LOGINCassie’s POV The library on campus was quiet on a Wednesday afternoon. Most students were either in class or out enjoying the warm weather. I sat across from Asher at one of the long wooden tables on the second floor, pretending to read my textbook while my mind wandered. He was deep in conversation with one of his football teammates, Jake, who had stopped by to discuss an upcoming game. I was bored, and a little mischievous. Jake got up and went to go get something. “I’m coming, i’ll be back.” Asher’s leg brushed against mine under the table. I looked up and caught his eye. He raised an eyebrow slightly, a silent question. I smiled innocently and slowly slid off my chair, disappearing beneath the table. Jake came back some minutes later. The space was cramped, but I fit perfectly between his legs. I could hear him continue talking to Jake without missing a beat. “Yeah, we need to adjust the defensive line. Last game they exploited the left side too easily.” I unzipp
Cassie’s POV The library on campus was quiet on a Wednesday afternoon. Most students were either in class or out enjoying the warm weather. I sat across from Asher at one of the long wooden tables on the second floor, pretending to read my textbook while my mind wandered. He was deep in conversation with one of his football teammates, Jake, who had stopped by to discuss an upcoming game. I was bored, and a little mischievous. Jake got up and went to go get something. “I’m coming, i’ll be back.” Asher’s leg brushed against mine under the table. I looked up and caught his eye. He raised an eyebrow slightly, a silent question. I smiled innocently and slowly slid off my chair, disappearing beneath the table. Jake came back some minutes later. The space was cramped, but I fit perfectly between his legs. I could hear him continue talking to Jake without missing a beat. “Yeah, we need to adjust the defensive line. Last game they exploited the left side too easily.” I unzipp
Cassie’s POV The library on campus was quiet on a Wednesday afternoon. Most students were either in class or out enjoying the warm weather. I sat across from Asher at one of the long wooden tables on the second floor, pretending to read my textbook while my mind wandered. He was deep in conversation with one of his football teammates, Jake, who had stopped by to discuss an upcoming game. I was bored, and a little mischievous. Jake got up and went to go get something. “I’m coming, i’ll be back.” Asher’s leg brushed against mine under the table. I looked up and caught his eye. He raised an eyebrow slightly, a silent question. I smiled innocently and slowly slid off my chair, disappearing beneath the table. Jake came back some minutes later. The space was cramped, but I fit perfectly between his legs. I could hear him continue talking to Jake without missing a beat. “Yeah, we need to adjust the defensive line. Last game they exploited the left side too easily.” I unzipp
Cassie’s POV The library on campus was quiet on a Wednesday afternoon. Most students were either in class or out enjoying the warm weather. I sat across from Asher at one of the long wooden tables on the second floor, pretending to read my textbook while my mind wandered. He was deep in conversation with one of his football teammates, Jake, who had stopped by to discuss an upcoming game. I was bored, and a little mischievous. Jake got up and went to go get something. “I’m coming, i’ll be back.” Asher’s leg brushed against mine under the table. I looked up and caught his eye. He raised an eyebrow slightly, a silent question. I smiled innocently and slowly slid off my chair, disappearing beneath the table. Jake came back some minutes later. The space was cramped, but I fit perfectly between his legs. I could hear him continue talking to Jake without missing a beat. “Yeah, we need to adjust the defensive line. Last game they exploited the left side too easily.” I unzipp
Cassie’s POV The library on campus was quiet on a Wednesday afternoon. Most students were either in class or out enjoying the warm weather. I sat across from Asher at one of the long wooden tables on the second floor, pretending to read my textbook while my mind wandered. He was deep in conversation with one of his football teammates, Jake, who had stopped by to discuss an upcoming game. I was bored, and a little mischievous. Jake got up and went to go get something. “I’m coming, i’ll be back.” Asher’s leg brushed against mine under the table. I looked up and caught his eye. He raised an eyebrow slightly, a silent question. I smiled innocently and slowly slid off my chair, disappearing beneath the table. Jake came back some minutes later. The space was cramped, but I fit perfectly between his legs. I could hear him continue talking to Jake without missing a beat. “Yeah, we need to adjust the defensive line. Last game they exploited the left side too easily.” I unzipped his pa
Cassie’s POVThe library on campus was quiet on a Wednesday afternoon. Most students were either in class or out enjoying the warm weather. I sat across from Asher at one of the long wooden tables on the second floor, pretending to read my textbook while my mind wandered. He was deep in conversation with one of his football teammates, Jake, who had stopped by to discuss an upcoming game.I was bored, and a little mischievous.Jake got up and went to go get something.“I’m coming, i’ll be back.”Asher’s leg brushed against mine under the table. I looked up and caught his eye. He raised an eyebrow slightly, a silent question. I smiled innocently and slowly slid off my chair, disappearing beneath the table.Jake came back some minutes later.The space was cramped, but I fit perfectly between his legs. I could hear him continue talking to Jake without missing a beat.“Yeah, we need to adjust the defensive line. Last game they exploited the left side too easily.”I unzipped his pants quiet
Cassie’s povThe letter was one page.Single-spaced, formal heading, the kind of document that had been written by someone who understood that the most dangerous things were the ones that looked like ordinary correspondence. I read it once quickly and then again slowly, making sure I had the shape
Cassie’s povI didn’t go home.I stood on the pavement outside the building on Mercer Street for a long time, and then I took out my phone and called the one person I wanted to talk to.Asher picked up on the second ring. “Are you home?” I asked.A pause. Reading something in my voice. “Yes.”“I’m
Cassie’s povThe hospital was quieter at night. Jaden’s room was lit by the small lamp on the nightstand. He was awake when I came in, sitting up slightly. The bruising on his jaw had deepened to purple and yellow at the edges but his eyes were clear.“You came,” he said.“Your mom called.” I sat
Cassie’s pov My legs were already moving before I made the decision. One second I was standing at the edge of the crowd watching Caspian and Jaden close the distance between each other in the ring and the next thing my body had already chosen its direction and I was pushing through the crowd aro







