LOGINLiam's POV"No one." I replied curtly, not wanting Andrea to ask more questions. I turned and started down the hallway toward the changing room, then glanced back at him. "Now, back to my question. Why'd you come watch practice today?"I asked it again, hoping it would pull his focus away from whatever he was trying to figure out.Andrea let out a long breath. "Okay, I'll tell you since you asked twice." He fell into step beside me. "I've been trying so hard to get someone off my mind, but that person's made it clear, with words and actions, that they need space." His head turned toward me. I turned too, our eyes meeting for a brief second. "A whole lot of space." He emphasized, and we both faced forward again.He kept walking beside me. "Seeing this person more every day just makes me want them even worse. My heart won't isn't helping at all."A dull ache spread through my chest. I already knew exactly who he meant. I swallowed. "Who is this person?""You know who it is." He answered
Vera's POV"It'll sure be funnn." She dragged the last word out, then tilted her head. "But since you've already got somewhere to be tomorrow, I guess it's fine."My eyes drifted toward the field. "The party's tomorrow." I turned back to her. "Let's see if I can make it work.""It'd be so nice to spend tomorrow night with you." She smiled, though the smile looked stiff on her face.I was about to say something when her phone rang loud, cutting our conversation. Queen pulled it out fast and pressed it to her ear."What?" She listened a few seconds, then rolled her eyes. "Eishh, it's fine, I'm coming."She ended the call and dropped her phone, her hand landed on my lap. "I have to go, Vera. Kingsley just called, said he's about to leave.""Ohh." I nodded. "Okay, bye.""Bye." She pushed herself up off the bleacher."Isn't he supposed to be on the field?" I asked, looking up at her."He faked being sick to skip practice."My eyebrows shot up. "He's a smart guy." I gave her a wink.Queen g
Vera's POV The giggle grew louder, and the hands covering my eyes shifted slightly across my face. I turned my head fast, and my eyes landed on Queen. A smile spread across my face. "I knew it was you." She laughed and stepped aside, walking around to stand in front of me. "How'd you know it was me?" She raised an eyebrow. I rolled my eyes. "Do I have any other female friends besides you?" Her lips slid to the side as she wiggled her fingers. "What about Peter? He's your friend too." "Yes, but he isn't a female." I raised an eyebrow right back at her. "And he definitely doesn't smell like one." Queen stared at me for a beat before shaking her head. "Okay, fair point." She dropped down into the seat beside me and rested her head on my shoulder. I shifted slightly to make her comfortable, and neither of us said anything after that. We just watched the boys on the field, the sound of their shoes tearing through grass mixing with shouts from the crowd around us. Then suddenly, "G
Vera's POVI didn't know where to go. All I knew was that I wanted to be as far from that dance studio as possible right then. My feet carried me down the hallway without me paying attention to where they were taking me, my mind still stuck on everything that had just happened. Sarah. The lighter. The pain still throbbing on my wrist. And the way I'd fought back against all of them.After a few minutes, I found myself standing in front of the restroom. I pushed the door open and stepped inside. It was quiet in there. I walked straight to the sink and turned on the faucet, water rushing out fast.My eyes dropped to my hands, then to my right wrist, the spot where Sarah had burned me still stinging. I moved my fingers around it carefully, avoiding the burn itself. A small smile crept onto my face. At least I hadn't let them walk over me like some pushover."I need to wash their stench off my hands." I muttered, sliding my palms under the running water, scrubbing carefully, keeping cle
Sarah's POV"Arghh! My knee hurts so bad." A groan tore out of me as I gripped the locker for support, pain flaring through my knee with every small movement."We shouldn't have gone after her, Sarah." Lina's voice cut through my thoughts.I turned my eyes toward her. She sat on the floor, one hand pressed to the side of her head, hair a mess and a small frown pulling at her face."You should've held her tighter." I snapped.Lina's eyes went wide. "I did! If only Mia hadn't let go of her other hand."My gaze slid to Mia. "You shouldn't have loosened your grip, Mia."Mia stood with her back turned, forehead against the locker, shoulders heaving with each breath. "I shouldn't have wasted a single ounce of care on you." She said sharply. "I should've just focused on teaching your little prey a lesson."I stared at her. "The heck! I'm not arguing with either of you right now." I shifted my weight against the locker, forcing myself to stand straighter despite the pain screaming up my leg.
Vera's POV"Let's see how confident you are once you've got burns on your skin." Sarah said, a wide, wicked smile spreading across her face.My eyes stayed locked on the lighter in her hand, the small flame dancing at its tip, inching closer to my skin. Then, out of nowhere, the memory of firefighters battling the fire that swallowed our old house came rushing back. The flames. The smoke. The screams. My father's body being carried out of that burning house.My heart slammed so hard I could hear it pounding in my own ears.Sarah stepped closer. "Liam won't look at you twice after this." Her smile stretched wider.I wanted to move. I wanted to yank my hand away, but the two girls still had me pinned against the locker.Sarah lifted the lighter and pressed it against my right wrist. Pain tore through my body, and I sucked in a sharp breath. The heat against my skin felt unbearable, and for a second I could almost smell my own skin burning.But I didn't scream.Instead, the scream I'd le
Vera's POV I stood still, the glass of water frozen in my hand. What the heck? "I should be the one asking you that." He said with his eyes carrying suspicion. My eyes went wide as I stared at him across the kitchen counter. The same guy from last night. The same guy whose lips had pressed aga
Vera's POVLiam stopped moving right away. His face showed clear surprise. His hand pulled away from my waist so fast, like my skin had burned him."What are you doing here, Sarah? We broke up, remember?"His voice sounded more shocked than guilty.My chest was still moving up and down fast from ev
Vera's POV"Yes, I am."I replied before I even thought about the words I said."Welcome." She said, still with that warm smile on her face.She stepped aside to give me enough space to enter.I walked into the office."Off you go to class, Liam." I heard her say the words behind me.I didn't look
Vera's POV "I saw him with a new girl, Anita." My eyes would not leave Andrea across the crowded party hall. A blonde girl was sitting on his lap while he whispered something into her ear that made her laugh very loudly. My chest hurt badly. After I lost my dad in a fire accident when I was fourte







