Hey guys!! So I just want to let you know I have no idea how boxing works. So if something happens that is 'against the rules' then.. oops. It's legal in this book than.

Hope you enjoy.

Julie's pov:

As I sit back down, I open my fourth bag of potato chips.

Stress eating.

Every time I look at Ashton, I just can't help but shove a handful of chips in my mouth.

I tried to distract myself by listening to the cheers that these fan girls were coming up with, but the thought still didn't go away.

In the meantime, mostly all the guys on the team went, I realized that some of the team members though from both sides didn't go, and it looked like they weren't going to go at all.

I guess only a certain number of matches can occur.

But they are all probably freshman anyways.

I watch as Zander pridefully makes his way into the ring. Ashton was warming up so I'm guessing he is going next, which by the looks of it, he is the last.

But my stress levels shoot up once I see who his rival was.

This guy.. was HUGE!!!

Some weight wise, but he must have almost been like 6 feet taller or something.

Okay... maybe I am exaggerating a little bit.

...

Fine a lot bit.

I look over at Ashton, who didn't seem the least bothered.

This makes me roll my eyes, should of known, his cocky side always takes over in the face of danger.

I look back to see Zander and the rival.

What in the world??!

Are they wearing like eight inch heels in there shoes or something?

I flinch as Zander takes a blow straight to the rib.

The whole crowd stands, he was grabbing his rib and squinting his eyes.

Next thing I know, people screaming everywhere!!! Zander looked like he was going to pass out any second.

Why do people like watching these things??

I painfully watched four men who had to literally CARRY him out.

I looked back at Ashton... and he was angry.

Like really angry.

He was almost like a whole other person.

I thought I have seen the worst of him but I was so far from wrong.

Him and the guy from the rival team step up. Maybe the captains go last because that what it looks like.

Everyone is still standing, and I am still stress eating.

Please don't die Ashton.

Please don't die Ashton.

If you live I will share my skittles with you.

Maybe...

Probably not.

Don't die Ashton!!

They start off moving in a circular motion.

I watch intently as they begin after a few seconds, the rival takes his first move, trying to hit Ashton right in the face, but Ashton was easily able to move and get him in the arm.

Even though Ashton looks like he could kill somewhere, it amazes me how much self control he has.

The guy tries to hit Ashton again but he able to move and now get him in his other arm.

I look over right in time to see a girl in my school with Ashton's face on her shirt just faint.

That would be me if I didn't have... or did have five seconds ago, my potato chips.

"Come on Ashton." I whisper to myself.

The guy gets angry and tries to punch Ashton's rib like the other guy did to Zander but Ashton was able to move out of the way at the very last second and punch his back.

The rival fell to the floor.

Ashton one the first round, if he wins a second time, he wins it all, but if he loses, then they go one more time to declare the winner.

The second round went along a little faster, but after their water break quickly before the second round, the guy seemed.. unusual.

He almost seemed.. stronger?

I was utterly confused how he was able to recover that fast, and I think a lot of people noticed it too.

Including Ashton, who wasn't as quick as the last round, but wasn't totally exhausted like some of the other guys on their second round.

They kept punching back and forth, Ashton was actually getting hit unlike the first round where he dodged everyone single one.

He running out of energy, and I could tell by the way his shoulders slouched every now and then, but he tried to cover it up and stay strong.

Then, the unthinkable happens, in one swift moment, the rival was able to punch Ashton in the stomach twice.

It was a blur.

Ashton went down instantly.

I quickly stood up. The rival won the second round.

Another water break was announced, and I watched as Ashton stumbled out.

Luke, Jake, and Damien instantly surrounded him, while Zander was still injured on the side getting bandages wrapped around his rib.

Ashton tried to look tough, he tried to act like the punch was nothing, but I knew otherwise.

He was in pain, but he didn't want to let his team down.

Because I know for him, that being a leader, means no signs of weakness.

No signs of pain.

No signs of surrender.

But he was wrong.

I remember everything since I have moved here and first met him.

How he masks his true feelings.

How he acts strong when he really feels helplessly.

How he lets his cocky side cover up the fact that he is hurting inside.

I should have paid more attention.

I just assumed that he was okay.

I assumed that he wasn't hurting.

I assumed.... that he was just a jerk.

But truthfully, he's far from a jerk.

I realize why he was so upset the night of the incident.

His father.

It was his father.

Every.

Single.

Time.

He felt that I would walk out on him.

He felt that I would betray him.

I always wondered why THE Ashton Rider only stayed to 'his' group of boys.

Everyone wanted to be known as 'his' friend.

And the one person... me... he lets in, loses his very own trust.

I should have told him.

I should have told him that he can trust me.

A noise brings me back to reality.

The third round.

Ashton looked like he was struggling to walk, while the rival was basically prancing to gain his prize.

For the first time, Ashton made the first move.

He NEVER makes the first move.

Well, at least that is what Zander told me.

The guy only smirks and moves out of the way.

He punches Ashton in the same spot, but Ashton refuses to fall.

Without being able to handle this anymore, I run down to the bottom of the stadium to where the closer seats were, which were pretty close.

"Uh, can I stand here for a second." I say to an older couple.

They squint their eyes at me but reluctantly nod their heads.

