Asher raised his guard, eyes narrowing. The remaining three guys, circling him like predators, drew closer. The crowd around them roared with excitement.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" some shouted, phones out, ready to record.
Madison, pale and hesitant, stepped back. "Guys… aren't you exaggerating a bit—"
"Shut up, Madison!" gasped the boy still clutching his stomach from Asher's earlier punch. Madison froze, lips sealed.
The first attacker—the one who had kicked Asher—lunged forward. Asher's eyes stayed sharp. He raised an arm, dodging the punch, and twisted, interlocking his forearm with the attacker's. A swift head strike snapped into the guy's nose. Blood spurted. The attacker collapsed behind him, groaning.
Before Asher could catch a breath, the next boy struck, a fist connecting with Asher's cheek. Pain flared. And he staggered back.
A flash of instinct surged. Asher charged, catching the boy mid-step in a leg tackle, driving him to the ground with a thud. The crowd hissed in awe.
"G-Guys… please s-stop it…" Erica's voice trembled. Asher's eyes darted to her. His shoulders dropped slightly, heart clenching.
But a sudden kick slammed into his chin before he could fully focus on her. He was sent flying backward, spitting blood.
"Uhhhh!" The crowd went wild, some cheering, others whispering in fear.
Asher hit the ground but rolled back to his feet, blood trickling from his mouth. His jaw tightened. Without hesitation, he launched a punch straight at the last boy's face. The impact knocked him out cold.
"Ohhhh!" The students erupted, part cheer, part shock.
But then a high-pitched scream pierced through the chaos. Erica's body convulsed, trembling violently. An epileptic seizure.
Asher lunged toward her, scooping her up and moving her gently aside. He had done this countless times before.
"Don't worry, Erica…" His voice was low, steady, close to her ear. "I'm with you… everything's gonna be fine…" He continued soothing her, stroking her hair and keeping her calm.
The crowd grew quiet, murmurs rising—some fake, some genuine—but none of it mattered to him.
...
The fluorescent lights of Beacon Hills Hospital buzzed softly, casting a sterile glow over the room. Erica lay on the bed, still pale from her recent seizure, while Melissa McCall, Scott's mother, knelt beside her, checking her vitals. Melissa was gentle and composed, her dark hair pulled back into a neat ponytail, warm brown eyes radiating calm reassurance as she adjusted the instruments. A nurse hovered nearby, quietly taking notes.
"It's been a bit of time since we last saw each other, Erica," Melissa said softly, her tone familiar and comforting.
"Yes…" Erica murmured, her gaze drifting past Melissa to Asher standing behind her. He looked impossibly handsome, the kind of presence that made the air feel heavier just by standing there.
Melissa followed Erica's glance and smiled gently. "Thank you for calling immediately. You're really a great friend to Erica."
"Thanks, Ms. McCall," Asher said, his voice steady but polite.
"Ms. McCall? You know me?" Melissa asked, a faint laugh in her tone.
Asher shifted slightly, scratching the back of his neck. "Ah… you don't recognize me either, I see… I'm… Asher," he said, his words awkward, betraying a hint of nervousness.
Melissa's inspection light slipped from her hands, hovering midair for a second. Even Erica's jaw dropped slightly in surprise.
Asher's ears flushed.
"Ah… sorry, Asher… I didn't recognize you," Melissa quickly apologized, smiling gently. "You've changed so much."
Melissa picked up the inspection light, straightened, and gave them a soft nod. "I'll leave you two alone for now. Call me if you need anything else." With that, she turned and left the room, the quiet hum of the hospital returning.
Now that the room was quiet, Asher moved closer and carefully sat on the edge of Erica's hospital bed.
"Asher…" Erica's voice trembled slightly. "Is it really you?" Her eyes shone with disbelief and emotion.
Asher gently took her hand and pressed it against his cheek. "What do you think?" he said softly.
Erica's cheeks flushed a light pink. "How… how did you change so much in just one summer?" she asked, awe in her voice.
He shrugged, a small, mysterious smile tugging at his lips. "It's a secret."
"A secret—" Erica repeated, curiosity bright in her eyes, when Asher leaned forward and kissed her.
The touch of his lips made her heart melt. When they parted, their foreheads rested together. "Erica… I like you," Asher admitted, his own cheeks tinged red. "I always liked you."
Erica's blush deepened. "I… I like you too, Asher," she whispered. She playfully reached for his cheeks, wanting to pinch them as she often did when teasing him—but his skin felt firm, unyielding. She laughed softly. "I preferred you before…" she added, smiling warmly.
Asher took her hand gently and shyly guided it down toward his abs. Erica froze, eyes widening, and her blush deepened further. "You sure?" he asked, trying to look cool, but his red cheeks betrayed his intent.
"I... want... to have a date... with you..."
"Tomorrow... 7 p.m. Be there, alright?"
"7 p.m…" Erica repeated, her voice a breathless mix of excitement and disbelief. As Asher kissed her again, the world outside the hospital seemed to fade, leaving only the two of them in that quiet, electric moment.
To be continued...
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How was this chapter? Liked it?
Do you like Erica as the love interest for now? Personally, I think they wasted all her potential in the show, she had so much more to give so I gave her a chance. Tell me what you think.