ff like it had a

ended way too late. The sun hadn't even bothered to show up yet, and her phone scr

eside her, warm breath on her sho

gloss smudges, and way too much glitter on one eyelid. She couldn't remember her

he alarm. "Go back to sleep," s

t her, pout already f

ah.

eased, eyes closing again as she tucked th

and left skate sock, stepping over yesterday's jeans and an empty Red Bull can lik

le lacing up her sneakers with the other. Her hair was chaos and she let it be-curly and big an

otein shake from last night, grabbed her stick, her gear b

he face-cold and fresh like it was try

ile. The kind of bright that makes you feel like y

e leather couch, makeup setting in the creases of h

arro looks like she hasn

wall, puck-themed throw pillows, a pair of signed sticks leaned artistically against

lsh

d, clipboard in hand. "We go live in four," she says

is flipping. She can feel Rey's

that phone call. The first time they've seen each other s

he te

cho

ey. Neither of them are. It's soft civilian mode-denim, minimalist sneakers, logos strategi

er she wants to punch

ably

like she's been struck. Ivy watches her inhale, slow

ile when we intro. Don't overcorrect.

of them

Closed off. Ivy feels her

as a m

ve before

Her smile is bright enough to fry an egg, but Ivy sees the

about stars-Rey Navarro and Ivy Ransom. Teammates off the ice, rivals on

hes. Not a smile.

swal

uestions are sc

like navigati

move forward as l

u want to send to

to-concise, composed, with just e

There's a simmer under each word, like

th

yed. They looked up to you. What do you say to those who think yo

er. The tension spa

neutral. Breathes

urt. I didn't do enough. I didn't listen closely enough. I

toward her. Watches her fro

continues. "But I can be

e called you brave. Others, divisive. What would you say to people who thi

s. It's n

never been the one left behind. If you've nev

hroat t

nything. I told the truth. And if that makes peop

ke she just got h

stures frantica

le a little cracked now. "Stay with us fo

Ivy exhales like she's been

aces. Her han

e mutters. "Like a ni

she wants to follow or flee.

her shoulder. "

lock

s just them. No c

ill pissed

ow. "You expec

esitates. "You didn

hollow. "Trust me

hy'd yo

at her. Re

reats her like a PR inconvenience. This?" She gestures at the set. "This isn't for

ething twist

d, they're being ushe

ent

host tries to l

s. Rapid fire questions. S

ecoils. Ivy w

are rolling, and

likely to

y "Rey" at t

ssier off

s a hand.

s bette

oth sa

laugh. The fi

e the fi

le

ing blood. "Oh, is t

a sideways look

," she sa

ks. "You sure

gl

es an eyebrow

rvive a zombi

ain. Rey adds, "Ivy wo

ould

'I understand your hunger, but

h escapes before s

gr

s it. The produce

ll, electric-where

it's

dim. The se

d smile. "Thank you, Ivy and R

off-set, sti

io, Rey turns to Ivy. "Well. Th

of her neck. "Co

t where we almost admi

n't what

vy to smell her cologne-leather

reath c

her throat. "This is

ad. "Sure. Total

there's something raw unde

ooks

there," Rey says quiet

kno

t calling

w that

tes. "You

es. "Yeah. But n

ods.

ere, staring

art, Ivy feels like maybe-just maybe-they're st

But now it feels like s

ibil