Chapter 5- Maya's POV

The hallway felt too long as I walked, my shoes clicking softly against the polished floor. My chest was still tight, my heart thumping faster than it should. Every time I blinked, I kept seeing his face,the way his eyes had lingered on me earlier. It wasn’t just a normal look. There had been something deeper there, something that made me restless inside. I hated how it left my stomach flipping.

I pressed my palm against my chest like that would calm the beat. It didn’t.

Questions crowded my mind as I walked. Could I really do this? Could I still play the way I used to? What if I embarrassed myself? What if everyone laughed? My head spun with doubts, and yet beneath all of that, a small spark of excitement was still alive.

When I finally reached my dorm, relief spread through me like warm water. The day had gone by so fast, almost like a blur of new faces, loud voices, and endless stares. It should’ve drained me completely, but instead, I just felt… unsettled.

I pushed the door open and froze. Two girls were already inside, sitting comfortably like they belonged there. I recognized them,the same ones I’d seen earlier in the day. They looked up when I entered, and I froze halfway through the doorway, unsure if I should smile, speak, or just hide.

The taller girl leaned forward first. She had bold eyes and carried herself with this confidence that almost filled the room. “I’m Fiona,” she said, her voice smooth but strong, like she never had to repeat herself.

The other girl tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before speaking. “And I’m Stella,” she added softly. Her smile was shy but warm, and her gaze lingered on me a little longer, studying me with quiet curiosity.

I managed a small nod. “Maya,” I whispered back, my voice weaker than I wanted it to be.

Something in me relaxed just from hearing their names. They weren’t strangers anymore.

I asked about Lily,the only familiar face I had here and Stella answered gently. “She went to see her family for the evening. Don’t worry, you’ll see her around.”

Her reassurance eased some of the tightness in my chest. Still, my nerves didn’t disappear.

I knelt by my bag to grab some clothes, but when I opened it, my face burned hot with shame. The bag was almost empty. Just a few shirts, one pair of jeans, and a toothbrush. It wasn’t nearly enough. Not for a place like this. My fingers fumbled as I pretended to search for something I knew wasn’t there.

Before I could say anything, Fiona stood and crossed the room. She pulled something out of her drawer and tossed it lightly onto my bed. “Here. Pajamas. Use them tonight.”

I blinked, my mouth parting. “I,I can’t”

“You can,” she cut in, her eyes daring me to argue. “It’s no big deal.”

Stella chimed in, her voice softer but firm in its own way. “And there’s food in the fridge. If you’re hungry, eat. Don’t worry about anything.”

Their kindness made my throat ache. I wasn’t used to this,people giving without expecting. People caring without a reason. For so long, I had lived on edge, waiting for strings to appear attached to every favor.

I mumbled a small thank you and slipped into Fiona’s pajamas. The fabric was soft, smoother than anything I owned, and wearing it felt strange, almost like stepping into someone else’s life.

When I came back out, Fiona and Stella had set up the small table by the window. The warm smell of food filled the air, and before I could stop it, my stomach growled loudly. My cheeks turned red, but Fiona only laughed and pulled out a chair.

“Come on,” she teased, grinning. “We don’t bite. Unless we’re starving.”

Stella rolled her eyes at her but giggled too.

I sat carefully, my hands awkward on my lap until Fiona shoved a plate toward me. The food was simple,pasta with bread,but the first bite almost made me close my eyes. It wasn’t just food. It was comfort. It was belonging, even if only for a moment.

“So, Maya,” Stella began after a while, her tone curious but gentle. “Where did you transfer from?”

My fork froze halfway to my mouth. My throat tightened. My old life flashed like a shadow across my mind,the rape, the bullying, the arguments, the escape. I didn’t want to go back there, not even in words.

“Just a small town,” I answered quickly, forcing a smile. “Nothing special.”

Fiona must have caught the way my shoulders stiffened, because she jumped in with a different question. “Well, you came at the right time. Everyone’s buzzing about hockey season. Did you see the team today?”

