✨ introducing your newest favourite comfort read ✨
Underneath the pulsing lights of a frat party, a wager is made that will change everything.
Enter Lucas Scott, the university's hotshot hockey player, whose arrogance is as legendary as his skills...
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Lucas
Students from the University of Victoria frequent Marco's because it is conveniently located near campus and serves fantastic food. The owner, Craig, has a good basic menu and rotates in seasonal specialties to keep us on our toes. His basic American menu is rarely a letdown and attracts a respectable crowd all year long. In contrast to Miles, Eli, and the other boys, who proceeded to our customary burger joint after practice, I am seated opposite two women who are both displaying radically different facial expressions. Aria is trying to think of anything to say while she fidgets with her hands. Hazel on the other hand is staring so deep in to my soul I'm sure she can see the suppressed memory of when I peed my pants in front of my grade three class. This woman looks like she could spit fire and burn you alive.
"Is anyone going to start talking?" She raises an eyebrow looking between Aria and myself, unimpressed would be an understatement.
Aria takes a couple deep breathes before looking up at Hazel trying to find a good reason. "I was high that night we went to their party, I was high when you picked me up. Some more stuff with my dad happened." When Aria mentions her father Hazel stills. "He got physical again, I left to go study at the school and embarrassed myself and Lucas in front of everyone and I called Steven." Hazels eyes are back shooting fire into my existence. "No.. it's not his fault it was mine. But I met up with Steven and I spent the next couple days on my bedroom floor."
Hazel pauses for the first time since I met her, which wasn't all that long ago to be fair. I can't read her expression it's somewhere between angry and worried, like she's conflicted - understandably - on how to proceed. "Aria what do you mean more stuff with your Dad."
"He.. h..he.. um." She quickly wipes away the tears that were starting to line the rims of her eyes. "He threw hot coffee at me, and told me I was an embarrassment." She finally chokes out, looking at the table. Hazel looks like she just seen a ghost, by her reaction I'm going on a whim and saying this isn't new. "But it wasn't that bad Haze, it wasn't as bad as before.."
I feel physically sick, I was going to ask Aria about why she was afraid to home to her dad but I suppose now I don't have to. "Is that why you didn't want to go home when you were discharged." She nods not being able to meet my gaze. "You can stay as long as you'd like, as long as you keep up with your sobriety and your NA meetings."
"Aria.. it's going to be alright. I'm so glad you're okay and we're getting back on track" She wraps her arms around her as the tears stream down Aria's face, Hazels voice is barely above a whisper but I hear it. "I love you but.." before she can finish her sentence Aria beats her to the punch.
"But I won't love you to death." This seems like something they've gone through before, the waiter brings over our appetizer platter just in time. No one could decide what they wanted so we got the appetizer platter and a couple more small things. We eat making some light small talk for awhile, As a way of getting to know me better, Hazel asks me several questions about the hockey season. She is kind, but she is the complete opposite of Aria. Although Aria is usually quiet and reserved, when we are together she has been able show off her goofy side. Hazel, on the other hand, is outgoing and boisterous, which may be why they get along so well. "Let's make one thing clear" she's looking at me. "I'm fine with her staying with you, but you will not keep my bestfriend away from me, you will not keep secrets from me. Or I will cut your pride and joy off in your sleep and keep it in a jar on my coffee table." I know she's dead serious by the look she's giving me, man I wouldn't want to be the person that ever crosses her. She looks like the kind of girl that watches enough true crime to know how to destroy the body and get away with it.
