k a r r i s

✖

I was blessed beyond measure; touched with bliss because my life was graced with people who constantly protected and cared for me. I would never take that for granted because I knew there were others who didn't have the same touch of wonder as I. At the end of a storm comes a rainbow, and this, this was my rainbow.

"Happy birthday, anak ko!" Dad wrapped his arms around my shoulders, greeting me with a warm hug. His signature scent wavered into my nostrils, and it embraced me like a warm home.

(translation: my child, my dear)

"I'm happy you're here," I grinned. "I'm glad Berkley called you! Or was it mom? Did she forgive you?"

My dad shook his head, but the smile never disappeared from his face, "no, your mom has not forgiven me. She has only allowed me to be here for your party. But I'm trying to win your mom back."

"It's okay; you're trying," I nodded, giving my dad another hug. "I'm just glad you're here."

"And it wasn't Berkley who called me,"

"Who was it? Mom? Ate Sophie?"

(translation: older sister)

"It was Ashton,"

My eyes grew to the size of pancakes, I was sure, while my jaw dropped from the initial shock. My own heartbeat plummeted into erratic pulses as my brain processed my dad's disclosure.

"He's a good friend to this family," Dad told me, pride glinting in his deep, dark eyes. "Ashton was your brother's friend, and he has become a good friend of yours."

"He's a good guy," I smiled. A rush of memories invaded my mind like wildfire with all the moments that made Ashton one remarkable boy.

"When Ashton called to invite me to your birthday party, I told him about his father owning shares in my company. He put two and two together," Dad hinted.

"That the money given to Ashton each month from Mr. Irwin was from the investment into FoodieBabble," I pointed out, and my dad nodded.

"I've decided to give Ashton his own shares into my company," Dad announced. "Not that I condone him not speaking to his father, but at least this way, he's guaranteed some sort of income till he can generate his own."

"Thanks," I smiled. "That's really awesome."

My dad was a great man— despite the mistake he made as a husband, he never failed me as a father. Even though I swore I hated him when I was 5-years-old because he wouldn't buy me this specific Barbie play set, not once has my dad ever betrayed me. He was, and would continue to always be there for me no matter what.

"Hey Papa-V!" Berkley stuck her head out of the glass door, motioning for my dad. "Everyone is requesting that you sing karaoke with us!"

"Okay, I'll be right there!" My dad agreed, before looking at me again. "Come inside, and join us."

I nodded my head eagerly, "yes, I'll be there in a few minutes. I wanna greet some friends out here."

"Alright," dad leaned down to kiss the top of my head. "I love you, anak."

"Love you too, dad," I watched him wiggle his body in a quirky fashion as he danced his way into the living room. A muffled cacophony of howls bursted from inside of my home, and when I peered through the window, I could see my friends cheer him on. I laughed— my dad clearly loved the attention.

"Hey Karris," there was a warm tap on my shoulder and I spun around to meet a few happy faces.

"Hey Luke, what's up?" I grinned, darting my focus from Luke, to Michael, then to Calum.

"We have that surprise for you," Calum winked.

I furrowed my brows, "I thought my dad coming to the party was my surprise?"

"Naw," Michael shook his head. "That was Ashton's surprise gift for you."

"Oh," I muttered.

"This is from Coach Benson and the team," Luke broadcasted, just as the rest of the hockey team filled the circle.

They held a decent sized, square box with a pink, satin bow decorated on top. Our goalie, brandished the gift towards me with an excited grin, and after receiving a nod of approval from Michael, I took the box. Upon inspecting the cardboard package, I noticed that it was wrapped with old assignments and exam papers, each marked in red, with either a B+ or A-.

"Creative wrapping paper," I complimented, trailing my fingers over the crinkles.

"It was my idea," Calum proudly pointed out. "You gave us the gift of good grades, and now we'd like to thank you."

"Except for mine, it's a photocopy," Michael tapped on one of the pieces of paper. "My mom didn't want me to take the real one off of the refrigerator door."

I giggled, "she has every right to feel that way."

I proceeded to open my present, carefully unwrapping it as to not demolish the boys' hard work. When the box was freed from the creative wrapping paper, I lifted the lid. Every part of me filled with warmth; charged with a magnetic current that swept through my bones, and kissed my heart.

"Guys," I sang, resting a hand on my chest. "You didn't!"

"Oh baby girl, but we did," Luke squealed.

