Chapter 3 #2
Earlier today, in the locker room, I'd looked at him and seen another enemy. Another face from my nightmares. But he'd given me his jersey. Protected me from Vanessa. Looked at me with those soft storm-blue eyes like I was worth protecting.
And I'd mentally lumped him in with the people who destroyed me.
"Mae?" Sage's voice cuts through my spiral. "You okay? You look like you just swallowed a lemon."
"I'm fine." The words come out automatic. "Just... processing."
She studies me for a moment, then nods, seeming to understand.
"Fair enough. Processing is valid."
I take a breath, forcing myself to refocus.
"Okay. So étienne wasn't actually one of my tormentors.
Good to know. But that still leaves me dorming with Rafe and Cal, who definitely were.
" I pick up my fork again, needing to do something with my hands.
"What else do you know about them? Since apparently you two are fountains of Valenridge gossip. "
Sage grins, clearly in her element.
"Oh, honey, I know everything. This school is a hotbed of drama, and I am fully subscribed."
"She's not lying," Jace adds. "It's actually concerning how much she knows about people she's never spoken to."
"It's called being observant."
"It's called being nosy."
"Potato, tomato."
"That's not how that saying goes."
"Shut up and let me gossip." Sage turns back to me with theatrical flair. "Okay. Rafe Calder. Where do I even begin?"
She taps her chin like she's selecting information from a mental filing cabinet.
"He's bouncing off Omegas every other week. New conquest every few days, it seems like. And I swear to god, that man is bipolar, possessed, or both, because one day he's an absolute ass to everyone breathing, and the next day he's a saint who opens doors and smiles at strangers."
"Sounds exhausting."
"For everyone involved. You literally never know what you're getting with him. It's like a personality roulette. Will it be Nice Rafe or Asshole Rafe? Spin the wheel and find out!"
Great. So my childhood bully turned hot Alpha is also emotionally unstable. Perfect.
"And Cal?" I prompt.
Sage's expression softens slightly.
"Cal's actually pretty fun, from what I've seen.
Gets along with most people. Doesn't seem like a big flirt, which is refreshing for an Alpha his age.
He's more of a follower than a leader, honestly.
Like, Rafe makes the calls, and Cal backs him up.
But he's not a pushover about it, if that makes sense? "
I think about Cal in the locker room. The way he'd looked at me with those amber eyes full of curiosity.
The dimples that appeared even when he was clearly confused about what was happening.
Follower, not a leader. Yeah. That tracks with what I remember from sixth grade, too.
He never started the bullying. He just laughed along.
Which doesn't excuse anything. But it's... data. I guess.
"The three of them are normally together," Jace adds. "Like a unit. They eat together, train together, probably sleep in a puppy pile for all I know."
"They do not sleep in a puppy pile," Sage scoffs.
"You don't know that."
"Neither do you!"
"Hence why I said 'for all I know.'"
I interrupt before they can derail into another argument.
"How long have they been at Valenridge?"
"Not long." Sage picks at her second entree, some kind of chicken dish. "They got scholarships here, actually. Athletic ones, for hockey. Showed up like a week ago and immediately became the center of attention."
"So even if they do find an Omega along the way, they'll be staying for the full season?"
"At least through playoffs," Jace confirms. "The junior team has serious potential this year, apparently. And with Rafe as captain, scouts are already circling."
NHL dreams. Miss Phillip mentioned that.
So he's chasing glory while I'm running from my family.
Different goals, same arena. Literally.
I focus on finishing my pasta, letting the information settle.
Rafe: Emotionally unstable manwhore with NHL ambitions and a history of making my life hell.
Cal: Friendly follower who laughed while I cried but seems nice enough now.
étienne: Not actually a bully, just an unfortunate lookalike to his asshole brother. Secret romance author, if the worn paperback is any indication.
What a roster…wonder how these next six weeks are going to be.
"You know..." I set down my fork, my appetite finally satisfied. "I'm only going to be staying with them for two weeks, anyway."
Sage perks up.
"Oh?"
"Miss Phillip is working on finding me a replacement spot. Alternative housing. Somewhere without three Alphas who either tormented me directly or are related to someone who did."
Sage's eyes go wide, and she grabs my arm with sudden intensity.
"Mae! Maybe you could join us!"
"What?"
"Our dorm!" She's practically vibrating. "I'm not sure if there have to be four people, but we totally have space. It would be like old times! Sleepovers and late-night talks and me making you watch hockey instead of the other way around!"
