Chapter 29 Chapter 29
Cass woke with that heavy feeling in her chest, the kind that sits like a stone and refuses to shift. Yesterday’s match kept replaying in her mind, especially the moment Jace went down. She had seen the whole thing from the stands; the entire school had. The gasp that went through the crowd, the stunned silence, the shock that rippled out when Marvin skated on like he didn’t care his own brother was lying on the ice.
And then Jace had stood up.
Quietly.
Calm as ice.
His jaw tight.
Not even looking at Marvin.
He lost that game, but the way he handled it… that stayed with her more than the score.
Now, in the soft morning light spilling through her curtains, Cass rubbed her eyes and sighed. Her alarm hadn’t even gone off yet, but her mind refused to give her peace. Her mom was already in the hallway, humming to herself as she packed her work bag. A soft glow lived in her mother these days. A light Cass hadn’t seen in years. It scared her sometimes, this sudden shift, because she didn’t know what it meant for them. For the future. For anything.
“Morning,” her mom said gently when Cass stepped out.
Cass nodded. “Morning.”
“You’re tense,” her mom added, watching her with those eyes that always knew too much. “Is it school or something else?”
“Just… everything,” Cass murmured.
Her mom didn’t push. She just squeezed her shoulder and said, “It’s going to get better, Cass. Life doesn’t stay cruel forever.”
Cass almost believed her.
She got dressed, grabbed her keys, and headed out. The driveway felt colder than usual. Maybe it was just the memory of the dent that started everything. Marvin’s stupid tantrum and the chaos that came right after. She shook the thought away, slipped into her car, and forced herself to breathe.
Today had to be normal.
Or at least normal enough.
When she got to school, she knew immediately that the word “normal” didn’t exist here anymore.
The parking lot buzzed. Students were animated, louder than usual, riding the high of a hockey win. Marvin strutted down the walkway like he owned oxygen. He laughed too loudly, slapped hands too aggressively, carried himself like he’d walked out of a sports movie.
He had always acted like this, but today he didn’t bother pretending.
Today he was a king.
And Cass hated that.
She pulled her backpack over her shoulder and headed for the entrance, keeping her eyes forward. She didn’t want problems today. She didn’t want his attention. She definitely didn’t want his girlfriend’s venom.
But fate didn’t care.
Jacinta leaned against her locker, pretending she wasn’t waiting there on purpose. The girl always looked like she’d swallowed an entire makeup store for breakfast. Cass braced herself.
“Morning, sweetheart,” Jacinta said, smiling like a threat. “Rough night?”
Cass didn’t answer. She was too tired.
“Oh come on, don’t be shy. I saw you staring at the rink like your heart was breaking when Jace got wiped out. Adorable, really.” Jacinta giggled, then flipped her hair. “Shame though. He didn’t even win.”
Cass bit the inside of her cheek. “Move.”
Jacinta didn’t. She lifted a manicured finger and tapped Cass’s chest. “You’re getting bold. Dangerous look on you.”
Before Cass could respond, Lena appeared like a storm in sneakers.
“Touch her again,” Lena said calmly, “and I swear I’ll find out if your hair color bleaches your brain or if that’s just natural.”
Jacinta scoffed. “Who are you?”
“Her best friend.” Lena smiled sweetly. “So move before I get loud.”
Jacinta stepped aside with a glare sharp enough to cut glass.
Cass opened her locker with shaky fingers. “Thank you,” she whispered.
“Always,” Lena whispered back, looping her arm through Cass’s. “Now tell me everything or I’ll explode.”
They started walking. Cass didn’t want to talk about the game, but Lena insisted without insisting. She had this gentle way of nudging that made Cass feel safe for the first time in months. They found a quiet corner near the art hallway, where students rarely wandered.