With a beam, I took out the garment from the box, a few pieces of tissue paper drifting to the ground. I held up the navy blue hockey jersey and stared in awe. It was almost identical to the jerseys worn by the team, but had a special pizazz to it that made it quintessentially Karris. I flipped it to the back, and grinned at my own numbers— 01, and gently touched the varsity lettering above it. My last name was in white, but embellished with glitter.

"We added this extra touch to it," Calum pointed to a set of words arched below the large numbers.

"'Nuckin' Futs'," I read out loud, succumbing into a fit of uncontrollable laughter. "You guys are too good. I love this so much! Group hug, please!"

The hockey team slipped into my demands at full force, wrapping their muscular arms around me. I stood in the middle of this love-fest, a mixture of Axe body spray and brand-name cologne infiltrating my nostrils. I felt at ease; so happy and loved. I did however, feel a missing element that would've made my eighteenth birthday absolutely perfect.

Ashton.

That boy had a leash on my emotions and it freaking sucked. Yet, at the same time, every moment I fell into Ashton's gravity, was like dancing with the stars and skating through the galaxy. My feelings for him made my stomach bubble; they tenderly tugged onto my heartstrings like a cellist playing the most spellbinding lullaby, and Ashton was the conductor. I was so young and felt things so deeply that it scared me. How could a naive girl who has yet to see any of the word, be so engulfed by profound perceptions?

"You okay there?"

"Huh? What? Yes, I don't know. What was the question?" I stammered, snapping out of my daze.

"You were so deep in your thoughts," Michael observed with a smirk. "I almost didn't want to bother you, but then you started to drool."

"Oh my gosh! What?" I wiped the back of my hand across my mouth and my chin, attempting to clean whatever residue coating my face.

Michael bursted into giggles, "Karris, I was joking."

I shot him an unamused gaze, "not funny."

"Hey kids!" My mom had half her body out the glass door as she waved a pair of metal tongs in the air. "Come inside! There's fresh Lumpia!"

(translation: Filipino version of an egg roll)

The entire team, including friends who were outside playing juice pong, snapped their attention to my mom with wide eyes. Their excitement bursted from the seams, and without another second to float by, a horde of bodies rushed towards the kitchen.

"Yes! My favorite!"

"I'm gonna marry your mom, Karris!"

"Tita Jean! Can I have sweet and sour chili sauce?"

I chuckled at my friends' pursuit for deep fried delicacies, and my own stomach grumbled at the thought of food. Before joining my friends however, I took my gift and sat it on top of a table. As I folded the jersey, prepping to put it back into the box, was when my eyes caught onto something in the darkness. I slowed down my movements to gaze at the vegetation several feet before me, waiting for some kind of movement. Maybe it was just a possum crawling across the brick fence that separated my yard from the neighbors? I waited and waited, and as I was about to shift my attention, there was a disturbance within the leaves.

A figure emerged from around the corner, and my heart shot out of my butt.

"Ashton!" I dropped the jersey into the box, and it fell into a crumpled pile. "You startled me."

"Sorry," he shrugged, walking towards me with both his hands in his pockets. "Happy Birthday, Karris."

"Thanks. My mom made fresh Lumpia if you wanna go inside and eat some," I motioned for the glass doors, where behind it, my friends devoured food like barbarians.

"Can we talk?" 

"About?"

"Me, you... me apologizing to you," Ashton started with a wary tone.

I nodded, "I guess, yea."

"Karris, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for being an ass; for letting my own issues dictate the way I treated you," Ashton pulled his hands from his pockets to grab mine in his. "I shouldn't have showed up to school drunk, and I shouldn't have said all those nasty things. I'm just... I'm sorry."

"Why? Why did you do all those things? Are you hurting inside? What's going on?" I questioned, taking a step towards him.

"My mom is on her final days, and I just didn't know how to take it. I've been strong for so long; I've kept my shit together since my dad left the family and it's weighing me down," he expressed.

My eyes stared into his, and with every word spoken, a flicker of pain glinted. It was like a mirror, reflecting Ashton's painful memories like a movie, and I was watching them play before me.

"I'm sorry about your mom," I spoke with tenderness in my voice.

"I'll be okay," he murmured. "I'm more worried about Lauren and Harry."

"They have you, which means they'll be just fine," I confidently stated with a small smile.

Ashton let go of my hands, and for a quick moment I missed the warmth. But before I could really complain about it, he pulled me into a hug. My face was buried into his chest, and his chin rested on top of my head. His thumbs rubbed circles around my bare shoulders with care and I felt a shiver shoot up my spine.

