The Headline
1003 Words
The newspaper clipping felt heavier than paper should.
Sophie's fingers tightened around the yellowed page as Ryan disappeared back into the house, leaving her alone on the deck. The music inside continued as if nothing had happened, but it sounded distant now—muffled beneath the pounding of her heart.
She looked down.
A younger Liam stared back at her from the photograph.
His face was pale, his jersey streaked with blood. Two paramedics stood behind him beside an ambulance, blue lights flashing against the dark night.
The headline screamed across the page.
BLACKWOOD HOCKEY STAR INVOLVED IN NIGHT OF TRAGEDY
Her stomach twisted.
Beneath it was a smaller caption.
University officials refuse to comment while police continue their investigation.
She scanned the article.
"Following an incident after Blackwood University's annual Winter Classic celebration, one student was transported to hospital with serious injuries. Hockey captain Liam Carter was questioned at the scene but later released without charge. Witnesses have provided conflicting accounts of what happened..."
The article ended there.
No names.
No explanation.
Just questions.
Her pulse raced.
Released without charge.
If Liam hadn't been arrested...
Then why had everyone treated him like a criminal?
"Sophie?"
She jumped.
Emma stood in the doorway.
"You okay?"
Sophie quickly folded the article.
"Yeah."
Emma studied her face.
"That answer usually means the opposite."
Sophie forced a smile.
"I'm fine."
Emma didn't look convinced.
"If you need me..."
"I know."
Emma squeezed her hand before heading back inside.
When Sophie looked down again, the newspaper clipping was shaking in her hands.
Or maybe...
She was.
───
She didn't go home until after midnight.
The campus was quiet, blanketed in fresh snow. Every step crunched beneath her boots as she replayed the article over and over.
Ryan had wanted her to find it.
That much was obvious.
But why now?
Why wait until she and Liam had started getting close?
Her phone buzzed.
Liam: Did you get home safely?
A smile almost appeared.
Almost.
Instead, she typed.
Can I ask you something?
The reply came within seconds.
Anything.
She stopped walking beneath a streetlamp.
Her fingers hovered above the screen.
What happened the night of the Winter Classic?
The typing indicator appeared.
Then disappeared.
Appeared again.
Nothing.
Minutes passed.
Snow settled on her coat as she waited.
Finally...
Where did you hear about that?
She stared at the message.
He hadn't denied it.
He hadn't asked what she meant.
He knew exactly which night she was talking about.
Ryan gave me an article.
This time, Liam didn't answer for nearly five minutes.
When the reply finally came, it was only one sentence.
We shouldn't talk about this over text.
A chill ran through her that had nothing to do with the cold.
───
The next morning, campus gossip spread faster than usual.
"Did you hear scouts are coming Friday?"
"I heard Carter's leaving after this season."
"No way. He's definitely going pro."
Sophie barely heard any of it.
She couldn't stop looking for Liam.
She finally spotted him outside the athletics building.
He was alone.
Hands shoved into the pockets of his hoodie.
Looking as though he hadn't slept.
When he noticed her approaching, something softened in his expression.
Then he saw the folded newspaper in her hand.
His smile vanished.
"You read it."
It wasn't a question.
"Yes."
Neither of them moved.
Students walked past without paying attention, laughing as they crossed the courtyard.
The world kept moving.
But for Sophie, everything had stopped.
"Tell me the truth."
Liam looked away.
"I wish it were that easy."
"Is it true?"
His jaw tightened.
"Which part?"
"Were you there?"
"Yes."
"Were the police involved?"
"Yes."
"Were you questioned?"
Another pause.
"Yes."
She swallowed hard.
"Did you hurt someone?"
For the first time since she'd met him...
Liam flinched.
It was so small she almost missed it.
"No."
The word came out rough.
Barely above a whisper.
"I never hurt him."
Him.
Not someone.
Him.
Her heart caught.
"Him?"
Liam closed his eyes for a brief moment.
"I've already said too much."
Frustration bubbled inside her.
"Everyone keeps telling me half the story!"
His blue eyes met hers.
"They're trying to protect people."
"Who?"
"You."
She laughed bitterly.
"There it is again."
"Sophie—"
"No."
She stepped closer.
"I'm tired of everyone deciding what I can handle."
"You don't understand."
"Then help me understand!"
Students turned to look.
Neither of them noticed.
Liam's shoulders rose with a slow breath.
"I made a promise."
"To Ethan?"
He nodded once.
"I swore I'd never tell anyone what really happened."
"But you're letting everyone hate you."
"I know."
"They think you're a monster."
"I know."
"And you won't defend yourself?"
His answer broke something inside her.
"If telling the truth destroys someone I love..."
He looked away.
"...then I'd rather they hate me."
Silence.
Complete silence.
Sophie searched his face.
He wasn't acting.
He wasn't trying to earn sympathy.
He looked...
Broken.
Like he'd been carrying the weight of that night alone for years.
Before she could say another word—
"Liam!"
A deep voice echoed across the courtyard.
Coach Reynolds strode toward them, his expression grim.
"There you are."
Liam straightened immediately.
"Coach."
"We need to talk."
The coach glanced briefly at Sophie before lowering his voice.
"The NHL scouts moved their visit."
Liam frowned.
"To Friday?"
Coach Reynolds shook his head.
"No."
He looked Liam directly in the eye.
"They're here today."
The courtyard erupted in whispers.
Students had overheard.
"Scouts?"
"They're watching practice?"
"Oh my God..."
Coach Reynolds placed a firm hand on Liam's shoulder.
"Don't let distractions cost you this opportunity."
His eyes flicked briefly toward Sophie.
The message was impossible to miss.
Liam looked at her one last time.
"I'm sorry."
Then he walked away with the coach.
Sophie stood frozen.
The folded newspaper still clutched in her hand.
She didn't notice Ryan watching from the second-floor balcony of the student centre.
He smiled to himself.
The first c***k had appeared.
Exactly as he'd planned.
- Writer
