Canadian Sniper [ON HOLD]

5: Jesse

"This is a terrible idea," Jesse complained.

"Shut the fuck up and lace up your skates, Superstar," Dylynn said, leaning against the boards. "I'm not leaving until you get back onto the ice."

"I can't even skate!" Jesse insisted.

Derek laughed. "No, what you can't do is sing. You can skate, dude. You've always been able to."

"I can't skate," Jesse repeated through gritted teeth.

"Actually, you haven't been cleared for contact. It doesn't mean you can't step back onto the ice," Dylynn said.

"C'mon, Jesse, I want to see the Canadian Sniper skate in person," Kacey added.

Jesse glared at her. He appreciated Dylynn wanting him to make him feel a little less like a third wheel on this date but her friend was a little to clingy and pushy for his taste.

"I texted Max, he and Juliette should be here any second," Derek added.

"You what?" Jesse demanded. "The last person I want to see is Juliette Valencia."

"Why?" Derek asked, confused.

Jesse opened his mouth and shut it. He still wasn't sure Juliette had anything to do with his injury. But he'd seen her before his last game, talking to the player who'd speared him in the back, and hand him some cash. 

"Wait, Juliette Valencia? Miss Ashburn County?" Kacey asked.

"The one and only," Jesse grumbled. "Why?" He was afraid that if Juliette showed up that he'd lose it and demand to know why he paid the player to spear him onto injured reserve and derail his career. But he kept his mouth shut.

"She goes to our school," Dylynn said finally, looking at her feet.

"Well, she doesn't go to ours," Derek said. "Are you guys friends?"

Dylynn's eyes met Jesse's, and he could automatically tell she had the same distaste for her as he did. "You could say that."

"She's a bit of a bitch," Kacey said bluntly.

"Kace!" Dylynn said, her eyes wide.

"I know you don't like to call people names, Lynn, but she treats you like shit," Kacey said. "You two are the furthest from friends."

Dylynn crossed her arms. "She's not wrong," she sighed. "But I honestly don't think she means to be."

"Seriously?" Kacey asked. "I can't believe you're defending her. She's called you washed up, she's told you to die in a hole, she's called you ugly, fat, a dumb blonde--"

"I'm trying to keep a level head, Kace," Dylynn snapped. "In case you haven't noticed, their teammate is her boyfriend and they might have varying opinions on her."

"No, I hate her too," Jesse said. "Or at least, I've started to dislike her more now."

"Why?" Derek asked him.

Jesse hesitated. "I keep thinking she had something to do with my injury. I mean, no sane player just goes and spears another player's back! The idiot who did it didn't even have any history with me. It was just really weird. I saw her giving money to the same idiot before the game too. I'm just wondering if she told him to do it."

"Why?" Dylynn asked him. "Why would she have any reason to do it?"

Derek and Jesse exchanged a glance. Derek shrugged. "Juliette's always had a thing for you, Snipes."

"I always turned her down," Jesse said. "That's why she started dating Max."

"Maybe she wanted to get revenge," Kacey said. "I wouldn't put it past her."