Page 6

Chapter 6

Scarlett

Wait a minute.

What is that?

I peer down at the brown stain on the hockey jersey, then cautiously lift the garment. A disgusting, pungent scent hits my nose and I drop it.

Oh my God.

My entire body jerks from a sudden gagging as I back away from the offending pile of clothes I should be gathering for the laundry room. The scent wafts past my nose again and my entire lunch flies from my stomach, splattering on the floor. Barely recovering, I wipe my mouth and run from the locker room. Of all the things I expected on my second day, a bunch of shit-stained uniforms wasn’t one of them. This is sick. They’re sick .

I run into the nearest bathroom and douse my face with water, then gargle my throat, but it’s not enough to cancel the disgust from what I just witnessed. Like last night, all it does is trigger flashbacks from five years ago, reminding me this is just like high school. They’re just like those mean girls who bullied me because of how I looked and where I came from.

Easing up, I stare at my determined reflection in the mirror. If I can survive being the brunt of every fat joke for three years, I can survive all this.

Eyes on the prize.

Yanking a sheet of napkin from the dispenser, I debate on how to handle what just happened. Now that I have proof, I can report the incident to Melissa, but something tells me that would only worsen the situation. I will fight my own battle. The Wolves will have to do better than locking me in a room and shitting on a pile of clothes.

Marching to the utility room, I brace the door with a weight, grab a fresh pair of gloves and a cloth mask, then make my way back to the locker room. I make quick work of gathering the uniforms and dumping them in a trash bag, then leaving them with a warning for the poor attendant in the laundry room. Ten minutes left in my two-hour-long workday and all that’s left is to collect the trash. They’re not going to rob my hours this time. It was a rough, nerve-racking afternoon, but lucky for me, the assholes are nowhere around.

Almost done, I’m making my way to the last trash can in the locker room when sudden footsteps make me stop abruptly, breathing out a disappointed sigh. So much for small mercies .

Noah Wilson comes sauntering in, wearing a smirk. Another guy follows behind him, looking just as cocky and pleased with himself.

“Hey there, traitor. Did you like my little gift?” Noah greets me.

Without a word, I resume my chore, emptying the trash in the bag as quickly as I can.

“I don’t think she liked it, Michael,” he goes on behind me. “Do you reckon I should’ve spread it around a little more?”

“Maybe we should’ve pissed on it, too,” Michael suggests.

My heart pounds painfully in my chest as I try to ease past Noah, but he shifts and blocks my way. “Well, I drank half a liter about an hour ago. I could try pissing on her ,” he replies, stepping closer to me. “Ever experienced a golden shower, Judas?”

“Get out of my way.”

“Make me,” he growls into my face.

I back up, then try to move past him again. He pushes me hard. My butt hits the floor as I fall from his forceful effort. Biting down on my lower lip, I stand, just as Michael grabs the trash bag and empties it. I watch in horror as boxes of half-eaten food scatter all over the tiles.

“Now, pick them up,” Noah orders.

Anger dances in my belly. I temper it down with a deep breath, then reach for the bag. Noah swings his hand away, grinning eerily. “Nope.”

“Where am I going to put them—” I bite my tongue from saying, ‘You asshole.’ Riling him up might not be the best decision.

His smirk deepens as he crumples the bag between his meaty hands and jerks his chin at me. “That ugly-ass shirt is just as huge; use it.”

Deciding to head down to the utility closet for another bag, I try to ease past them. Again, Noah pushes me back. “Use your shirt.”

The seriousness in his eyes makes me realize he’s not simply messing with me. A flutter of panic sends my heart rate on an incline. “I don’t want any trouble. Just let me do my job.”

“Too fucking late. You should’ve thought of that before throwing us under the bus, don’t you think?” Noah snaps. He tugs violently on the front of my shirt. “Take this fucking thing off.”

A sudden whimper flies from my mouth and his dark eyes sparkle with satisfaction. “Ah, someone’s afraid of getting exposed. I wonder why.”

“Maybe she’s wearing nothing under that shirt,” Michael suggests.

“Only one way to find out.” Noah grabs at me again.

I swat his hand away. “Let me go!”

My resistance incenses him. Noah starts yanking at my shirt even more forcefully, almost like he’s ready to pull it off me. Michael stands there, laughing and taunting me. I see where this is going, and I’d rather die than have them humiliate me any further. It’s bad enough that I’m only wearing an old bra underneath this shirt.

I scream as Noah lifts the hem, yanking upward.

“What the fuck are you doing?” someone suddenly yells from behind them. “Let her go!”

Disgruntled, Noah releases me. “You’re a lucky girl,” he hisses at me. He pivots to the tall blond guy now bearing down on us, looking extremely pissed.

“This wasn’t sanctioned, and you know it,” the newcomer snaps sternly.

“Oh come on, Cammy boy,” Noah drawls. “We’re only having some fun.”

“Didn’t look like fun to me,” he replies, sliding a glance in my direction. “Seemed like sexual assault.”

“Get that stick out your ass, Cameron. We’re not doing anything this bitch doesn’t deserve,” Michael snaps.

Cameron leans his head toward the door. “Get the fuck out of here before I tell Aiden what you’ve been up to.”

