A Twist in this Story pt. 1

Aspen

Aspen had always hated being the new girl. She hated every “first day of school rally” and every person who asked for her name. She hated every “ice breaker” game played in class, and hated almost every single jock or cheerleader who ever stepped foot on this planet. Well, almost all. Except for one.

~~

Bryant was a traditional jock, and he had everything to play the part. Good looks, strength, good grades, height, and the ability to be completely stubborn whenever he wanted to. He never looked for a fight, just a competition. He never looked for a showdown, just a championship. And he never looked for a loss, always a win. Bryant did his best to stay out of his best friends, Mitchell and Derek’s, non-stop pursuit for trouble, drugs, and hot chicks. That was the difference between him, and any other jock. He never looked for a cheer leader. Never looked for a girl who slapped on coats of make-up every morning. He was just looking for a girl to make his heart beat faster than any football practice or game has. And little did he know that that girl was Aspen Peters.

~~

Aspen

Aspen plopped into a seat, sliding her throw over backpack onto the desk, filled with notebooks, as she did a quick scan of the room. She looked in the corner, Girls gossiping, of course, she thought to herself, rolling her eyes. She glanced to the front to see a group of kids gathered around a cell model, collaborating with each other. Aspen respected the smart kids. They had the courage to show off their intelligence, even if it came with social sacrifice. Sure they weren't the coolest people, but she wasn’t either, so why should she judge them for it?

She sighed as her eyes drifted towards the back. Every football player was dressed in new, clean jerseys that were green and black, the colors of the school. And all their hair was perfectly spiked to a point. Typical, she thought to herself. She was about to turn to the front of the class, when she caught sight of one of the football players. Why? Well, he was staring straight at her. For a moment, she was tempted to stare back. It was like his eyes were magnets, pulling her into his gaze. Then, she realized what she was doing and turned to face the front, her face red.

She reminded herself of her goal, “No,” she said under her breath, “No way. Jocks are meant for breaking girls’ hearts unless the girl’s heart wasn't set on him in the first place.” She looked down at her hands, placed on her lap, intertwined. This year, no mistakes. Just lay low, she thought to herself. You have your plan, stick to it. Don't change a thing, and you'll succeed.

She sunk into her seat and pulled her jacket tighter around herself. “What group do I belong in?” she said quietly.

“This one!” She looked up, her beanie slightly over her eyes, to see a perky girl in a bright pink sun dress. “Join Leadership!” It’s perfect for the ones who have great ideas and want to make a difference with them!” She smiled, her dimples complementing her light brown freckles. Aspen pulled her beanie back, “Really? Me in Leadership?” The girl’s smile slowly faded, and she looked at Aspen up and down, as if judging her on the spot. ”Um… uh… well it’s always a possibility…” Then she turned on her heel and daintily walked away.

Aspen slouched in her chair, “Just what I thought."

~~

Bryant

Home room. It’s a place to wait thirty minutes just to walk to another class. Can someone tell me the point of going when there’s always the thirty minutes of sleep you’re missing for this?

Bryant didn't mind home room as much before the fall season, but for practicing football until 11 at night, he definitely needed more sleep.

He leaned against the home room back wall, arms folded and eyes half open. He listened to his two best friends, Mitchell and Derek, talk to some freshman kids on the team. He usually tuned them out, because they usually were talking either about football plays or chicks.

He didn't like what his 6 th grade brothers turned into at school. Even if they were his best friends, they were completely different people off and on of school grounds. Them talking all “cool,” saying how they do drugs and drink, have parties every night, that’s all bullshit.

He listened in, this time though, and again, he should have tuned them out. Being a wallflower in home room seemed to be one of his natural talents.

"Oh yeah, Christine?" Okay, so it's chicks.

“Yeah, I totally dumped her ass.” Derek laughed, he slicked his hair back as he held his head high, like he had just won an award for breaking a girl’s heart. Obviously a girl who didn't know who the hell she was dating.

Mitchell nodded, adding what he “knew” into the conversation and sharing Derek’s glory, “Yeah, and now he’s dating the cheer captain.” Derek nodded, going along with the story.

“Woah…” said one of the freshman kids, “She’s got a lot to offer.” The others from the team nodded in awe and jealousy.

Bryant rolled his eyes, A lot to offer? He thought to himself, She has more breast then brains. He dazed off again, looking for something to take up at least a couple minutes of this hell hole.

Then, he saw her.

It was as if a firework went off.

A light bulb turned on.

He stared at her features ,which he knew was absolutely the most awkward thing he could do, but he couldn’t resist. Flowing beach brown hair, like sand. It slipped off her shoulders in little ringlets and waves, impossible to copy without it being natural. Silver chain wrapped gently around her neck, attached to a silver locket resting on her open chest. Blue eyes that could be noticed from a mile away. Fair skin, dotted with freckles. But she seemed to have something hidden behind her eyes. He didn't know what, but he wanted to.