"I want to also apologize for being so shitty to you at the beginning of the year," he spoke again.

I lifted my head from Ashton's chest to look up at him, "I already forgave you for that."

"But you need to know why," he insinuated. His hands trailed up my arms, sparks tingling my skin with a burning aftertouch. He rested his hands on my neck and let out an exhale. "I've always liked you."

"Wh-what?"

"Karris, for as long as I can remember, I have always liked you," he reiterated. "You intrigue me, babydoll."

"I still don't..." my words faded as I shook my head, confusion interweaved with every fiber in me.

"You'd go to Gabe's games with ridiculous signs; study on the kitchen table whenever I'd come over; do cute, quirky dances in Gabe's Instagram stories. You'd sing— loud," Ashton chuckled, reminiscing on the memory. "Mayday Parade would blast in your room and you'd think no one could hear you rocking out in the morning as you got ready for school... but, I did. From Gabe's room, as I hid from the terrible reality of my own home, I'd laugh to myself."

"You secretly made fun of me?" I exasperated. "Well, I'm sorry I don't have a fabulous singing voice."

Ashton chuckled and shook his head, "no, babydoll. I was laughing because of how unapologetically goofy you were. It amazed me how the simple things made you happy; how you'd make me happy despite how gross I felt on the inside."

"So you pulled a classic kindergarten move? Be mean to a girl to express feelings of endearment?" I teased.

"I wanted to be nice to you," Ashton testified, guilt washing over his face. "But then your brother found out. He got pissed at me for having feelings. He wanted to protect you from my... corruption. He made me promise that I'd keep my distance."

I contemplated over his words; over Ashton's revelation. In a sense, I was happy that Gabe was doing his duties as a brother, but I was also a bit upset that he wanted to keep me from experiencing heartache. As bizarre as it sounded, I needed to feel heartache in order to grow. Though in hindsight, I guessed I have— I learned the affects of a broken heart, and learned how to mend it. Through my brother's death, and the tornado of emotions that is Ashton, I have experienced real pain.

"I forgive you," I told him. He leaned down to kiss my forehead, and I held everything in me not to crumble.

"When your brother passed," he started. "I couldn't break the promise I made to him; to stay away from you. I thought that maybe if I were cruel to you, you'd hate me so much that you'd stay away."

"Is that why you didn't want me on the hockey team?" I guessed.

Ashton nodded, "but I was right when I said you were just like Gabe; just as stubborn. You couldn't stay away— and I don't blame you. I mean, look at me."

Ashton shot me a wink, causing me to chuckle in expense. Our eyes locked, and suddenly, I felt a rush of nervousness blanket my entire being. I shivered, not from the chill that November brought, but from the boy who stood only inches away from me. Each breath taken, and our chests would touch, sending electrical waves through my veins.

"My feelings haven't changed, you know," Ashton hooked a finger beneath my chin and lifted my head upwards. I swallowed the lump in my throat, my stomach doing backflips over and over again.

"How do you feel?" I didn't know it was possible for me to speak in coherent sentences due to the fact that I was known for sputtering random alpaca facts when I was nervous.

"Every time I look at you, I seem to forget everything. Who I am, where I'm standing, what I'm doing. I can't concentrate and my palms gets sweaty," Ashton revealed, letting out a chuckle and scratching the back of his head.

"It sounds like you're describing nervousness. But, why on earth would you, Ashton Irwin, be nervous around me?" I tilted my head to the side in puzzlement.

"Because you, are you," Ashton declared, swiping his fingers across a loose strand of hair and placing it behind my ear. "And you are the kind of mythology written for the stars."

There was a risk each time a slapshot were ever attempted. The setting had to be ideal, despite the chaos that surrounded. But more importantly, there had to be confidence within the player; there had to be faith. And as I stood motionless, gazing at the dimpled boy before me, touched with the truth that Ashton spoke, I garnered some faith of my own. I took a deep breath, took not another moment, and without a hitch, took a risk.

When my lips touched Ashton's, I almost pulled away in fear of my impulse action. But when he kissed me back, gently holding my face in the palm of his hands, did I realize I made the winning slap shot, straight into his heart. My arms were delicately wrapped around Ashton's neck, as I pulled him closer to me, his lips moving against my own with the most supple of touches.

I didn't see fireworks, and my leg didn't pop. What happened to me however, was a sensation far more magical than all the fairytales put together. My emotions were detonated, and all that surged was maximal ecstasy. It was enough to move mountains; to inspire the Gods and Goddesses of Greek mythology. It was enough to create art, and curate a masterpiece to be hung in a museum of marvel craftsmanship.