At the very second, the rival pushes Ashton against the rope that was on my side.

Ashton looks like he is about to fall.

"Ashton, please don't go down." I plead.

The rope where is head was and me leaning over the bar holding me back was only a good foot or two apart.

With a surprised look, he tries to turn his head at me.

"Julie? Why are you? Wait you shouldn't be so close!! You could get f*ckin hurt-.." but I cut him off refusing him to push me away any longer.

"Ashton, I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. I wasn't walking out on you I promise." I say quickly, tears gathering in my eyes.

His face goes in shock, as he is able to push the rival a little back, but not enough to push him all the way off him.

The rival started to push harder, Ashton let out a groan as the gloves dig into his side.

"Ashton come on." I whisper, a tear slipping out of my eye every second that passes, every second that Ashton was fighting back the pain.

After hearing my strangled voice, Ashton fully flips his head toward me.

Even with the rival breathing down his neck, his eyes lock with mine.

"No, shit, Julie don't cry. It's not your fault. Just... please step a little back I don't want you to get hurt." His eyes hold a sincerity but I only move back an inch or two.

"Ashton, don't give up on this fight, you have been practicing for years. Don't lose this chance." I say.

He nods his head. He tries to push again, and he is so close, but he doesn't have enough energy to move is heavy frame.

"Julie, promise me.. promise me you won't leave." Ashton says, his voice comes out strangled. He squints his eyes doing everything in his power to push him back.

"Ashton Rider, you are stuck with me, whether you like it or not, so you better get used to it."

Ashton eyes go wide again, but this time.. no retreat.

No giving up.

No mask.

No more feelings being hidden.

"Of course, princess."

I let out a small smile as he calls me that.

It felt like forever ago.

I used to hate it, but you never realize how much you miss something until you start to think you'll never have it again.

I watch as his eyes flash with a new emotion.

What everyone hates seeing in Ashton's eyes.

His cockiness.

He locks eyes with his rival and gives his million dollar smirk that grabs everyone's attention.

The rival looks confused, but only up until Ashton fully pushes him off him and punches him straight in the face.

The rival tries to throw a punch but Ashton was once again quick on his feet.

Ashton must have punched him three or four more times, more strength in each blow.

The rival tried punching Ashton again, throwing his arms around side to side. There was no main direction he was going in.

But it was almost scary.

Who ever he was, I just call him rival because he's on the rival team, his eyes looked wild.

Like he was insane.

I watched as Ashton held his smirk, and I was proud of him for that.

Well... kinda.

He's too cocky for his own good.

But with one final blow from Ashton, rival was out quicker than a light.

Ashton won.

Everyone looks up at the guys who were tallying the score.

Only a matter of seconds later, the whole arena goes dark, and next thing I know, a light pops up on one of the school names.

We won.

Everyone on our side cheers, and I smile while I stare up at the lights, the whole arena was flashing in bright colors.

While caught up in the moment, I feel arms wrap around my waist and I am being thrown into a hug.

"You stink." I laugh out as I feel Ashton's face digging into my shoulder.

"Shhh. You're going to ruin my moment." I can hear him say smiling.

"Your moment?" I say sarcasm lacing through my voice, but I couldn't drop my smile because of how happy I was that they.. that he did it.

"Fine, ninety-nine percent my moment and one percent yours." He says without moving an inch.

Even though time started to pass, neither of us bother to let go.

And believe it or not.. it actually wasn't awkward.

At all.

And that's saying something because I am awkward 24/7.

"Hey Ashton, can you stop hogging Julie for like five seconds?" I hear a voice say behind us. I look over to see Jake, Luke, and Damien all standing there with bright smiles on their faces.

"Good job guys!!" I cheer after me and Ashton let go of each other.

At once, all three of them give me a group hug.

"Okay, okay!! You guys are so sweaty." I say letting a sigh of relief from the horrible smell as they all let go.

"Please, you love us." Jake says throwing his hands over his hips pretending to be a girl.

Luke pretends to flip his non existent long hair. "Like, tots." He says in one of those really high girl noise.

I roll my eyes but keep smiling. "Please don't ever do that again."

I see a movement behind their shoulders and I see Zander struggling to walk over.

I was about to say something but Ashton beat me to it.

"Dude are you okay?" He says going from standing behind me to my side.

Zander nods his head. "Yeah, wish I could punch him another once or twice though." He says cracking his knuckles.

"If you even could." Luke says with a huge smirk.

"Boy, once I am out of these bandages, I'll make sure you are put in a proper body cast" Zander says, we all laugh as Luke lets out a nervous gulp.

"On second thought... I'm going to move a little over here." Luke says moving a foot away from Zander.

We all laugh out again as Zander gives a wicked grin to Luke and he flinches.

"Can I please have your attention." We all look up to see all of the announces standing by the rival team.

We all looked at each other in confusion.

"There seems to be a disqualification." The announcer says looking straight at coach, and than the rest of our team.

We all hesitantly look at coach, before the announcer continues.

Everyone's eyes go wide at what he says next, "For the home team... has been found with drug usage."

Ashton's team is getting disqualified?

Of course, when things were looking up, something seems to go wrong.

Do you think that someone on Ashton's team actually brought drugs?

Or is it all just a misunderstanding?

Stay updated to find out.
~juls.