Chapter 34: I Don't Know
1546 Words
Kael's POV
I hated that question, why do you care so much?
Milky had asked it so casually, like there was a simple answer waiting somewhere inside my head. There wasn't, I didn't know..And that bothered me more than I wanted to admit. I sat in my room that night, staring at the ceiling. My thoughts kept going back to her. Her eyes when she asked me that question.
The way she looked at me like she genuinely wanted to understand me, nobody asked questions like that. Most people didn't care enough to..They either wanted something from me or stayed out of my way. But Milky was different. She didn't want my money, She didn't care that my family had more than she could probably imagine.
She didn't treat me differently because of my last name. She was just… Milky.
Annoyingly honest. Annoyingly soft..Annoyingly easy to read. I turned onto my side.
Why did I care if she was okay? Why did I care if she was talking to Justin? Why did I notice when she looked tired?.Why did I remember the exact way she smiled when I returned that envelope?
I groaned and buried my face in my pillow, this was ridiculous..I needed sleep.
My phone buzzed. I picked it up. A message from Adrienne.
Adrienne: Practice tomorrow. Don't disappear again. I typed a quick reply.
Me: I'll be there.
Another message came in.
Adrienne: Good. Coach almost killed us today.
I smirked.
Me: Sounds like your problem. I dropped my phone beside me.
Then another thought crossed my mind.
Justin. My smile disappeared instantly.
I didn't like him.
That much was obvious.
But why? He hadn't done anything serious, not yet. He was just new. Too friendly. Too comfortable, especially around Milky. I hated the way he made her laugh. I hated the way she smiled whenever he spoke to her. I hated the way he looked at her, like he was trying to figure her out. Like he was interested. I sat up.
Wait.
Was I jealous?
“No.” I said it aloud.
The room gave me no answer.
“Definitely not.” I grabbed my pillow and threw it across the room. I wasn't jealous.
I just didn't trust him, that was all.
>>>>>>>
The next morning, I arrived at school earlier than usual. I wasn't looking for Milky. I wasn't. I just happened to walk toward the classroom. And there she was, standing beside Justin.
He was holding something.
A notebook. Of course. He handed it to her, She smiled. “Thanks.” I stopped walking.
Why was he always giving her things? I walked past them without saying anything. I heard Justin laugh behind me. “Morning, Kael.”
I stopped.
I turned around.
“Morning.” He smiled. Milky looked between us.
“You two know each other?” Justin laughed.
“Barely.” I stared at him, He stared back.
There was something about his expression, something I couldn't place. “See you around,” he said. I walked away. But his eyes followed me, I knew it.
>>>>>>>
At lunch, I sat with Adrienne. He was talking about practice, but I wasn't paying attention.
“Kael.”
“Hmm?” “Are you listening?” “Yeah.”
“What did I just say?” I looked at him.
“Something about practice.” He laughed.
“You weren't listening.”
“I was.”
“No, you weren't.” He leaned back.
“You've been distracted lately.”
“I've been tired.”
“Because of what?”
“Nothing.” He narrowed his eyes. “You've been acting weird ever since that new guy arrived.” I stiffened. “Justin?”
“Yeah.”
“What about him?”
“You don't like him.”
“I don't.”
“Why?” “He's annoying.” Adrienne laughed.
“You don't usually care when annoying people exist.” I glared at him.
“Can you eat your food and stop talking?” He laughed again.
“Fine.” I looked toward the other side of the cafeteria. Milky was sitting with Camila. Justin wasn't there. For some reason, I felt relieved.
Then I noticed something.
Milky looked worried. She kept checking her phone, her eyebrows were pulled together. She looked like something was bothering her.
I wanted to go over there, I almost stood, then I stopped myself. What would I even say? What's wrong? She would probably say nothing. She always did. I stayed where I was, but I kept watching.
>>>>>>>
After school, I found Milky near her locker. She was alone. I walked toward her.
“You okay?” She looked up quickly.
“Yeah.”
“You're lying.” She sighed.
“Why does everyone keep saying that?”
“Because you keep lying.” She looked down.
“I'm just tired.” I studied her face. There was something wrong. I could tell.
“Did someone say something to you?” Her eyes flickered.
“No.”
“Milky.”
“I'm fine.” I wanted to push her, but something told me not to. “Okay.” She looked surprised.
“Okay?”
“Yeah.”
“You're not going to ask again?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if you don't want to tell me, you won't.” She stared at me. For some reason, her eyes looked softer. “Thank you.” I shrugged.
“Whatever.” She smiled.
That stupid smile.
The one that made something warm move through my chest. I quickly looked away.
“Go home.”
“You too.”
“I have practice.”
“Oh.” She smiled.
“Good luck.” I nodded.
“Thanks.” I walked away before she could see me smiling.
>>>>>>>
Practice was terrible, I couldn't focus. I missed a pass. Then another. Coach blew the whistle.
“Blackwood!” I looked up.
“Yes?”
“What is going on with you?”
“Nothing.”
“Nothing?”
“Yes.” He crossed his arms.
“You've been distracted for days.”
“I said I'm fine.” He sighed. “Whatever is going on in that head of yours, leave it outside the rink.” I nodded. “Yes, Coach.” I tried, I really did. But every time I looked at the puck, I saw Milky.
Her smile.
Her eyes.
Her voice.
Good luck.
I shook my head. This was becoming a problem.
>>>>>>>
After practice, I walked toward the parking lot. Adrienne was beside me. “You're quiet.”
“I'm tired.”
“Sure.” I ignored him. Then I saw Justin. He was standing near the gate. Talking to someone, His eyes found mine. He smiled. Not the friendly smile he gave everyone else, a knowing smile.
I stopped walking. Adrienne noticed.
“What?”
“Nothing.” Justin started walking toward us.
“Kael.”
“What?”
“Nice practice.” I narrowed my eyes.
“Thanks.” He smiled. Then his gaze shifted toward the school building.
“Milky already left?” My jaw tightened.
“How should I know?” Justin shrugged.
“I thought you would know.”
“I don't follow her around.”
“Didn't say you did.” He walked past me. Our shoulders brushed. I turned around, and he didn't look back. Something about him bothered me, something I couldn't explain.
And I hated that I couldn't figure it out.
>>>>>>>>
That evening, Milky arrived for our session. She looked exhausted. I didn't mention it. We started studying. For almost an hour, everything was normal. Then her phone buzzed.
She glanced at it.
Her face changed.
I noticed immediately. “What happened?”
“Nothing.” She locked the phone.
“Show me.” She shook her head.
“It's nothing, Kael.” I stared at her.
“Milky.” She hesitated. Then she looked at me.
“I don't know if I should tell you.” My chest tightened.
“Why?” She swallowed. “Because I'm scared.” Everything inside me went still. “Scared of what?” She opened her mouth. Before she could answer, her phone buzzed again. She looked down.
I watched the color drain from her face. “What did they send you?” She didn't answer. I reached for the phone. She pulled it away.
“Milky.” Her eyes filled with tears.
And for the first time, I realized this wasn't about Justin. This was something else, something serious.
“Who is bothering you?” She shook her head.
“I can't tell you.” I leaned forward.
“You can tell me anything.” She looked at me.
And for a moment, I thought she was going to. Then she whispered, “If I tell you, they'll hurt you too.” My blood ran cold.
“Who?” She didn't answer. I stood up.
“Milky, who the hell is threatening you?” She started crying. And I knew one thing.
Whoever was doing this had just made the biggest mistake of their life.
They had threatened the wrong girl.
And now… They had my attention.
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