Crush

Crush is a 2013 American romantic comedy film directed by Charles Hood. The movie takes place in the small town of Ashland, where 17-year-old Abby Hoffman (played by Jessica Lowndes) lives with her parents and twin sisters. Abby's biggest passion in life is her painting, and she has always dreamed of becoming a successful artist. However, due to some recent financial setbacks, Abby's parents have forced her to join the school track team to focus on her studies and gain a sports scholarship to a college of her choice. At the beginning of the movie, Abby is shown to be struggling with the idea of giving up her art to focus on sports, but eventually, she decides to take on the challenge. When she arrives at the sports stadium for the team's first practice, she is greeted by a tough and talented coach, Tony, who puts her through a series of grueling exercises to help her toughen up. Abby's main objective is not to become a great track runner but to be able to spend more time with Madison Turner (played by Brittany Raymond), the captain of the team, and also the girl she has been harboring a long-time crush on. Madison has been Abby's idol since childhood, and she cannot help but admire her talent, beauty, and charisma on and off the track. However, things become complicated when Abby meets Ashley (played by Laysla De Oliveira), a new teammate who is initially portrayed as a rival for Madison's attention, but it soon becomes apparent that Ashley is there to support Madison, and the team is more united than ever. As the days go by, Abby and Ashley become close friends and start to open up to each other, sharing their innermost thoughts and feelings. Meanwhile, coach Tony's constant presence at every step is not just to get the team to perform better, but also to help them learn to be a cohesive unit. He is a wise and caring mentor who pushes the girls to achieve their best, on and off the sports field. As the competition heats up, Abby finds it increasingly difficult to hide her true feelings from Madison, but she also starts to develop feelings for Ashley, which further complicates her situation. She begins to understand that true love is not about who you think you want, but about who you are genuinely meant to be with. Throughout the movie, the supporting characters, like Abby's twin sisters and friends, play a significant role in her journey, providing valuable advice and support. In a pivotal scene, Abby's mom sits her down for a heart-to-heart conversation, reminding her that true happiness lies not in getting what you want, but in finding what truly makes you happy. The climax of the movie comes when Abby is forced to decide whether to pursue her long-standing crush on Madison or to take a chance on her growing feelings for Ashley. After a lot of soul-searching and deep thought, Abby chooses to confess her true feelings to Ashley, but in a stunning plot twist, Ashley has been harboring feelings for Madison all along, which leads to Abby finally mustering up the courage to express her love to Madison. In the end, Abby learns that sometimes life takes us on unexpected paths, and what we thought we wanted all along may not be what we truly need. As she runs with her new friends and discovers her love for racing, she also understands that love is about giving and receiving true and genuine affection. With her newfound self-awareness, Abby starts to see the world in a new light and learns to appreciate her strengths, which will ultimately help her achieve her goals as an artist. As the movie ends, Abby has finally found what real love feels like, and with her newfound confidence and understanding, she is ready to pursue her dreams, both on and off the track, with an open heart and a spirit full of passion for life.