Chapter 4
1356 Words
Shay's POV
Three hours into my shift, and I've already given the wrong order to four different customers.
I can't stop thinking about last night.
That shadow at my window and those golden eyes staring at me in the dark while I was... God, what if it was really Malcolm?
But how could he have gotten up there? We're on the second floor. Did he climb the wall? Except he is obsessed with me. That’s not possible. He is a playboy. He can have any girl he wants without making an effort.
I'm losing my mind.
But what if it really was him? That means he saw everything. He saw me touching myself while moaning his name.
He will tell his friends, and they will about me. I know guys talk about things like this. They'll see me as a pathetic girl who threw herself at him and fantasizes about him.
'Shay, your friend's been waiting outside for five minutes,' Mary, my coworker says, touching my shoulder.
I blink and look up, my heart still racing from my spiraling thoughts.
Maya parked her car in front of the shop. I glance at the time, it's almost 10am. Time for lectures. I quickly untie my apron and hand over my shift to Mary.
I rush out of the cafe to meet Maya outside. Maya takes one look at me as I slide into the passenger seat.
"You look terrible! What's wrong?"
"I’m just tired…"
Maya starts the car, pulling away from the curb. "Still thinking about Jake?"
"Jake? No. After what I saw yesterday, we're done."
Our phones buzz at the same time. It’s a text message from Alex, the class rep.
“Professor Smith is sick. No 10am lecture."
"Maya, please drop me at the library."
"Going to the library? Looking like that?" Maya shakes her head and makes a sharp turn toward the arena instead of campus. "There's a hockey game right now. Crown versus Blin, and we're winning 2-1. You need a distraction."
"No, Maya. I'm not interested in watching any game."
Before I can protest further, she's already pulling into the arena parking lot. The place is packed with students wearing team colors and carrying signs. The energy is infectious, but all I feel is dread.
I've been to so many of these games over the past two years, always cheering for Jake, wearing his jersey number.
I used to love watching him play. Now I feel sick thinking about how naive I was. How he probably laughed about me with his teammates. His little charity case who believed everything he told her.
"Come on," Maya says, grabbing my arm and pulling me toward the entrance. "It's almost over anyway."
Students are on their feet, continue screaming and cheering. The scoreboard shows Crown leading 3-1 now. Maya finds us seats in the middle section.
"Who are we rooting for today? Your ex or your new guy?"
"Maya, stop….There's no new guy. What happened with Malcolm was just... I was drunk and hurt and stupid. It didn't mean anything."
But even as I say it, my eyes scan the ice looking for number 17.
Then I spot him. Number 17 in the blue Crown jersey. Malcolm Haywood. He moves across the ice like he owns it.
I pull out my psychology textbook, opening it to a random page. But I can't focus on the words. Every few seconds, my gaze drifts back to the ice searching for number 17.
"Shay, you've been reading the same page for thirty minutes."
I know. I've been trying to distract myself, but it's not working. I can't focus on anything. Maybe I should just leave….
The final buzzer sounds and the crowd erupts. Crown wins 4-1. Students pour toward the ice, celebrating, shouting the players' names.
"Come Shay," Maya grabs my arm. "Let's go congratulate them!"
"No." I stand quickly, shoving my textbook into my bag. "I'm going to the library."
"Shay, wait—"
But I'm already pushing through the crowd, leaving the arena.
"Shay!"
I freeze. That voice makes my blood turn cold. It is not Maya’s voice.
I turn around and see Jake. He is jogging toward me, still in his hockey gear. What does he want? I ignore him and keep walking but he catches up fast with me
"We need to talk."
"No, we don't." I try to step around him, but he blocks me. Jake grabs my arm and starts pulling me toward the back of the arena.
"Where are you taking me? Let go of me!" I try to break free, but his grip is too strong.
He drags me to the corridor that leads to the hockey locker rooms. It's empty here, away from the students.
"Shay, you can't just throw away the two years we had together without giving me a chance to explain."
"Explain what?" My voice gets louder. "How you called me your charity case? How dating a virgin made you feel noble? How you and Rachel laughed about me while you were f*****g her?"
"I know… I made some mistakes, but we can work through this. You can't throw away what we had over one stupid night."
"One stupid night?" I can't keep the hurt out of my voice.
"Jake, you called me your charity case. You said dating a virgin made you feel like a good person. How is that a mistake? That's how you really see me."
"I was just... You know guys… We say stupid things sometimes when we drink. It didn't mean anything. I didn’t mean it."
"It meant everything to me, Jake. I loved you… I trusted you…You betrayed me. You humiliated me… You know what, we are done!"
I turn to leave, but Jake's next statement stops me.
"Rachel was right. You are too immature for a real relationship. You can't even handle guys talking like guys do."
"Guys talking like guys do? Is that what you call humiliating your girlfriend?"
"I never humiliated you! You're JUST being dramatic, like you always do."
My hands clench into fists. "Real relationships don't involve calling your girlfriend a charity case while you're f*****g someone else."
"What about you? Everyone's talking about how you threw yourself at Malcolm at the party. Do you have any idea how that makes me look?"
"How that makes YOU look? I'm not your girlfriend anymore. I can be with anyone I like."
“Not Malcolm!” He yells.
"Why not Malcolm?"
"I can't let Malcolm have you." His hands move to my shoulders, gripping tight.
"If you want to flirt with some guy to get back at me, fine. But not Malcolm. Anyone but him. Wait… Did you sleep with Malcolm Haywood during the party?"
"Let go of me! Why should I answer you that?" I try to push him away, but he's too strong.
"Answer me, Shay! Did you really sleep with Malcolm Haywood?"
I can see the jealousy and disbelief in his eyes, like the idea of me with someone like Malcolm is impossible to comprehend.
The anger that's been building inside me since yesterday finally explodes.
"Yes. I slept with Malcolm. And he was amazing. He made me feel like a woman and I love it. Sleeping with him was better than anything you could have given me."
I can't believe I just said that. The lie came out so smooth. It is like I've been practicing it. It should feel wrong, but all I feel is a rush of satisfaction at the shock on Jake's face.
Jake's face goes white. He opens his mouth but no words come out.
That's when I feel it. That same electric feeling from last night. Like someone's watching me.
I turn around and my heart stops.
Malcolm is standing about ten feet away, still in his hockey gear, his helmet tucked under his arm. His eyes are fixed on me.
How long has he been standing there? How much did he hear?
My face burns with embarrassment. What must he think of me? First throwing myself at him at the party, now lying about sleeping with him.
- Writer
