Wanting You (Book 1)

Flavors

Astrid's POV

Trent Ambrose stood before me with his usual, silly, tormenting smirk on his face. His gaze followed the tubs and the ice-cream flavor board above my head.

"What ice-cream flavors you have available?" he asked.

"I know you've seen the name of each flavor of ice-cream we serve. It's on the board right above my head so why... why do you insist on making my life so difficult no matter where I was?" I said aloud in my mind.

With the swiftness of my tongue, " Chocolate, Chocolate Ripple, Strawberry, Strawberry Cheesecake, Strawberry Ripple, Rum Raisin, Vanilla, Pistachio, Coffee, Cherry, Cherry Vanilla, Coconut, Cookies And Cream, Rocky Road, Chocolate Mint Chip and Caramel," I finished with a triumphant smile and his stupid smirk turned into what looked like an impressed and genuine smile. His luminous blue pair of eyes appeared to be piecing into my soul. I froze under the gaze until he spoke again.

"Two scoops of chocolate," he made his selection before paying the cashier. He practically snatched the cup out of my hand and took a seat in the corner of the parlor.

Several minutes later, I watched as a girl walked in and approached his table. She wasn't Annalise! But she sat down close to him and cupped his face in her palms like Annalise would.

I watched as he said something in her ear and gave a quick kiss on her neck. She squirmed in her seat and a heat ripple down my spine as his tongue trailed along her jawline.

Indeed, she was beautiful. She could have competed with Annalise easily. Her long jet black hair made a statement. Her body was fit and it was obvious she took pride in the way she dressed and looked. Her denim crop top and skirt complimented her well and I was put in awe as I stole glances at them, wondering what would happen if Annalise was to show up in such a timing.

As if on cue, the doors were pushed in and Annalise walked in accompanied by Trisha and Stormi. She stopped short in her path when her eyes laid on Trent in the corner with his other girlfriend.

Stormi and Trisha too were displeased and I gulped when Annalise became red with rage. Trent saw her before she reached the table. He got up and blocked her path and attempted attack.

"Annalise! Calm down! It's not what it looks like!" Trent defended and lied.

"It's exactly what it looks like. You canceled our evening picnic date to the park so you can hang out with this trashcan!?" Annalise fired at him.

The girl stood up from the table and I looked on without a blink. Her demeanor was threatening and Annalise eyed her dangerously.

"Don't even think that thought," Stormi warned, taking Annalise's side as she usually does.

"You know what, I think it's best I take my leave now. Trent, it was nice meeting with you and do hope to see you again in a less hostile..environment," she announced.

Annalise took another grab at her, this time she caught the ends of her hair, then she yanked, pulling the girl backwards.

A squeal and a quick tussle, Trent was able to part them and the girl practically ran out the doors.

Then Annalise turned on Trent as she should have.

"HOW DARE YOU?!" she yelled.

"Annalise..."

"You're here entertaining my biggest rival. You know damn good and well that we despise each other but that isn't enough for you to respect me and not be embarrassing me!"

"Embarrassing you? You stormed inside of here and drew attention to yourself in front of 'Glasses' and her coworker over there. You embarrassed yourself!"

"Excuse me!!" Annalise blazed, "You're putting me in a bad head-space right now, Trent Ambrose, and trust me, you don't want to continue doing that!"

"I heard you loud and clear," Trent calmly responded. Annalise eyed him once again, turned on her heel and walked out of the parlor. Her friends followed behind, eyeing Trent dangerously on their way out.

~

I watched again as Trent sat back in his chair and raked his fingers through his short pompadour hairstyle, then he heaved a loud sigh, stood up and walked out of the parlor too. His chocolate ice cream untouched.

~

"The intensity," Keri said. I almost forgot she had been sitting in the other corner of the parlor altogether.

"I know. I've never seen Annalise that upset before. She was ready to beat down the other girl," I said.

"I know and I have the whole thing on video. I cannot wait for the entire school to see this!" Keri beamed.

"Wait, what? Keri, no. You cannot post that."

"Of course I can. She might be our head cheerleader but that doesn't erase the many times she has bullied you and made you feel like crap. Now, it's her turn to feel that way."

Keri didn't wait to hear another word. She uploaded the video anonymously on the school's gossip website page where slanders, fights and rumors lived in all its glory.

~

After my first shift was over, Keri took me home. I dragged myself through the front door of my house and headed straight to the couch.

"Astrid Anika Beltown! Where have you been?" came my mom's voice.

"School and work," I told her.

"Excuse me? What was that last part?"

"Work?"

"Astrid.. what were you thinking taking on a job while you're in your senior year of highschool, have your braincells gone out the window?"

"No, mom. Of course not. But I'm old enough to assist where I can and this is going to help us financially."

"No. That's my role. You're to focus on your studies and be a student. You've cannot..we cannot afford for your grades to slip right now!"

"And they're not going to. I can juggle my school and this part-time job just fine, mom. Please let me do this. Don't take that away." I knew that last statement would have landed a punch and made an impact on her.

"Okay. Fine. But I swear, Astrid, if I catch wind of this getting in the way of school..."

"You don't need to worry."

I picked myself up and went to the shower for a warm cleaning, ate dinner then got into bed.

_________

The next day at school, the hallway buzzed with students looking at the video online.

Then I felt two holds like vice grips on my arms and I was ushered into the cheerleaders locker rooms. Annalise stood at the entrance.

"Just what the hell were you thinking?" she asked.

"About what?" I questioned.

"About what.. you're seriously asking me about what? I swear, if you weren't on the squad, I would have knocked your lights out right now!"

"Annalise, I haven't any idea of what you're talking about. What did I do?"

"You posted that f*****g video from the parlor yesterday."

"No! No, I didn't!"

"Then who?" Stormi questioned.

The name was caught in my throat and Annalise realized my hesitation, taking it as guilt.

"Look here, that's a strike against you. You pull another stunt like that again, I'm going to forget you're my cheerleader and remember you as the nerd you really are.. then I'm going to literally drag you all over this school. Do you understand me?!"

"Yes, Annalise. I apologize," I said to her.

"Good. Now get the hell away from me," she ordered and I quickly complied.

I was fuming. This was all Keri's fault and I was being blamed and striked for her actions!