Novels by Lola St Clair

The silence inside Daniel’s car was thick enough to choke on.Outside the tinted windows, the angry crowd at Oakridge Prep faded into a blur of grey snow and flashing police lights. The chanting, the camera phones, the venomous glares, it was all left behind in the slush, but the ice in my chest refused to melt.My hands were shaking violently in my lap. I clamped them together, burying my fingernails into my palms until it hurt, trying to force the terror down.Daniel kept his eyes glued to the slick road, his long fingers gripping the steering wheel so tightly his knuckles were stark white. He didn't say a word until we passed the town limits, turning onto the deserted access road that ran alongside the frozen river."You didn't flinch," he said, his voice low and rasping against the quiet hum of the heater. "Back on the steps. When the whole school was screaming at you... you didn't pull your hand away."I swallowed past the lump in my throat, staring out at the bare, black trees p

The shadow outside the alcove paused. A heavy breath echoed against the metal janitor's door, and the silver handle dipped down an inch.Daniel reacted instantly, crashing his back against the brick and dragging me into the darkest corner. His arm pressed firmly across my waist, shielding my body with his broad frame. I froze, pulse racing so hard that I was convinced the person in the hallway could hear it. After three excruciating seconds, the door handle clicked back up. Heavy footsteps slowly receded down the concrete corridor toward the main lobby.The moment the footsteps died out, I planted both hands against Daniel’s chest and shoved him back hard."Fake date me, Emily," Daniel whispered immediately, stepping back but keeping his dark eyes locked on mine. "Give us an excuse to be seen together everywhere. Help me figure out who edited that server file, and I promise I will protect your scholarship."I let out a harsh, disbelieving laugh. "Are you insane? If I walk out of here

The morning air outside the school tasted like exhaust fumes and ice. I pulled my jacket tight against the cold, trying to ignore the row of white news vans parked along the curb. Cameras were already set up near the front steps, pointed like weapons at every student walking through the double doors."Is it true he used his elbow?" a girl whispered near the lockers, her phone glowing in her palm. "Someone on Twitter said Jesse has a fractured skull.""He should be in handcuffs," a guy replied, slamming his locker shut. "Daniel always belonged in a cage anyway."I kept my chin down and clutched my backpack strap as I hurried past. My leather-bound notebook felt like a brick inside my bag. Every screen I passed was playing the exact same fifteen-second clip.By six o'clock this morning, the video had gone totally viral. It had over two million views, trending under tags calling Daniel a thug, a criminal, and a monster.I stopped at my locker, my fingers trembling as I pulled out my phon

Blood looks entirely different when it hits cold ice. It does not spread like water, but pools fast, thick and bright red against the white sheet."Emily, get those penalty minutes down right now," Coach Miller barked, slamming his clipboard against the glass behind the bench. "What are you staring at?""Sorry, Coach," I said, my fingers shaking as I clicked my pen.I looked back down at my notebook, but my eyes drifted straight back across the blue line. The arena was loud enough to make my chest vibrate. Three minutes left in the third period. Tied game, two to two. The rivalry between our school and Eastview had always been dirty, but tonight felt absolutely different.Over on the visiting bench, Jesse Grey was leaning against the board. My stomach twisted into a knot just looking at him. We used to be inseparable until he cut me off last year without a single word. Tonight, he was not playing like the star captain everyone knew. His face was pale, his shoulders tense, and his eyes