Lights Out

Willow

It is another torturous day in school that I, for one, didn't look forward to. It's fourth period, but I was still yet to see Ava. Considering we don't share any class, I find myself scanning the tonnes of other students filling up the hallway.

I sigh and relent, putting in my combination before pulling open my locker to store some books.

I've had this weird feeling all day, and it's only getting worse the longer I don't see Ava in school. I've tried reaching her multiple times already, but like last night at the party, it goes straight to voicemail.

I sigh deeply, trying to push the thoughts plaguing me to the back of my mind. I slam my locker shut and turn just in time to ram into someone.

I gasp as the person wraps an arm around my lower back to steady me. My eyes widened into saucers when I looked up to see it was none other than Jack.

Quickly I took a step back, my back pushing against the metal locker behind me as I tried to put as much space as I could between us.

“W–what are you doing here, Jack?” I spew the first thought that comes to mind, and he tilts his head, regarding me like I was a stupid muppet.

“I go to school here," he answers with narrowed eyes, and my face heats up in utter embarrassment.

“O–of c–course," I stutter, and he smirks, his dark eyes roaming my face.

“See you around, Blondie,” he nods, shoving his hands into the pocket of his dark jeans before sauntering away.

So stupid.

Why the hell was I stuttering like a fool in front of him? This isn't me.

“OMG”, An audible gasp pulls me out of my thoughts, and my head snaps to the source only to see Ava standing there, her wide eyes glued down the hallway where Jack had sauntered off to.

“Was Jack Carter talking to you, or am I dreaming?” she asks in a breathless tone, her eyes turning to meet mine, and I roll my eyes.

“You ghosted me last night and disappeared all day long, but the first thing you ask about is Jack Carter,” I say, my tone conveying my disappointment, and her eyes flash with an emotion I cannot register.

“I'm so sorry, Willow, I didn't ghost you on purpose, I promise,” she explained, her lips jutting out.

“Your excuse better be a damn good one,” I snap, turning to walk towards my next class while she falls into step beside me.

“Well for one, my battery died; that's why you couldn't reach me, and I was stuck in the next town because my stupid brother decided it was a good idea to get into a fight with some guy who turned out to be the sheriff's son,” she explains, pinching the bridge of her nose, and I chuckle.

“Classic Elon,” I mutter, and we both laughed at that.

It wouldn't be the first time for Ava's brother, Elon, to pull some stupid stunt; he usually lands in trouble, so I had zero doubt about what she said.

“I forgive you,” I mutter with a wave, and she squeals excitedly, pulling me into a tight hug in the middle of the hallway while I can't help but giggle.

“You're an angel, my dear Willow,” she praises in a fake British accent that had us both giggling.

“Don't ever ghost me like that; I was so worried.” I sighed and quickly slammed her right foot on the floor in a salute.

“Scouts promise,” she stated, her face set. I roll my eyes at her antics as we begin our walk down the hallway.

“I've got news that there's going to be a hockey match today, and guess who's also going to be there?” she grinned, jumping on her tiptoes in excitement that I did not share.

She notices my cold attitude and pauses, her brows furrowing in worry.

“What's wrong?” she asks, concern for me lacing her tone, and I shake my head, mustering a small smile.

“There's nothing wrong, Ava; I'm just not in the mood to go to some hockey game.” I sigh, and she looks at me like I have grown three heads.

“Wait, did something happen at the party?” she asks, and my heart drops into my stomach.

What do I tell Ava? That I saw Chase kissing some other girl, that I was humiliated, but Jack saved me.

For some inexplicable reason, I can't bring myself to tell her about the time Jack and I spent together.

“No, nothing happened?” I reply quickly, and she frowns.

“Then I think it's the perfect opportunity to show Chase you care about him and also get him to confess his feelings,” she urges, and I nod, albeit absentmindedly.

I no longer care what Chase thinks, nor am I hoping he somehow has feelings for me but won't tell me for some odd reason.

“Fine, we can go,” I concede, but only because Ava would never take no for an answer.

The game is in full swing, and I'm seated on a bleacher overlooking the ice rink as supporters scream loudly around me.

“Go Chase!” Ava screams beside, jumping on her feet. Chase knocks the puck out of his opponent's hockey stick, making a clean pass to Jack, who skates out of the way just as an opponent comes barrelling towards him.

He skates across the rink gracefully, swinging the puck with his hockey stick as he goes. I stared entranced as he zoomed across the rink almost as though he were untouchable as the opponent tried to tackle him, but yet again he swerved out of the way.

Slowly I rise from my seated position, my eyes glued to Jack on the rink as the timer counts down from five seconds.

He is shouldered roughly by an opponent player that tries to knock him off his feet, but he quickly regains his composure, shrugging the player off as his sight is set on the net a few feet away, but the opponents know his goal.

Just when the timer reaches one, he swings the hockey stick, striking the puck so hard it sends it skidding across the ice and into the net.

The horn sounds, signifying the end of the game, followed by loud screams of cheers from students around me. I smile proudly as Jack's team pulls him into a hug as they celebrate their victory.

I am unable to tear my gaze away from him; he pulls the helmet off his head to reveal a dazzling smile that causes my stomach to flip.

I turn to Ava to see her eyes glued to Chase, who is still skating leisurely around the rink.

The lights go out all of a sudden, and we're plunged into darkness. I gasp in surprise, blinking repeatedly as I try to feel around me for Ava, but as soon as the lights go out, they are turned back on.

There is a series of loud gaps from the spectators, and I turn my gaze to see Chase holding up a banner over his head that reads in big bold letters.

'WILL YOU BE MY GIRLFRIEND, AVA?”

I freeze in shock, my eyes snapping between Ava and Chase, whose eyes are glued on her.

This isn't real.

“How dare you do this to Willow?!” She sneers at him, and he falters, lowering the banner slowly as his brows furrow in confusion.

I can feel everyone's gaze burning into my skull, all of them accusing and mocking. I am trembling on my feet as I hear all the whispers that surround me.

It's too much. The constant humiliation – I can't take it anymore.

I turn away from Ava, rushing down the stairs towards the exit as fast as my legs can carry me as tears blur my vision.

I pull open the first door on my right, which is the girl's restroom, and practically rush in blindly.

I pull open the first stall that I see and gasp in horror when I find a very naked Jack standing under the shower.