a's
er, but in a soft, pretty way, no
he curtain open just a crack, watching
wed. Like everything was on mute, an
ficial tutoring sessi
n with a sigh and g
ed pencils, a calculator, highlighters, sticky notes... maybe a li
ere here with
hot. But Jason was not just hot. He was hot hot. Like unfair levels o
he opened his mouth, all that
lash
ly bench-pressed people my size for fun. How the
whispered to myself. "He
prayed silently, let him have actually done those placem
t, my stomach twisted itself into knots. My fingers
was
lly
of his mom. She led me to Jason' s room. H
icks propped against the wall, jerseys draped
of them were him. On the ice. With tea
estepped a hoodie on the floor and a stray
rning toward the sound just as Jason looked up f
A tall, broad-shouldered guy with b
to mine. "Who let you
tinctively taki
. Go easy. She's a cute litt
elf off the couch and wal
's Ai
rying to make my
he tilted his head, almost t
change your pants.
kipped a b
fingers touched the fabric. It was wet and
. My period. Right now? I wanted the f
reathe. My fingertips were pre
re? Why didn't it happen at home, in my bathroo
e. I can feel the burn in my face, climb
ns away like he's trying to give
a word. But I know he i
't make a comment or act l
e my bathro
and bolt toward the door
awked at how luxurious the bathroom lo
despite the snow outside. My bangs sti
ues with me. I bit into my fingernail,
ing in the same spot, trying not t
t's Jason
swer fast enough before he as
nutes before coming to check up on me? Anyway,
st ask for some help. "I cou
t asking. Then I hear him laugh. "There's
pen the door and snatch the bag. Inside is Pads, a fresh pa
t to think about how or
jeans in the sink and h
putting on the shirt, it fa
n. "You can survive this." With a deep br
His eyes lift and land on me. Then slowly drops, taking in the jersey and my legs a
stand? "I... are you..." He scra
in a small voi
ties. But I decide against it. It's a good thing he
ing I didn't just live through the most
. It doesn't help that he's staring at me and even though he isn't
el m
to embarrass you every time
h
d gone past t
point at the book on the d
"But I want to talk
urge to gl
ad somewhere that know-it-all girls get heavy flo
int. I squint my eyes at Jason, unsu
one person this second and an utter
nutes ago couldn't be this..
ring out my watch and I se
f he decides to waste the time by stalling me and
he tests? Did yo
azily before dumping
e half productive. I'll get to know how ba
t to be k
page, and the next, and the next and a permanent
he words leave my mou
the desk. "You didn't even try. Everything's empty..." I wa
s boy? The one his mum claimed was reserved
o do this." I start, " And
. I am not a malf
you," I say, and I take my bag and start packing my things. To my s
l's daughter doesn't mak
"What's that su
The other girls who want me but can never have a
er my shoulder and walk to the door. By the time I'
r
jea
urse myself. I can't walk out like this. Not in the freezing snow. Not through
just go back, head straight for th
g?" He asks when
jeans,"
e bloody jean
n..." I warn even tho
cute running off in my jersey. You know... You were totally kill
a, very funny,
xt time? The girl with the pink hair? She's a whole l
d I have been best friends. Hell, I don't expect the tightness in my chest that com
ntrol. And here I am, acting like a coward. A damn cow
tupid per
an actual object,
shut, I can't hold back the tears any longer. I zoom o
n look at the stupid number 17 jersey without recalling
w Ja
stupid, id
ing me up for this. I am never going back to Jason's home a
inute in that bathroom, I was dumb enou
/0/99209/coverbig.jpg?v=d013f792485f7ca855e3e0ab26bbf104&imageMogr2/format/webp)