er

t night, I was finally able to sleep until my alar

ing my eyes with the heels of m

f my activity I got to do because I get to watch the ho

made me feel invisible in school,

ngle player on the team. E

just on

s patterns, his strengths and weaknesses... and if Dad saw i

eded to summon the co

n I'd been avo

lking towards my little bathroom

fro

ce before I get into bed, and once after I've settled in. It's a habit born from livi

ould h

es wen

les

r. My fingers went through the mess of old loose

was n

pty and my journa

o, no,

lipped my mattress, sending my

ing things everywhere. I opened my closet, throwing

al was tr

ed shaking so bad I could bare

at bitch actuall

, oh God

e stairs. Everywhere was so quiet

, too, probably dropping Cele

. I grabbed the nearest thing I could find... a pair of flower pri

thout even caring ho

ot bothering to chec

probably looked like a crazy pe

p with her before sh

e hallway, I heard people whispering behind their

hands covering my face as

ust wanted to get inside, and disappear

ng to fall down my cheek. I couldn't

d and my head hit a very solid manly chest, and I

loor, when strong hands grabbed my ar

ng myself from the arms t

rls

ng across his forehead in that way that always made my stomach flip

I recognized that Bleu de C

ting his lips like he wanted to say something while

One of his teammates, Remy, grabb

move, his eyes w

, com

letting go of my ar

nymore but turned and wal

rt beating so hard until I he

eone's desperate

friend beside her, while some others gathered

talking about," Celeste said to Megan

n sno

re they wouldn't hover around me. But Megan stepped i

ike-" She made a crude gesture, pumping her hand up and down near her crotch. "-shaking like a dying fish while

est of the people

chest like she was genuinely concerned. "Or her heart would give out from th

th to speak, but

omeone of his league. Which is Celeste. So stay out of yo

seen with Carlson either. It seems like someo

Yo

stopped, then sashayed past me tossing her hair over her shoulder whi

y back leaning ag

the hockey arena was my only safe space for now. I wanted

team's practice f

vy door to the arena a

here yet f

ded a moment

ere I usually set up my equip

rd, forcing t

our sister'

e actually stole my spot

passion. I'd always loved

hat day when I was on the rink playing with other kids and Cel

as my therapist had said. Now I hav

op when rough han

ut another palm was over my mouth,

dly, my heart b

y arms, yanking them behind my

. "Steal all her analyst equipment. We need

te the hand co

oice hissed. "H

hair, yanking my head b

hey were at this point. But

my eyes as I almos

They yanked cords out of the wall, threw my bag asid

ried to scre

o the arena

He

he hands let go of my eyes, my

ed in with Re

down until my kne

one of th

rd the back exit, ju

ng toward the back door. "

turned ba

wn, his hands r

said softly. "