CHAPTER FOUR: UNRAVELING

🏑 KLAUS'S POV 🏑

I was pissed off.

First, at Dad for bringing up therapy like I was some sick, demented child who couldn't function without some shrink digging through my head.

Second, at Coach Leo for taking every opportunity to run to my father to complain instead of handling the team himself like an actual coach should.

And third—maybe most frustrating—at Adriana for looking at me with those damn eyes that made me want to stand in front of her and demand she never look at anyone else that way ever again.

Which was insane. Very insane.

Worse, I didn't even know when I'd started feeling this way about my sister's best friend.

I'd always tried to stay away from Adriana Coleman. Tried not to look at her the way a guy looks at a girl he wants. I tried to see her the same way I saw my annoying-ass sister—off-limits, untouchable, just another fixture in my life I didn't need to think about.

But ever since our encounter in the kitchen, it was becoming impossible to look at her the same way.

Not when I'd seen her up close like that. Her soft, smooth skin. Those clear amber eyes that seemed to see right through all my bullshit. Thin-shaped lips that I'd been imagining kissing way too often now.

Holding back was getting harder. I needed distance from her..

Because if she kept looking at me like that, I was going to do something stupid. Something I couldn't take back.

I strolled into my Advanced Calculus class, the room already filled with students chattering and messing around before the teacher arrived. Like always, several girls gave me flirty looks—batting their eyelashes, playing with their hair, shifting in their seats to show more legs.

I wasn't in the mood.

My mind kept circling back to the storage room. To the way she had looked at me when she'd caught me with that girl. To the way she'd closed her eyes when I'd gotten close to her, like she was expecting—no, wanting—me to kiss her.

I'd been so close. So fucking close to grabbing her face and kissing her hard enough to make this gnawing feeling go away.

But then I heard my sister's voice calling for her.

And I'd walked away.

Again.

I didn't like Molly—she pissed me off often and always looked at me with those judgmental eyes like she knew exactly what kind of person I was and found me lacking.

But I knew she loved Adriana. Probably more than anyone else in her life.

And she'd hate me if I took Adriana away from her. If I corrupted her sweet, innocent best friend.

Not that Molly’s opinion mattered. I just didn’t want Adrianna caught in the middle.

Where the hell is that thought coming from?

I sighed and took my usual seat at the back of the classroom, dropping my bag on the floor.

"What crawled up your ass, Brennan?" Ryan, my teammate, asked as he slid into the seat next to me.

"Nothing," I mumbled, pulling out my calculus textbook. I might be a lot of things, but I wasn’t a dumb jock scraping by. My studies were always a priority. That's why I was at the top of our class—captain of the hockey team and honor roll.

"You sure?" Ryan pressed, concern clear in his voice. "Because you've been in a shit mood all day."

"Yes, Ryan. Drop it already," I said, my tone sharper than I meant it to be.

Ryan raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, man. Whatever."

He faced forward just as Mrs. Peterson walked in and started the lesson.

I tried to focus on derivatives and equations, but my mind kept drifting back to her.

༺༺♡♡༻༻

"We're having team practice tomorrow, everyone!" Coach Leo shouted across the open field after practice ended. "Y'all need to gear up and get ready. And I mean everyone—drop your differences."

His eyes settled on me pointedly, but I was too irritated to care.

"Alright, boys. Hit the showers and go home. Rest up," he said, waving us off.

Everyone started heading toward the locker room, but just as I reached the exit, he called out.

"Klaus. Sean. Stay back."

I stopped mid-step, my jaw clenching. Sean, who'd been a few feet ahead, also paused and turned around, his expression just as annoyed as mine probably was.

We both walked back and took seats on the bench, as far from each other as possible.

Coach Leo exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "What's going on with you two?"

"Nothing," we both said at the same time. Clipped. Sharp. Identical.

"I'm not buying that," Coach said, his voice tired. He looked older suddenly, the lines around his eyes more pronounced. "You both keep saying nothing's wrong, but you won't stop fighting. Every practice, every game. And it's affecting the whole team."

Neither of us responded.

"You need to talk," Coach continued, his tone firm now. "Sort out whatever this is. Because I'm telling you right now—if you two can't get your shit together, I'm benching you both for the upcoming match."

"Maybe you should tell Klaus that he needs to stop acting like he's better than everyone else—" Sean started.

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," I warned, turning to glare at him with all the venom I could muster.

"Or what?" Sean shot back, returning my glare with equal intensity.

"You see?" Coach Leo said, gesturing between us in frustration. "This. This right here is the problem. You can't even have a conversation without going at each other's throats."

He stood up, shaking his head. "I'm done. Get out. Both of you. Figure out how to sort yourselves out, or I'll do exactly what I said—bench you both. And I don't care if you're the captain, Klaus. No one is above the team."

Sean and I both got up and headed for the exit, turning opposite directions the moment we were outside.

༺༺♡♡༻༻

I made my way across the parking lot toward my Jeep, spotting Molly and Adriana already waiting by the car. Ryan was there too, talking to my sister about something that had her laughing.

"What's up, man?" Ryan said as I approached, grinning.

I rolled my eyes at him and popped the trunk, tossing my gym bag inside. My gaze drifted to Adriana, who was standing quietly off to the side, her expression distant like she was lost in thought.

That made me smile for some reason I didn't want to examine or ponder on.

"There's a party tonight at Madison's place," Ryan said, leaning against my car. "You should come, Klaus. It's gonna be wild."

"Not sure," I said, closing the trunk. "Got some stuff to do at home."

"Like stuffing your dick in another random girl?" Molly interjected with a sweet smile that didn't match the sarcasm in her words.

"Shut up, Molly," I said, my eyes somehow finding Adrianna again.

She was looking at me with those eyes. The ones that made my chest feel tight.

Damn.

Ryan laughed. "You two don't act like siblings at all, but it's entertaining as hell."

He turned his attention to Molly and Adrianna. "You two should come too. Both of you. It'll be fun."

"What—" Adriana started to protest, her eyes going wide.

"We'll be there!" Molly interrupted, her face lighting up with excitement.

I looked at my sister like she'd lost her mind. Adriana looked so pale and shocked.

And right there, I became so uncomfortable with the idea of her going to that party.

She looked too fragile for a place like that. Especially with those eyes and that innocent way she carried herself.

I'd never even seen her at a party before. She wasn't the type.

Fuck, Molly.

"It's okay, Ana," Molly said, throwing an arm around Adriana's tense shoulders. "We'll be fine. I'll even get permission from your parents. They love me."

"Alright, that's settled then," Ryan said, patting my shoulder with way too much enthusiasm.

The urge to punch him for inviting them hit me instantly.

"See you tonight, Brennans," Ryan said with a wave. "You too, Ana."

He walked off toward his own car, leaving an uncomfortable silence behind.

"Come on, Ana," Molly said, opening the passenger door. "Let's get you home so I can convince your parents to let you live a little."

She slid into the front seat, leaving Adriana and me standing by the car.

Adriana looked uncomfortable. Nervous. Like she wanted to say something but didn't know how.

"Get in, doll," I said, unable to stop the small smile that tugged at my lips. "You look like you're about to faint."

I walked around and got into the driver's seat. After a moment's hesitation, Adriana climbed into the back.

I caught her eyes in the rearview mirror as I started the engine.

She looked away first—and somehow, I didn’t want her to.