LOGINI didn’t think it was possible for me to hate anyone this much.
Tyler’s father is dressed in a crisp suit, looking like the older version of his first son. Except, Tyler radiates warmth sometimes. This man before me doesn’t.
I don’t miss the way his eyes take in my house with disdain, and the late afternoon sun casting shadows on his face makes his expression look
I barely slept.Every time I closed my eyes, I saw Tyler’s father standing on my porch again, completely certain he could destroy my future with a phone call.Getting into an Ivy League school may not be my dream, but they’re my parents and I can’t afford to disappoint them.My hands tremble as I tie my hair back, and I keep replaying his words in my head while I get ready for school.The bags under my eyes look gruesome and my skin looks sickly pale, but I refuse to cower.“You ready?” Maya appears behind me, both of us staring into the mirror. When she came last night, it was with an overnight bag, and she held me all night as I wept.I plaster a sm
I didn’t think it was possible for me to hate anyone this much.Tyler’s father is dressed in a crisp suit, looking like the older version of his first son. Except, Tyler radiates warmth sometimes. This man before me doesn’t.I don’t miss the way his eyes take in my house with disdain, and the late afternoon sun casting shadows on his face makes his expression look even colder.My hand grips the edge of the door for stability. “Can I help you?”I don’t bother masking the venom in my voice. He lays his hands on Tyler; he deserves worse.His lips curve faintly, though there’s no real kindness in the gesture. “I’m sure you can.” He glances past me briefly into the house before returning his gaze to me. “You’re L
Tyler is the first person I look for after the bell rings. Except, he’s nowhere to be found.Students flood the hallway, rushing toward the exits like they’ve just been released from captivity.Maya was pulled into a last-minute rehearsal, so I’m left standing awkwardly in the parking lot with my bag half-zipped, looking for a boy who seems to have disappeared off the face of the earth.His car isn’t here either.Sighing, I zip my back fully and sling it over my shoulder. Just when I’m about to start walking home, Noah jogs up to me, smiling.“Need a ride?” He asks.“Oh, you don’t have to,” I mutter.
By the time PE ends, my bones feel like jelly.The exhaustion isn’t from Mr. Daniels’ merciless drills alone, but from Tyler, Noah, and constantly holding the attention of everyone who seems to think Tyler and I are nothing but entertainment.Once everyone starts to troop out of the gym, I notice Tyler striding towards me. I say a quick goodbye to Noah before grabbing my bag and heading to the girls’ bathroom.He can’t follow me there, and at this point if I can get five minutes alone, I’ll take it.Just as I get closer to the end of the corridor, near the lockers, I hear voices around the corner.“I’m serious, Alex.”Immediate
Avoid Tyler at all costs.That’s the mantra I keep repeating in my head as I head to PE with Maya. Considering the gym is huge and Mr. Daniels likes to split the class into groups, it shouldn’t be such a hard task.I just have to remain on the opposite side of the gym from Tyler at all times and pretend that he doesn’t exist. Easy peasy.However, my plan is quickly foiled when I feel Tyler’s eyes on me as soon as I step into the gym.Ignoring the feeling, my sneakers squeak faintly against the polished floor as I head toward the far bleachers where Maya is already sitting.“Hey,” she says, concern on her face as she looks me over. “How did your talk go?”
The second the words leave my mouth, I know everyone heard them.A hush ripples across the nearby tables.Maya’s eyes dart around nervously. “Okay… maybe this conversation shouldn’t happen in the cafeteria.”I’m already standing. “Come with me,” I tell Tyler.His brows knit together. “Lila…”“Now.”Something in my tone must convince him, because after a brief hesitation, he pushes his chair back and follows me.The whispers start immediately, but I keep my head down as chairs scrape and phones lift, and walk faster.
Whispers of Tyler’s name follow me as soon as I step on school grounds, and it doesn’t take me long to find out why.“He played like shit at the last scrimmage,” one of the students huddled near the lockers says. “Coach was pissed.”“I heard college scouts were there,” another whispers, wide-eyed.
Tyler is awake when I’m finally allowed in. He’s sitting up on the exam table with his injured arm braced stiffly at his side. His shoulder is wrapped and an ice pack is balanced carefully against it. There’s a faint sheen of sweat along his temple, but otherwise, he looks composed. A doctor stand
The storm from last night has left the field smelling like wet grass and metal. The bleachers are damp and the cold air is merciless, but my best friend doesn’t seem to care as she exchanges googly eyes with Alex across the field.Practice starts in fifteen minutes, but half the team is already out
“I asked you a question, Garcia,” Tyler scowls.I let the bottle of painkillers drop to the floor. “I thought you said come in,” I manage weakly.“I didn’t.”“Well, I heard something.”A muscle ticks beneath his skin. “Did I not explicitly tell you to stay out of my way? And yet here you are in my b







