Chapter 4

Selena's Pov 

“Last night…” Jake began, but I cut him off with a wave of my hand.

“I don’t need your explanation. I don’t need your fake words or your insincere apology. Last night made me realize where I truly stood in your life. I was never actually important to you. That explains why you’ve always insisted we keep our relationship a secret.”

I gave a bitter smile. “I was the foolish one here. I could’ve read between the lines all along, but I chose to believe your words.”

“Jasmine is my girlfriend,” Jake suddenly blurted out, and my gaze flew to him.

“What happened between us was just a fling. I didn’t expect it to get this far. I just wanted to toy around with you and then toss you aside. Now the whole school knows, and I almost lost Jasmine because of it,” he said, clenching his jaw.

A scoff escaped my lips as I stared at him in disbelief. Was he seriously saying this to me?

He wasn’t here to apologize… he was here to tell me I was nothing? That I was a fling? A mere toy?

Tears stung my eyes instantly, a sharp ache twisting deep in my chest like a knife being cruelly pushed in.

“You bastard,” I whispered, my voice breaking.

“I came to say this, Selena. It’s over between us—if there was ever anything between us at all. And please, don’t go around throwing tantrums. I believe you’re more mature than that.”

With that, he walked past me, brushing my shoulder as if I meant nothing.

The tears I had been holding back finally spilled, streaming down my cheeks as humiliation wrapped around me like a suffocating blanket.

It was already bad enough that he cheated on me and the whole school knew about it, but now he had the audacity to tell me to my face that I was nothing more than a game to him.

Jasmine had been his girlfriend all along. And me? I… I was just a toy. Something to be used and discarded.

My chest burned as I made my way back to the dorm. I didn’t even have the strength to return to the stadium or watch the game.

I couldn’t even imagine facing the other students, not when I knew the truth. Jasmine would have already told everyone I tried to steal Jake from her. I didn’t think I could handle that.

Some time passed before I heard the dorm door open. I quickly shut my eyes and pretended to be asleep. I couldn’t face Ava or Nia right now. What would I even say? That I left the stadium because I found out I was just Jake’s little game? No. I didn’t even want to think about it anymore, so I kept pretending.

“There she is,” Ava muttered, frustration in her voice. “For fuck’s sake, I don’t even know what to do with her anymore.”

I stayed still as she rambled on about how the game had ended in our favor. Cullen and his team had completely destroyed the opposing side. I listened quietly until sleep finally pulled me under.

The next day, I didn’t go to class. Ava and Nia tried to get something out of me, but I lied and said I had a headache—which wasn’t entirely a lie.

My head was pounding. I groaned as I got out of bed and walked to the fridge to grab a bottle of water, only to find it empty.

A frustrated growl slipped past my lips. I was so damn thirsty. Otherwise, I would’ve just stayed in bed. But I couldn’t, so I grabbed a coat and walked out of the dorm.

I hadn’t even reached the food truck down the road when I felt someone’s gaze on me. I turned around and there he was—Cullen.

He was standing near the far side of the arena, just outside the locker room gates. His helmet was tucked under his arm, and his eyes… they were locked on me.

It was obvious he had just come back from training; his boots were still on.

Before I could look away, he started walking toward me, and my breath caught in my throat.

“Hey,” I mumbled softly when he got closer. His eyes swept over my appearance before settling on my face.

“You weren’t at the stadium last night,” he said, his voice calm but firm.

My brows furrowed.

He noticed?

“Uh, yeah… I had something going on,” I mumbled, ignoring the way my heart fluttered at the thought of him noticing my absence despite being so focused on the game.

“Or… was it because you didn’t want to see me?” he asked before giving a faint smile. “You don’t have to do that, Selena. Even if what happened between us doesn’t mean anything to you, don’t avoid me.”

Avoid him? I wasn’t!

“I—” I started, but before I could finish, I heard my name being called from behind. Cullen turned and walked away without another word.

My heart squeezed painfully as I watched him go.

“Finally decided to come outside, huh?” Ava said as she reached me. She glanced at Cullen’s retreating figure before turning her gaze back to me.

“What’s going on between you two?” she asked.

I started walking away. Screw the damn water—I wasn’t thirsty anymore.

“Nothing,” I said flatly as Ava walked beside me.

But my mind wasn’t on Ava. It was on Cullen.

Did he really think I was avoiding him because of what happened between us? I wasn’t. If anything, I could never forget that moment.

“Anyway, there’s a party tonight,” Ava announced casually.

“I’m not interested,” I said dryly, waving her off.

“You didn’t even ask what the party’s about.”

I stayed silent, but she kept talking as we headed back to the dorm.

“Well, it’s to celebrate last night’s win. Everyone’s going to be there,” she said, lowering her voice slightly. “Including Jake.”

I glanced at her. “To celebrate the win?”

She nodded.

If it was to celebrate the victory… then Cullen would be there. And maybe, just maybe, I’d get the chance to clear the air between us.

“Nia went to get your dress,” Ava added quickly. “She said you need to look good tonight—show everyone who you are and put them back in their place. Don’t say no, please.”

I didn’t need convincing. My mind was already made up.

“I’ll go to the party,” I said firmly.