Chapter Text
Ashlyn glanced down at her phone locker #12, notes are in my backpack!
Thanks Press ;-) Ashlyn fired back as she hurried to the girl’s locker room to grab her chem notes before class started. She rounded the corner of the high school basement, rushing into the girl’s locker room, slinging her black Nike backpack over one shoulder as her phone buzzed.
Good luck! You got this :) Ashlyn smiled down at the text, grateful that she found a tutor who seemed to actually care about her and not just the extra credit that came along with tutoring the “less gifted.”
She looked around the empty locker room and quickly found Press’s locker, taking out the purple backpack. Setting it down on the bench in front of the row of lockers she pulled out Press’s binder and started flipping through finally finding her notes.
“Um excuse me?”
Ashlyn jumped, almost letting her phone slip to the cold hard floor before catching it.
“What are you doing?”
Ashlyn looked up locking eyes with an exceptionally beautiful brunette with cinnamon eyes, wearing only a red Nike sports bra that revealed a killer set of abs no high school senior should ever possess and black soccer shorts that left very little to the imagination.
Hopping to her feet Ashlyn clutched onto her chem notes that where neatly folded with a sticker of a dinosaur with sunglasses that said school is cool. Ashlyn rolled her eyes but her heart swelled at Press’s thoughtfulness, knowing it would make Ashlyn laugh before her test.
Ashlyn smirked letting her eyes roam freely over the gorgeous girl in front of her who was now blushing from head to toe. “Hey beautiful.”
“What the hell are you doing go through Press’s stuff?” Ali’s voice raising as she stood with her hands on her hips.
“Feisty huh?” Ashlyn chuckled watching as Ali’s eyes flashed with anger.
“Who are you?” Ali huffed, suddenly feeling very vulnerable pulling her practice jersey on.
“Listen I would love to stay and chat but I’m running late. Sorry.” Ashlyn let her eyes do a quick but lingering once over. “Really sorry.” She husked before turning to make her way to her chem class.
XXX
Ali slid her lunch tray containing her daily leafy salad no dressing, bottled water and a banana next to Syd.
“How can you eat the same freaking thing every single day Al?” Pinoe gaged as she took a huge bit of her greasy cheeseburger.
“I gotta keep these abs in check.” Ali smiled patting her flat muscular stomach.
Alex hurried over and sat down next to Abby. “What did I miss?”
“Ali was just lecturing us.” Abby said smirking.
“I was not.” Ali glared.
“It’s ok Kriegs, you are gonna go pro with me.” Tobin said lazily taking a bite of her yogurt.
Ali winked and smiled at the younger girl.
“Hey girls.”
“Hey dude. What’s up?” Tobin looked up as Mark sat on the other side of Ali.
Ali tensed as Mark placed his arm around her shoulders. When was he going to finally get that she didn’t want anything other than friendship from him, if that. Sure he was gorgeous and popular but Ali hated when he kissed her, always wet and forceful.
“Hi Mark.” Ali forced a smile.
“What a practice huh? I’m beat.” Press collapsed next to Abby.
“Press that was three hours ago!” Pinoe rolled her eyes.
“Well if Ali wouldn’t have been late, we won’t have had to run laps.” Syd grumbled before biting into her turkey sandwich.
“Oh wow. I was only five minutes late guys.” Ali mumbled pushing lettuce around her plate.
“Still Al, come on! You gonna go pro in soccer or in make up?” Pinoe laughed.
“Ha ha. You suck.” Ali smiled throwing her wadded up napkin at Pinoe’s face.
“Speaking of practice, Press some girl was in the locker room looking in your bag?” Ali glanced over at Press, hoping no one saw the blush she was sure was covered her face as she thought back to how the girl looked her body over.
“Oh yeah that was just Ashlyn.” Press shrugged.
“Who?” Pinoe perked up.
“Ashlyn Harris. I am tutoring her in chem.” Press sighed, hoping Ashlyn didn’t care that now half girls’ soccer team now knew that she was flunking out. “I had her chem notes in my bag.”
“Ash is cool.” Tobin intervened.
“You know her?” Ali asked looking over at Tobin.
“Yeah we hang sometimes. She’s got a sweet longboard.” Tobin shrugged swiping a fry from Pinoe’s tray.
“Oh really Tobs?” Syd smirked.
“Whatever. You know what I mean.” Tobin rolled her eyes.
“Yeah bros before hoes right.” Alex giggled as Tobin shot her a look.
