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violet

Tonight, I’m sitting in the best seats in the house of the rink wearing my special edition Valencia Suns jersey with the number seventeen on the back and the name Major above it.

The way the girls are staring at me tonight has been a bit unnerving, but I’m starting to get used to it. It’s just par for the course if I’m going to be with Neo.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve learned that standing up to Kennedy about Neo was what needed to happen. She’s not mad about it or avoiding me. In fact, we’ve been getting along great, as if nothing’s happened. She was the one who asked me about abusing my new status as “the marked one” to get us great seats at the game, and I was all too willing to oblige.

I’ve noticed that things between Shane and Kennedy are not as playful as they used to be. I would say they acted very much like competitive siblings, but not any longer. Now things are very weird. Maybe it has something to do with the fact that Ray from the football team is sitting behind us with his hands all over Kennedy’s shoulders.

“If I can get you good seats to our game next weekend, will you come?” he asks Kennedy.

“Both of us?” Kennedy smiles.

“Of course, I know you don’t do anything without Miss Violet over here.”

“Violet?” she asks, not assuming anymore that my answer will be a definite yes like it used to be.

“Let me check and see if I have plans with the captain over there and if I don’t, I’d love to go, Ray.”

“Perfect,” he smiles. “The tickets will be at will call and if you can’t use them, then maybe you can transfer them to someone who can.”

“Sounds good,” I say, and Kennedy just smirks, happy that things seem to be moving in the right direction with Ray. Maybe a little too happy for Shane. He’s been giving us the evil eye all night.

The game against the Chiefs is a tough one, and the tension in the air is palpable. I can feel the electricity buzzing through the crowd, a mix of excitement and anxiety. I’m nervous for Neo, but I can’t help feeling a surge of pride seeing him out there on the ice, a true leader in every sense.

Kennedy leans in, shouting over the roar of the crowd. “This is the Neo I was talking about, Violet. He’s on fire tonight!”

I nod, my eyes glued to the game. “He’s amazing.”

The first period is intense, with both teams playing aggressively. Neo’s on top form, dodging and weaving with a grace that’s almost balletic. But when the Chiefs score the first goal, a collective groan rises from the Valencia supporters.

“Come on, Suns! You can do this!” Kennedy yells, her enthusiasm undiminished.

I join in, cheering and clapping, feeling every check and shot as if they were my own. Halfway through the second period, Neo steals the puck and races down the ice, his focus absolute.

He shoots–and scores!

The crowd erupts, and I jump to my feet, screaming at the top of my lungs.

“Yes, Neo!” I yell, more out of reflex than anything.

“The boys are on fire tonight,” Kennedy laughs and high-fives me. “And Neo is a machine! Did you see that shot?”

The game continues, a nail-biting back and forth. The Chiefs are tough, but Valencia is tougher. In the final period, with the score tied, the tension is almost unbearable. Neo’s playing like a man possessed, his determination clear in every move.

With just minutes left on the clock, Neo gets the puck again. He skates past the defenders, a blur of speed and skill. This time he passes the puck to Bass, who shoots–and scores the winning goal! The crowd goes wild, and I’m screaming and jumping, hugging Kennedy in a burst of joy.

“We did it!” I shout, my heart racing.

Kennedy grins, her eyes shining. “You guys are going to celebrate hard tonight!”

“You’re not coming?”

“I’m going to pass on this one. Ray and I are going to grab some dinner, plus Shane wouldn’t want me there.”

“Okay,” I say, still wondering what in the world happened between those two.

As the team lines up to shake hands, I can’t take my eyes off Neo. He looks up, finds me in the crowd, and gives me a smile that sends my heart into overdrive. I blush, feeling a flutter in my stomach.

The game ends, and the crowd starts to disperse, still buzzing with the excitement of the win. Kennedy and I make our way out, talking and laughing, the thrill of the game still coursing through us.

“Um, I would wait with you,” Kennedy starts. “But I just don’t really want a scene with Shane.”

“Would there be a scene?”

“Maybe. I know I don’t usually do the whole by yourself thing, but would it be okay if Ray and I left? If you stand at that doorway right there in about fifteen minutes, Neo will find you as he exits. Just text him.”

“No worries. I’ll be fine. You go ahead and have a good time.”

“Thanks, Violet.”

As I wait by the South entrance for Neo to change and finish celebrating their win in the locker room, I can feel someone staring at me.

It’s Vikki.

I pretend to not notice and start playing with my cell phone, but it doesn’t matter. She approaches me anyway.

“Look at you in your jersey,” she taunts, as she pops a few Peanut M&M’s in her mouth, one at a time.

“Hey, Vikki.”

“I have to give it to you. You work so fast.”

“What are you talking about?” I sigh with indifference.

“A freshman locking down Neo Major? The only other girl able to pull that off was me.”

“Oh, right, I heard he had a little something with the coach’s daughter?”

Her faux smile falters.

“I wouldn’t be so smug if I were you. I can’t wait to see you cry when he goes pro and leaves your ass for a singer or an actress. They all do it.”

“I guess one day we’ll see.” I shrug my shoulders as if I couldn’t care less.

She cocks her head to the side. “Oh, you don’t know, do you?”

“Just go away, Vikki.” Not trying to take the whole I’ve got a secret bait . “I don’t want to argue with you over a guy. We’re both better than that.”

“This is hysterical. You really don’t know that your hockey fuck buddy is about to shit on the college program that put his second-rate ass on the map. He’s going pro, girl. Like now. He’s leaving the school. My dad plucked him out of some backwater town in Ohio and made him who he is today and this is how he betrays him?

“And he’s betraying you too, by the way. By the look on your face, I can see you had no idea that he was leaving, did you? But that’s who Neo is. Lots of secrets and zero self control. Did you see how he beat up my new boyfriend at the ice house kickback because he was jealous? That’s the scary shit I’m talking about. I couldn’t take the drama anymore. Honestly, it’s probably a good thing he’s leaving. Safer for the whole campus.”

I stand with my mouth agape as Vikki unceremoniously walks away, probably feeling quite smug about the shadow of doubt she’s cast over the tiny love bubble I found myself living in with Neo.

Neo exits the doorway, covered in Gatorade or whatever it is hockey players pour on themselves after a win, looking completely incandescent. He’s so utterly and completely happy that he doesn’t even notice the sheer terror I’m feeling. Fear that what we have has ended almost as quickly as it began.

He wraps an arm around my neck and pulls me closely into his massive body. “Did you see me out there, baby?”

“You were amazing,” I tell him flatly, unable to feign genuine joy.

“Hey, Violet!” Bass, Shane and the others greet me cheerfully, treating me like I’m a part of the team. I wonder if they know Neo is leaving? Would they be this excited if they knew he was? Maybe Vikki was fucking with me to get under my skin. Perhaps I’m ridiculously gullible.

Because Neo would tell me something as important and life changing as him accepting a pro offer and leaving school.

Wouldn’t he?