by Kent, Rina
I don’t like being within two metres from the football pitch.
“I beat you in maths. You owe me, Ellie.”
And just like that, Knox had blackmailed me into watching the practice.
Teal, Kim, and I walk towards the pitch together.
“I’m telling you, our team is crazy good. You’re going to fall in love at first sight.” Kim interlaces her arm with Teal’s.
“Love is for losers,” Teal deadpans.
“You’re funny,” Kim laughs.
She thinks Teal is joking, but I doubt she is. Teal has an eccentric personality and the weirdest sense of humour. Sometimes, I don’t realise it’s a joke until she says it is.
The fact that she’s Knox’s twin is even stranger.
Kim decided Teal should belong in our circle because she’s ‘so cool’.
Kim thinks only rock stars are cool. The fact that she clicked with Teal so fast is a miracle in itself. Even Teal seems to like her. She offered her a cup of coffee the other day — and Teal doesn’t offer things.
My nerves skyrocket when we approach the wires and the players. It’s like I’m walking straight onto the battlefield.
Teal watches her surroundings and stops when a few girls start gushing and squealing — the horsemen’s fangirls. “So this is where the youth come to kill their brain cells.”
“Don’t be a mood killer.” Kim’s green eyes brighten as she gets lost in the game.
Elites are divided into two teams. Half is wearing blue jerseys and the other half neon yellow ones.
Aiden and Cole are on the blue team. Xander, Ronan, and Knox play for the yellow team.
“Go, Ronan!” Kim shouts when he takes possession of the ball and runs towards the goal.
Cole tackles him with infinite grace and takes back possession. Ronan curses, but he runs like a storm to defend.
Too late, though.
Cole passes the ball to Aiden at the back of the last two defenders without being in the danger of the offside.
He dabbles the ball once then scores.
I can’t help but watch his triumphant expression. The ease of his movements. The glint in his grey eyes. The need for more.
He enjoys this. He really enjoys playing football.
It must be because of the challenge. Aiden is the type who loves being tested every step of the way and playing football fixes some of his cravings. Especially if it’s against worthy opponents like the horsemen.
Cole ruffles his hair and runs backwards, not taking credit for assisting that goal.
Those who say Cole and Aiden’s team play is legendary aren’t wrong. That assist was like telepathy. Cole didn’t even need to look up before passing the ball.
On his way back to the midfield, Aiden’s eyes lock with mine.
His lips curl into a smile. A genuine one that reaches his cloudy eyes.
The world shifts for a second, but I plant my feet wide, refusing to be swayed.
He must think I came for him.
I spot Knox who’s wearing number nine. He said it’s because he has nine lives, the dork.
“Go, nine!” I scream.
Aiden’s smile falls. The darkening of his features is alarming, to say the least.
I never complied to Aiden’s requests to attend his practices or his games, but I came today. The moment I shouted Knox’s number, he knew I’m not here because of him.
I would’ve felt sorry if he didn’t kill part of my soul.
“Don’t mind, Ronan!” Kim yells at the top of her lungs. “You’ve got this, thirteen.”
He grins at us, tapping his chest.
“Go, nineteen, I guess,” Teal says.
Both Kim and I gawk at her. She just called Xander’s number.
“What?” She glances up from her phone. “Isn’t he on Knox’s team?”
“Yeah, but there are ten other players on Knox’s team.” Kim narrows her eyes. “Why him?”
Teal lifts a shoulder. “Why not him?”
Kim gives her an indecipherable look then focuses back on the game.
The blue team is on the attack again. The girls beside us squeal Aiden’s number, eleven, and Cole’s, seven.
This time, Ronan steals the ball and makes a decisive pass to Xander who gives a one touch in Knox’s direction.
The three of us get on our tippy toes as Knox runs at full speed. He’s about to shoot and score when Aiden tackles him from behind.
Hard.
Knox hits the ground head first.
A collective gasp sounds from the audience and even the assistant coaches.
“Knox!” Teal is about ready to tear the wires down and run onto the pitch.
Before she can, Knox stands, appearing non-injured.
He grins at his teammates when the referee whistles for a penalty. Even Ronan ruffles his hair and gathers him in a bro hug.
I glare at Aiden. He stalks back to the midfield with an expressionless face, but I feel the tension beneath the surface all the way to where I’m standing. It’s licking at my skin like a vapid, savage animal.
“What the hell is number eleven’s problem?” Teal’s glare matches mine.
“He’s jealous,” Kim says.
“Kim!” I hiss.
“What? He is. King doesn’t go back to defend. It’s not a coincidence he went back after you called Knox’s number.”
“Whatever.”
“You told me not to tell him Knox is your foster brother. Admit it, Ellie. You want him to be jealous.”
“No, I don’t.”
“Yeah, right.”
“Don’t drag my brother into this.” Teal stares between us. “He’s a dork, but he’s reckless. I don’t want him to make enemies with this King bloke.”
“Don’t worry,” I soften my tone when I speak to Teal. “I also don’t want Knox involved.”