Alex silently mouthed sorry about not before Press caught it.
“I’m so lost.” Mark muttered. “Ali, do you want to go to come over after school?”
“Um I can’t I have soccer.” Ali lied. The rest of the girls glancing nervously at each other as Ali looked for help.
“I told Ali I would help her with her header after school.” Abby supplied.
“I’m pretty sure I could help her with that one.” Mark smirked suggestively.
“Gross dude.” Pinoe said making a disgusted face.
“Whatever.” Mark said standing up. “Ali text me later.” He leaned down leaving a rough kiss on her cheek.
“God how can you stand it?” Abby asked as soon as Mark was out of earshot.
“What?” Ali asked innocently.
“Straight dudes.” Pinoe laughed like it was the funniest thing she has ever said.
“They aren’t all like that.” Syd smiled as she caught Dom’s eye across the lunch room.
“But most our age are.” Press agreed.
XXX
“So what’s up with you and Mark?” Abby asked as Ali took shotgun in Abby’s black Jeep Wrangler. The sun was high and blistering hot, Ali was grateful for the top being down.
“He’s super clingy.” Ali sighed as she rummaged through her purse finding her bright pink lip gloss.
“Aren’t they all?” Abby laughed.
“How would you know?” Ali smirked as she pulled down the visor and applied a coat of gloss.
“Oh Kriegers has jokes.” Abby nudged her.
“You know it.” Ali laughed.
“So do you want to come over for dinner? Tobin and Steph are going to come chill later.” Abby asked as she backed out of the school parking lot.
“Yeah sure. I can do my homework in first period tomorrow. I’ll just text my mom.” Ali said whipping out her Iphone.
“Awesome.”
XXX
Ashlyn crammed her homework in her backpack as she closed her locker. She was not excited for all the homework she was facing but her dad had promised her his newish black truck complete with the tool box if she graduated high school. She was determined to earn that truck and have something of her own one day by finishing school.
“Hey Ash.”
Ashlyn turned to see Candy standing behind her. The small blonde’s boobs popping out of her tiny tank top.
“What sup?” Ashlyn asked as she headed outside to fetch her long board from the rack.
“Do you want to come over tonight? My parents are out of town.” The small blonde urged trying to catch up with the taller girl’s stride.
“I would love to but I gotta study.” Ashlyn said tugging the other strap of her loaded backpack over her shoulder.
“Seriously, you would rather do homework than me?” Candy pouted letting more cleavage pop out of her hello kitty tank top.
“Sorry babe. Another time.” Ashlyn smiled as she took off toward home.
XXX
“Ali can you get the door?” Abby shouted from the kitchen as she put the leftovers into the fridge.
“Sure Abs.” Ali opened the front door of Abby’s parents Mid Century Modern home. It was in an older area of town but it was great for parties since both Abby’s parents worked all the time. The back yard so huge that Abby’s dad had set up full size goals on both sides of the yard for the girls to practice whenever they wanted.
“Hey Tobs. Hi Steph.” Ali greeted the girls as the came in and went right to the kitchen.
“Hey Abs.” Tobin said reaching for an apple out of the fruit basket on the table.
“Hey guys. You want to practice or watch some tv?”
“TV? I am beat.” Steph sighed taking off her snapback letting her dark hair fall freely.
“Cool with me.” Tobin grinned and headed to the tv room complete with a 65 inch plasma.
“What do you guys wanna watch?” Tobin asked grabbing the remote, making herself comfy on the modern gray sofa. Ali plopped down beside her resting her head on Tobins shoulder. Steph relaxed in one the recliners as Abby joined them stretching out on the soft carpet.
“Anything but horror.” Tobin said flipping through the hundreds of channels.
“Oh Tobin are you scared?” Ali teased as she reached out to tickle Tobin’s ribs.
“Hey stop.” Tobin laughed as Ali pinned her down, straddling Tobin’s hips.
“Guys come on.” Abby sighed reaching for the remoting, pressing her channel in.
“Sports Center really?” Steph rolled her eyes.
“Seriously stop flirting over there.” Abby yelled as Ali froze over Tobin as blush spreading over her perfect skin. Tobin took this opportunity to escape and grab a blanket.
“I wasn’t flirting.” Ali protested.
“Uh huh.” Abby scoffed.
“What’s the AC on?” Steph grumbled as she pulled her basketball shorts around her knees.
“Here.” Tobin said tossing her a blanket.
“Thanks man.” Steph curled up in the blanket watching as Ali further protested her “flirting.”
