Throwback (7 years earlier)

Finally done with straightening my hair, I pulled my hair up in a tight ponytail. My dark brown hair in a ponytail fell all the way to my waist with cute bangs framing my face. I was finally ready for another day at Stephen's High.

I heard another loud honk outside my window.

"Coming." I yelled and picked up my bag from the couch.

Sprinting down the stairs I ran to the kitchen to get something to eat. I picked up an apple from the fruit basket.

"Morning mom, morning dad." I greeted my parents.

"Morning honey." They chimed together. They were cute, I know.

"Sit down and have breakfast like proper civilised people." My mom said, pouring juice in a glass.

"Even I want to have breakfast like a proper civilised person but your overenthusiastic son wants to be at school an hour early. And wants to drag me along." I said, pouting.

"Why.?" She asked.

Before I could say something, there was another loud honk.

"Gotta run. Bye mom, bye dad." I kissed both their cheeks.

I ran outside before Jason could honk again. I ran towards his car and threw myself in his passenger seat.

"You know I can drive myself to school. I have a car and a driver's license." I snapped at him.

"What is the problem if I want to drive my little sister to school." He said sweetly and pinched my cheek.

"The problem is that you want to drive there an hour early." I said swatting his hand away.

"Don't be violent Mia. Okay fine, I'll buy you your favorite drink at Starbucks." He offered.

"Okay. If you insist." I said happily.

He stopped at the Starbucks to get my drink then we made our way back to school.

There were literally only 5 cars in the parking lot when we reached school.

"See. No one's here." I said getting out of the car.

"Hey guys. Ready for practice Jase.?" Damien said from behind me.

"Practice.?" I asked him.

"Yeah practice. It's our homecoming match next Friday. Didn't Jase tell you.?" He asked, unsure.

"He told me about the match alright, but you dragged me early in the morning to school for your practice..?" I asked Jase, poking a finger at his chest.

But at the last possible moment, Jase was saved from my wrath by Aaliyah, Jase's girlfriend.

"Hey babe." She came up to him and pecked his lips.

She was a typical high school bumblebee queen. Perfectly tanned, long legs, charming smile, beautiful, long strawberry blonde hair. But she was a bitch to everyone except my brother and sometimes me. I personally hated her.

I was mentally chopping her hair to pieces when someone came up from behind me, scooping me up in his arms.

"Oh my god, aaahhhh, Ash put me down you idiot. You are gonna drop me. Put me down." I was shouting at Ashton's face and my hands were locked tightly behind his neck.

"I'm not gonna accidentally drop you Mia, but if you continue screaming I might just drop you on purpose." He said laughing.

"Jerk. Now put me down." And he did put me down.

Presenting to you the biggest jerk in this school and my best friend Ashton. I don't know why but ever since our 6th grade, he always keeps trying to get on my nerves. But whatever the reason be, he is my best friend and I love him.

"Whatever, don't you have practice too.?" I asked him.

"I do. But you are more important to me than practicing for a match." He said. "Come, I've a surprise for you."

"But my birthday is in July." I said as he was dragging me away from the guys.

"As if I don't know that. Now just shut up and follow me."

He led me inside the building and through the corridors towards the back gate of the building which opened to the field and bleachers area. He took me to a bleacher right in the middle and stood in front of me.

He seemed different today. Not in his looks, but something was off. First Jase dragged me to school an hour early, which he has never done before and now Ash dragged me to the middle of the bleachers for some reason.

He took both of my hands in his and looked me in the eye.

"I don't know the easiest way to say this, but know one thing that I am damned nervous right now." He started.

"Yeah, but what's going on. What are you nervous about.?" I asked, unsure.

"Just let me say this and do not interrupt. See, we've known each other since a long time and you have been very special to me. Infact you are the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has not been a very long time since my feelings for you has started changing. I never thought something like this could ever happen but it did. It really did. You know I have always loved you like a best friend, right.?" He asked me.

"Yeah, I know that, but why are you talking so weird. Are we breaking up.?" He was acting very weird and talking weirder. Just the thought of him breaking off our friendship brought tears to my eyes.

"Hey, hey. Don't cry, why are you crying stupid. I'm not breaking up with you. I just wanted to make this special and now I've made you cry. OK so I should just keep my mouth shut. Close your eyes." He said covering my eyes with his hands.

"What is going on Ash.?" I asked him, unsure. Someone blew a sharp whistle from somewhere.

He opened my eyes and now I was facing the field. All of the football team was on the field minus Ashton and my brother. And, they were holding up a huge sign that said, 'Will you be my girlfriend'.

I think I was really missing something important here. Ashton, my best friend was asking me to be his girlfriend. I knew I had always loved him, always more than the rest of my friends. He always had a special place in my heart. But he wanted me to be his girlfriend. I just hadn't processed this whole thing.

I was staring at the sign for awhile, then I turned towards Ash. He had a sheepish smile on his face. He again took my hands in his.

"This was what I meant. You have always been very dear to me. And I don't know when my feelings started changing for you. But it is what it is. I love you, Mia. And I want you to be my girlfriend." He said finally, kissing my hands.

I was just staring at him blankly. It took a while to process everything in my head, and I know all that time, everyone was staring at me. And I knew I loved him too, but I was not ready to say it out loud. But before I could utter a word, again Ash started speaking.

"See, it's perfectly fine if you don't feel the same about me. We could just forget any of this happened. The team won't even men......" I cut off his blabbering  and kissed him.

I think he was stiff at first and then he too slowly melted into that kiss. After a few seconds I broke of that kiss.

"Will you be my girlfriend, Mia.?" He asked again.

"Yes, I will." I said.

This time he pulled me back into that kiss. He cupped my face in his hands tenderly as if I would break.

"Oh my god, I love you so much. You don't have to say that right away. I could wait." And he pulled me to his chest and hugged tightly.

The whole team was shouting and cheering from down the field. Now I could see that my brother was standing a few bleachers above us. He was coming down towards us.

"Listen Ashton, I've known you since a very long time. I know you are a good guy. But since now, it involves my sister's heart. I would suggest you never try to hurt her or break her heart. Because if you do, you and I are going to have a problem." Jase aid to Ash in a very friendly manner.

"Never man. Its never going to happen." Ashton replied.

"Well then, you guys enjoy. We still have practice. But drop her home on time. I don't wanna hear any complaints." Jase said and walked away towards the field. He steered everyone towards the locker room.

"Also, I have a little something for you." He took a small tiffany box from inside his pocket and placed it in my hands.

"What's in this.?" I asked.

"Open it." He said.

I opened the box and inside was a very delicate gold bracelet. It was very beautiful and had dainty golden vines twisting around in a beautiful pattern.

"Let me help you put it on." He helped me fasten the clasp on my wrist.

"Its perfect. I love it." I said and hugged him.

"I knew you'd love it. Now lets get out of here. We have a date to go on." He said.

"Right now.? But I am not dressed up for a date." I said pulling away.

"You look perfect. You are nore than ready for a date. Now start walking or I'm gonna pick you up again." And we both started laughing.

            *****************

Hey guys. First of all, I'm really sorry guys for being unavailable for past five months. Things were not going right for me. But now everything is fine, and I'm back for good.

And secondly, this was a throwback chapter to Mia's high school life when she and Ashton used to be close.

I really hope that you like this chapter and do vote and comment for me.

Thank you all guys. Love you all. Good day to everyone.

XOXO.