"You like hockey now?"
"I play hockey now." She grins, wild and proud. "Omega league. My parents tried to force me into figure skating when they dragged me away, but I kept getting 'accidentally' kicked off teams for being too aggressive. Eventually, they gave up and let me do what I wanted."
Sage Holloway, tomboy extraordinaire, playing hockey.
Some things really don't change. They just evolve.
I smile at her enthusiasm, but a thought occurs to me.
I turn to Jace, frowning.
"Wait. If Sage is in an Omega dorm, and you're hanging out there..." I study him, trying to pick up his scent. Sandalwood and sea salt and caramel, yes, but there's something else underneath. Something I can't quite place. "Are you an Alpha?"
Jace's lips curl into a smirk that's equal parts mysterious and infuriating.
He doesn't answer. Just raises an eyebrow and lets the silence speak for itself.
I turn to Sage, pouting.
"Why won't he tell me?"
She's laughing now, covering her mouth with her hand.
"I'll explain later." She winks at me. "Trust me, it's a whole thing."
"A whole thing?"
"A whole entire thing. Complete with dramatic backstory and possible existential crises. You're gonna love it."
Jace groans.
"Can you not make my life sound like a soap opera?"
"I can only report the facts, and the facts are dramatic."
"The facts are complicated."
"Same thing."
I file this mystery away for later, adding it to the growing list of things I need to figure out during my six weeks at Valenridge.
Jace's designation: unclear. Possibly complicated. Definitely interesting.
"Anyway." Sage releases my arm and reaches into her bag, pulling out her phone. "If you need a break from hell, you can always come to our dorm. Here."
She scribbles a number on a napkin and slides it across the table to me.
"Room 247, Crescent Hall. That's the Omega residential building, but Jace has like... special access." She waves her hand vaguely. "Again, complicated. But the point is, you're welcome anytime."
I take the napkin, folding it carefully and tucking it into my pocket like it's precious.
Because it is. It's an escape route. A lifeline. A reminder that I'm not completely alone in this chaos.
"Also!" Sage holds up her phone. "Let's exchange numbers? I lost all my old contacts when my parents confiscated my phone back in the day. Which means I've spent thirteen years without being able to reach you, and that's a tragedy I refuse to let continue."
I smile, pulling out my own phone.
And immediately wince at the look of horror that crosses her face.
"Mae."
"Yes?"
"What is that?"
"It's my phone."
"That is not a phone. That is a relic. That belongs in a museum. Is that... is that an iPhone 6?"
"Maybe."
"Girl." Sage looks physically pained. "It's been like ten years since those came out."
"It still works!" I protest defensively. "Mostly. The battery dies after two hours, but that just encourages me to be present in the moment."
"Present in the moment," Jace repeats flatly. "That's what we're calling technological neglect now?"
"Just so you know." I type in Sage's number with fingers that know this cracked screen a little too well. "My texts are going to be green. Don't get mad."
Sage gasps in mock horror.
"Green texts? You mean I'm going to have to suffer through pixelated images and delayed delivery like a peasant?"
"Hey, green texts build character."
"Green texts build frustration."
Jace is shaking his head, laughing.
"You know it's bad when your iPhone is basically turning into an Android."
"It is NOT an Android!" I clutch my phone to my chest protectively. "She's just... vintage."
"'She'?" Sage raises an eyebrow. "You named your ancient phone?"
"Her name is Beatrice and she's been through a lot, okay?"
They both burst into laughter, and I can't help but join them.
This. This is what I missed.
Easy conversation. Gentle teasing. People who laugh with you instead of at you.
"I'll probably upgrade eventually," I admit once the laughter dies down. "I just never saw the reason to. I'm not exactly the social type. Who was I going to text? My plants?"
"You have plants?" Sage perks up.
"I have one plant. His name is Gerald. He's a succulent, and he's very judgmental about my life choices."
"I already love Gerald."
"Everyone loves Gerald. He's very charismatic for a plant."
Jace is watching us with an expression I can't quite read. Something soft. Something almost wistful.
"Well," he says, "you're going to be social now, MaeMae. Because you've got friends again. Whether you like it or not."
Friends.
The word settles in my chest like a warm ember.
Friends. Real friends. People who remember me from before and still want to know me now.
I smile, trying to ignore the whisper at the back of my mind.
What if they leave again?
What if Sage disappears like last time? Or if Jace gets bored? All of this could be temporary, like everything good in your life always is?