Heat On Ice

Selena's POV

The hallway was too damn loud.

Shoes squeaked against the floor. Lockers slammed every five seconds like they were in a contest to see which one could crack open someone’s skull first. People were laughing and yelling and brushing past like I was invisible. I wanted to be invisible. I really, really did. But no. Somehow being invisible still made you a target.

Word spread faster than lice. I was apparently the girl who had "somehow landed Dominic Lakes." Only I hadn’t. At all. He humiliated me in front of the whole school, acted like he didn’t know me, then followed me around like some weird watchdog. And everyone just filled in the blanks with their own fantasy version.

I hated it here.

Sarah told me to let it go. She told me people were dumb and bored and this was high school and if people weren’t gossiping about you they were pretending to be someone else. And maybe she was right. But still.

My stomach did a stupid flip every time I saw him. Like my body was betraying me. Like my cells hadn’t gotten the memo that I was supposed to be done with him.

And now there was a whole school-wide countdown to the big hockey match against Ravenshore High. The team we apparently hated with our whole souls. Everyone was wearing jerseys. Even teachers were talking about it. And of course, Dominic was at the center of it all.

Every time I passed the gym, I saw him practicing like his life depended on it. Throwing pucks so hard into the net it echoed down the halls. He was so angry and so focused it was like the air around him shook.

I tried to stay out of sight. I really did.

But gym class had other plans.

I walked in late. My hair was frizzy from running and my hoodie clung to my skin weird. Coach Daniels didn’t even blink, just tossed a dodgeball my way and pointed at the boys' side.

"Partner up," he said. "Mixed pairs today."

I groaned.

And then I saw him.

Caleb.

Tall. Ridiculously good hair. And smiling at me like he knew a secret about me I didn’t even know.

Let's say I had a weak spot for guys who would totally break a girl's heart.

"Looks like we're up," he said, stepping closer.

I blinked. "What?"

He nodded to the coach’s list. "You and me. Guess it's fate."

I rolled my eyes. But I still smiled.

We stretched out in the back, just the two of us, while Coach yelled at the freshman to stop pelting each other in the face.

"You always this quiet?" Caleb asked.

"No. Just allergic to people."

He laughed. It was warm. Easy. I hated how it made my cheeks heat.

"Well, I’m a people person," he said. "Guess I’ll balance us out."

We tossed the ball back and forth a few times. My fingers were freezing but I didn’t say anything. He told me about how he was running for school rep and how his dog eats socks and how his little sister is obsessed with baking slime cupcakes. And for a second I almost forgot the crap cloud hanging over my head.

Until I looked up and saw him.

Dominic.

Leaning against the gym doors. Watching.

My throat tightened. My hands fumbled the ball and it smacked my arm. I winced.

"You okay?" Caleb asked.

"Yeah," I muttered, rubbing the sting.

Dominic didn’t look away. He just stood there like a statue carved out of anger and confusion. His jaw clenched. His eyes dark. But not glowing. Not today.

Cherry showed up too, like a walking perfume ad. She slinked over to him, probably teleporting from wherever she keeps her jealousy factory. Her hand went straight to his arm. She leaned in, whispering something, then laughed like he’d said something funny. He didn’t laugh. He didn’t even move.

But his eyes stayed on me.

Caleb tossed the ball again. "Earth to Selena."

I snapped out of it. Caught it mid-air. Faked a smile.

"Sorry. Zoned out."

We finished the rest of the class, but I could feel it. That stare. Like heat crawling up my back. Like my skin knew exactly who was watching even when I pretended I didn’t care.

Later, I walked out of the locker room with my head down, hoodie up. I just wanted to get to math without running into him. But of course, fate is a sadistic clown.

He was waiting.

In the hallway. One foot against the wall, arms crossed.

I stopped walking. My lips pressed tight.

"You’re really going to throw yourself at him now?" he said.

My spine straightened. "Excuse me?"

He pushed off the wall. Walked closer. "Caleb. You laughing with him like he’s your new favorite person."

I blinked. "Wow. Someone’s full of himself."

His mouth twisted. "You didn’t answer."

"Why do you care?"

"I don’t."

"Then stop stalking me."

He stepped closer. Too close.

I looked up at him. At the sharp line of his jaw. The way his eyes refused to soften. The way he breathed like he was trying not to explode.

"You think I don’t see what you’re doing?" he said.

"I’m living my life. That’s what I’m doing."

"With him?"

"With whoever the hell I want."

His fists clenched. "You don’t even know him."

"And I knew you?"

That stopped him.

He didn’t answer.

I took a shaky breath. My lips snapped shut again. I didn’t want to cry. Not now. Not here.

"You had your chance to treat me like a person," I said. "You wasted it."

He looked at me like he wanted to say something else. But didn’t.

I walked past him, fast.

And I didn’t look back.