RY

rt black dress and applied enough makeup to look like I care

ng once-over. "There she is.

The thumping music and flashin

oor. As we climbed the stairs, we saw them immediat

epting congratulations and compliments. Fuller was beaming,

the crowd. The noise level dipped for

ng with a complicated expression. Haleigh's arm

t to the bar and ordered a vodka

e on my mobile phone sou

y change your mind a

g, "Your status is not suitable for attending toda

ain of the ice hockey te

message. I can't imagine how much impact it w

ggered over, a beer in his hand. "Well, well, look what we have here," he dra

hat could freeze fi

h your mouth, Chad, or I'll shove

wave. His brow was furrowed. "Willing to come here to my

od, I just came here to drink," I said lightly.

his voice a low . "Avery, come

rm, but I jerked ba

awing attention. The music see

hispered, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. "I know you've always liked him, but we

s were so absurd

urning in my throat, my voice clear and steady. "Fuller Bond, in front of a

t. I needed the fi

curious faces of his teammates,

stant than I had ever heard it. "Avery, I've always considered you a... a

od f

t me like a

onlookers. I saw Chad smirk and whisper

finally shattered. All my fight, all my dign

ed my

y vodka soda directly int

the crowd and Haleigh's theatr

cold night air, running blindly across the campus green. I could

nto a deserted bench under a large oak tree. The sobs I had be

love. A joke. I h

there until I froze

ver my shoulders. A jacket, smelli

y vision blurr

ed against the moonlight like some