Blake's POV
They called it the infirmary, right? Or was it the nurse's office? Whatever. I was lying on one of those stiff excuse-for-a-bed with a damn ice pack pressed against my head, feeling like my entire skull had been cracked open.
"Fuck," I muttered under my breath.
Lucas freaking Denacii.
I still couldn't believe that little stalker had the audacity to run his mouth like that. And Amy—what the actual hell? German suplex? Who does that?
The door creaked open and I looked up just in time to see Einstein stroll in, trailed by Jessica. Great.
Einstein took one look at me and immediately exploded into laughter. Loud, wheezing, stomach-holding, bent-over laughter.
"Dude!" he gasped, barely able to breathe. "You got your ass whooped in the bathroom!" He was shaking, eyes tearing up like he'd just heard the funniest joke of the century. "Was it—was it that Lucas kid?!"
I didn't answer. Just glared at him through the pounding in my skull.
Jessica elbowed him hard in the ribs. "Shut up, moron."
She turned to me, crossing her arms. "What the hell happened to you?"
I shifted on the bed, groaning. "I guess I pissed off that crazy goth chick."
Einstein lost it again. He dropped onto the nearest chair, face red from laughing. "You got wrecked by a girl! In the bathroom?! Oh my God—wait wait—isn't that like... against school rules or some shit?"
I stared at him. Hard. If looks could kill, his funeral would've been scheduled for tomorrow morning. The only reason he was still alive was because moving my head hurt too damn much.
I gritted my teeth. I wanted to deck him. Just once. Right in the nose. But instead, I leaned back against the pillow and let out a slow breath, trying not to pass out or commit homicide.
Lucas Denacii.
That name repeated in my head like a chant. Over and over. And I hated the way it sounded—too familiar, too personal. Too... something.
Jessica elbowed me in the ribs before flopping on the bed. "Move."
"Jesus—hey!" I scooted over, clutching my side, but she didn't even blink.
She pulled a cigarette from her pocket and shoved it between her lips like she was about to start a war. Flick. Flame. Inhale.
"We're in the nurse's office, you fucking douche," Einstein said, his voice actually higher than usual. "You're gonna get us in trouble."
Now that… that was something. I turned to him slowly, stunned. For once in his ridiculous life, Einstein might've activated a brain cell.
Jessica blew out smoke like a dragon and muttered, "Don't care. By the way, my parents signed me up for therapy."
Another drag.
"Fuck."
I blinked. "About time. You fucking need it."
She rolled her eyes like I told her the sky was blue.
Einstein tilted his head, confused. "Wait. Therapist? Aren't those like, rappers or somethin'? I knew your taste in music sucked, but damn, Jess."
There it was. The miracle had died. The brain cell had eventually burned out.
I turned toward him slowly. "Are you dumb on purpose, or is there a setting somewhere we can turn off?"
Jessica didn't miss a beat. "Why do we even hang out with you?"
Einstein grinned like a five-year-old who just farted in class. "Because without me, your lives would be boring. I make the best drink combos and .... I'm a really great guy."
We both stared at him. Said nothing.
His smile faded.
"…My parents are rich."
"Ohhh," I said.
Jessica nodded. "Yeah. That checks out."
Einstein flipped us both off. "Fuckers. I'm out."
He walked out with a dramatic middle finger, still laughing to himself. Freak.
I exhaled and slumped back into the pillows.
Jessica took another drag. "Don't you dare think you're gonna get off this so easy asshole. You got your ass handed to you in the bathroom and I haven't had the chance to humiliate you yet."
"It wasn't an ass-whooping," I muttered. "She caught me off guard."
Jessica smirked. "So she temporarily knocked your dumb ass out. Got it."
I groaned. "Why do I talk to you? ."
She shrugged. "Honestly? Beats me."
We sat in silence for a few seconds until she side-eyed me. "It was that girl Amy right ?" She scoffed, "Serves you right, you were the one who went after her little boy toy."
I hissed under my breath. "Lucas Denacii… that little shrimp. No wonder I've been seeing him everywhere—hallways, training field, even my damn front yard. Dude's a walking tracker. Freaking stalker."
Jessica blew smoke toward the ceiling. "You know guys stalk girls all the time, right? Why are you so bothered?"
"Because I'm not a girl," I snapped.
She shrugged. "Still hot though. And he's kinda cute. If you ask me."
I snorted. "If you like him so much, you date him."
Jessica smirked. "I can't. Anne would rip that pretty face to shreds."
I turned my face away with a groan. "He said some stupid shit about Sonia."
Jessica didn't even flinch. "Well, she's a piece of shit. I mean that as offensive as possible."
I gave her a sharp look. She went on.
"She knows how you feel about her, Blake. She knows and she still plays you—and everyone else—like pawns. She doesn't care who she hurts as long as she gets what she wants. That's not just toxic. That's evil."
She blew smoke in my face.
I waved it away. "God. I hope you die of lung cancer."
She grinned. "Not if the drugs get me first."
With that, she hopped off the bed and disappeared out the door like a hurricane that had finally run out of wind.
I laid back and stared up at the ceiling.
Lucas, you fucking stalker.
That little idiot with his too-big eyes and that shy smile.
If I was being honest with myself—really honest—he had a point. Sonia didn't give a damn about me. Not in the way I wanted her to. And I knew it. But hearing it from someone else—someone who's apparently been crushing on me hard enough that even Einstein noticed—it hit different.
And then there was that walk.
That dumb walk home.
People had talked. The cheerleaders. My teammates. Even the Coach made a comment.
"So is that your boyfriend now?"
What the actual hell. That's not what this is.
I groaned and grabbed the pillow, slamming it over my face.
"Shit."
My life was officially a soap opera.
Fuck.
Then a moment later
The door creaked open again.
I muttered under my breath, "What now?"
But when I turned, I froze.
It was Lucas
Lucas freaking Denacii.
He stepped in, slow and unsure, like he expected to get hit. Then he sat down on the chair across from me.
"…Hey," he said softly.
What the hell?
I stared at him, too stunned to even be pissed. Why was he here? To mock me? This creep.
He looked nervous, fingers tangled in his lap, eyes darting up then back down.
The air between us was heavy. Awkward.
I didn't say anything. Just stared.
And finally, I asked, low and cold,
"…Why are you here?"
I needed to know. Because if this was some kind of game, I wasn't playing.