a's

er, but in a soft, pretty way, no

he curtain open just a crack, watching

wed. Like everything was on mute, an

ficial tutoring sessi

n with a sigh and g

ed pencils, a calculator, highlighters, sticky notes... maybe a li

r with the placement tests and zipped i

still sitting on my desk

ere here with

verything just felt... off without her by my

wn situations feel like jok

tutor a guy who my subconscious thought looke

hot. But Jason was not just hot. He was hot hot. Like unfair levels o

he opened his mouth, all that

lash

the car, tossing my things into the backse

, and I sat there, gripping the wheel and tryin

ly bench-pressed people my size for fun. How the

whispered to myself. "He

prayed silently, let him have actually done those placem

t, my stomach twisted itself into knots. My fingers

was

lly

hind a sleek black car that screamed m

ntroducing herself quickly before ushering me inside and up the staircase. I mutte

hen she stopped in front of it

pped

icks propped against the wall, jerseys draped

of them were him. On the ice. With tea

estepped a hoodie on the floor and a stray

rning toward the sound just as Jason looked up f

A tall, broad-shouldered guy with b

to mine. "Who let you

tinctively taki

. Go easy. She's a cute litt

elf off the couch and wal

's Ai

rying to make my

he tilted his head, almost t

change your pants.

kipped a b

fingers touched the fabric. It was wet and

. My period. Right now? I wanted the f

reathe. My fingertips were pre

a's

re? Why didn't it happen at home, in my bathroo

e. I can feel the burn in my face, climb

ns away like he's trying to give

a word. But I know he i

't make a comment or act l

e my bathro

and bolt toward the door

the bathroom looked. Black marble countertops, warm golden li

the exact date down to the damn hour and I do

tranger's house, blee

ess middle schooler who got

despite the snow outside. My bangs sti

ues with me. I bit into my fingernail,

ing in the same spot, trying not t

t's Jason

swer fast enough before he as

nutes before coming to check up on me? Anyway,

st ask for some help. "I cou

t asking. Then I hear him laugh. "There's

pen the door and snatch the bag. Inside is Pads, a fresh pa

t to think about how or

jeans in the sink and h

putting on the shirt, it fa

n. "You can survive this." With a deep br

His eyes lift and land on me. Then slowly drops, taking in the jersey and my legs a

stand? "I... are you..." He scra

in a small voi

ties. But I decide against it. It's a good thing he

ing I didn't just live through the most

. It doesn't help that he's staring at me and even though he isn't

el m

to embarrass you every time

h

d gone past t

point at the book on the d

"But I want to talk

urge to gl

ad somewhere that know-it-all girls get heavy flo

int. I squint my eyes at Jason, unsu

one person this second and an utter

nutes ago couldn't be this..

ring out my watch and I se

f he decides to waste the time by stalling me and

he tests? Did yo

azily before dumping

e half productive. I'll get to know how ba

t to be k

page, and the next, and the next and a permanent

he words leave my mou

the desk. "You didn't even try. Everything's empty..." I wa

s boy? The one his mum claimed was reserved

o do this." I start, " And

. I am not a malf

you," I say, and I take my bag and start packing my things. To my s

l's daughter doesn't mak

"What's that su

The other girls who want me but can never have a

er my shoulder and walk to the door. By the time I'

r

jea

urse myself. I can't walk out like this. Not in the freezing snow. Not through

go and get

just go back, head straight for th

g?" He asks when

jeans,"

e bloody jean

n..." I warn even tho

cute running off in my jersey. You know... You were totally kill

a, very funny,

xt time? The girl with the pink hair? She's a whole l

d I have been best friends. Hell, I don't expect the tightness in my chest that com

ntrol. And here I am, acting like a coward. A damn cow

tupid per

an actual object,

shut, I can't hold back the tears any longer. I zoom o

y, I have to press a hand over my mouth

w Ja

stupid, id

ing me up for this. I am never going back to Jason's home a

n look at the stupid number 17 jersey without recalling

inute in that bathroom, I was dumb enou