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I stared at the floor for a few minutes, and eventually sunk on to– ht, my emotion – and the way I saw it I only had two options I couldin self-pity, or I could focus on the two things that I could count on – football, and school

As easy as it would have been to choose the first option, ing just wasn’t my style

The days that folloere long, cold, and almost unbearable I’d beco at anyone I ca my friends I avoided the cafeteria because I didn’t want to see Jade, but also because I wasn’t in thedue to the wet, freezing weather, but I still foundmy law classes

It was only mid-afternoon, and I had my next class in two hours, so I headed doards the eht have been considered crazy for running in sixty-degree weather, but being out in the open, and on the field was the only thing that had brought me some kind of peace in the last week

I zipped up my black U of B hoodie, stuckon the track Lorde’s ‘Tea the Tartan in perfect rhyth I did a few laps, and then increased hts of Jade were silenced When I reached the finish line, I slowed down, and stopped, resting ulps of icy air

I turned around, and scohen I saw Dane leaning against the tunnel aiting for rey U of B hoodie, and dark jeans with black combat boots His ar at hi me

“Thought youhis hands in his pockets His eyes probed my face but he kneell as I did that he wouldn’t find anything I’d perfected the art of hiding the chaos going on infrom the inside

“Yeah,” – I checked my watch – “But I can’t chat I have class in a little over thirty minutes”

I walked past hirimaced when he fell into step beside me

“There a reason you tracked me down?” I asked, unable to mask the hostility in my voice I didn’t want to be rude, but I wanted to be left alone, and I had a feeling Dane wanted to have a heart-to-heart

He sighed as I walked through the gyht into the locker roo my sweaty clothes off and Dane rubbed the back of his neck “I don’t knohat happened between you and Jade, or you and Stella, but I’m worried about you, Reid, you haven’t been yourself this past week”

“Jesus,” I ivethe locker shut, I stalked towards the shower and didn’t care that I was butt ass fucking naked

“I’ve been treading on fucking eggshells around you all week,” replied Dane “Forgiveto make sure you’re okay!”

I turned on the hot water, hissing when it scaldedokay, Dane I lostokay with that!”

“Then talk to me, Reid, Goddammit Let me help you”

I screwed ainst the tiled wall and allowing the hot water to thaw the ever-present chill in my bones

“There’s nothing you can do,” I said “I just need some time and space to deal Alone”

“It doesn’t have to be this way” Dane’s voice was filled with understanding, and sympathy, and neither had place withup I didn’t have siblings growing up, and I’d come to consider him more of a brother, than a friend But even brother’s overstepped

“Trust me when I say it does”

I shut the water off, and dried off “Look, I appreciate the concern, but nothing you say will change how I feel” – I changed into a fresh set of clothes, and fished– “I appreciate your concern, but when I’m ready to talk, I will Until then, leave me be”

I exited the gy Dane behind, and ainst the driver’s side I groaned and almost decided to walk to class instead