions as well. The choice is yours." A sly smile spread across her flawless face. I watched as she flipped her straight ginger red waist length hair over her left shoulder. Her ivory skin stood out in the blue and purple cheer uniform she wore all too well. "This is only for their amusement," I gumbled. "Then don't let it be. Wipe the smile off their faces. I know you can. Remember those classes with my aunt?" Keri asked. I nodded yes, gave Keri my glasses and positioned myself to the middle of the room. Annalise and her friends lit up with mischievous laughters. "I'm going to enjoy this," she said. The music started. The same one Keri danced to and I broke out into several stunts and cartwheels and finished with a pose not even Annalise could have fantom. Stormi's mouth hung open and Trisha too was in disbelief. When they've gathered themselves, Annalise cleared her throat before speaking. "Thank you," she said. Keri broke into a squeals of happiness. I knew she stood a much better chance now but what I didn't know was, there was someone else looking on.