“It’s cool Al. This is a safe place.” Abby said motion around the room with her hands.
“Oh my God, you guys. I am not into girls like that. No offense Tob.” Ali sat as if she was ready to pounce on Abby at any moment. Her long brown hair pulled over one shoulder.
“Look I’m not saying you are into Tobin but you know you are a little bit ah..” Abby fumbled with her words.
“Butch.” Steph stated.
“I am the opposite of butch thank you very much.” Ali stood up her anger visible.
“On the pitch you are butch as hell.” Tobin grinned earning her a smack in the face with an orange rectangular throw pillow.
“Sorry Ali. You just go through a lot of guys and you never seem really into any of them.” Abby said standing up, walking over to the thermostat.
“That’s because guys are age are lame.” Ali complained.
“But Mark being the cave man that he is still he is pretty good looking for a guy.” Abby said seriously.
“Yeah so.” Ali said confused.
“You flinch whenever he kisses or touches you.”
“No I don’t.”
“Yeah you do.” Abby pointed out as Ali looked down pink Nikes.
“And the one before that Curt, he was a trip and Justin…”
“Ok ok. I get it. Geez. So I have bad taste in guys.” Ali forced a laugh.
“I am just saying maybe you should look elsewhere, be open to the possibilities.” Abby sighed. She would never tell Ali but she caught her rehearsing a phone convo with a girl she liked in the locker room in eighth grade. She had observed Ali through the years waiting for her to figure it out or at least admit it out loud. Now she needed a shove in the right direction.
“Gosh Ab if you didn’t have it bad for Sarah I would think you were into me.” Ali grinned.
“Just be open.” Abby elbowed her softly.
XXX
Ashlyn looked down at her cell. 7:36 “Shit.” She moaned rubbing her hands over her face to try to and wake herself.
She quickly jumped in the shower and threw on the most comfortable black jeans and a black tee. She snagged a protein bar as she headed out the door, shoving her wallet in her back pocket letting the chain fall as she slid her red Hurley snapback over her long blonde hair.
Her phone buzzed. Where are you? You said you would meet me in the library at 8, right?
Sorry Press! On my way. Ash text as she skated towards the high school.
By the time Ashlyn made it to the library Press was picking up her books from the long mahogany table.
“I’m so sorry Press. I overslept. I was up late..”
“It’s fine.” Press tried to smile.
“No really. I’m sorry.” Ashlyn said catching the girl’s arm. “I was up past midnight..”
“I don’t want to know.” Press said covering her ears.
Amused Ashlyn grinned at the shorter girl. “Know what?”
“Why you were up so late?” Press blushed.
“Oh so you listen to idle gossip huh?” Ashlyn laughed bumping Press’s arm lightly.
“I just…word is you get around and it’s none of my business.” Press faltered.
“Look Press I was up all night studying. I am not saying that I don’t have a rep and that it isn’t deserved or that I didn’t have a nice offer last night..” Ashlyn stopped as she watched Press’s eyes grow wide.
“God Press you’re too much.” Ashlyn said grabbing the other girl’s books for her. “Don’t you date?”
“I haven’t. I I…” Press struggled to find the right words as let Ashlyn get the door for her, stepping out into the bright sunshine.
“You like someone?” Ashlyn guessed chuckling.
Press looked down at her feet. She really didn’t want anyone to know about her crush on Tobin. Ali was the only one who knew about it and she knew Ali would never tell a soul.
“Look you don’t have to tell me. I just hope they know what a catch you are.” Ashlyn winked.
Press didn’t miss that Ashlyn used they as the pronoun, instead of he or she.
“Do you want to come to a party on Friday?” Press blurted out.
Ashlyn rubbed the back of her neck as Press could see the wheels turning.
“Oh God. I don’t have a crush on you. I mean… I am not asking you out.” Press sighed in frustration. “My crush will be there and..”
“Calm down.” Ashlyn smiled reassuringly, reaching out she placed her hand softly on Press’s shoulder. “I would love to go.”
Press looked down at her sandals, shifting her feet. “You really don’t have to if..”
“Stop. Look I could use a party after all this homework.” Ashlyn grinned as she lifted the enormous stack of books.
“Ok awesome. I can pick you up? Eight thirty Friday night?” Press asked smiling.
“Works for me. I will text you my address.” Ashlyn said watching as Press started towards the door to her first period class.
“Oh and Press.” Ashlyn handed Press her books. “I can’t wait to meet her.”