Se connecter***~~~CHANCÉ~~~***Now I know why River was spacing out during his tutorial. His father is coming home today.I've met Mr. Dawson once. And God, he looks scary. His voice is thick. It holds power. He's also a large man — clearly, River got his height from him. A beautiful man too. River got all his features from his father except his eyes. Those came from his mother.But right now, my focus is on Cortney. There's a worry in her voice.The devil. That's what she called her own father.I want to speak out. Console her. But what haven't I said before that Cort hasn't already heard? So I keep my mouth shut. I reach for my lab coat and close my locker. Then I reach out and hold her hand instead.We go to the lab. When my eyes meet River's, my step slows. My heart melts.He looks so handsome. He's always looked like that.I give him a small, hidden smile. He smiles back.Then Cortney and I walk to take our seats.Mr. Fetch enters the class. He's wearing a lab coat that looks two sizes too
***~~~CORTNEY~~~***The devil is coming back home. Tomorrow.River's words hit me like a brick. My heart tries so hard to escape. My blood is hot. My breathing comes out hard."Hey, Cort. Slow down." River leaves his chair and runs to me. "Slow down.""I'm fine.""Are you sure?"I look at him and force a smile. "I'm fine."He lets me go. I keep that fake smile on my face."J—just don't let him get into your head. He manipulates people." I take a deep breath. "And you are not like him."I don't want to break down in front of River. I know he's had his own fair share of Daddy's wrath, but he's still their favorite. He gets all the attention.But me? I've always been pushed aside. The unnoticed one. The background. It's like I'm not even there.So I thought — if I finally chase the limelight the way they always wanted me to, I'd also get attention. Mom wouldn't leave without telling me. Dad would reach out to check on me. I'd become the child they're proud of.I'd become their favorite
It feels distant. My mind is blurry from the outside world. Everyone around me feels like a distant memory.I can feel the heat move around my body as I recall the call with my father. The threat he always gives before a game. Why am I even surprised by this one? If it's not "Don't lose," then it's "Don't disappoint me, boy." Or many more.But I feel anxious. I'm sick, and this game on Friday will be brutal. More brutal than the games I've played.I've faced Daniel Marrius before. It was a strong game, but I won. I don't think he'll let my ass go this time. A few months ago, I received a call from an unknown number, and he introduced himself. He said he will have me taken to the hospital when next we meet.I wondered why he suddenly hates me. I know the game of hockey can be brutal, but it's still a game.It isn't anymore for Daniel.The girl I hooked up with — the one who threatened me with being pregnant the day Chan saved me — was his sister. It came as a shock. Since then, I've be
The sound of my alarm wakes me up. Half asleep, I reach for my phone and turn it off. I groan, turning to the other side.My eyes flip open. After soaking in the silence for a few moments, I get to my feet and leave for the bathroom to clean up.Jessica is on duty today and got breakfast ready. A few minutes ago, while I was dressing into my jersey, she knocked on my door to ask what I'd like to eat. I've not been tasting my food due to being sick and still healing — but the sickness has reduced compared to yesterday.I told her spaghetti was okay. I hope I get to taste it this time.I walk to the dining table and see Ricky already there.He smiles at me as I pull out the chair and sit. Sometimes it's always like this when we train around 7 a.m. Cortney doesn't join us because school doesn't start until 8, so she always gets more sleep."Are you feeling better now?" he asks."Yeah." I nod.I don't have the strength to fight with Ricky today. But if he keeps bringing me that energy I d
***~~~RIVER~~~***If I knew the tiredness and sneezing that came out of me would lead to me being sick, I'd not have fallen asleep.I wake up feeling a little better than I was a few minutes ago. But my blanket is gone away from me. The air conditioner is turned to the highest setting, and I'm out of my clothes — only wearing briefs. I'm terrified. I sit up quickly. How did I get to this point? I truly remember wearing my joggers and hoodie to bed.Immediately, my stomach growls.I groan, ruffling my hair. Right. I didn't eat breakfast.My hand reaches for my phone. When I see the time, I gasp loudly. It's already almost 4 p.m.?How is that possible? I could have sworn I slept for about thirty minutes. That means I missed practice? Class. Ah — fuck! My tutorial with Chan!I leave the bed immediately, and a sudden headache hits me like a gunshot. My hands press against my head as I groan.Then I stop when I see Chan in the distance. I stand straight. Blink. Check if I'm imagining he
I open my mouth to say something — to defend myself so he doesn't think something is going on between River and me — but suddenly, I hear Cortney's voice."Chancé?"My body goes still.I am in hot soup.I turn my gaze at her as she walks and stands beside Ricky."What are you doing here?"I swallow hard. I don't know what to say. I've been caught. This is over. Everything is."She's with me." Ricky's voice is steady as he chimes in to save the day. "I called her here to practice our lines," he says, but his eyes never left mine.I nod quickly. "Yes. He… texted me to come. And I also thought of surprising you.""Right..." Cortney's eyes go from mine to Ricky's.Ricky grabs my hand quickly. "We'll be in my room."He drags me back up, and I see the look on Cortney's face. The same look I hate to see. That smirk.As we walk through the hall, with his hand still holding mine, he whispers to me, "Start talking."Ricky finally lets go of my hand, opens the door to a room, and makes me enter f







