My Hobby Or Distraction

Center of attention

Skylar POV

"Watch where you're going, Skylar!" Mason's voice echoed as he didn't bother to even sneak a glance at me.

"What the heck, Mason!" Chloe barked. "You don't have to be such a jerk!"

Before she finished speaking, Mason was long gone as his teammates cheered and ran into the rink.

The annoying part was his friend Hakeem and his annoying camera, recording every moment to post on the next campus gist, and my sketches were definitely going to be a hot topic if he managed to take photos.

I quickly scrambled to my feet, gathering my sketches in a hurry as Chloe joined in.

"What a joy killer," Hakeem frowned at Chloe as he turned away, frustrated that he couldn't capture the gruesome moment.

"I'm so sorry," Chloe replied, gathering my sketches while ignoring the eerie gazes of the onlookers.

She led me through the sea of people until we found two empty seats overlooking the rink.

Two minutes in, and I was already regretting my decision to follow her to the game.

Cheers rang out through the hall, and within seconds Chloe was completely immersed in the action.

"Perfect." She danced dramatically before dropping into her seat.

Chloe was always like this, full of life and energy. These rich kids had everything they ever wanted, not like me, a scholarship kid from the slums. I had to take on odd jobs just to survive Ridgeway.

I sat beside her and glanced around the arena.

Players skated across the ice during warmups while music blasted through the speakers overhead.

Then I spotted him, surrounded by teammates, as arrogant as ever, he somehow managed to stand out.

Maybe it was the confidence. Perhaps it was the way everyone watched him. Or maybe it was because he carried himself like the entire world belonged to him.

The crowd erupted the moment he stepped onto the ice.

Mason raised his stick in acknowledgment, flashing a grin that immediately sent several girls into hysterics.

I rolled my eyes in disdain. Typical Mason, attention followed him the way shadows followed sunlight.

The worst part was that he absolutely loved it.

Every hallway became his runway, and every classroom became his audience. He had a way of making every conversation somehow end with him at the center of it.

Being the heir to one of the wealthiest families in the state certainly didn't hurt. Neither did being captain of the hockey team, or being ridiculously good-looking.

The guy had won the genetic lottery and somehow still acted like life owed him more.

Chloe elbowed me. "Why are you staring like that?"

"I'm only observing."

"That's a fancy word for staring," she protested, but I ignored her.

The whistle sounded, and the game immediately began as the crowd exploded.

Players darted across the ice at impossible speeds. The puck vanished and reappeared so often that I quickly gave up trying to follow it.

I barely understood the rules.

What I did understand was that Ridgeway seemed determined to win, and Mason was leading the charge.

Every time the puck reached him, the atmosphere shifted. The crowd leaned forward, and voices rose as anticipation crackled through the arena.

When he scored midway through the second period, the building practically shook as students jumped to their feet.

People screamed. Someone behind me nearly spilled their drink.

Mason simply skated away wearing the kind of arrogant smile that suggested he had expected nothing less.

I resisted the urge to throw something at him.

"He's unbelievable!" Chloe shouted.

By the third period, Ridgeway was leading comfortably, It was clearly evident that we were going to win as the chants grew louder.

Celebrations started long before the game actually ended.

Then Mason scored again, the arena erupted, students leaped from their seats, banners flew through the air.

"Mason! Mason! Mason!" Everyone chanted his name in a deafening roar.

I was excited that our school had won, but I hated how he was always the center of attention. Even the players flooded the ice while the crowd celebrated around them.

Beside me, Chloe was practically vibrating with excitement.

"Come on," she beckoned.

My throat immediately went dry. "No."

"Yes." She nodded.

"We can congratulate them from here."

"Stop being such a joy killer," she chuckled, grabbing my hand before I could escape and dragging me toward the rink.

The closer we got, the louder everything became, students crowded around the players, parents took photos, and reporters pushed through the celebration.

Standing at the center of it all was Mason Knight, exactly where he believed he belonged, the king of Ridgeway.

The moment his eyes landed on me, a familiar smirk appeared on his face, that expression never led to anything good.

"Well, if it isn't the sketchpad freak," he drawled in that annoying, condescending manner.

Several teammates chuckled, and I immediately regretted coming.

"Congratulations on the win," I said flatly.

His grin widened. "Thanks. Nice of you to show up," he replied, the smirk never leaving his face.

"I came with Chloe," I murmured, trying to clear up any possible misinterpretation of my intentions.

"Sure you did," he chuckled.

My jaw tightened in annoyance. "You wouldn't even apologize for earlier. You..."

Before I could finish my statement, an uproar erupted as the boys shoved me aside, paving the way for his annoying girlfriend.

Mason looked entirely too pleased with himself.

Before I could think of a comeback, a brunette suddenly pushed through the crowd.

"Mason!"

She launched herself into his arms, and without hesitation, he caught her around the waist.

The crowd erupted with whistles. Then he kissed her right there in front of everyone.

Cheers exploded around us, phones appeared from every direction as everyone captured a moment they would be talking about for the rest of the week, I looked away, not because I cared who Mason Knight dated.

I didn't care. At least, that's what I told myself.

I didn't even know why I felt a sting in my chest when I saw them kissing.

What bothered me was how easily everything seemed to come to people like him; money, popularity, attention, and endless admiration.

Meanwhile, people like me spent our lives trying not to get noticed at all.

The cheers continued around us, Mason stood in the center of it all like he had been born for the spotlight and somehow, that irritated me more than ever.