Page 81 of College Hockey Bully

After five unsuccessful tries to reach Aiden, I throw the phone down on the bed beside me, sighing with disappointment. We shared an amazing time last night. The last thing I expected was… whatever this is. I know he has an upcoming game on Thursday, but this feels awfully like he’s ghosting me, especially when he promised to help clear my name.

My body jerks to a sitting position when the phone suddenly rings, and I drop back when I see Tabitha’s name on the screen. Remembering that I’d asked for her help with searching for answers in the sports department, I reach for the device. “Hey,” I whisper.

“So I got a lead, I think,” she begins, and I wipe my eyes, perking up. “I spoke to a janitor who mentioned seeing a guy around the locker room area that day. He remembered him because he slipped on the wet floor. When the janitor tried to help him up, he brushed him off and hightailed it out of there.”

“Okay… that doesn’t sound much like a lead to me, though.”

“It probably wouldn’t be, if he wasn’t carrying a black thingy. The janitor’s words, not mine. Didn’t you say Noah’s man purse was black?”

“Oh God, yes! Did he say anything else, like how he looked?”

“Just that he had blond hair and wore glasses, which could be any of the hundred guys at school.”

“No,” I breathe excitedly. “Just one.” It’s no coincidence that the description fits the same guy who tried to kidnap me: Ryan.

Which brings me right back to my initial suspicion. Noah. It was that asshole all along, paying Ryan to make my life hell.

But how the hell am I going to prove that?

“You know who it is?” Tabitha asks.

“Yeah, I think so, but I have no proof.”

A brief silence on Tabitha’s end, then she says, “You could confront him and try to make him confess.”

I snort. “As if it would be that easy—but wait, weren’t you the one always telling me to be careful?”

“You couldcarefullyconfront him and make him confess,” she corrects, and I hear the humor in her voice. “Besides, you wouldn’t be doing it alone.”

“As in, you’d go with me?”

“Of course. I already told you; I’m your guardian angel. And FYI; I own a taser and pepper spray.”

“I have one, too. The pepper spray, that is.”

Tabitha squeals excitedly. “Are we going on a mission?”

“We’re definitely going on a mission.” First, I need to find Ryan’s hangout spot. Aiden can help me with that.

If he answers the goddamn phone.

With a promise to call Tabitha as soon as I get more information, I hang up, then try Aiden again. Surprise, surprise;no answer. I’ve been calling him since four this afternoon. It’s now a quarter past eight.

With a frustrated sigh, I leave my bedroom. Mom is busy cleaning the oven and Dad isn’t home yet. I’m tempted to ride over to Aiden’s, but I don’t want to leave her alone, especially when I’m not sure what Noah’s next plans are. He attacked Milo. He’s evil enough to take things up a notch.

“Honey, like I told you before, I’ve got this,” Mom says when I offer to help. It’s frustrating lying in bed, facing the fear of what’s around the corner and being too powerless to stop it. Again, I try Aiden. This does not look good.

It feels terrible, too.

The painful twist in my gut settles into an aching thud as a sudden knock comes on the front door. Mom sticks her head out the kitchen, frowning at me. “Are you expecting anyone?”

I shake my head. My parents have no clue what’s been happening with me. I haven’t yet told them about being potentially suspended and losing my honor roll status. They don’t know someone’s been trying to harm me. Like the other neighbors, they think it was a random break-in by a sadistic kid, but I know better.

Just like I know who’s at the door.

“Don’t answer it, Mom,” I whisper as she moves toward it.

She ignores my warning, but still opens the door just a crack. “Can I help you?” she asks.

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