Last Player Standing

Chapter Fourteen

I miss the peace.

I miss the quiet.

I miss when Linnea wasn't framed.

I miss when Lucas' team wasn't being chased by a crazy blonde maniac.

I chant this list over and over as I step into school on Monday morning, with my bruised ribs and scraped knee. Bathing this morning had been a horror story, with the hot water pouring onto the ripped flesh making it sore and tender. I couldn't bear to wear a pair of jeans today so I was stuck in a long flowy skirt to hide the cut and avoid questions about how it happened.

Figuring out an excuse for my banged-up knee was a job for future me, and future me wasn't even awake yet.

After tossing my bag in my locker, I skulk into the hall where assembly takes place, yawning from the little sleep I had gotten. I was a night owl, but mixing two hours of sleep with a handful of colorful nightmares was something even I couldn't battle.

Irritation hung over me like a fog; I had just entered the room and I already wanted to go home.

Oh, what I would do to take a U-turn out of this room and into my bedroom.

I search the typical faces, before recognizing Dayna standing in front of a blond in the front seat. I peer closer and then tilt my head, confused.

Dayna and... Lucas?

Lucas' posture is rigid and cold while Dayna's is relaxed and flirty.

What was going on there?

Their conversation floats into my ears as I walk to the front seats.

"You sure you don't want a little pick me up?" she asks, twirling her hair teasingly. "You look tired, but I'm sure I could-"

"No, thank you."

Lucas cuts her off. His voice is frosty, and I shiver, glad to not be at the receiving end of that voice. Dayna falters a little, not used to people rejecting her advances. Especially not someone like Lucas who would typically respond to something like this by flirting back jokingly. As a matter of fact, he was the first person Dayna ran all of her new pickup lines by. What was with his attitude today?

"You haven't even heard the offer!" Her laugh is slightly strained, but she plays her surprise off almost effortlessly.

"You have nothing I want Dayna, thank you for the offer. You'd be better off trying this with another guy."

Dayna laughs lightly, eyes narrowing. "Which other guy? I'm bored of most of them."

"How about your crush?" Lucas hisses. "Forrest? Remember that guy? Or do you think fucking around will help you get over it?"

Danya takes a step back, less at the jab about her sex habits and more at the fact that Lucas knew her crush, and actually called her out on it. Dayna tried to hide it, and she managed to pretty well, but the fact remained the same. She had fallen for her first and there was no getting out of it, no matter how many other people she slept with.

"I don't feel like acting like one of your trophies today. Leave." His voice is low and warning and it gives her no room to continue her flirting attempts.

Dayna flushes red before stalking off to join her classmates, embarrassed.

"You could have been nicer," I say, slouching into my seat next to him.

"Cassandra." He sighs my name like a caress. Albeit an angry one, but still gentle.

Or tired, rather. "I'm not in the mood for this right now."