Then, she met his gaze. For a second, Bryant’s oxygen was cut off. He was in a trance, paralyzed by a sudden spark. Then, she turned away, and he couldn’t feel anything but a slur of hopelessness, and embarrassment. He was anything but a hopeless romantic, but he knew how he was feeling. He had only felt it once before, but he couldn't get himself to admit it.

As if shaking him back to reality, the bell rang. He grabbed his backpack and equipment, quickly slinging it over his shoulder. He felt an urge to find her, but how? He couldn't just chase her down and then… what would he say? He couldn't get himself to do it. It just wasn't right. He ended up walking out next to his two teammates, not knowing where the mysterious siren could have gone.

~~

Aspen

Aspen sat under a small oak tree, shielding her from the blinding rays of sun coming down onto the green grass with a perfect view of the campus grounds. She had gotten comfortable, taking off her jacket, revealing her white tank top, her bare shoulders showing. She usually wasn't capable of showing her shoulders, but it was nice to enjoy the weather without burning up from the inside. She had also taken off her beanie, letting all of her messy, untamed hair fall loosely against her shoulders.

She fiddled with the chain of her necklace, a locket she made herself. It was the one thing that kept her father close to her, besides the treehouse they had made together by their old house. Those were the only ways she could feel him again. And the locket helped, because to her, it was like she could bring him everywhere without him being anywhere at all.

She sighed. She didn't feel out of place, but she just felt like there was something missing. She knew it wasn't her dad, because she was used to not having him around anymore. And she was sure as hell that she wasn't missing the drunk at home who they called her mom. Maybe it was a different feeling for her to be quiet like this. Maybe she was missing her voice.

Interaction. A say in how things went. But then again, she was used to not having that anymore. I guess she was used to having to get used to things. But she wasn't used to missing something. Especially something she didn't have control over.

And the more she thought about it the more it stung.

Then it hit her. Literally, hit her. She looked down at her ripped jeans to see a football resting next to her. She picked it up, sliding her hands across the leather. She balanced it on her fingers, totally unaware of the fact that someone probably threw it in her direction. She heard a voice from above her, “Hey.”

The voice was deep and complex, and immediately Aspen’s eyes followed the sound of the voice. She looked straight up see a jet black haired kid standing tall above her. His tan skin was glistening in the hot sun, the mark of a good exercise. His t-shirt, tight across his muscular chest, read “BECKETT HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: The Undefeated.” His chocolate brown eyes looked deep into hers, and Aspen was stuck, caught in a stare she couldn't escape from. The football player put on a smirk, as if letting Aspen know that she had been staring at him for way too long.

Red faced, Aspen stood up. She felt like saying something, but his shirt raised a red flag, a red football flag. Aspen became an awkward mess in seconds, offering the football to him, hands on the edges of the ball. The athlete smiled. “Thanks. Sorry if I hit you, I put too much into the throw I guess…” He attempted a laugh, but it came out halfhearted. He rubbed the back of his neck, keeping his eyes on the girl standing in front of him.

Aspen was fighting herself for words. She wanted to tell him it was okay. She wanted to tell him that she wasn't hurt. She even felt like telling him to hit her with a football again sometime. But she didn't. “Yeah… well here’s your football. Your friends are waiting.” She shoved it into his hands and promptly sat back down, as if her mask of confidence was about to melt off of her face.

But the more she resisted the more she knew where the conversation was going. She knew the script she had practiced so many times in her head, and there was one rule. Deny everything.

The boy turned back, a look of disappointment hidden on his face, “Yeah…” Then he turned back to Aspen, and kneeled down to level with her eyes, “Sorry but… Aren’t you in my home room?” Aspen swallowed and nodded. So much for rule #1. She felt like slapping herself. She had already branded herself an idiot, so how much worse could it get? He smiled, and held out his hand, “I’m Bryant.”

~~

Bryant

Bryant was feeling pretty confident with himself. He had first managed to overthrow a football so perfectly that it hit his mystery girl's leg, catch her attention, then actually managed to talk to her and he even got her to talk back. Sure she was a little edgy with him... but once she got to know him he was sure they would hit it off. All he knew was that he had to at least try to reach to her. Though one thing about this girl was stuck in his head. Why was she so against talking to him in the first place? It was as if she always wanted to be alone. But hey, maybe he could change that.

"Aspen..." She responded abruptly. She awkwardly grabbed his hand and shook it as if it was un-sanitized. Then she looked over his shoulder as if impatient. "Well you should probably get back to your friends, Quarterback. It was nice to..." She cut herself short, as if trying to find the right words to express herself, “… See you again."

