Page 45
“Let’s go with the ones before,” I decide. “They check all the boxes I need. I also like that the skate blade isn’t attached. It’ll allow me to position them how I like them.”
Emily has been nearby talking with another customer, and comes over as she sees that I’m putting on my boots.
“Ready?”
“Yes! I’ll take these, please. They’re perfect,” I reply.
Nodding, she picks up the box and closes it, while Liliana and Ignacio stand.
“We’re going to go pay. Take your time,” Liliana says unobtrusively.
It can take me a second to get moving again once I’ve been sitting awhile, so I nod as I fix one of my boots so it doesn’t bother me later. Taking a breath, I slowly stand up, waiting for the sparkles to stop popping in front of my eyes.
Nothing to see here, people. This is totally normal.
Feeling better, I cut through one of the aisles to get to the front of the store.
“Did you see who's here?” Draven asks sarcastically.
I almost trip as I step in front of a mirror to hide.
“Those were some serious skates for someone who doesn’t know how.” Alastair laughs. “I can’t wait to watch her fall on her face on Friday.”
Rolling my eyes, his words just make me more determined to not suck. I’m about to turn away, when Ciaran speaks up.
“We should head over to the skating rink so I can break in these new skates. I hate that I had to buy new ones,” he says with a sigh.
“You haven’t gotten new skates in way too long,” Draven says.
“They’re my treat,” Alastair insists, grunting. “Don’t complain, you can thank me later.”
“Sexual favors for skates, sounds good.” Ciaran smirks.
I don’t know how to feel about what I just heard, and I find myself wrapping my arms around my waist as I hurry away. Best friends and fuck buddies?
I’m kind of surprised Ciaran said that so openly when there are people around, but I guess they’re not worried about being overheard.
I can’t think of those three kissing each other, or Ciaran having his blue and black hair fisted in Alastair’s hands as he swallows…
Heat pools in my stomach as I shudder and my pussy clenches around nothing. What the fuck? I refuse to be attracted to overgrown children with sticks and pucks.
There’s also no way they’d ever give me a second glance, and I remind myself that I don’t want their attention in any capacity. I will not have some kind of fucked up crush on my bullies, no matter how hot they are. There’s danger, cruelty, and a fear of what they’re capable of.
They’ve already had me beaten up because they willed it. I’m not naive enough to think Alastair didn’t tell his sister to gang up on me. I’m lucky a teacher came along, or it probably would have been worse.
Fading into the background isn’t going to work. I might as well have a spotlight on me, recording my every move when it comes to the Chesterfield Prep Devils. It’s a weird place to exist in, but I have a feeling that being the new mascot for the school hockey team will be fun if I can dodge my bullies.
I rarely get the chance to be anonymous in a crowd. Whatever happens, it’ll be an experience. Rachelle told me the mascot is fiercely protected at the school while in uniform. No one will be fucking with me during the game.
“Ready to go?” Ignacio asks, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I’ve managed to avoid guys for years. I’ll continue to dodge them, and maybe one day, I’ll get to meet someone that actually deserves me.
Someone who can deal with all of my issues. On the other hand, it takes a really strong person to be able to date a chronically ill person. Being alone is probably easier.
“Yeah,” I say, telling myself to snap out of it. “I decided I’m going to stick to the kid area to start with.”
“Okay,” Liliana says easily as we walk out.