Noah sneers. “Dude, if you’re trying to impress her, forget about it. There are attractive girls out there if you’re looking to score.” He sends a dirty look in my direction. “This one is not it. I bet she looks even worse under those baggy clothes.”

Cameron stares at him deadpan. “Beat it, Noah.”

Noah scoffs, glaring up at him. “Enjoy the perks that come with being Aiden’s best friend. The second he’s done with you; I’m having your ass for dinner.”

“That will never happen, but guess what? You don’t need to wait. Just name the time and place, dick ,” Cameron replies, his tone low and dangerous.

Noah scoffs again, then looks at me. “See you around, traitor.”

I exhale a deep sigh of relief as he walks out, Michael hot on his heels. With my foot, I kick the scattered trash into a pile.

“Need any help—”

“No,” I snap, my automatic response flying out before I can stop it. Pulling back, I treat him to a soft smile. “Thanks, anyway. And thanks for…” My voice trails as I cock my head toward the door.

“It was nothing,” he replies softly.

My head lifts again as I stare at him. Cameron and I shared a few classes over the years, but I’d never really taken him in. Then again, it was hard to notice anyone else when Aiden was around. Cameron has those quintessential hunk features; strong jawline, high cheekbones, perfect straight nose and kind gray eyes. Like everyone on the team, his athletic body is a work of art. Cameron is different from the others, though. He didn’t protest with the others when Melissa brought me to the locker room the other day and he defended me just now. Maybe there’s a silver lining. Maybe I can actually survive the next month and a half.

My smile widens as I stick my hand out. “We haven’t been formally introduced. I’m Scarlett.”

Cameron smiles back. “Oh, I know who you are.” He takes my hand, anyway. “Cameron.”

“Thanks again, Cameron. It’s refreshing to know you’re not all bad.”

His smile fades. “None of us are—well, most of us aren’t. There’s so much passion and ambition that no one’s thinking clearly.”

That cryptic remark makes me scoff. “Well, they were thinking clearly enough to take a dump on the dirty uniforms,” I reply dryly.

“They did what?” Cameron gapes.

“Yup.” I go back to swiping up the garbage with my foot. “Your beloved captain thinks smearing shit is beneath him, so he sent his loyal subjects to do it.”

Cameron shakes his head vigorously. “Aiden would never allow anyone to do something so disgusting.”

“Right, so I should assume Noah messed with me on his own free will, when Aiden is the one carrying a grudge.”

“Do you really think Aiden is the only one with a grudge against you?” Cameron looks surprised. “Scarlett, that disqualification ruined plans for most of the team.”

“I had nothing to do with that,” I reply. “Aiden was the first—and only person to accuse me of anything and he’s the captain of the team. Forgive me if I don’t buy that he had nothing to do with this.”

He opens his mouth to say something, but I fan him off. “It doesn’t matter, anyway. All I want is to do my job in peace and I’d appreciate if they let me be.”

Reaching for the trash bag, I look back at him. “And if they keep dishing out those disgusting pranks, I’m going to report them to the school board.”

Cameron winces. “You might not want to do that, trust me .”

“Then tell your captain to leave me alone.”

He stares at me for a short beat. “I’m going to do what I can to get them off your back. Until then, just keep out of their way as much as you can.”

“I’d really appreciate that.”

He stops at the entrance, giving me a warning look. “Don’t stir up that hornet’s nest, Scarlett. Keep your head down.”

I give him a thumbs-up as he goes out. Going back to the trash, I realize I’m going to need another pair of gloves. I make my way to the utility closet, almost feeling like I could now find it with my eyes closed. My reflection from a mirror across the hall snags my attention and I grimace deeply. I hate looking at myself—

“Watch where you’re going.”

My entire body screeches to a halt, mere inches from Aiden’s towering figure. I step back, lifting my chin defiantly, despite already being overwhelmed by his huge body filling the small space. “Take your own advice, jerk.”

His thick brows lift. A flicker of humor dances behind his eyes and I curse my quivering voice for betraying how intimidated I am.

“ Jerk .” He chuckles softly. “It’s obvious I’m not doing enough to bring my point across.”

“Yeah, locking me in a room filled with rodents, that wasn’t enough. Smearing your own uniforms with shit, now that’s—”

“What?”

The question comes in a sharp hiss, accompanied by a scowl that darkens his green eyes. I don’t know why they’re sucking me in like this, but I can’t look away. “What the fuck did you just say, Scarlett?”

“You heard what I said.”

Aiden steps toward me so suddenly that I yelp with fright. “Answer me. Now .”

He probably gets off on hearing his sins being repeated to him, but I won’t give him that satisfaction. Our eyes lock and hold once more, engaging in a stare down that leaves my body and heart in a serious battle.

Every nerve in my being is now awakened, triggered by that loaded stare. Pleasant flutters in my stomach, heat trickling between my thighs, a dull throbbing settling there, all signs that two things can be true at once.

I hate him, but my stupid body wants him.

No, it craves him.

“Hunter,” someone calls from behind me. “Coach is ready for us.”

Aiden huffs. “This isn’t over.” His eyes briefly sweep my figure before he walks away. I stare at his broad back, forcing my commonsense to take charge. I can’t be attracted to that monster.

Especially when I plan to ruin him the first chance I get.