All Chapters of Faking It With The Hockey Playboy: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Lila POVThe chaos did not last much longer.Coach Reynolds and Ryan's coach, Coach Martinez, came running into the dressing room within minutes. Their whistles were blowing so loud that my ears rang, and their voices boomed through the space like thunder."BREAK IT UP! NOW!" Coach Reynolds roared."EVERYONE STOP FIGHTING THIS INSTANT!" Coach Martinez commanded.The authority in their voices cut through the violence like a knife. Players started pulling apart, breathing hard, some still glaring at each other with murder in their eyes."What in God's name is going on here?" Coach Reynolds demanded, looking around at the destruction. His face was red with fury as he took in the dented lockers, the scattered equipment, the blood on the floor.Nobody answered. The players all looked down at the ground like guilty children.Coach Martinez spotted Ryan standing near the door, his face covered in blood, his nose clearly broken. "Richmond! Get to my office now!"Then Coach Reynolds saw Derek

Lila POVI must have fallen asleep at some point because when I opened my eyes, my room was pitch black and my phone was vibrating somewhere on the floor.I had turned it off. I was sure I had turned it off.But the battery must have died and then someone must have plugged it in. Mrs. Chen probably. She had a spare key to my room for emergencies.The screen glowed in the darkness, casting strange shadows on my walls. I watched it vibrate again and again, the buzzing sound unnaturally loud in the silent room.Finally, I forced myself to get up. My body was stiff from lying in the same position for so long. My knee was even more swollen than before. And my head pounded with a dull, persistent ache.I limped across the room and picked up my phone from where it lay on the carpet. The screen was cracked. I must have thrown it harder than I thought.Twenty-three missed calls.Forty-seven text messages.I scrolled through them with numb fingers.Fifteen calls from Derek. Eight from an unknow

Lila POV"Please," I said again, my voice breaking. "Please listen to me. I was not fighting. I was the victim. I fell down the bleachers because Cassandra's cheerleaders threw something at me. I got hurt. I did not hurt anyone."Principal Harrison sighed heavily and adjusted his glasses. "Miss Richmond, I understand that you feel this is unjust. But the situation is more complicated than you are making it seem.""How is it complicated?" I asked desperately. "I was injured. Derek was helping me. Ryan came in angry. They fought each other. I had nothing to do with their fight.""That is where you are wrong," Principal Harrison said, opening the folder again. "According to witness statements, the fight was about you. Mr. Stone was defending you. Mr. Richmond claimed you as his responsibility. The entire conflict centered around you and your relationship with both young men.""But I did not ask them to fight!" I cried out."Lower your voice, Miss Richmond," Principal Harrison said sternl

Lila POV"Seventeen, thirty-two, nine," Derek said, relief flooding his voice. "My locker is in the west hallway, third row from the athletic wing.""I know where your locker is," I said quietly. Everyone knew where Derek Stone's locker was."Thank you," Derek said, and he sounded genuinely grateful. "Seriously, Lila. Thank you. I owe you.""You owe me more than you can ever repay," I said, but there was no anger in my voice. Just exhaustion."I know," Derek said softly. "And I am going to make this right. I promise.""Just tell me what the jacket looks like so I can grab it and get out of there fast," I said."It is black leather with a gray hood," Derek described. "Old and worn. It has a small tear on the left sleeve that my mom never got around to fixing."My heart ached at the tenderness in his voice when he mentioned his mother."Okay," I said. "I will get it. But Derek, if I get caught—""You will not get caught," he said confidently. "Classes are in session right now. The hallw

Lila POVMy phone finally buzzed in my frozen hand.I looked down at the screen, hope and anger mixing in my chest.Derek."Why are you still at the rink? Just bring the jacket to my house."My numb fingers struggled to type a response."I've been waiting for THREE HOURS. You said you were coming.""I never said I was coming. I said it would take me a while. I figured you would just bring it here."I wanted to throw my phone into the snow. The audacity of this boy was unbelievable."You told me to wait!" I typed furiously. "You said you would meet me here!""No, I said it would take me a while to get there. I was hoping you would realize it was easier to just come to my house instead."I called him. He needed to hear the rage in my voice, not just see it in text.He answered on the second ring. "Lila—""Are you serious right now?" I interrupted, my voice shaking from both cold and fury. "I have been sitting here freezing for three hours because you told me to wait!""I did not tell yo