LOGINRYDERWhen I step onto the ice, the familiar chill hits me like a homecoming.This is my rink. My team. Some of the guys nod or clap me on the shoulder when I skate out. Others, the ones who orbit Miles, barely glance my way. Jake keeps his head down, acting like I’m not even here. I get it. He must be feeling like I’m replacing him even though I’m not. I’m just reclaiming the spot that was mine before everything went to hell. He knows it. Everyone does.My legs feel strong, my hands are steady, thanks to the regular practice out there. The adjustment here is more mental than physical— remembering the rhythm of these players, the way they move.Coach blows the whistle before practice even starts and skates over, his phone pressed to his ear. “I have an emergency,” he calls out. “Miles, you’re in charge. Keep things organized and productive. No bullshit.”Miles nods once. “Yes, Coach.”The second the door closes behind the coach, I know what’s coming. Miles skates to the center, takin
RYDERI spend the rest of the afternoon after lunch half watching Calla without really trying to.Part of me is still stuck on that photo. Who the hell would do that? And why her? I have been turning it over since lunch, trying to figure out if it’s random or if someone actually has a reason to mess with her. Either way, it sits wrong. I keep catching myself looking for her just to make sure she is okay.She doesn’t look away anymore. Not like before.Our eyes catch across the room or in the hallway and she just holds it a second longer than she used to. Sometimes the corner of her mouth lifts softly, like she knows she shouldn’t but does it anyway. It’s nothing that would make anyone look twice but it still hits me harder than it should. We are still keeping this private. That was the deal. Still, she is not treating me like something embarrassing anymore.I’m at my locker after classes, spinning the combination, when she and Brina walk past. Calla is looking straight ahead until I c
RYDER I get to the old classroom block first. Calla is nowhere in sight. I lean against the wall, arms crossed, trying not to check the time every ten seconds. She is probably looking for a way to slip away from Miles and Brina without raising suspicion. It’s ridiculous, this whole secret date thing. All I want is— I shake the thought away. I knew what I was signing up for. My mind keeps drifting back to what happened this morning. The way Miles came at me in front of everyone, accusing me of being some kind of stalker. I still have no clue what’s that about. Sitting through classes thinking about it was a painful experience. I kept hearing the anger in his voice and the crowd watching. And Calla... she stepped in and stopped it from turning into an actual fight. I appreciate that more than she probably realizes. I was holding myself back for her sake, but I was seconds away from defending myself if he threw the first punch. Still, it sucks being the secret especially in moments
CALLAI barely slept. Every time I closed my eyes, those headlights appeared again in my rearview mirror, too persistent. By morning I was exhausted both physically and mentally. I almost told my parents at breakfast, but the words stuck in my throat. What would I even say? That someone followed me home? They would probably brush it off or turn it into another lecture about being responsible. Driving to school was even worse. I double checked my mirrors the entire drive, expecting that car to show up.I’m walking across the senior yard toward my first class, when someone suddenly grabs me from behind. I nearly jump out of my skin, letting out a sharp gasp as I whip around. Miles and Brina are standing there, both of them laughing. Miles’s smile fades quickly when he sees my face.“Whoa, Calla. You okay? You look like you saw a ghost.”My heart is still hammering. I force a breath and decide to just say it. “Actually... no. Something weird happened yesterday after I left the game.”I t
CALLAI’m still flushed and a little disoriented when I pull myself together in Ryder’s room, smoothing down my top and trying to fix my hair in the mirror on his dresser. “I should probably head home,” I say quietly.Ryder sits on the edge of the bed, pulling his shirt back on. “You sure? It’s not that late.”Before I can answer, his dad’s voice carries down the hallway again. “Don’t rush Calla away. She should stay for dinner.”Ryder raises his eyebrows at me, a small grin tugging at his lips. “No pressure... but Dad bought extra on purpose. He does that when he thinks I have company.”“Do you do that a lot?” I ask. “Have company.”He shrugs. “Kyle and the guys visit sometimes.”Okay. Perhaps they are a little more closer than I first thought if they know Ryder's home. I’m not sure what to feel especially—“Don’t worry. It’s nothing close to how I feel hanging out with you. Just you.” His words cut through my thoughts.“What?”“You were frowning,” Ryder says, standing and offering
CALLA I lie curled against Ryder’s chest, the steady thump of his heartbeat under my ear. His arm is wrapped around me, warm and loose, like he is giving me space to pull away if I need it. We are both breathing hard, skin flushed and a little sticky where we have been pressed together.His mouth on my skin feels so good. Too good.I close my eyes and try to stay right here in this moment— his clean scent, the way his fingers trace lines on my shoulder, the low sound he makes when I shift my leg against his. But the second my eyes shut, Miles flashes behind my eyelids. The way he used to smile at me after games. The summer nights we hooked up. The way he looked at me like I was just his best friend again when it was all over.My stomach twists. Guilt crashes over me so fast I almost pull away.Ryder must feel the sudden tension in my body because his hand stills. “Hey,” he says softly. “You okay? We can stop. Seriously.”I open my eyes and look up at him. His face is close, pupils da
CALLAI follow Ryder down the hall, my backpack tight against my shoulder. He doesn’t say a word other than “let's try a different study spot”. He just walks, purposefully and confidently. I keep up, my heart thumping, trying not to let the knot in my stomach betray me.He opens a door at the far e
CALLAI try to ignore the lingering heat of Ryder’s touch from yesterday, but it’s impossible. Every time I take a step, every time I bend to grab a book from my locker, I feel it there, a small, unsettling weight I can’t shake. I tell myself it’s nothing but just a little accident I should get ove
CALLAThe worst part about heartbreak isn’t crying. It’s showing up the next morning and pretending nothing happened.The hallway is loud with lockers slamming and laughter echoing through the building. Senior year banners and hockey tryouts posters are taped above the lockers and on walls. Of cour
CALLAWith all due respect,” I say carefully, “I don’t think—”“It’s non-negotiable, Miss Pierce,” he interrupts gently. “This arrangement works to both your benefit. You are in need of additional academic credit this semester, are you not?”Heat floods my face. I nod yes, because while my grades a







