I got close — so close — before everything blew up in smoke.
But I’ll fix it. I always do.
The battle is still the same. I just need different tactics.
Still clutching the pawn’s chess piece, I retrieve my phone and pull up the pictures Astor attached to the group chat a few days ago.
In one picture, Elsa is taking one shot — when she never drinks.
In the second, she’s climbing into the new boy’s car.
If Nash sent those pictures, I would’ve had a different theory. Nash becomes a little bitch when it comes to Queens. I knew he wouldn’t like me taking off with her, but I ignored his opinion.
However, this is Astor. He’s the most neutral person in our group. During parties, he’d be so busy with pussy, alcohol, and weed to plot anything like this.
He even asked me to spare his head when we met for practice the following day.
I scroll through the photos to a shot where the new boy was caressing Elsa’s face.
My left eye twitches as I strangle the pawn between my fingers.
He had his hand on her.
He had his fucking hands on what’s mine.
I warned him. He didn’t listen.
Now, he’ll pay.
But first, my gaze zeroes in on Elsa’s face. Her easy smile. Her flushed cheeks. Her glistening lips.
My clutch tightens on the phone, I’m surprised it doesn’t break to pieces.
I gave her a choice. I gave her the right to make the first move, but I should’ve known better.
Elsa doesn’t work that way.
She acts better when her will is taken and ripped to pieces.
The track team’s coach comes out from the building with her pad in hand. I stand up and tuck the phone in my pocket.
“Where to?” Knight asks from in front of his locker.
I don’t answer him.
Nash throws a T-shirt over his head and steps in front of me, his damp hair still dripping water down his chest. “We need to talk.”
“Not today.”
“Party at my house!” Astor calls, abandoning his conversation with the goalkeeper. “It’s our off week. Let’s party until the morning!”
I meet their gazes and tilt my head to the side. “Get out of my way.”
Nash’s shoulders tense, but he doesn’t move.
I’m a few inches taller so I glare down at him with my best ‘Back the fuck off’ look. If he wants payback for what happened with Queens, I’ll give him that.
Just not today.
Knight claps Nash’s shoulder and pulls him back. He’s smarter sometimes.
I sidestep them and stride out of the door.
“Later, King!” Astor calls after me. “Try not to commit a crime.”
Hmm. Maybe that’s exactly what I’ll do.
Elsa
My head hangs against the wall as the water beats down on me.
I let it rinse me, cleanse me, but it can’t reach the itch beneath my skin.
It’s slowly but surely ripping me apart.
Yesterday was my second session with Dr Khan. I found myself in the same vision from last time. However, my younger self’s screaming was much louder to the point my ears popped.
When I asked Dr Khan why I ended up in the same vision, he said that I could be blocking my subconscious.
The cause is probably stress.
A heavy sigh rips from me as I stare at the white tiles.
I need to get myself together. If I don’t, then I’ll be trapped as I’ve been for ten whole years.
Problem is, whenever I close my eyes, all I could think about is Aiden and Silver.
Or more accurately, Aiden fucking Silver.
My temper flares at the thought.
I want to hit something.
Scream at someone.
Because deep down? I’m bleeding.
It doesn’t help that Aiden’s been ignoring my existence for the past few days. When he walks by me, he doesn’t even spare me a glance as if I don’t exist.
Since the first day we met, I’ve always been visible to him. Even from afar, Aiden always had his attention on me. His metallic eyes followed me everywhere.
Being invisible hurts more than I’d like to admit.
Nope. I’m not going there.
This is for the best.
It’s the weekend so I’ll go home and do some homework. I was supposed to sleepover at Kim’s but they’re having a family dinner, so my weekend plans changed to me and my empty home.
Yay.
I’m about to shut off the water when a rustle comes from outside the door.
Coach Nessrine is out for the day and asked me to close up after I’m done. Maybe one of the girls forgot something.
I remain in the stall, biding my time until whoever they are leaves.
The handle to the stall’s door moves.
I gasp, my eyes widening. “W-Who is it? Tara? Coach?”
No answer.
I gulp, my heartbeat escalating.
The handle doesn’t move anymore. It’s locked. No one can come in here.
I remain rooted in place for long seconds even when no other sound comes out.
Pounding water is the only thing that cuts through the silence.
Ten seconds pass.
Twenty.
I release a breath. It’s nothing after all.
Something jams against the handle and the door flies open, hitting the wall.
I shriek, but a strong hand wraps around my mouth, muffling the sound.
My eyes widen as I stare up into Aiden’s dark metallic gaze.
It’s bottomless.
It’s a void.