The day of the game against the Dragons and the Serpents had finally arrived. Excitement bubbled within me as I pulled on my Dragons jersey, the one that had Lucas's name and number on the back.The anticipation was killing me, and it seemed to be reflected in the charged energy around me as I walked inside the hockey stadium at Hollow High.This was the game that would determine the Dragon's place in the championships, and I had no doubt that Shadow High's team, led by Lucas, would give it their all.My phone buzzed with a text notification, and I glanced down to see it was from Lucas.Lucas: I'll be a bit late for the game. See you there!I frowned, wondering why he wasn't with the other players yet. Lucas was never late. I didn't think too much about it, and sent him a simple reply of, "See you at the game!" and headed to the arena with James.As the minutes ticked by and the game time drew closer, I began to feel a sense of unease.Lucas not showing up was unlike him, especially f
Lucas POVI had a plan.I knew that I needed to get to the game as fast as possible, and the only thing standing in my way was this lousy door and the six-foot guard on the other side.The tension that had been building within me finally erupted, fueling my every move.The security guard sent by my father had been an extra layer of protection for my father to stop me. But it wouldn't be enough to stop me.With all my strength, I lunged forward, my fists a blur of precision and power. The impact of my blows reverberated through the door, and I could practically feel the surge of energy coursing through my veins.I'd been training for most of my life. There's no way I couldn't get through this.With one final push, the door gave in and opened... Or more like it fell apart.The guard stumbled back, surprise and fear evident in his eyes. But I didn't allow him a chance to regain his composure.I quickly got to my feet and kicked the bottom of his feet to bring him crashing to the ground.
The buzz in the air after the Dragon's victory was infectious. The team had pulled off an incredible win, thanks to Lucas finally making it to the game in time.Everyone was in high spirits, basking in the glory of our triumph. But I don't think anyone was as excited as James."Hell yeah! Drinks on me tonight, guys!" James cheered for his teammates.All of them began to holler before Lucas stepped in, making all of them go silent."Nobody is drinking anything tonight," Lucas said like a stern father. All the players booed him."Come on, captain!" One of the guys pouted. "We just kicked ass out there!""Yeah, we all deserve to celebrate!" Sam shouted. "Especially you, Lucas. You're the one who helped us get there."They all batted their lashes and kept chanting 'please' before Lucas finally caved in."Okay, okay. Fine, you guys can go," Lucas said, leaving all the players cheering.James high-fived Sam just as Lucas said, "Except for you, James."James sagged his shoulders, stomping hi
Lucas POVDriving home after the exhilarating game, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts.After I said goodbye to all my friends, I hopped on my motorcycle and started to make my way to Grandma Jo’s.I spent the first few minutes of my drive thinking about the game we had just won. While I imagined the other players were out celebrating, I was already thinking about how much harder we were going to have to play at our next game.The victory had put us on the path to the championships, but it also meant that the pressure was on. As the captain of the Dragon hockey team, it was my responsibility to ensure we were ready to face whatever challenges came our way.Being in the championships was no joke. From now until the championship game, we had to take practice seriously. Mentally, I was already planning and plotting out drills for us to work on to make our team even stronger.I was determined to lead my team to victory.Turning onto the familiar streets that led to Grandma Jo's house, I
The weekend had finally arrived, and our plan to surprise Lucas was set in motion.It had been a difficult few weeks for Lucas, and James, Victoria, and I were all on board to help him forget about the recent drama that went down with his father.Lucas needed to enjoy the more carefree moments of life, and Kendrick had only been weighing him down.I remembered that there was a local bowling alley and arcade that Lucas, James, and I had gone to a lot when we were younger. We'd spend hours playing laser tag and arcade games to win the prizes.So that was our destination for today, the local arcade. There was no way we wouldn't have a great time. It always built the best memories full of laughter, and maybe a bit of friendly competition.But the real kicker here was that Lucas had absolutely no idea where we were going."Guys," Lucas said, his mouth turning downward into a frown. "When can I take this blindfold off?"The blindfold was a bit excessive, but it was James's idea, so Lucas ha
The night air was crisp as I made my way back home after our eventful day at the arcade.I waved goodbye to Lucas who had dropped me off.The entire evening still lingered in my mind, providing a warm contrast to the chilly evening. It always felt nice to hang out with friends and socialize. Seeing the small change in Lucas was enough to make me feel accomplished.I walked up to my front door. The previous buzz of excitement was slowly being replaced with a quiet night of relaxation.But as soon as I stepped inside my house, that anticipation was shattered.The scene before me was like something out of a nightmare. Empty bottles of alcohol littered the floor, evidence of a chaotic frenzy. The furniture was overturned, and papers and belongings were strewn across the room like the aftermath of a storm.It looked as if someone had broken into our house..."Dad?" I called out, my voice tinged with concern.I was pretty sure that my father was supposed to be working the night shift for Ke
I was still shaking even though I knew my father wouldn't be able to get up and hurt me.Lucas noticed that I was standing shell-shocked and approached me immediately, wrapping me in a comforting hug. I was too stunned to even wrap my arms around him.I stared down at my unconscious father, his figure sprawled on the living room floor, a stark reminder of everything that had just unfolded.Lucas's voice cut through the tension, his eyes reflecting concern. "What happened?""Kendrick." It was only one word, but it was able to sum everything up. Realization flashed through Lucas's eyes."That's why he said this was all my fault?" Lucas asked.I nodded. "But obviously he's wrong, Lucas. You did nothing wrong, and my father clearly isn't in the place to be starting arguments.""I know Shana, I'm not upset about that." Lucas pulled back from our hug, staring straight into my eyes. "He could've hurt you if I wouldn't have been able to come back in time.""But you did," I said. "And that's a
Life at Grandma Jo's house settled into a comfortable routine. Lucas and I rode to school together every day on his motorcycle. The engine's roar and wind whipping through my hair became a familiar soundtrack to our mornings.Lucas and I were closer than ever before.It was a throwback to our childhood, and the ease with which we fell back into this comfortability warmed my heart. I was just Shana, and he was just Lucas.It had only been a week, but with each passing day, Lucas seemed more like himself again.The weight of his father's control had lifted, and his laughter had returned, brightening our shared moments. There was a renewed sense of familiarity between us, as if we had stepped back in time to when life was simpler.When we didn't let others get in the way of anything. When we were too young to care.It felt refreshing to finally feel free from the stress that had constantly hung over our heads.But even even as our days found a comfortable, steady rhythm... There were con