LOGINCALLAI’m not sure when exactly my heart stops racing after that moment with Ryder.At some point I think it slows down just enough for me to function. The ride home passes in a blur. Every time I close my eyes, I see Ryder’s grin in between the scenes of the whole day, the way he looked at me, and at the beach. I force that one out of my frontal lobe because I’m not ready to process it yet.By the time the cab pulls up outside the house, I have managed to convince myself that I’m calm. I pay the driver, climb out, and head for the front door. The second I step inside, that illusion disappears.Miles is in the living room.For a moment, I just stop. Of all the people I expected to see, he wasn’t one of them. His gaze lifts from his phone, and the surprise lasts less than a second before I force my expression back under control.“Hey.”Miles stands. His eyes sweep over me once before settling on my face.“Hey. Where have you been?”The question is casual enough to not sound interrogati
RYDER“Damn, Pierce. If I knew you were such a good kisser, I wouldn’t have waited that long.”Calla’s eyes widen before she narrows them at me, mock offense written all over her face.“So you thought I was bad at it. That’s why you waited?”“Not even close.”I step a little closer. The teasing look on her face slips for a second. Her gaze drops briefly before finding mine again, and I feel my chest tighten in a way I can’t quite control. Being this close to her has become dangerous. Every time she lets me in, every time she lowers her guard even a little, I want more.I have for a long time. Long before she kissed me back and long before she started looking at me the way she is looking at me now.“I wanted you to be ready to want me,” I add after a beat.Her face flickers but not with defiance. I know where her mind probably went. I know how she feels about Miles. I’m not blind, I’ve seen it. He is just to dense to realize. And on my part, I think she could do better.Before she can
CALLAI stand frozen for a moment, the heat from where he was still lingering in the air between us. My hands hang uselessly at my sides, and I don’t even notice how tense my shoulders are. I can’t tell how long I have been like this, just... existing in the aftermath of what almost happened. The world around me feels distant, the faint hum of people leaving the rink, the laughter fading. None of it reaches me fully.My mind is scattered. Part of me replays it, over and over. The way he leaned in, how close he got, the way his fingers brushed against my skin. Part of me wants to turn away and forget it, convince myself I imagined how electric it felt. But I know I didn’t. I know that shiver that ran down my body, the tight twist in my stomach, the way my breath hitched, was all real.I don’t realize I’ve been standing like that for several minutes until a voice cuts through my fog.“Coming?”He is standing there, his hockey gear gone, back in his casual clothes. The question pulls me
CALLAJust watch me.The words keep repeating in my head long after he is gone.I shouldn’t be here. That’s the thought that comes after as I sit on the cold metal bench, trying to look like I belong in a place that clearly isn’t mine. The rink is loud as expected. The sharp scrape of skates against ice, voices shouting and laughing... It’s messy and unfiltered, nothing like the polished games at school where everything feels controlled.I shift slightly, eyes scanning the ice without really focusing on anything. I told him I wasn’t into hockey. That this would probably be the most boring day of my life. I was prepared to prove that. Instead, my gaze finds him automatically. My brain doesn’t even ask permission anymore.Ryder moves differently out there. Here, he doesn’t look like someone trying to prove anything. He just plays. His body is fluid, already knowing what to do before anyone else catches up. Someone passes to him and he catches it clean, shifting direction so quickly I
RYDERI don’t usually get nervous coming here.This place, these people blasting music in the parking lot, hanging around like they have no better places to be... it’s the one space that had never felt like it’s waiting for me to mess up. There are no labels attached to my name before I even open my mouth. Just good vibes and the kind of chaos that actually makes sense.So yeah... I don’t get nervous. But today is different because I invited Calla and now I’m glancing around half expecting her to bail. One of my friends, Chris, spots me first.“Look who decided to show his face,” he calls out, pushing off the car he has been leaning on.I nod once as I walk over. “Miss me?”“Obviously,” he says, pulling me into a quick shoulder bump. Then he steps back, looking me over. “Didn’t think you would come back now that you are at your fancy school team again.” He nudges my shoulder. “Or are we just your side piece now?”I scoff. “You wish you were that important.”“Wow. Cold.”I shake my hea
CALLA“I didn’t order this,” I say automatically.Ryder leans slightly against the table, one hand resting beside the glass.“It’s free.”I glance at the drink then back at him.“I didn’t know customers get free lemonade here.”He tilts his head, a faint smile playing at his lips. “Not every customer.”“Oh?” I raise a brow.“Just the ones I might have offended with my... advances.” His voice dips slightly at the last word. “So they don’t hold it against me.”Heat rises to my face instantly but I don’t let him see it. I lean back slightly, crossing my arms. “You are going to have to do a lot better than a glass of lemonade.”His expression shifts with more intent. “Okay,” he says slowly. “What about this.... Every time you come here, your drink is on me. Whatever you choose.”He means that. I can see it in the way he is looking at me. It would be easy just saying yes. Instead, I hesitate. My fingers tap lightly against the table as my mind races ahead of me. He is waiting for an answer
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