“Sure.” She types furiously on her phone. “Eleven is a King and they’re Dad’s mortal enemies.”
As if I could forget the declaration of war between Dad and Jonathan at the Rhodes fundraiser.
“I’m out of here. I’ll wait for you in the car park.” I pause. “Do you want to join me, Teal?”
“I’m good here.”
That’s weird. I thought she wasn’t paying attention to watching the game with all the typing.
I head to the car park and lean against Kim’s car. I retrieve my history book and read through some highlights I made during today’s class.
My thoughts bounce back to how Aiden tackled Knox. If he keeps doing that shit, I’ll need to have a word with him.
Is he going to bully Knox in the team?
I trust Cole and Coach Larson not to let him, but you never know with Aiden. He’s in the habit of proving everyone wrong just because he can.
“Back off,” a female low voice reaches me from a few rows of cars on the left. “Don’t mistake my silence for weakness.”
Silver.
It’s her voice.
Curious, I tuck my book in my backpack and head in her direction.
“Do you know how long I dreamt about this?” A male voice.
Adam Herran.
That bastard.
“Back off or I swear —”
“Shh, shut up. Shut the fuck up.” He lands two blows on the car.
I’m close enough to see Silver’s frantic expression. I’m impressed she doesn’t flinch as he jams his fist in the car to the left side of her head.
“Adam. If you don’t stop, I’ll tell —”
“Shut the fuck up, Silver.” He hits the car again.
This is none of my business. I should walk away.
I turn to do just that, but then stop as a question barges into my mind.
Am I the type of person who traps people like Ma or the type who sets them free like Dad?
I’m not trapping people, but leaving a person cornered is no different. Even if that person is Silver.
Besides, Adam gives me the creeps.
I
approach them and speak in a loud, confident tone. “What’s going on here?”
Adam’s eyes snap in my direction. They’re bloodshot and swollen as if he’s drunk. Or high. “Fuck off, bitch. This is none of your business.”
“Silver?” I ask. If she tells me it’s none of my business, too, I’m out of here.
She discreetly shakes her head and mouths, ‘Cole.’
That’s it. Cole.
She obviously needs help.
I bring out my phone, my muscles tightening with a rush of adrenaline. “Back off right now or I’ll call the principal, Adam. Maybe it’s his business.”
He takes a step forward.
“Come any closer and I’ll blind your fucking eyes with pepper spray.”
A lie, but I speak as though I do have the pepper spray.
Thankfully, he believes it.
“Stupid fucking bitch,” he snarls, pushing off Silver.
I keep my hand in my bag, watching him closely until he climbs into his car and speeds out of the car park.
A deep breath rips out of my lungs.
I jog to Silver who’s half-leaning against her car, hugging her midsection with both her arms.
“Are you… okay?” I stop a short distance away.
“You didn’t have to do that,” she murmurs. “I… I need to go. Forget what I said earlier. Don’t mention a word about this to Cole.”
“You should tell Aiden.” The words feel like acid as I say them, ripping and melting me into nothingness.
“What does he have to do with anything?” She frowns, seeming genuinely confused before she raises her head. “King didn’t tell you?”
“Tell me what?”
“Whatever. It’s not my place.” She opens her car door and flops inside. “I won’t say anything until you talk to him.”
“About what?” I ask.
“What do you think?” Her expression is unreadable while she shuts the door.
As she leaves the car park, I remain in place for a moment, mulling her words over and over.
I won’t say anything until you talk to him.
What the hell is that supposed to mean?
15
Aiden
I stand at the threshold of the pitch, remaining behind the corner.
My grip tightens around a bottle of water. I was supposed to give it to Elsa, but she doesn’t need it anymore.
The new boy passes her his sports drink and she gulps half of it down as if she was poisoned and he’s giving her antidote. Then, she snorts laughing at something he said.
She’s still wearing her track clothes. The jacket outlines her tits and slender waist. She hasn’t gone inside, waiting for the other girls to leave before she’d head to the showers.
Conveniently, Van Doren has been keeping her company instead of coming in the football team’s locker room.
I found out from Jonathan that the Van Doren twins are Elsa’s foster siblings. Still, he’s not her biological brother.
It took everything in me not to break his fucking leg during practice three days ago. Or yesterday. Or today.
My blood boils to the point of ignition every time I think Elsa only came to watch practice because of him.
I watch her closely. The slight twitch in her nose as she laughs. The few stray strands that fly all over her face. The flushed skin due to running. The rosy lips.
She’s so fucking beautiful.
And she’s happy.
The fact that she erased me this fast deepens the dark hole inside my chest.
If she can get over me so quickly, why the fuck has she told me she loved me?
Empty words.
Empty promises.
She was always shit at keeping her promises. Fuck. She didn’t even remember me when we first met at RES. For her, I was another boy, while I dreamt about her every time I managed to sleep.
For ten years, she’s been a constant in my life, but I was only a stop in hers.
If I want to, I can bring her back.
