Chapter 1

CHAPTER 1

“And there we have it, the man of the match, Leon Caster.” The commentator’s voice resounded in the arena, and the crowd went wild.

“Scoring the last three winning goals, he has to take away the award of the man of the match.” The commentator continued and everyone agreed with him.

My novel was pressed to my chest, and I was filled with awe.

“Alyson, don’t you think you are staring too much. I thought you weren’t into sports.” Carly said besides me and I quickly turned to her.

“I’m sorry.” The words left my lips, and a blush crept on my face, but I turned away.

I couldn’t let anyone know I had a crush on the best football player in our school. It was silly. Why would a nerd like me think of such a chance?

I wasn’t just any nerd, I was also chubby.

The crowd went wild with cheers when Leon stepped out, holding up the award.

A lady with blonde hair stepped out, and right in front of everyone, Leon gave her a full kiss.

My heart fell to my stomach, and I pressed my books closer to my chest.

“It seems like our champion has gotten another goal, and especially in romance. What a beautiful young lady.”

I bit down on my lips. The blonde lady was Kenna, the captain of the cheerleaders for the football team.

Indeed she was beautiful. At least, she fitted society’s standards of beauty.

Unlike me.

She was slim, with the perfect figure. She was exactly Leo’s type and I had no right to fall in love with someone like Leon.

I waited till everyone had left the arena, because I didn’t want any attention drawn to me.

It was also enough for me to find time to finishing my novel.

“Alyson…”

The voice brought me back to reality, and my breath hitched.

“Leon?” I turned, and my mind went blank. What was he doing here?

“Want to walk home with me?” Leon said, giving me a small smile. Strands of his brown hair rested on his face, but they only seemed to highlight his handsomeness.

“I… I don’t think you should be walking with me, Leon.” I said, rising to my feet. If anyone saw us, it could bring me unwanted attention.

I hadn’t gotten over the bullying from last year. I didn’t want another one to begin.

“We walked together when we were kids. What’s the difference now?” Leon chuckled, and the memories I wanted to push aside, resurfaced.

But looking at the sincerity on his face, I couldn’t refuse.

We were neighbors as kids, and we had played together every single day. Even our parents expected us to end up together once we were old enough.

Until Leon moved away, and for a year I didn’t hear from him. All the letters I sent were never returned.

I chewed inside my lips. “Okay.” The word escaped my lips, as I found myself lost in his dark hazel eyes.

We walked out of the arena, and followed the path way back home. Leon started asking me questions, and his laughter filled the air.

With time, I got relaxed too, and the wind became lighter.

“Alyson,” Leon called my name when we reached my street. He sounded serious so I paused to look at him.

“Is there a problem?” I asked him with a smile.

Before I could make sense of what was happening, Leon placed his hands on my cheek.

“I wish you were the one by my side instead of Kenna.”

I could swear that the whole world came to a pause in that moment and my mind went blank.

“Leon…” My voice came out in a whisper, but before I could think any further, Leon brought his lips on mine.

Capturing it like it was the softest thing he had felt. He tasted like the dark scent of coffee, and I found my body inclining more to him.

My fingers gripped the hem of his shirt. This was too much for me to register. The kiss went on for about thirty seconds, until I pulled away out of breath.

What was he doing? I bit down on my swollen lips.

“Thank you for that.” He said, kissing my forehead, “I’d see you in school tomorrow.”

And he turned around, while I stood there, staring like a lost puppy.

My school crush had just kissed me.

Leon Caster had just given me a kiss.

The sentence rang countlessly in my head until the next morning.

I was unable to eat breakfast, and I didn’t even pay attention to my mother.

My mind was occupied by Leon’s kiss, and the fact that I was going to see him in school again.

“There she is. The fat blob, and the boyfriend snatcher.”

It took a while before the sentence registered in my head, and dread filled me.

I turned around, and Kenna stood in the middle of hall, with a small group of her cheerleaders.

“You think a little kiss could make you entitled to my man.”

Confusion appeared on my face.

Everyone in the hall turned to me, and soon enough, the whispers filled the hall.

“What are you talking about, Kenna?” My voice shook, as my mind raced.

How did she know?

Kenna laughed, “I know everything, Blob Alyson. The fact that a fat, disgusting wretch like you thinks that she can stand besides Leon is hilarious. You can’t even cheer him up because you are too big.”

My face turned red, and the entire hall roared with laughter.

“A kiss, she kissed Leon?”

“That’s not possible. She probably forced herself on him.”

“Yeah, look at how big she is. Why would anyone want to kiss her?”

 “I’d rather eat vomit. I can’t even picture how annoying it would have been for Leon.”

Everyone had something to say, and no one considered how harsh their words were. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palm.

Kenna looked at me with a smirk in her face, and suddenly her eyes brightened up.

“Baby! It’s you.” Her voice went up in a singsong tone, and she ran forward, hitting me away in the process.

I wasn’t prepared so my foot twisted, causing me to fall.

The hall went wild again, but I ignored it and turned my gaze to Leon.

He was the only one who could get me out of this. I didn’t kiss him. He was the one who kissed me, and he had to tell them that.

But my heart shattered when Leon gave Kenna a kiss on her forehead.

“Kenna. I told you it was a dare. Do you think I’d really enjoy kissing someone like her?”