"We looked everywhere for you, you know," Leo said over the noise of cheers echoing in the rink. "We were understaffed distributing the water, but Jade wasn’t worried about that; she was just worried about you." Guilt gnawed at me as I glanced at her in the stands with the cooler hanging on her shoulders. We were at the rink where the hockey team was having a mock match among themselves, and other students had crowded into the bleachers. Each time I heard a stick slam against the puck and the crowd scream, "Goal!" I didn’t need to look to know it was Tristan. I wished they’d all stop screeching—he wasn’t the only one on his team. In fact, I thought it was unfair to put him and George in the same group. But I didn’t care. Instead, I was patiently waiting for the second half so I could give out the water and leave for home. "Still, one hundred and thirteen missed calls." I raised a brow at him. "If I was dead, I wouldn’t be answering any of that." "Trust me," he said, folding
"...She likes him." Jade pulls a petal from another rose, "She likes him not." Another drops to the floor of the car. I try not to groan, sitting in the front seat and munching on fries. She exhaled, and soon, there was a lone petal before my face. "Still don't wanna tell us how you caught the queen's eye?" We were parked in front of El Refugio, a club allowed only on invite, on the watch for the man who’d "mugged" me. Only once we got here did I realize I could’ve told her I hadn’t seen his face because it was dark. The guilt weighed on me as I stuffed more fries into my mouth, stealing a glance at the rearview mirror and seeing Jade’s eager expression. They didn’t need to be here—I’d lied and here they were, being involved, just to keep me close and not leave me alone with my thoughts. I forced myself to look at the petal in her hand and scowled, “I told you she’s just a caring person. She doesn’t want to be my girlfriend. Leo, say something.” When nothing came, I turned a
**MYLES** The room smelled of antiseptic mixed with the stomach-churning scent of open pill bottles scattered on the table beside the bed, the bed where she lay with the covers up to her neck. Thirteen hours, and Ma's fever still hasn't broken. I sat at the edge of the bed, staring at the wall, listening to the silence in the room. Yesterday, I’d walked in to find her half-slumped on the chair, midway through preparing for work, and since then, we've been like this. Quiet, with the weight of our last confrontation still hanging heavy between us. But even though I don't say anything, even though she doesn't talk to me, I stay. I felt her shift on the bed, her speech slower than usual. "I told you not to stay. I said I can handle myself, Carino." She looked at the clock on the table next to the medicine. "There's still time; you can make it. Don't you have practice?" I bit my cheek; she still didn't know that I had been kicked off the team. "That can wait." I forced a small smile.
To make matters worse, they’d found a seat dead center of the club—a spot where he didn’t even have to strain to watch me. I fixed my gaze on the ceiling, heart clenching every time I felt his eyes.Okay, someone really needed to ask this bastard what his problem was. Dressed in a fitted blue three-piece suit that practically screamed “danger,” he leaned back on the sofa next to Eros, nursing a half-filled glass, while his uncle worked the room. He was in his own world, or maybe just bored, his gaze drifting with a few half-hearted nods and handshakes.Yeah, yeah, I get it—how would I know all that if I wasn’t looking? Well, he’s in the middle of the room; where the hell else am I supposed to look?“Did you see Tristan and Eros?” Jade’s voice broke into my thoughts. “I mean, I knew he had pull, but wow, here too? Must be nice being rich.”I raised a brow at her.She rolled her eyes and gestured to the room. “That rich, smartass. That rich.” Her arms folded across her chest. “You think
**JADE**"Myles, are you okay?" I asked. He lifted his face from the kitchen sink, looked at me strangely, and nodded as he breathed, "Yeah. I'm just tired, that's all." I wasn’t stupid; I knew that wasn’t the case. It was instinct, the same way I knew there had been no mugger. That was an aggressive make-out mark. The reason his face had turned red when I touched it. But that bruise on his face—he’d been hit, and not by any mugger. "Give me a moment," he said as he walked around me, past the event where the audience had begun to clear out, and into the restroom. The crowd in the hall had started to thin. The ones remaining indulged in drunken revelry, the conversations louder than the music. But I was lost in thought, barely noticing any of it. What was wrong with Myles, really? Whatever it was... I walked out of the room, glaring at the figure emerging from the stairs. That had everything to do with it. Rage crawled up my chest. He caused it all. Myles had worked so
"I wasn’t myself."“Oh, come on, Astor, hold yourself accountable! You did it out of spite. Admit it!”“If you mean I was pissed, then yes! Anyone would be pissed if you gave their position away, darn it.”Silence. Then, “That’s the confession we needed. We’ll call you back after we’ve made a decision. You’re dismissed, Astor.”It was the next day, and I was still waiting for my name to be called as I sat in the cafeteria, skipping three classes in a row. My phone was switched off, unable to stand the endless ringing. The news had spread like wildfire. It was on everyone’s lips, and in no time, various versions of what had happened began to make rounds.“Yeah, the scholarship kid, the one with the shaved head? He was paid to steal the list, you know.”“He was always jealous of George. That must be why.”“I hate that I once pitied him when he was kicked off the team, but now it all makes sense.”Or the most popular one: “Being on a scholarship and such a vile human is insane.”They th
