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
I groaned as my eyes fluttered open, and the sterile smell of a hospital greeted me. This was becoming a recurring theme in my life, and frankly, I was getting tired of it.My first thought was to wonder how I ended up here this time.Never in my life did I think I would end up in a hospital as much as I have in the past several months."Hey there, sleepyhead," Grandma Jo's warm voice greeted me as she leaned in closer to my bed. "How are you feeling?"My eyes shifted around the room, and I noticed Lucas sitting in a chair beside me. His expression was a mix of concern and something else, something harder to read. It made me uneasy.Was he upset with me? Frustrated? I doubt he liked coming to the hospital this much, too.They were probably going to start charging me rent for constantly taking up space."I'm... okay, I guess," I mumbled, still trying to shake off the grogginess. "What happened?"Grandma Jo chuckled softly. "Well, dear, it seems like you fainted. We're not sure why.""F
Lucas POVThe uneasy feeling in my gut wouldn't subside as we drove back from the hospital. Something just didn't add up about Shana's condition.Anemia?It just seemed too convenient, too easy an explanation for her sudden bouts of dizziness.The fact that she had been hiding this from me also made me upset. I had no idea why she'd felt like she needed to keep it a secret.I feel like an awful friend for not noticing anything sooner, or neglecting to conduct any research on what could be wrong with her.I couldn't help but recall the moments that had me questioning Shana's condition.When Jessica had locked her in the training room, her eyes had glowed an unnatural color. I'd brushed it off then as an adrenaline-fueled hallucination, but it had been too vivid to forget.Even the hospital couldn't identify what the cause was... and then it was just forgotten.And then, more recently, when she defended herself against her intoxicated father, her eyes shimmered with that strange, otherw