It was Ashton. It was me. It was us, and we were the masterpiece.

"Whoa," Ashton breathed against my lips as we both slowly separated. His warm breath fanned my face as my eyes stayed shut. Our foreheads rested against each other, and a felt a slight tremble in my knees.

"Ash, I..." I mustered the courage to open my eyes, and when I did, found that Ashton was gazing lovingly into mine.

"Karris," he left a featherlike graze against my lips as he spoke, leaving me breathless. "Will you be mine?"

I smirked against his lips, "you've always had me."

"You and your damn alpaca facts," Ashton chuckled, suddenly lifting me up by the waist. I let out a frightened shrill as Ashton spun me around. I held onto his shoulders with a huge grin plastered on my face, letting only joy be the anchor of my evening.

Once back on my two feet, I took a moment to stare at the delicious boy I adored, and claimed as mine. I stood on the tips of my toes to give Ashton a quick peck on the cheek, to which he replied with a dimpled grin.

"Babydoll, let's go inside and join your party," Ashton held out his hand towards me.

I laced my fingers with his, "by the way, you can call me Karebear."

Hand in hand, Ashton and I strolled back into the house where my party ensued. The moment we stepped foot into the rambunctious home, nothing but elation and laughter decorated my guests. And when the hockey team took notice of the new team that consisted of just Ash and I, did they surrender into a symphony of enthusiastic cheers.

"Oh my gosh! Finally they're a thing!" Michael clapped his hands animatedly.

"That took like fifty years," Luke grumbled, shaking his head before giving Ashton a hearty pat on the back with a smirk on his face.

"When this party is over," Berkley was suddenly next to me, an arm suspended around my shoulders. At a low, yet whimsical whisper, she demanded, "we're talking about this. I need all the details."

My soiree was a relentless pandemonium of karaoke, fried foods, juice boxes, and stomach-cinching laughter. It was the archetype of any college party— minus the college and regret part. It was the shindig Gabe and I dreamt about. My Willowridge High family not only mingled with my friends from Brampcrest, the two groups that resided on opposite sides of the spectrum, developed friendships and created memories together. My parents seemed to be civil as we cut my cake and served ice cream, but the best part was stealing glances with Ashton the entire night.

At around 2AM, the party dwindled down and I was extremely exhausted. My entire day was filled with more entertainment than I could ever imagine, and as the last few Ubers were driving away from the house, I was itching to swipe off my makeup and climb into bed.

"I'll see you on Monday," Calum waved.

"See you Monday," Mollie gave me a hug and a kiss on the cheek. "Thanks for having us."

"Thanks for celebrating with me," I responded with the same radiant inflection. The power couple merrily walked hand in hand down the pavement pathway and onto the sidewalk. They both giggled about something as they turned the corner.

"Hey," the cozy feeling of strong arms wrapping around me from behind made life feel like a fireplace on a Sunday evening.

"Hey," I smiled, so in love with the safety that was Ashton. His chin rested on my shoulder, giving my waist another tight squeeze.

"I don't think I wanna leave you just yet," he drawled. I turned around in Ashton's arms to meet him eye to eye.

"Go to the backdoor. Not the one by the kitchen, but by the garage," I smirked mischievously. "Give me five minutes and I'll sneak you in."

"Wow, Karris. Who are you? A delinquent at 18," Ashton teased, and I shot him some sass with a roll of my eyes. He leaned in to give me a quick, gentle kiss, and I knew it was one of my favorite things in the world.

"Go to the backdoor," I told him, pulling away from our embrace. I walked backwards in the direction of the front entrance, keeping a lingering gaze on Ashton. It was my way of being seductive, but because this was me we're talking about, I probably looked like a double-chinned baboon smothered in bananas.

Once inside, I closed the main door behind me and I let myself rupture into a dance for the Kilig Gods. I shrieked to myself and contorted my body awkwardly, letting the giddiness take full control of my teenaged soul. The source of my bliss would now be awaiting my arrival at the back door, and with my parents cleaning up the kitchen, I had a small window of time to get Ashton into my room.

(translation: giddy; extreme emotion)

Using quick movements, I tip-toed my way into the garage like some animated antagonist holding a giant sack of gold. The door in the garage led to the backyard, and when I unlocked the barricade, pushing it open, I found Ashton leaning up against the wall. He grinned when we locked eyes, and I felt my heart stop beating for a quick moment.