"...I don't really need you anymore." My eyes flew open, meeting the stark white ceiling above. Cold air chilled my bare upper body, bandaged and covered in medical stickers. I turned to my side, finding it empty except for a nurse asleep at the far end of the room. I swallowed hard. It was all in my head. He was all in my head. It stung that he wasn’t at school, yet he still ruled a corner of my mind, a part that wanted to crawl back to him and beg for the deal. But it was pointless now, with expulsion looming over me. I sighed, listening to the quiet—a fragile comfort keeping me together. But I felt someone nearby, this time real. I opened my eyes to see a second nurse. "You're awake." She pointed to the door. "Your friends want to see you. Feeling up to visitors?" My chest clenched, a different kind of pain than the one in my bones. How long had it been? They were still waiting outside? "I don't want to see them," I said. The nurse blinked, her brows furrowing. "Are you sur
JADEI slam the door shut, only to see him standing right in front of me. Eros takes a step closer, his expression stern. "I demand an apology."I blinked, glancing around for witnesses. Since that night I’d seen him at El Refugio, I understood he was no ordinary person. So I’d made it my goal to stay clear of him.But it was obvious we didn’t share the same goal.“Sorry,” I muttered. His eyes widened in surprise—probably at how easily he got it. I just wasn’t in the mood for anything. I wished I’d stayed home, anything to avoid hearing that Myles had been expelled. I felt hollow, like something essential had been ripped away. And breathing hurt. I didn’t even know you could hurt this much over someone who drove you up the wall as much as Myles did. But he was my best friend, the one who made me smile even when I wanted to strangle him. Being without him felt wrong, like a part of me had gone missing.“Jade,” Eros stopped me again, his hazel eyes softening. “I’m sorry about your fri
EROSEros watched her apply her lipstick, scanning the room for something. Then she turned to him, catching him fighting a smile. Jade glowered playfully at him. "You took it, didn’t you?" He dodged her eyes, shrugging. "I don’t know what you’re talking about." She chuckled, the sound soothing his senses. "I can’t believe you. You can’t keep hoarding all my things, you kleptomaniac." She should watch him more carefully. He had a special place for her things—hidden with his guns. A bottle of her shampoo, a comb, her hoodie, hairpins, and, most recently, her body spray. Creepy? Maybe. But he’d do anything to keep a piece of her when she wasn’t around. Even though she’d started spending more time with him lately, it still wasn’t enough. Every time he watched her drive away, a large part of himself went with her. "Fine then," Jade huffed, grabbing his body spray. "I’ll just use yours." He didn’t want her to leave—not just for the night, but permanently. An idea had been nagg
“… After a session that has lasted so long, I found a couple of gray hairs,” Coach Daniel groaned.There was a rumble of chuckles from the hockey team in the bathroom, most stifling their laughter, but what they couldn’t stifle was the excitement in their eyes.We all had a clue why Coach Daniel had gathered us.“D-Day is next Friday, suckers!” he howled.In the next moment, the dressing room was a chaotic frenzy—boys beating their chests, chanting words I couldn’t make out, diving in all directions with handshakes, pats, and hugs.D-Day. Friday. Twelve days away.Twelve days until my dreams of being picked for the national team could come true. Maybe even another scholarship for college.And the deal with Tristan would finally come to an end.It was something to be thrilled about. Finally, I wouldn’t have to endure his stupid presence. Ha—three wins.Three wins, right?The day before yesterday, I’d walked into my home to find his father sitting on the sofa. I’d been so confused I sto
TRISTANAll it took for Myles to reluctantly agree to accompany us to the rink was Mila giving him that puppy-dog look. He had a soft spot for her, and Mila, ever the opportunist, milked it.Mum surprisingly tagged along, and they all sat in the back seat with Myles, while Al and I listened to their cackles filling the car. Our trips were never this lively. I knew what had changed.At the rink, I realized Mila wasn’t there for me. So, I stood aside with Al, who kept giving me comforting pats on the shoulder as we watched Myles push Mila around.Once or twice, he gave me a wave. The rest of the time, when Mila sat on the pew, trying not to choke on her ice cream, Myles rode her wheelchair.Mum, always exuding class and sophistication, tucked her glasses in and let herself go as Myles wheeled her around the rink."Your father wouldn’t believe this," Al murmured, a crack of amusement in his once stoic face. "Myles just stole all his favorite women."I grumbled in response, knowing that
