LOGIN~ZANDER~ I tried my best not to think about what Coach said earlier as I shoved some of Rhea's sweets into my pocket and carried the stuff I had left earlier.Our next game was going to be intense because Mr Samson, the top recruiter for the NHL, was going to be there.I hadn't been taking things so seriously before but now, I needed to actually give it my all and impress him.I needed to get into the NHL.I shook my head to get rid of that thought as I walked out of the locker room.Right now, my priority was to make Rhea happy, I could pressure myself over the NHL later.“Hey Zander!” “Yo Zander!”I raised my hand slightly and waved at the freshmen calling out my name.It felt so odd seeing this because usually, everyone seemed to be walking on eggshells around me.I wasn't sure if I liked it or not.I glanced towards where Rhea was supposed to be waiting for me and smiled immediately when I saw her.Ever since we started dating, my heart always skipped a beat when I saw her. It
~RHEA~ Heather hardly spoke to me that day unless she was pointing out something she wanted me to get for myself, insisting she would pay.It was meant to be fun but my lack of interest made it awkward.“Let's go to this shop so you can…”“I'm not going” I interjected and she slowly turned to me.“What do you mean…”“If you didn't want me here, you could have just said so. Why act this way?” I asked, biting back my lower lip to stop myself from crying.I've been trying to hold back since we got here but I didn't like her new attitude at all.She furrowed her eyebrows.“What are you talking about, Rhea…”“Are you going to leave me just like Chase and Sienna did?” I asked slowly but loud enough for her to hear.Her eyes widened instantly before they softened and she walked up to me and wrapped her arms tightly around me.“Of course not, silly girl. That's never going to happen,” She murmured before pulling away.“I'm just not in a good mood now but it's not your fault” She added and
~RHEA~I didn’t know what to make of Chase’s message last night. I’d spent hours thinking about what his words meant, but I still couldn’t figure it out.“Eat, Ladybug.”I turned to Zander, and guilt welled up inside me.He’d asked me several times if I was okay, and I’d wanted to tell him about Chase’s message, but something had stopped me. I couldn’t explain what it was yet.My mother had also sent me a message, reminding me to call her and come home.I couldn’t deal with her right now. I couldn’t let her ruin the happy bubble I was currently in, just like I couldn’t let Chase get inside my head.“You okay?” Zander asked softly.I looked at the worried expression on his face, and my heart melted.I couldn’t let Chase destroy what Zander and I were gradually building. I loved how I felt whenever I was with him, and I wanted things to stay this way.“I’m okay. Just tired.” I picked up the burger he’d gotten for me and took a bite.Even if my stomach couldn’t hold it down, it was worth
~HEATHER~ I watched the doors, waiting for Rhea to pop up as I sat beside Mason in the cafeteria.After reading her message last night about her mother, I immediately tried to call her back but she told me she was tired so I let it go but today, today I wasn't letting go.If she walked in here and it looked like she had cried herself to sleep, I was going to find Chase and I swear…“Heather!” I lifted my head up and was surprised when Zander walked into the cafeteria alone.Immediately, all eyes turned to him and not once did he act like he cared.Knowing Zander, he probably didn't.Wait… why was he calling me?“Can I talk to you for a second?” He asked and my eyes widened.Zander and I have never had a conversation without Rhea being present before. Was something wrong with her?“Is everything okay?” Mason asked beside me.“Yes. I just need to speak with Heather" Zander said, his face giving nothing away.“I'll be right back” I said to everyone on the table with a smile before f
~RHEA~My hands were shaking.I clasped them together, hoping it would stop, but the trembling only grew worse.What had Chase told my mother? Had he told her that I was stealing Lyra’s life? That I had taken everything that belonged to my sister?But she was the one who had forced me into this. So why was she suddenly calling me home?“Rhea!”Zander’s sharp voice suddenly pulled me out of my thoughts. I blinked and realized he was standing in front of me.“Rhea,” he called again, this time more gently as he reached for my clasped hands. “What’s wrong? What happened?”I was about to shake my head and pretend everything was fine, but the tears came rushing down my cheeks before I could say a word.“Fuck.”Zander quickly took the basket from my arm and pulled me into his embrace.“Tell me what’s wrong,” he pleaded. “Tell me so I can help you.”He sounded like he was begging me to let him share whatever burden I was carrying.But what could I say? That I was afraid of my own mother?That
~RHEA~“Zander!”I called out as soon as I saw him standing outside the locker room with Chase.They both turned toward me, and I hurried over, immediately placing myself in front of Zander like a shield. My heart was racing as I glared at Chase.“What do you want now, Chase?” I asked through clenched teeth.He scoffed. “Why are you shielding him? He was the one who attacked me, not the other way around.”“Ladybug.” Zander’s voice was soft, instantly drawing my attention away from Chase.I slowly turned around and looked up at him. A small smile curved his lips as he stared down at me.“Are you okay?” I asked worriedly.He reached out and gently caressed my cheek.“Were you worried about me?”I nodded without hesitation.“I don’t want you getting into trouble anymore,” I told him.He chuckled before pulling me into his arms.“You heard that, Chase. My girl doesn’t want me getting into any more trouble, so I suggest you stay away from me from now on.” Zander’s voice turned cold as he g
~RHEA~ I had blacked out from that day.The last thing I remembered after running out of the stadium was calling my dad while hysterically crying.It wasn't the silent tears I had grown accustomed to, it was ugly and bitter. The kind that clawed its way out my chest until breathing itself hurt.
~RHEA~ “You know how much I want you, Rhea. You know how much I want to fuck you” Chase murmured as he pressed me up against the wall, sliding his fingers down my thigh.“Tell me what you want” He whispered into my ear and my heart slammed rationally against my ribcage as I stared up at him.“I
~RHEA~ “He left you on the curb?” Heather screeched, horrified, as she led me up to her room.I had called her earlier and she had immediately given me the location of her dorm and luckily, she had taken my luggage with her.“Technically, I got out of his car and he can't exactly force me” I mut
~RHEA~ Girlfriend?“Girlfriend?” Heather, Chase and Sienna echoed as they stared at me like I knew a fuck about what was going on.The murmurs began as everyone in the crowd stared at us with wide eyes and I could see the questions in their eyes but they seemed too scared to speak.Before I could