I can dominate her until she gives in, but it proved useless when she went numb on me in the bathroom.
I can grovel like I’ve been doing for the past week, but she’s not even glancing in my direction.
I can use Reed and the Van Doren twins’ weaknesses against her. Blackmail her. Force her to be with me.
And then fucking what?
She’ll never be fully mine if her closed-off head doesn’t open up to me.
“You look like a creep.” A bored voice comes from my right.
“Screw off, Queens.”
She stands beside me, crossing her arms over her chest as if she didn’t hear a word I said.
I tune her out and continue to watch Elsa. She waves at Van Doren and heads into the locker room.
Fucking finally.
A moment later, he strides in our direction. He smiles at me so wide, I’m tempted to cut his face open. The only reason I don’t is because Elsa would hate me even more.
Knight can still do it, though. With the right encouragement.
I tuck that idea for later.
“Nice game.” He nods in my direction.
I don’t acknowledge him.
He stops and wipes the sweat off his brow. “I hope to get along in the future.”
“Not if you keep messing with what’s mine.”
“Elsa is my foster sister. Oh, and I met her first.”
I meet his hazel eyes with my deadliest ones. “Doubtful.”
He leans in close and whispers so only I could hear him, “I was kidnapped by her mother first.” He steps back with the same smile still plastered on his face. “That means I’ll cut you if you hurt her.”
Van Doren brushes past me in the direction of the locker room.
I watch his back.
Hmm. So he was a victim of the red woman, too. It makes sense now why Ethan took him and his sister in.
Still, he has no right to threaten me. Not when it comes to Elsa. Especially when it comes to Elsa.
“You have yourself another enemy.” Queens studies her pink nails. “Why am I not surprised?”
“Aren’t you supposed to be gone?” I stare at the top of her head.
“Charming, as usual, King.”
“Don’t you have someone else to bug? Oh, wait. He’s not speaking to you.”
“You’re such a twat.”
“Could be.”
“You know, I was thinking about helping you out, but I changed my mind.”
She turns to leave, but I grunt, “Stop. Turn around and tell me your plan.”
Spinning around, she shoots me a glare. “I’ll talk to Elsa.”
“You will talk to Elsa,” I repeat to get a better feel of her words.
Queens was completely against this when I ordered her before. She didn’t budge even when I threatened to expose everything to Nash.
The fact that she changed her mind now could only mean two things. One: somehow she was persuaded. Two: she’s taking revenge against me.
I’m betting on the second.
If she’ll do as told, I’d take the bait willingly. Queens is about the only person Elsa would believe.
“Fine, let’s go,” I say.
“You’re not going to ask why I changed my mind?”
“Doesn’t matter.” For now.
“It’s because of her,” she huffs. “I might have unnecessarily been a bitch towards her.”
“You think?”
“Yeah, but I’m not worse than you.” She points a finger at my chest. “At least I didn’t hide something so big from her.”
“Shut it, Queens.”
“Whatever.” She walks by my side as we head across the pitch.
“Oh, by the way.” She flips her hair back. “You’ll do me a favour.”
Of course.
She’s using my desperation to get what she wants. Just like fucking Nash. I swear they’re cut from the same cloth.
Just wait until I have Elsa back and I’ll t
ake my revenge against them both.
“Pray tell,” I speak in my most detached tone.
“Don’t mention a word to Cole about Adam.”
Hmm. Interesting.
“I don’t have to. He’s not stupid and will eventually figure it out himself.”
And with that, Queens and I head to the girls’ locker room.
Energy buzzes through my veins the closer I am to Elsa.
Alicia used to say that in order to be accepted, you have to bare yourself.
I never understood what that meant.
Until Elsa.
Now, I’ll do whatever it takes to be accepted by her.
If it means letting everything go, then so fucking be it.
16
Elsa
I tie my damp hair back then button my jacket.
My movements are mechanical at best. Knox said he’ll take me and Teal to some film, but I can’t muster excitement about it.
I enjoy their company more than anything else. Being back under my father’s wing has given me a sense of comfort I haven’t felt in ten years.
Dinner time with Dad, Agnus, Knox, and Teal feels familial, and I’m thankful to have them as a family.
However, something is missing.
At times, I’m certain it’s about the past and what I erased from my memory. But the truth is, that’s not the only reason.
Even when I laugh and smile and act completely normal, I can still sense the void inside. The terrifying hollowness. It echoes through my empty chest like an old rusty bell.
It hurts.
It really fucking hurts.
The worst part is that I can’t even talk about it to anyone. They’d think I’m broken beyond repair. They’ll think I’m crazy for tossing and turning all night thinking about the one person I shouldn’t be thinking about.
I suck in a deep breath.
You can do this, Elsa. You’re strong.
I throw the backpack over my shoulder and step outside.
My feet falter near the door.
Aiden and Silver stand together, appearing deep in conversation.
My lips tremble. The void in my chest claws louder and harder like a trapped animal. That animal needs out. That animal will rip my heart open, run over to them, and shred that scene apart.