CLARISSA’S POV
I can feel the burn in my legs as I walk home from hockey practice. The crisp air bites at my skin, but it’s nothing compared to the frustration inside me. Janine. I clench my fists at the thought of her.
I’m trying to push it out of my mind, trying to let it go, but it’s hard. So hard. I’ve been working so damn hard to improve, to get better, and here she is, making everything ten times harder.
The path home isn’t long, just a few blocks, but it’s enough time to stew in my anger. The sun is setting now and the street is quiet except for the crunch of my shoes on the gravel.
Then, I hear it. A rustle of leaves behind me.
I freeze. My heart leaps into my throat. It’s a faint sound, but it’s enough to make my senses go on high alert. I glance over my shoulder, but there’
