Chapter Ten: First Errand 5

Rhea's POV

I was still halfway lost in the teacher's explanation when a folded piece of paper landed on my desk. I looked up and found Elz two seats over, watching me with her eyebrows raised.

I unfolded it under the desk.

Where were you at lunch? I looked everywhere.

I scribbled back fast. Sorry. Jiles didn't let me go. I will explain after class.

I slid it back across when the teacher turned to the board and Elz read it, nodded once, and faced forward again. I didn't have her number yet which was the only reason I hadn't texted her about my movement and some small part of me felt guilty for making her chase paper notes across the classroom to find out where I had disappeared to.

I tried to focus throughout rest of the period. But as we approached the closing hours, my mind started drifting to the rink, to him skating, to the fact that I was actually going to be allowed to stand there and watch instead of sneaking in just to catch a few seconds of him on the ice and record him with my phone just to rewatch it a dozen times once I got home.

Today I didn't need to sneak anything.

The final bell rang and my whole body lit up with it. I bit my lip, already imagining seeing him again when something cracked hard against the back of my head.

Egg.

I went rigid, yolk sliding slowly down into my collar, and turned to find Brianna already laughing, Sasha and Kayla right behind her, Priya hovering near the door like she was standing guard.

"Oops." Brianna pressed a hand to her chest. "My hand slipped.”

"You guys, stop." Elz was on her feet instantly, stepping toward me.

"Oh, fat girl's joining the fun now." Sasha rolled her eyes. "Get in or get out."

I grabbed my bag and tried to move past them toward the door, but they shifted to block it, herding me back toward the center of the room.

“Jiles might have spared you, but we're not letting this slide.” Kayla spat, glaring dangerously.

“He’s already punishing me for it. Can you please just leave me alone.” my voice cracked out before I could stop it.

"Never." Priya crossed her arms. "Not until he actually humiliate you back in front of everyone. Why aren't you enjoying this, by the way? You're the one who started throwing eggs in the first place."

Tears were building fast and I refused to let them fall in front of them. I pushed past Kayla's shoulder and ran, their laughter chasing me down the hall, someone letting out a long mocking whoop behind me as I made it to the bathroom and shoved the door shut.

I looked in the mirror and my stomach dropped. Yolk matted into my hair and collar, foundation streaked where I had tried to wipe at my face, tears already pooling my eyes. How stupid of me to think they would let this go.

I was still cleaning up when Elz pushed the door open, out of breath.

"You should go," I told her before she could say anything. "You will miss the bus."

"I'm so sorry this happened, Rhea." She wrapped her arms around me, and I let myself hold onto it for a second before pulling back.

"Go. I mean it."

She squeezed my hand once and left, and I turned back to the mirror alone, wetting my handkerchief to clean my hair and washed my face. My hands were shaking slightly as I blended the foundation back into place.

By the time I made it outside, I was already horribly late. I ran the whole way to the rink building, my bag slamming against my back with every step, and slowed only when I caught sight of someone walking in just ahead of me.

Naomi. Hair pinned up high, skirt shorter than I had ever seen her wear it.

I stopped dead in the middle of the path.

It wasn't exactly breaking news that she had gone looking for him. But after everything that had already happened between them, the last thing I wanted was to walk into another version of that scene.

I pulled out my phone, fingers already moving. Please, I can't make it today. How about tomo…

Then I remembered the tea. He needed it. Tonight, specifically, not tomorrow.

I deleted the message and stood there a second, trying to remember what my mum would say in a moment like this back when I was very young.

Face your fears.

That gave me some courage and I walked forward, pushing through the doors.

The lobby was lined with old team posters, years of trophies behind glass, and beyond it I could already hear the scrape of skates cutting across ice. I went through the back entrance I always used and stopped short at the sight of her standing inside the enclosed area by the bench while I stood out in the open.

My heart climbed straight into my throat as I stepped forward and every head on the ice turned toward me at once.

I froze completely, pinned under all those stares.

"Isn't that Humpty Dumpty?" Ricky's voice broke the silence first.

"This isn't a library. Run along, kid.” The coach's voice cut through next, sharp and unimpressed.

"She's with me."

My stomach pulled tight at the sound of Jiles’ voice cutting through everyone else's.

"She's with you?" The coach turned on him. "Ashford, this isn't some playground where you bring girls in whenever you feel like it."

"I've never brought anyone here before. Her being here is private." His eyes flicked briefly toward Naomi. "You're free to chase the other one out."

He skated closer, and jutted his chin toward a seat near the bench.

I nodded and sat, too nervous to even glance over at Naomi to see what her face was doing. I heard the coach saying something low to her, firm enough that she didn't argue back, and a second later she was storming out, her hair swinging sharp with each furious step.

I finally let myself look at her as she passed, just in time to catch the exact moment her eyes cut toward me, full of something I didn't want to try naming.

I turned back to Jiles.

He wasn't even watching her leave. His attention had already moved back to the game. And that only made me more curious about whatever history actually sat between the two of them.

I had heard that they used to date, that they were just childhood friends, that their families went way back. None of the versions quite matched up and watching him now, completely unbothered by her walking out in a huff, I still couldn't settle on which one was true.

But I didn't think that for long. I pulled out his notebook and continued writing his notes, stealing glances at the players and pretend to be busy with writing.