All Chapters of The Hockey Star Regret : Chapter 61 - Chapter 70

COLEENI woke up the next morning with that strange, buzzing feeling still in my chest, like my heart hadn’t quite decided if it wanted to settle or keep racing. The night before, Hayden and I sitting close, talking like the world outside the apartment didn’t exist, kept replaying in my mind like a film reel. His voice, low and steady, the way his eyes softened when he promised me he wasn’t going anywhere… it lingered, heavy and light all at once.I should have felt calm after that. Secure. But instead, all I felt was this terrifying, vulnerable ache in my stomach. Because things were shifting. And for someone like me, who’d built walls so high they nearly touched the clouds, change was always scary.By the time evening rolled around, Mark was sprawled out on the couch, his guitar case leaning against the coffee table, a half-empty bag of chips tucked between his arm and his ribs. His curls were a mess, he’d clearly spent the day bouncing between rehearsals and rushing across campus.

COLEENIt started with whispers.On Monday morning, walking into class felt different. I could feel the weight of eyes tracking me from the moment I stepped through the door. Normally, I was the kind of person who could slip into a seat unnoticed, vanish into the rows like background noise. But that day, it was like someone had put a spotlight over me and turned the brightness all the way up.I pulled my hoodie tighter around me, clutching my notebook against my chest as if it might shield me.“Is it true?” a girl’s voice hissed from somewhere in the row ahead.“I heard they kissed at the rink.”“No way. Hayden Michaels? With her?”My face burned. I forced myself to keep walking, my sneakers squeaking faintly against the tile floor.When I sat down, I caught one of the girls, Jenna, I think, from biology, looking me up and down with a frown, like she was trying to solve a math equation that didn’t add up. When our eyes met, she quickly turned to whisper to her friend, both of them mu

COLEENIn my next life, I'm definitely going to be born into a rich home. Not that I wasn't happy with the parent I have, I was. I would choose my dad in every lifetime. But it sure won't hurt if he was crazy rich in his next life.Because if my dad was rich, I wouldn't need to worry about my finances or do hard labor. I would simply just be laid-back and study without any worry in the world.The mop bucket squeaked against the gym floor as I dragged it down the hallway, my arms aching from hours of scrubbing and wiping. My sneakers squeaked with every step, and I felt like a walking sound effect.I hated nights like this, the long shift at the athletic complex after a full day of classes. My brain was fried from lectures, my back sore from bending over treadmills and wiping down lockers. By the time closing rolled around, my body screamed at me to collapse on the nearest bench and never move again.But instead, I grabbed the mop, dunked it into the soapy water, and pressed it agains

COLEENI have always shied away from the spotlight.Weird right? I mean I was the freaking valedictorian and I was going to give a speech in front of the whole school.Still, that kind of attention was different from the kind of unwanted attention I seemed to get in high school so I hated being noticed for anything other than my accomplishments.But it was virtually impossible for me to date Hayden and think that I would be able to escape the attention that came with it.By Wednesday, the whispers weren’t whispers anymore.It felt like every hallway I walked through carried my name on other people’s lips. Sometimes low, sometimes sharp, sometimes followed by laughter that cut deeper than I wanted to admit. I used to be invisible here. Nobody noticed me unless I raised my hand in class or clocked in at the athletic complex. Now, everywhere I went, eyes followed me.And not in the good way.I walked into my literature lecture, notebook clutched against my chest, trying to keep my head d

ColeenIt was no secret that I was averse to social gatherings. I didn't like the fact that I was going to be around a bunch of people that I didn't know and would most likely be expected to make conversation with them in some instances.However, I didn't have a choice tonight. There was no excuse for me not to show up. That woul have made me the worst friend in the universe and I liked to think I was better than that.The auditorium wasn’t anything grand, just the small multipurpose hall on campus that student events always seemed to get crammed into. Still, fairy lights strung along the walls gave it a cozy glow, and the buzz of chatter filled the air as students trickled in.Beside me, Hayden’s hand brushed mine, casual but deliberate. “You sure Mark’s performing tonight? Or is this one of his fake excuses to get you out of the apartment?”I shot him a look, though I couldn’t help smiling. “Don't do that. Of course he’s performing. He’s been practicing that new piece all week, reme