CHAPTER THREE/ Another change
1071 Words
I quickly pushed his hand off, my heart racing rapidly.
“What is that?” he asked again, his tone stunned.
“N… nothing,” I stuttered. A hundred thoughts ran through my head in that second. He already hated me. There was no way he would keep quiet about it. I tried to move away, but he pushed closer, placing both hands on either side of the wall to block me.
I held my breath as his green eyes scanned my face. “Soft cheeks, a tiny voice, short, a fragile body… you are a boy,” he said like a scientist who had just discovered a new planet.
I shook my head. “I’m not. I swear.”
“Oh really?” His voice was filled with sarcasm.
I nodded.
“Strip then,” he stepped back. “Just your shirt. Take it off.”
I shook my head. Tears gathered in my eyes.
He scoffed in disbelief. “Graham Sinclair is a girl? How does this even make sense? I saw your school record. Have you been pretending to be a boy since you were born?”
I shook my head. Placing both hands together, I begged desperately, “Please, don’t tell anybody. Only for a few weeks.”
“Only for a few weeks?” he repeated in disbelief. “What’s happening in a few weeks? Are you going to suddenly turn into a boy? Because I think not.”
My hands trembled. Should I tell him about Graham?
Would he report everything?
“Don’t say anything… please…” I choked.
He raked his fingers through his black hair. “Forty-eight hours.”
I pulled away from the wall. “Forty-eight hours?”
“That’s how long you have to quit the team and get out of this school or I’m reporting you to the school authorities,” he said.
My throat dried up. Quit the team?
Dad would kill me. I just knew it.
I quickly dropped to my knees. “Please, don’t say anything. I’ll get kicked out. I’m begging you.”
He turned away from me and walked to his side of the room, not saying a word. I wept, wiping my eyes. “My dad would kill me, I swear. He would beat me,” I said.
“No man would hit a girl,” he grabbed a shirt and sniffed it before he slid it on.
“Not my father.” My lips trembled. I stood from the ground and moved to him, finally deciding to tell him the truth out of desperation. “My brother got into an accident and is in a hospital,”
He looked at me, but he didn’t say a word.
“I’m Graham’s twin sister. He got into an accident and is in a hospital. Dad didn’t want to lose the scholarship or the money that could… no, *will* come from it, so he sent me instead—just until Graham wakes up,” I said.
He gulped. “Go back home, Graham… no… what is your name?” He shook his head in confusion.
“Stephanie,” I said.
“I’m sorry about your brother, if that’s even a true story, but you better leave in forty-eight hours or I have to let the school know. I won’t support fraud.” His tone was final.
Tears streamed down my cheeks.
His face twisted with disgust. “Stop those crocodile tears. Your father wouldn’t hit you.”
Determined to convince him, I spun around and slid off my jacket.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Watch,” I said and slowly unbuttoned my white shirt. I slid it off as well. Now I was wearing only a tank top. My arms and back were visible, covered with marks that Dad had left when he hit me.
“See?” I asked, still backing him.
He fell silent. I wasn’t even sure he was still looking.
“Can you see?” I asked, but he said nothing.
I spun to face him. He flew a hand to his mouth. Silence lingered for a few seconds before he spoke. “He abused you?”
I nodded.
His expression switched to pity. He bit his lower lip, thinking for a few seconds, then put on a pair of pants and walked out, slamming the door shut.
I moved to my bed and sat, covering my eyes with my hand. I blew it. I totally blew it on my first day?
*Oh God.*
Soon it was nightfall and Nick still had not returned. Even after spilling the truth to him, I knew he didn’t care.
I didn’t have to wait forty-eight hours. I knew I would leave anyway. I would end up facing Dad even if I waited.
I stood from the bed and called a cab. It was only fifteen minutes away. I changed out of my uniform into a pair of shorts and a black shirt.
I grabbed my luggage. My hands had begun to tremble from the thought of my encounter with Dad. I could already imagine how brutal it was going to be.
I dragged the bags to the door. As I pulled it open, I saw Nick standing there. His eyes scanned the bags in my hand. “You’re leaving?”
I blinked. “You asked me to leave.”
He slid his hands into his pockets. “I looked into your brother. He’s actually a good hockey player.”
I nodded.
He fell silent. I saw his throat move as he swallowed, and then he cleared his throat. “Only change in the bathroom. Don’t walk out naked or half-naked. Even when I’m not in the room, I could walk in.”
I blinked. What was he talking about?
“Don’t talk to me. I still don’t like you. Don’t act as if we are friends. Stay on your side of the room and don’t bother me.”
A smile curled at my lips as I realized. “You’re letting me stay?”
“Your brother got the scholarship. I don’t think it’s my place to meddle in your family’s business,” he said.
“Thank you,” I said excitedly.
Without a word, he walked past me and headed into the room. My eyes followed him.
Now all I had to do was make sure no one else found out.
- Writer
