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“It’s nothing.”
“Rane, talk to me.”
“I’m fine.”
He tried to turn, to leave his captain behind, but he didn’t get more than a few steps before Sal was there, jogging to block off his path of escape. Facing him with a frown.
“Rane, please, this isn’t like you.”
“Sal-”
“I didn’t realize it before today. And that’s my fault,” he admitted, something flashing in his gaze that made Rane take a step back, a strange twinge in his chest making him uncomfortable. “Seeing you out there, it was like I was looking at you from years ago. Back when you used to play like you love it and smile like you meant it.”
“Sal, stop.”
“I didn’t realize how bad things had gotten.” Sal shook his head quickly, expression pained. “No, that’s not true. I know how bad it was. But it happened so gradually, I guess I just wasn’t surprised when it kept getting worse. But seeing you like that out there today-”
“Sal, seriously, stop.”
“-it was like having my friend back!” He finished loudly, speaking over him, making that twinge hurt that much more. “Rane, I’m trying to tell you that this is a good thing. I’m glad you’ve mated this female.”
“I have not mated Sandy!”
Sal reared back, surprised. “You haven’t? But your mother said-”
Rane snarled, stepping back towards him. “Forget whatever my mother said! Don’t you believe a word that comes out of her mouth!”
“What?”
“I have not mated Sandy, and I will not mate Sandy.”
“But that’s-”
“I cannot control anything else about my life, but I can control that! You cannot force me!”
“Who would force you?”
“Whoever, I won’t do it!”
Surprise aided Rane as he physically shoved his way past Sal and back into the locker room. His captain was quick to chase after him, but a couple others were still lingering there. With their privacy gone, he didn’t say anything else.
Rane was quick to change and leave, purposefully ignoring Sal. Ignoring the way his chest felt like it was caving under incredible pressure.
He’d never blown up like that at his captain. The last time he’d lost his temper and exploded had been at the tribunal when his final attempt at appealing the refusal to grant him legal adulthood had been denied.
A fit of anger that had sealed his fate in the minds of the tribunal, and in his records. The fact that he was a child, incapable of regulating his emotions. He had been denied the chance for further appeal after that. It was instead written in his file that the only way the tribunal would reconsider his case was if his guardian was willing to appeal for him.
And, of course, Elffa never would. With that one moment of lost control, he’d completely lost any chance at escaping this life, and Elffa had won completely.
Rane learned then to keep his temper in check. A lesson learned too late. And apparently one he hadn’t learned that well since he’d just lost it again.
Why now, of all times? What made him lose it today when nothing his mother had done in the last few years had?
Sandy.
She was the difference.
He had to get her out of here before he made things worse for both of them.