They both stood up as she turned to pick up her bag when almost out of reflex Bryant put his hand on her shoulder. "Hey wait a sec…" Aspen turned back around, arms folded, bag slung across her shoulder. Then Bryant noticed that he had caught her attention with absolutely nothing to say.

So Bryant, as he would in every extremely awkward conversation, said what came to mind. With a second to last Bryant blurted out, "Why are you in such a rush to leave?"

Aspen seemed surprised, and a faint red color spread across her cheeks, "Why do you care, Quarterback?"

Bryant was taken aback by her comment, and didn't care for the nickname either. But he was used to it by now, and his nature kept him pressing on, "Well lunch just started so I mean really what is there to do…"

Aspen couldn't take much more of this, well for what it felt to her, interrogation, "Well for example you have a game to get back to. So excuse me…" Aspen tried to move past him but he stood in front of her.

"Wait…" Bryant knew what he was doing was risky, but he felt as if he had to let her know that he wasn't to be underestimated. He turned, called out to one of the friends that he was scrimmaging with, and threw the ball to him with a perfectly arched throw.

Andrew, his friend who had caught the ball, raised his arms in confusion and agitation, but Bryant just turned his back to face Aspen, who had tried extremely hard not to keep her composure. He smirked, sensing her frustration. "What game did I need to get back to again?"

Aspen, for the first time in what seemed like ages, had nothing to say. All she could do, was hold back a blushing smile with everything she could. "Why don't you take a walk with me... Aspen?" He gestured into the open, where Aspen never dared to go.

~~

Aspen

It took a lot out of Aspen to not be impressed with the Quarterback's efforts. But the one thing did trigger her brain to turn on. Why did the MVP want anything to do with HER? She was an outcast, a nobody. And after her other experiences with other schools, she intended to keep it that way. But this jock... Bryant, wasn't it? He was drawing negative attention towards her. And her head was screaming at her to get out of the situation NOW.

But what was her heart telling her? "Ew no... Think about your future. You promised that you would lay low. And this is NOT laying low," she thought.

Bryant searched Aspen's face for a smile, but Aspen was determined to hide it, as strong as it came on. So what was she going to say?

"… Okay. But not on the field. I don't intend to get hit with a football again."

He pushed out a laugh and stared into her bright blue eyes, "Trust me, I won't let that happen." Aspen turned her head away, knowing that she couldn't let him see her blush. As bad as it seemed, she had to turn him away.

Why did she say yes? He's a quarterback and EVERYONE at the school knew his name.

Bryant McCain.

It was everywhere! Fliers, posters, heck it was probably on girl's t-shirts. And it had to be the one guy that went for her. If they were ever seen together his football buddies would probably try to wash the "outcast" off of him. Maybe they would ignore him, insists he never existed. Wait, didn't she only care about her reputation? Why was she even thinking about his social life? Why the hell did she care about him?!

As Aspen fought what seemed like the second Trojan war inside her head, Bryant started to lead Aspen down the halls of Beckett High. Being herself, Aspen immediately became suspicious.

"Where are we going?"

Bryant have her his signature smirk, "Just on a walk around the campus. Is that such a bad thing Aspen?"

Taken aback by the comment, Aspen shook her head. "I don't think it is... I could be wrong though..." She whispered to herself.

~~

Bryant

Bryant lead her around the empty halls, across the baseball fields and along the back running track. And as much as Aspen had tried to hold back, the two had started up a conversation.

It was as if they had known each other for years before they even met.

After passing the last baseball field, Bryant sat down on the bleachers. Aspen sat down next to him, awkwardly placing herself a couple inches away from him. She looked down, suppression hidden in her eyes. Bryant read her doubtful expression like an open book, and immediately felt the urge to change it. Without thinking he grabbed her hand. Aspen froze like a soldier, and shot him a look. "What's this, Quarterback?"

She pressed, trying to remind him of his status and the mistake he was making. He wouldn’t listen, and kept his hand tightly wrapped around hers. She tried to pull out, but then again, it’s not like she actually tried to that hard. I mean honestly, a 2 year old could pull harder than she did.

Bryant stared into Aspen's bright blue eyes, and a relaxed and humble smile spread across his face, "Call me Bryant."

Aspen stared blankly into Bryant's chocolate brown irises. She opened her lips to say something, but no words came out. She exhaled and nodded quietly, not breaking eye contact.

Aspen wasn't the only one fighting back temptations. Bryant could hardly hold himself back from leaning in and pressing his mouth against her parted lips. She just looked so calm when she had stopped resisting. When she just relaxed, and let her instincts speak for themselves. Bryant was so lost in her eyes that he didn't notice what had been happening at that exact moment.

Wait a second... Was she leaning in?