Chapter 2
Chelsey
"What—is there a goddamn rule that stops me from being here?" I asked, a dry, sick chuckle escaping my lips.
His gaze leaned hard on me. Scorchingly.
My heart plummeted.
My mind racked for an explanation.
Nothing.
My eyes fell on his golden-brown gaze. He raised his right brow. Jaw clenched. My body stiffened.
"Clueless about that? Just like you went parading yourself on all school socials as my girl?"
"What? Hold it up. I didn't put that news up. Don't flatter your cocky self," I flared, adjusting my glasses.
My gaze didn't break from his.
"Say that again!" He charged angrily.
"My account got hacked. I didn't put those nonsense about us being a thing up," I screamed, then my voice lowered. "You are free to believe anything. I'm out of here."
The hurt I had been struggling with sprang up.
I turned to leave.
Reid grabbed me by the arm and hurled me back.
My eyes widened at him in anger. Mixed with the mistake of ever trusting him.
The one hockey golden boy who smiled at me like I mattered.
The one who posed for my camera at the rooftop.
A smile almost crossed my lips. Then the memory crashed back.
That day. In front of the whole school.
I had dressed in all white with a fur for him. My heart pounding with excitement.
And then he'd said to the cameras, "How can it be true that I know this girl?"
"What do you want from me?" I barked.
"You know, you didn't have to do it," he said. His shoulders loosened. His gaze turned softer.
A flicker of the tenderness I'd known for two weeks. Before we became strangers.
"You didn't have to ask me to be your prom girl if you weren't proud of me," I muttered weakly.
Those were the words I'd only said under the shower. The whole of last semester.
"Prom girl?"
He repeated the words like they were new. A scoff on his lips.
My eyes searched his a thousand times. My breath dropped.
Didn't he know?
He's pretending.
I snapped.
My body tensed. I pushed away from him.
Avoiding Reid had become my personal slogan.
But he held me by the arm. Lunged me into position.
My backpack slipped onto the big glass table.
My gaze fixed on his hands. Holding me down. Aggressively.
I looked at his face. The contort. Something behind his eyes. Like he was scared or angry.
"What do you want?" I yelled.
"A non-disclosure agreement. That you have no plans of saying what you saw—"
"Wait, do you think I could have plans of saying that? Really? How do I even put it up? Hockey captain fucking himself?"
Reid went quiet. His eyes said more.
Suddenly, I was trembling.
"Reid," I called his name softly. I stepped back until my body clicked against the glass table.
"You say you didn't plan that?" He asked.
I nodded.
He lowered his head to my neck. His hot breath made my body pulse. Heat crawled up my skin.
Then he straightened up. Stretched a clean sheet of paper to me.
"Here, sign it. If I hear about what you saw—"
He didn't believe me.
My heart ached. Skipped a hard beat. I was ready to go back to being friends. If he even asked.
I snatched the pen. Signed my name. Took my bag. Stormed out without a second glance.
*
The front door swung open to Jamie. She walked in apologetically. Hours before her shift ended.
I was covered in tears.
"For you to come, it means the news is everywhere again," I said. "Did I become a topic again?"
She pinned her lips together.
"I asked a question!" I yelled.
"Yes, but—"
I raised my hand. She stopped.
"Why didn't you tell me 6 p.m. is prohibited at the locker?" I asked, wiping my tears.
"I forgot, but I messaged it to you!"
I pulled out my phone.
Avoid the locker by 6. Captain's standing orders.
The tears dried.
"Cherry just blew the gossip up," Jamie added. Her fist tightened.
"What happens to my job? I might lose the editorial house," I asked.
She crossed over to me. Pulled me into her arms. Her fingers brushed my hair.
"That wouldn't happen. Stop being negative. You should sleep. You look worn out."
Jamie held my hand to get me off the couch.
My leg hit my backpack. It tipped to the floor.
Books fell out. Except the green book with the heart shape.
"My diary!" I whispered.
I bent down. Picked up the books. Math textbook. Notebook. No diary.
My jaw dropped.
"Could it be in your room?" Jamie asked.
"No!"
My head tracked backward. My eyes popped.
My backpack fell in the locker.
"Reid…"