Chapter 2: Handsomely Strange
1165 Words
CHAPTER 2: Handsomely Strange
Leota's POV
For a second, I froze.
Jason Ryback stood right in front of me with his helmet tucked under one arm, and drops of melted ice clung to his dark hair. For one second, I could swear I’d seen him somewhere before.
But then I looked again, searching my memory, but nothing. I couldn’t place him at all. Still… I couldn’t deny he was the most handsome guy I’d ever seen in my life, and it was almost unfair.
He raised a brow at me, frowning.
“What, you got my attention just to stand there and drool?”
Laughter broke out behind him, and his two teammates chuckled while a couple of girls who were hanging near the lockers giggled loudly.
Shame burned in my cheeks and then something sharper pushed through... Anger and disgust.
“I was not drooling,” I snapped.
“Really?” Jason tilted his head, smirking. “Could’ve fooled me.”
“Wow.” I crossed my arms. “You must think very highly of yourself.”
One of his buddies snorted.
“She’s got you there, man.”
Jason didn’t look away from me.
“I just call it like I see it.”
“You’re unbelievable,” I muttered.
“Thanks,” he said, as if I’d given him a compliment.
I rolled my eyes.
“No, I mean you’re the worst guy I’ve ever come across. And I’ve met a lot of jerks.”
“Harsh.” He leaned casually against the locker, studying me. “What’s your name again?”
“None of your business,” I said, spinning on my heel.
I could hear him chuckle as I stormed out of the locker room. My hands were trembling partly from anger.
“I hate him already,” I muttered to myself as I walked down the hall. “Cocky idiot.”
***
A while later, just when I was sure I’d cooled off, I got a message to report to Mr. Adrian’s office, and my stomach knotted. Maybe Jason had complained about me.
I finally got there and pushed open the door, then froze again.
Jason was sitting in a chair across from Mr. Adrian’s desk, spinning a hockey puck on the table with one finger. He looked up at me, frowned, and muttered something under his breath.
“Ah, Leota!” Mr. Adrian beamed. “Come in, come in.”
I stepped inside, keeping a careful distance from Jason.
“Am I… in trouble?”
“Trouble? No, no.” Mr. Adrian waved his hand. “Sit down.”
I sat, keeping my eyes on the desk instead of Jason.
Mr. Adrian leaned forward, clasping his hands.
“Leota, we’ve given you an important job. Covering the hockey team is a big deal for the school paper, you know.”
“I understand,” I said quietly.
He looked at Jason.
“And Jason, you’re our star Right Winger. It would mean a lot if you’d let Leota interview you through the season.”
Jason sighed like someone had just handed him a heavy backpack.
“Do I have to?”
“Yes,” Mr. Adrian said firmly. “You two just need to get along. She’ll ask questions, you’ll answer, and that’s all.”
Jason drummed his fingers on the table, and finally, he gave a small shrug.
“Fine. Whatever.”
“Good!” Mr. Adrian clapped his hands. “Thank you, Jason.”
Jason stood, shooting me a look that said this was the last thing he wanted. He shoved his hands in his pockets and walked out without another word.
I frowned after him.
“He’s… really something.”
Mr. Adrian sighed.
“He can be rough around the edges, but he’s a good kid. Just… take it easy with him.”
“Why?” I asked. “Is he… I don’t know… retarded or something?”
“Come on..!” Mr. Adrian’s eyes widened. “Don’t say that. Just… be patient.”
I nodded slowly, still confused.
“Good,” he said, leaning back. “That’s all for now.”
I left the office, feeling drained.
***
School was over for the day and I headed toward the gate, eager to get home and forget about Jason Ryback.
I was almost at the road when someone grabbed my hand.
I yelped and spun around.
“What the…!”
It was Jason.
“Relax,” he said, easing his grip just enough so I wouldn’t scream. “You don’t have to jump out of your skin.”
“What are you doing?” I demanded, snatching my hand back.
He stared at me with calm but sharp eyes.
“Just wanted to make something clear.”
“I don’t need…”
“I’m doing this for Mr. Adrian,” he interrupted. “Don’t think I’m suddenly your friend or anything, so don’t overstep your boundaries.”
My mouth opened, ready with a comeback, but then something strange happened.
His fingers tightened around my hand again, and a wave of sadness hit me. My vision blurred for a second, and I thought I saw something… sharp fangs, curved claws and shadows moving behind his face.
I blinked hard with my heart racing.
Jason must have felt something, too, because he dropped my hand like it burned him, and without another word, he turned and walked away quickly.
I stood frozen, staring after him, and confusion twisted in my chest.
“What was that?” I whispered to myself.
Whatever it was, I knew one thing for sure: there was more to Jason Ryback than a cocky hockey star. Something was hiding beneath that perfect face, and I needed to know what.
***
When I finally got home, the house was quiet and I knew Mom wasn’t back from work yet.
I kicked off my boots, dropped my bag on the floor, and let out a long sigh. The whole day had been too much with the game, the insults and that weird moment with Jason at the gate.
I pressed the button on the answering machine, and a voice came through the speaker.
“Lee, it’s Camila.”
My chest tightened at the sound of her voice.. my best friend from Lake Mississippi.
“Finna, he's… he's still searching,” Camila said with her tone rushed. “He hasn’t given up….”
I reached out and switched the machine off before she could say more, and my stomach churned. I wasn’t ready to hear about that right now.
Trying to push the heaviness away, I pulled my old jotter from my bag and flipped it open, hoping to distract myself with sketches I made in my leisure time.
Halfway through the pages, my breath caught.
There, in pencil strokes, was a face I’d drawn weeks ago, long before the hockey game. Sharp jawline, dark, messy hair and eyes that seemed alive even on paper.
Jason…!
- Writer