MYLESA loud scream echoed through the room, jolting me awake as my eyes snapped open. My panicked, dazed gaze scanned the blurry room, struggling to understand where I was and why it felt so different from my own. And what was the firm hardness pressing into my back...?"OMG, they look like lovebirds," said a light, feminine voice."Aww, sorry, Mila, your crush is obviously your brother's boyfriend.""Shut up and just take pictures. Tristan can't lie his way out of this one," the familiar voice huffed.Then giggling. They sounded distant. An arm wrapped around my frame, the hardness pressing further into my back, warmth enveloping me. I sighed, my drowsy gaze drifting closed again. It felt right... so right..."Oh my God, Mila! Mila! Did you see that?"Wait... Mila... Tristan's sister... birthday... cellar... room. Giggling. Giggling in the room. My lids snapped open, eyes widening at the sight of three girls at the door, one with her camera out."What... What are you..." I stopped w
'You know, I'm really going to miss you a lot.'Theodore had screamed for help in a thousand ways, a thousand and one times he had walked up to me. But my head was too far up my own ass to see it, to let myself listen to everything he was really saying. And when he showed it, I didn't believe him.That night, I called the police, and as they checked the scene, sealing the 9mm as evidence, I let them take me, let them lock me up refusing their reminder to call anyone.He had thought about this, made sure there were no other fingerprints on the ammunition except for his own, leaving me a note that said, "Don’t touch anything. Love you, grumpy."In that cell, before my uncle came through, I realized not every hurt can be blocked out. The regret, it comes to haunt you, the guilt probing until all you can do is keep trying to shut it all out.Theodore didn’t have a burial service. I watched nearby in the cemetery as his father barked orders to just "shove the box inside; he had somewhere
"...We weren't close. Even though we both went to Aspen High. I saw him around, but he didn't register in my head. Just like the others, he stayed out of my way." I wondered why... Pfft, he wasn't that observant, was he? Tristan was really going through with telling me everything. Although every word was hesitant and forced, he continued, his voice filling the darkness. "...High school was when he caught my attention... I bumped into him on my way to the rink, tending to a black eye he was trying to hide. I didn't need to ask what happened..." He sighed. "I wasn't about to. It was none of my business. Should have kept it that way." He raked his fingers down his face. "After the game, I went for a shower when I bumped into him again in the bathroom, getting knocked out." He resumed, "...So I stepped in." "I made a lot of mess, enough to get me expelled," he chuckled, "But I was needed for the next game, so I was pardoned with a warning." "Or because your uncle stepped in,
TRISTANMyles walked out of the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, drying his damp, thick hair with a smaller towel. I wondered how many hours it would take for that hair to dry, and how many more hours he'd stay awake.He looked at me, sitting on the floor, on the thick bedspread I'd gotten from the other guestroom while he showered, his brows furrowed."What are you doing there, Tristan?" he asked with a frown. "Why are you on the floor?""No reason..." I answered, lying on my back and scrolling through my phone. If he noticed I was avoiding looking at him, he didn't say anything. If he'd just get clothed already... If only he knew what he did to me."So... you just decided to sleep on the floor?""You heard me the first time.""Yeah, I did. But it doesn't really make sense."I shifted onto my side, turning my back to him. "Turn off the light when you're done."He said nothing, and for the next ten minutes, I listened to him move around the room as quietly as a ghost. Yes,
MYLESI kicked the door hard, but it didn't budge. Turning one last time, I glared at the son of a gun, but this time he wasn't looking at me.He pulled out a bottle of wine, blowing hard against the dust, and made a face—obviously, it wasn't what he wanted. Wasn't as strong as he wanted.Sweat trailed down my back, drenching my shirt. I sighed, fingers reaching up to pop open the first three buttons of my dress shirt.I had been so afraid he was pissed at my intrusion into his family, I hadn't noticed the cellar was way down—a whole room deep into this very large house.And no matter how loud I yelled and banged my now aching fists against the door, no one showed up. No one was coming; he knew.I slid down the wall, staring up at the ceiling. What if we died in here? I looked down at my phone, the service spot screaming a crimson red. The party must have been over."Given up already?" The smug voice filtered into my ears.This time I turned and glared, glad he could see it. Just how
TRISTANThe rest of the day fades into a blue—a happy blue, a strange warmth creeping up my chest as I watch Myles push Mila's wheelchair in tune with upbeat music. The audience's eyes are on them, many glistening. From the corner of my eye, I see Mum wipe a tear as Mila's and Myles' giggles echo through the space.The shame is hard to face. He hasn't known her for even a day, yet he understands what she wants. Maybe a gun isn’t the only solution to my problems. Even if I killed Charles—which I badly want to—it wouldn’t make everything better.But Myles... The organ in my chest softens as the music stops. Seeing Mila pull Myles’ hand so he stays by her side, I frown. Myles looks at me, his face red with embarrassment, surrounded by my family. Pfft... the plan wasn’t for him to be everybody’s escort. What did they even need him for?Obviously everything. For the rest of the day, everyone shares Myles. Father makes him sit among his peers, listening to him awkwardly discuss politics