Chapter 21: .

Ethan's pov

The food was having a hard time going down my throat as I watched Selene captivated by whatever she was doing on her phone.

She'd been giggling non stop like a squirrel and had not touched dinner.

I shifted uncomfortably in the chair and sipped on the juice to help my dry throat

"Something's changed, why are you so happy?" I forced myself to ask.

Her eyes slowly left what she was reading and came up to mine.

"None of your business." She snapped.

"Ahem." Victoria pulled out a chair to join us.

"I have noticed you've been on your phone since the beginning of dinner, Selene. No phones allowed at the table"

"Mom, Ethan has his phone all the time and you don't even complain." Selene protested.

Victoria slapped the table gently.

"Don't argue with me."

Selene quietly dropped the phone at the side of her plate and began picking her food.

The phone continued to buzz, multiple messages coming in.

Selene was not one to bring her phone to the table, she mostly had good eating etiquette.

I stood up and the chair scooted loudly.

"Going somewhere, Ethan." Victoria said.

I hate when she's all nice and cozy with me.

I feel sick about it, but I have to be polite for my dad's sake.

"My room."

I took a turn around the table, behind Selene I saw the message pop up on her phone.

Not the contents, but I was able to catch the sender's name.

"Valentine?" I blurted without realizing it.

Selene covered her phone with her hands.

"Excuse me, don't you know a thing about privacy? She accused hotly

"It's not nice sneaking up on people like that."

"Psst, so what?, just a day and you're already texting like lovers?"

"Mind your business, Ethan She clenched her teeth

"Who's Valentine?" Victoria didn't miss our argument

"No one Selene lied

It was my turn to giggle, I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Denying him already Valentine is the new student in school." I helped explain to Victoria.

Victoria sliced through her steak accurately, her eyes focused

"What is your relationship with him, Selene?, anything romantic"

Selene flew to her feet.

"No mom, principal Bradshaw tasked me with showing him around the school that's all."

"Is that why he has been texting you all through dinner?"

"Nooo!" Selene wailed.

"It's an initiation the hockey team is planning for him and he invited me to be there."

"Invited you?" Victoria and I chorused.

The surprise in our voices matched.

Victoria looked at me

"Is this initiation thing true?"

"It is, but he can't invite just anybody."

"He invited me and I'm going." Selene flared.

"Not tonight, you will not. From what Ethan just said, you aren't invited."

"I am invited, he doesn't have any friend's mom, he needs me to be there with him."

"Selene!" Victoria said calmly.

There must be some silent communication between those two and I could read between the awkward lines here

I'd say Victoria just banned Selene from leaving the house

I couldn't be more happier with Victoria and the moment

With a triumphantly smile on my face, I walked to my room whistling loudly

I turned around to see Selene fuming on her chair, that's what she gets acting cocky

'he needs me to be there with him I mimicked and burst out laughing alone in my room

The initiation was to take place in the school at exactly ten pm.

All players pass through this right, it kind of strengthens the bond.

Isaiah and the others would be there ahead of time to set everything up for our newest player.

I continued whistling eloquently till I got to my car

The night air felt good against my skin, I can tell that it's going to be a good night.

I started the car out of the house.

Some minutes later, my phone started to ring.

It was Isaiah, I answered the phone.

"Hey dude, where are you, everybody's here."

"Sorry man, I'm on my way." I ended the call.

"Shit." I shouted.

I almost ran over a stray cat.

"Owwwwww." I felt a bump at the back of my car seat.

"Can't you drive more carefully?"

"Selene?" I turned back.

Indeed she was right there, crouched like a kitten.

"How did you end up here?, when did you get into my car without my notice?"

She sat on the chair, she was wearing a blue hoodie sweater and a nice bum short.

"I promised Vale I'd come and that's what I'm doing, so I hitched a ride with you."

I had to park the car to the side of the road, so I could understand her better.

"You mean to say that you snuck into my car just to go see your crush?" I almost choked saying that.

"Yeah, and he's not my crush."

I can't believe this, the Selene Greasely that I know would never in a million years think of doing something so daring as to disobey her mother.

Not like I care.

"Okay, get out of the car." I said.

She gave her stupid giggle again.

"You're kidding me, right? I can't."

"That's none of my fucking business, you should have told your pretty boy to come pick you up and engage in all this sneaking around bullshit. Last I checked, he drives a hell cat"

Selene tugged on her sweater.

"Don't be so mean, Ethan. I can't walk back home by myself, it's already late."

"Gah" I groaned.

"What's with the defying act all of a sudden. You know what, I don't care, since you want to watch so badly, you're welcome to come see your crush get initiated."

I started the car again, and she moved to the front seat.

"I told you, he's not my crush."

"Whatever." I said under my breath

We arrived at the school and I took a flashlight out.

Selene stepped out and I could see a part of her bum.

"Christ, Selene, what are you wearing?”