The Game We Play

Chapter 12: Raising the Stakes

By the end of the week, Sophia's life had settled into an uneasy new routine.

She woke up every morning nervous and felt anxiety coiling in her chest under her skin. Every day in the classroom felt like walking onto a stage, acutely conscious of every pair of eyes tracking her progress and waiting for her next mistake. But every afternoon now obviously belonged to Liam Carter.

After class, they would gather on the rink away from the prying eyes. Liam was careful—clever—to ensure that their interactions took place just outside the school's constant surveillance. He would drill her mercilessly, pushing her to face every insecurity she had spent years carefully hiding.

"You can't just pretend you're confident, Bennett," he had said the previous afternoon, his voice low and strong as he stood near enough for her to feel the heat radiating from him. You really have to believe it.

She said, "I'm trying," clearly frustrated.

"Not hard enough," he said, glaring in evaluation. "Stop thinking about Emily. Avoid thinking of your mother. Simply think about who you want to be.

But isn't that the problem?

Sophia still wasn't certain about her desired path in life. All she knew was that the shy, apologetic girl she had been before was no longer an option.

The first actual test showed up faster than she had anticipated.

Friday afternoon, not long before drama rehearsal. Sophia was trying to catch her breath while standing by her locker when a familiar scent—perfume, expensive, too sweet—rangled into her area. She had no need to circle around to find who it belonged to.

"Interesting week you've had, Sophia," Emily Sinclair said casually as she leaned against the locker next to her. Her voice was silky and concealed, a dagger buried under silk. "You have lately been spending a terrible lot of time with Liam."

Sophia tensed automatically, her shoulders stiffening. Her first response was to glance down, stammered an apology, then bolt. But something inside her resisted, firmly anchored her.

She made herself keep her chin up and gently turn to face Emily, keeping a neutral look.

" And?" Sophia asked straightforwardly.

Emily's smile wavered a little, a flash of surprise across her perfect face before she recovered gracefully. "I just didn't think Liam was into charity cases," she said gently.

Sophia's stomach turned over and her wrath flared right away. She inhaled deeply and pushed her voice to be steady. "Perhaps you know Liam less than you believe."

Emily's smile tightened into something colder, sharper as her eyes narrowed slightly. "Sophie, do not fool yourself." Both of us exactly know what this is.

She bent in, her voice a whisper, venom hidden under a soft tone. " "He is using you. And when he gets bored—as he always does—you will be worse off than before."

Sophia's mind whirled and her heart staggered in her chest. Emily's comments felt very close to her own uncertainties and worries. She made herself stand her ground, though, this time. She kept her cool, not allowing Emily to see the doubt boiling under the surface.

Sophia answered gently, staring right back at Emily. "But if I were you, I would spend more time worrying about your life rather than my life."

Sophia saw something fresh in Emily's eyes: hesitation. confusion. Maybe even a flickering of fright.

It felt fantastic.

"Be careful, Sophia," Emily said softly, backing off and straightening nonexistent creases in her skirt. "Confidence is great; but, arrogance is dangerous."

Sophia watched Emily go, a little smile developing on her mouth. Perhaps she wasn't sure who she wanted to be yet. She knew, however, who she would not be anymore.

She was stronger and more courageous when she arrived at rehearsal, until she saw Liam seated close by the stage. He had obviously seen her talking with Emily, and he had a deliberately blank look as he walked up to her.

"Not bad, Bennett," he said gently, his voice low and appreciative. "I almost believed it."

Sophia turned away, unexpectedly feeling vulnerable under his close examination. "It wasn't a performance."

He wrinkled his brow in doubt. "Wasn't it?!"?"

She gasped. "You were right about one thing: Emily won't stop until I force her to. She has to realize I no longer fear her."

Liam's glistening eyes hid something incomprehensible inside them. "And what about me?"

Startled and taken off guard, Sophia blinked. "what?"

"Are you afraid of me?" he asked, his voice somewhat laid back.

Her heart thumping agonizingly in her chest, she stopped. " SHOULD I be?"

Liam did not answer right away. He moved in closer, softly but definitely crowding her, his voice low murmur. "You should be careful. Confidence suits you, but remember who taught you how to use it.

Her breath stopped as she locked eyes with him, and slowly, understanding started to bloom. "And what exactly does that mean?"

He bent in closer, his voice hardly audible, his breath gently stroking her skin. "This means you're mine now, Bennett. You simply haven't noticed yet.

He backed off and left as if nothing had happened before she could react, leaving her staring after him with her heart racing wildly and her thoughts confused and unclear.

Over the weekend Sophia battled with Liam's words. She had embraced his help, guidance, and challenges, but she had not really understood the depths this game might reach. Was Liam merely trying to make her entertaining for him, or was there something darker at work?

Monday arrived and Sophia walked the hallways with fresh resolve, sporting a fitting blouse instead of her usual shapeless sweater, jeans that show off her curves rather than hiding them, and her posture was purposefully corrected as Liam had stated.

Heads turned, whispers dropped around her, but she stayed strong. Though Emily's eyes tracked her every step and Liam's gaze burned into her from across the hall, she acted as though she didn notice.

She made it all the way to her locker, then Liam walked up looking cautious.

"You decided to listen," he said, eyes flickering over her, unreadable behind his cool mask.

Sophia raised her chin just a little. "It was wise advise."

He leaned casually against the locker and smiled gently. "Happy you finally realized."

Sophia hesitated, then willed herself to glance up at him, her voice steady. "I just have one question."

His face started to show a slight curiosity. "Go ahead".

"What's in this for you?" she said softly. "What do you actually gain from helping me?"

Liam stopped, his face turning serious momentarily. He bent slightly, his voice low and menacing. " You want the truth, Bennett?"

Indeed.

"I enjoy playing the game," he said gently, his eyes darkening somewhat, something fierce boiling under the surface. "And right now, you're the most interesting player on the board."

Though she didn't show it, Sophia's heart hammered uneasily in her chest. Then maybe it's not me who should exercise caution.

His lips curved slowly toward a contented smile. "We'll see about that."

Sophia was now engaged in game play. But the rules grew more dangerous as she descended more deeply.

The biggest danger was realizing she might not want to stop playing.

That maybe Liam Carter was more than just her guide—he was the opponent she couldn't afford to lose to.

TO BE CONTINUED…