Screaming Schemes - Tyler Locke

The Game of the Past

word count: 1700
chapter two

A day or two passes and they're at the first hockey game of the season. Charlotte texts Logan who is sitting a few rows down from where she, Jackie, and Eden have taken their spots. When can I punch her?

He obviously knows she means Eden. Not in public. What you do in the privacy of somewhere else isn't up to me.

You make it sound like we're going to have sex.

I don't wanna know if you do.

Shut up.

Not talking.

Charlotte shuts off her phone when she hears Eden's horrible voice say, "Didn't realize we had a little audience," to Kinsey who had apparently decided to sit a row behind them.

The redhead resists the urge to roll her eyes at Eden and smiles at Kinsey. "Come on, Kins. You can sit next to me and won't have to even touch her. I've got you."

Kinsey smiles a little, coming to sit down next to Charlotte, while Eden scoffs. She turns away from the two of them, glad that Jackie is between the duo and herself. Unfortunately for Eden, Jackie will always choose Charlotte over her so she smiles at Kinsey as well: "You're Kinsey Locke right?"

"Yeah," Kinsey says quietly.

Charlotte puts her arm over Kinsey's shoulders and tugs her into her side. "Don't worry: Jackie and I will protect you from the mean, old Eden."

Kinsey manages a small laugh before they return their attention to the game.

"Charlotte Orion!"

The redhead sighs when she hears the boy's voice. She doesn't turn around. When Jackie stops, Charlotte grabs her wrist. "Don't. Any attention will feed him."

"Still playing this game, are we?" The boy teases. She can hear him run up to them. "Don't be that way." His hand goes on her shoulder. She tenses instantly. Jackie glances at her. It's what makes Charlotte hesitate. Her hand is flexing, waiting for her to allow it to take action; she forces a song into her head in order to stop her mother's voice from shouting out instructions on what to do next.

"Let her go," Jackie tells him, turning around.

Charlotte can feel his hand tighten on her shoulder and she forces herself to breathe. So many years of constantly being on guard... she should have seen this as a possible problem. "Chill out, hot stuff," the guy says. "I'm talking to this one, not you-"

Charlotte lets go of Jackie and spins on her heel, punching him in the face. Her muscles warm at the use, completely ready for more people to show up - to attack. Quickly, she tries to get out of that mindset. Memories of the training she had been forced into come through her in seconds. She's managed to keep the fighter inside locked away enough but she knew the conditioning of those many nights would have gotten her eventually. However, she hadn't expected them to get the better of her because of a douche who couldn't take no.

Although she doesn't apologize. She turns back around, grabs Jackie's hand, and pulls her away from the boy. She doesn't even recall his name. All she can think of at that moment is that she had let her past come into the present.

When they're far enough away, Jackie's making plans to go to Javi's place for the afterparty and all Charlotte wants to do is go home. But before she can even attempt to leave, Tyler Locke is in their way.

"Hey," he starts awkwardly. Charlotte slowly comes to a stop in front of him while Jackie gives her a quick side hug to take off with the other girls. "You going to this thing at Javi's?"