The team. My chest fluttered. I nodded slowly, remembering the cheers, the flashes of jerseys, and him. Liam. The way his gaze had burned through me.

“They’re basically celebrities,” Stella said, her eyes shining. “Especially Liam. Everyone knows him. He’s untouchable.”

At his name, my hand tightened around the fork.

“And don’t get me started on Lia,” Fiona snorted. “That’s his girlfriend. If you ever see her around him, stay clear. She doesn’t like anyone near him. Trust me.”

My stomach twisted at her words. I didn’t even understand why it bothered me, but it did.

“Do you play any sports?” Fiona asked suddenly, leaning forward with interest.

The question cut deeper than I expected. Images crashed into me—cold rinks, blades slicing ice, the rush of speed, the sting of falls, the sound of my stick smacking the puck.

I lowered my voice, almost afraid of saying it aloud. “Hockey.”

Silence stretched across the table. Stella’s eyes went wide, Fiona’s lips curled into a knowing grin, and for the first time since I

arrived, I felt seen.

“Interesting,” Fiona murmured, her gaze glinting. “Very interesting.”

The next morning, I woke with a knot twisting hard in my stomach. Tryouts. Just the thought of the word made me sit up in bed with shaky hands.

I pulled on my plainest clothes,nothing like the neat outfits the other girls had. I tied my hair back tight, hoping it would make me feel braver. My sneakers, old and worn, squeaked faintly as I slipped them on.

“You can do this,” I whispered to myself, though my voice didn’t sound convincing.

I walked slowly, each step heavier than the last, until I reached the corner of the building. That’s when I froze.

Liam was there. And beside him was Lia.

Her voice cut sharp through the air before I could even turn away. “Why are you wasting your time looking at her? She’s nothing, Liam. Some weak scholarship case who thinks she can play.”

Her words stung like a slap.

Liam’s jaw tightened. His eyes looked stormy, as if he was fighting something inside. “Lia, enough”

“Enough?!” she snapped, shoving closer to him. “Don’t forget who you’re supposed to choose. Don’t forget us. She’ll embarrass herself today. She doesn’t belong here.”

My throat burned. I stepped back quietly, not wanting either of them to see the tears pressing at the corners of my eyes.

“Hey.”

The sudden voice made me spin around. A boy leaned against the wall behind me, arms crossed casually like he’d been standing there the whole time.

It was him,Zack. I’d seen him that first night, in the dorm with Fiona.

“You’ve got that look,” he said with a half-smile. “Like you’re ready to run before the game even starts.”

“I don’t stand a chance,” I admitted, my voice breaking. “They’re stronger. Bigger. I haven’t played in so long.”

Zack pushed off the wall and shook his head.“Size doesn’t always win. Speed, heart,that’s what matters. I’ve seen guys twice your size eat the ice because they thought small meant weak. If you want this, fight for it. Forget her. Forget them.”

His words lit something inside me. A tiny flame I thought had gone out.

I nodded, my throat thick. “Thank you.”

He patted my shoulder once before walking off. “Go prove them wrong.”

The rink stretched wide in front of me, colder than I remembered. My grip tightened around the stick, my hands trembling slightly.

The coach barked instructions, and the players around me,all taller, stronger.They looked at me like I was a joke. My chest thumped, but I forced my shoulders straight.

The whistle blew.

Everything else disappeared.

They charged fast, bodies heavy and rough, but my size became my shield. I darted through spaces they couldn’t fit, ducked low when they swung, cut left before they trapped me. The ice beneath me was alive, carrying me faster, lighter, freer than I had felt in months.

Gasps rippled from the sidelines as players stumbled, slamming into each other in their rush to catch me. My stick connected with the puck, sharp and clean, and I surged forward, every muscle burning but alive.

I didn’t know if the gasps were shock or admiration. I didn’t care.

For the first time in forever, I wasn’t running away. I was exactly where I belonged.