"Shhh," I pressed a finger to my lips before maneuvering my hand to cue Ashton. He followed suit, joining me in the garage.

Once the door was closed and locked, the two of us quickly strolled to the entrance of the house. I slowly opened the door, popping my head inside to listen for any discrepancies that could thwart my plans. I could hear the muffled voices of my parents coming from the kitchen, melting into the noisy clangs and bangs of appliances. I turned my head over my shoulder to once again, press a finger to my lips. I pushed the door open wider, cringing at the slight creak of the hinges as I did so.

"Go down this hallway," I advised, pointing to the corridor on my left. "Cut through the formal living room and go upstairs straight to my room."

"I'll be waiting, sprawled on your bed," Ashton leaned in, his lips close to my ear and at a whisper finished his cheeky statement, "naked."

I shoved Ashton with a cringe and a face full of disgust. Ashton only giggled, though his cute chuckles were a little louder than normal and my mother's ears caught onto the sound. I slapped the palm of my hand to Ashton's mouth while I stood with eyes wide open, as if the innate reaction would make us invisible.

"Anak?" Mom called out from the kitchen.

(translation: child, dear)

"Yes," my voice, conveniently— insert eye roll here, cracked. "Yes, mom! I was just in the garage, I needed uh, a..."

Ashton released my grip from his mouth and at a whisper, suggested, "shank."

"...shank!" I stupidly echoed.

"A what?" My mom yelled back in confusion, before I gave Ashton a smack on the shoulder. He stifled a laugh, shooting me a wink.

"I mean, a flashlight!" I corrected quickly, pushing Ashton towards the hallway on our left.

"Why do you need a flashlight?" Mom's voice grew louder, and her footsteps that shuffled against the kitchen's tiles flourished.

"For my closet," I explained in a haste, but without grace. "I really gotta pee!"

And with that, I rushed both Ashton and I away from the garage door before my mom could discover us. My heart's rhythm was rapid, and my back hot from the rush. Call me a lame girl, but sneaking Ashton in was enough adrenaline to give me an extraordinary thrill. Once in the safety of my room with the door shut and locked, I contained my breathing while Ashton slipped off his shoes. He tossed the Docs off to the side and jumped on my bed with a plop.

"Are we consummating our relationship tonight?" Ashton wiggled his eyebrows mischievously.

"Ash," I wined, shaking my head shyly.

"You know I'm only playing around, right?" He held out his arms, "come here, babydoll."

I took a few strides across the carpet and stood before him. He grabbed me by the waist, encouraging me to take a seat on his lap. I followed through, folding my arms around his shoulders.

"We can take this as slow as you want," Ashton assured, bringing a hand to my cheek and giving it a gently stroke with his thumb. "I wanna keep you for as long as you'll let me, and I don't want to ever make you feel uncomfortable."

"When I hear that, it makes me proud to have you," I expressed. "You still make me nervous, and my stomach gets butterflies every time you look at me, and I have to stop myself from blurting out alpaca facts, but Ash, you make me feel valuable."

"Because you are, Karebear," Ashton kissed my forehead. "You're not disposable. You have me till you say otherwise."

Enthralled by his sweet words that seemed to mend every knick, scratch, and wound, I let my actions speak the words that were unable to flow from my heart. I softly held Ashton's face between my two hands and left several delicate kisses on his lips. Hot breaths and closed eyes, I pulled ever so slightly away— not too far where the tips of our noses could not touch, but just enough that with each slight movement, our lips would graze one another with an iota of static.

"Go get ready for bed. I'll hold you till you fall asleep," he promised.

And that's how I drifted into the sweetest slumber on the evening of my 18th birthday. Ashton held onto me like a safety blanket, my head rested on his chest. It felt like there were no inhumanities of the world; nothing to galvanize our lives with terror. It was just Ashton and I, the silent darkness of the night, and his precious heartbeat that became my lullaby.

I fell asleep in Ashton's arms that night, and everything felt absolutely right.

✖

FINALLY.

Ashton & Karris revealed their feelings and had their first kiss! I am IN LOVE with this chapter-- especially because it took several chapter for these two characters to finally get together.

Guys, Slapshot is almost at an end. After this chapter, things are going to start moving a little fast... mainly because the next few chapters take place over a span of one day.

Also I have a RESOURCES story list on my page. It contains all my favorite tutorials & tips for creating covers & for writing stories! Check it out!

Thank you for all your support! Thanks for giving this little story a chance.