All Chapters of The Goalie's Tutor: Chapter 1 - Chapter 5

Aria’s POV"For the love of God, Mama!" I groaned, half-asleep, rolled over and buried my face deeper under my covers like I could hide from the voice chasing me into the waking world. My pillow muffled my scream as I yelled into it, "I swear, if this isn't about someone dying...""Aria, come down." Another call came. This one was more urgent. Mama's Serious Voice™. There is no pain like being dragged out of a perfect sleep under a mountain of warm blankets while a Minnesota snowstorm rages outside. I was in the middle of a dream... something about winning a national math award and eating warm brownies with Lily when I heard my name.I huffed loudly, flung my arm out dramatically, and threw off my blanket cocoon. The cold slapped my skin instantly. I winched as my feet hit the ice-brick hardwood floor and immediately cursed all of Minnesota. No mercy. Not even for innocents like me.I grabbed a pair of the thickest socks I could find on the floor... okay, they didn't match, sue me...

Aria's POV"I'm in my room!" I yelled as I slammed the door shut behind me, shrugging off my coat and hanging it on the hook by the door. The house was eerily quiet, except for Mum's mid-rant in the living room with my older brother, Drew. Once she got into that zone, it felt like everyone else in the house ceased to exist.I sighed and trudged into my room, letting myself flop face down onto my bed. Ugh! School was getting worse with each passing day now that we were in our senior year. But I was looking forward to the winter break, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas.Rubbing my temples, I reached under my bed, my fingers finding the cool, smooth wood of a small lacquered box. I pulled it out; it was an old music box, a gift from my grandmother. Inside, a tiny porcelain ballerina, poised on one leg, began to twirl as the faint melody of "Claire de Lune" tinkled out. Next to it sat my silver ring, which meant much more than met the eye.I stared at it until a voice made my heart jo

Aria’s POVThe snow outside had gotten heavier, but in a soft, pretty way—none of yesterday’s slush and chaos. I stood by my bedroom window, holding the curtain open just a crack, watching the flakes drift down in lazy spirals. The world looked quieter when it snowed. Like everything was on mute, and I kind of wished my nerves were too.Today was my first official tutoring session with Jason Monroe.I closed the curtain with a sigh and grabbed my tote bag. I’d packed it earlier with my old Algebra textbooks, a few sharpened pencils, a calculator, highlighters, sticky notes… maybe a little overkill, but better to be overprepared than caught slacking. Especially with him. I tucked the folder with the placement tests and zipped it up before slinging it over my shoulder.I reached for my purse, still sitting on my desk, and paused at the door.“I wish Lily were here with me,” I murmured.I didn’t even realise I’d said it out loud. Everything just felt... off without her by my side. Lily w