25
OPENING UP
VIKTOR
THE WHOLE HOCKEY TEAM HAS TO COME BACK EARLY FROMCHRISTMAS VACATION SINCE WE HAVEgames on the first weekend of January.Campus is deserted, so I don’t have to worry about running into Evie.Her tear-stained face is etched into my memory though.I’ve gone back and forth in my mind, and I don’t deserve to go out with Evie.She’s too good, too giving for someone like me who smashes through life and hurts people.
I’m hoping that—like the first time I told her it would be better not to see each other again—she goes out of her way to avoid me too.I really can’t handle seeing her.
Coty and I walk to the arena for practice.
Did you have a good Christmas?I ask.
Too delicious.He rubs his stomach.It’s always good to see my family.It feels odd, though, knowing that it’s our last holiday break, eh?
Yeah, for sure.Monarch feels like a second home now.And once I leave, I might never see some of my teammates again.But all the more reason to push hard for a championship.
To my surprise, Coty doesn’t come back with a joke about my intensity.After last season, I want to win so bad.
All that extra training pays off now.Hockey has always been my passion, but this year it’s been an escape as well.Winning can be random.Our team can play better and still lose, just because of an errant pass or a goalie having a career game.But we’re much better prepared than last year.The extra coaching in skating, the dietary tweaks, and the recovery sessions will pay off the further our season goes.
After our Friday home game, there’s a casual team get-together at the hockey house next door.There are surprising number of students here despite classes not starting until Monday.Honestly, I’m just making an appearance, and I plan to leave early.
Vik?I turn and see Mia Hamilton, another Revenge Squad member.Something twists inside me.I always thought that Mia was a nice person and we had an amicable breakup, but I’m clearly not a great judge of character.
Hey.I don’t follow up with the normal pleasantries since I’m still wary.
Sooo.She draws out the word nervously.Jordan said that you found out what we were doing.
I nod and cross my arms.
She motions between us.Are we okay?
There’s no ‘we,’ Mia.And if there was, no.How would you feel in my position?
Her brown eyes glisten, and I recall how sensitive she is.
I’m so sorry, Vik.I should never have…Her voice trails off and I start to walk away, but then she asks,What about Evie?
I turn back, my voice even icier.What about her?
Mia shrinks under my cold gaze, but presses on.You’re still going out with her, right?
I reach into the pocket of my jeans and finger the tiny bit of velvet and beading that I keep forgetting to throw out.No.
Was that because she didn’t tell you, you know, about what was going on?
I can’t see how this is your business.I don’t understand why Mia keeps prolonging this conversation when it’s clear that neither one of us is enjoying it, so I turn to leave again.Mia grabs my arm.
Wait.I just wanted to say that it was my fault.I’m going out with Dylan now and I was worried you’d get mad at me, so I begged her not to tell you.It wasn’t Evie’s choice, and I know how much she—
Stop.I interrupt her.There’s no point in raising my hopes about Evie when she would never take me back.I was unbelievably cruel to her.If there’s one thing I’ve gotten good at here, it’s breaking up with women.
But Mia presses on.I don’t know why you’re taking this out on her.She didn’t do anything wrong.
Right?Like our complete relationship wasn’t a sham.You guys told her all about me, so nothing was real.
Mia shakes her head.That’s not true.All we did was fix her up a little and give her a few opening lines, which I think she forgot because she got flustered.And tell her that you liked a challenge.
