No Hockey Players

la'

I barely breathe. What the hell was that suppos

age showed one tick, then two. He was online. My

ways been like this. He loved getting inside my head, he loved making me angry, he loved knowing that one little comment could

ppeared then appeared again.

y he stopped t

en somewhere during high school, everything changed. We stopped talking, no more teasing, no more stolen pencils, no

nothing. I called the number, it rang several times then went stra

rt. I pulled my portfolio from my bag and placed it on my desk. I carefully opened it, revealing the drawings I'd s

ignored it. It buzzed again, I groaned and picked it up

e you awake. Lay

od, we nee

a: about what?

ou know?! Sophie: because I saw you two disappear together. I covered my face with my hands.

issed him back. For a moment, I had forgotten

lked into the hallway and almost immediately walked straight into someone. My portfolio fell from my hands. "Seriously?" I bet down to pick it up. Another hand reached for it at the same time. I looked up, it

talk to you." I

. "You've said

still don

er been very good at

He shouted "did you get my message last night?

tared at me. He looked nervous, then hi

about fir

ything." His expressi

lking and he asked, "Why did you stop t

suddenly br

to know wha

n't remember?"

ssor starts announcing our semester project and students are being paired

says: "Layla Bree a

e smiled. "Looks like

od up. "Professor, can I

it has been decided."

ve to spend the whole semester with a boy

ayla!" He was standing near the stairs."Th

oward him

hed."Th

on the pavement and then I had to sit be

ed an eye

ehind me "probably me." I turned around, it was

"Daniel knows this campus better th

pped away from hi

don't mind." I loo

ou're going to need someone to help you get around. I have

nd my way

ll help." I stared at my brother.

Sean turned to him "just look after her okay?" Daniel

ortable. I folded my arms "I don't need anyone lo

ad "she's definit

that mean

s time, his expression became serious. "I'm trusting you with her

an laughed. "Fine, go." I turned and started walking "see you later, Bree." Daniel called after me. I stopped and slowly turned around "don't call me that." His mouth curved into a small smile. I turned away and

r our project. The library was quieter than I expected. Daniel was late. I ch

ed up, Daniel pulled out a chair opposite

ree mi

" He leaned back in his

im "we need to decide what we are doing." Daniel looked at the paper " Our professor said we need to combine art and business." "I know." "So you h

re for thirty seconds and you're already insult

n and build a business plan around it. We could focus on young art

ually isn't bad." I looked up "did you just compli

just an exhibition, we could create an online platform where young arti

asn't joking anymore. His eyes were focused and every idea he gave actually made sense. I had always thought of Daniel as the

, we worked. We argued over names, we disagreed about the presentation.

. I shaded it carefully, adding the little marks I'd remembered since I was a child. Daniel suddenly stopped writing. "What

years." Daniel became quiet, too quiet. His eyes were fixed on my sketchbook. I studied his face "What's wrong?" He hesitated, then he quietly s

dn't feel as warm as it had a few seconds ago. I had never told him about the crayon,

I dropped my bag beside my bed and kicked off my shoes. My head was still full with ev

remembers

. What is this again? A

e. The crayons. High sc

h

the person you

ediately called Daniel. He answers "what's wrong

t?". And in that moment I knew one thing for sure. Someone had been lyin