Frostbite

Cole

There's only two more days until the big game against our biggest rivals, Stoney Ridge. I tossed and turned all night long. My anxiety is heightened today and it doesn't help that half the hockey team came to school with hangovers, including me. I look around home room. We all look zonked. My eyes stumble upon Laiken. She's got her head down on her desk. Sleeping maybe? She had a long night too, even though she didn't have one sip of booze unlike the rest of us. Mrs. Stamos has the class watch a movie in English this morning. I guess that's better than trying to write a one thousand word essay on why certain sports are more popular than others or why figure skating is a "girls sport" and you're labelled as "gay" if you're male. She's having us watch Cool Runnings. I'm sure there will be a last minute assignment on it tomorrow so I try and pay attention as best as I could.

Laiken leaves class early. I slip my phone out of my pocket and turn the brightness all the way down so I can text her without Mrs. Stamos seeing me.

Cole: Hope everything's okay, Collins. You didn't look good in class... I mean you always look great. Never mind. You know what I mean though.

Laiken reads it as soon as it sends. She's clearly on her phone so she I know she's not driving. Laiken texts me back.

Laiken: I'm fine. At guidance councilors. I took your advice. I'm going to apply to colleges in our area. Maybe become a vet tech or a nurse or something.

Her text baffles me. I'm trying to think of reasons why she'd change her mind. She could've waited until she finds out if she qualifies for nationals first. I don't see her on my way to second period. She must be in the guidance room still. We don't typically talk between classes anyways. Her chemistry teacher is strict and makes them rush to class before the second warning bell goes off or they have to rewrite the periodic table of elements through lunch. She learned that lesson real quick on the first day of school.

I wait for Laiken at her locker as soon as the lunch bell rings. She strolls over to me. "Hey Collins. How did applying for colleges go?" I ask her. Laiken's focused on punching in her locker combination. I don't think she heard me. "Are you okay?". She looks at me. A tear runs down her face. She quickly wipes it away using the sleeve of her Skate Stellar competition jacket. "I'm fine, Cole. Can we just go for lunch?". We walk to the courtyard together. Brian, Dylan and Cameron are already sitting at our table. They can tell Laiken has been crying because they all give me the 'what the fuck just happened' face. I put my finger to my lips, hinting for them to not bring up the fact that she's upset about something. Laiken eats her lunch quietly. The guys talk about the party last night. We start discussing Reese and Isabella's pregnancy. All of a sudden, Laiken gets up and storms off. "What's going on with her?" Cameron questions. "Beats me. She's been in a mood all morning". Dylan pipes up, "Maybe she's on her period". I take a second to think about it. "Nah she can't be. We just fooled around at my place the other day" I denied. "Are you sure? She looks bloated to me" Cameron observes.

The lunch bell rings, telling us to get back to class. We put our lunches away, then head to the auto shop. Natalia is sitting on my desk, waiting for me. "What could you possibly need, Nat?" I ask rolling my eyes. She narrows her eyes at me. I sit down in my seat, ignoring the fact that Natalia is still on my desk. "Can you go?" I ask her. She leans into my ear. "Tell me why I saw Laiken crying in the office at lunch and I'll get off your desk". "Look. I don't know why she's upset today. Maybe she's on her period. You're a girl. Maybe you can go talk to her" I suggest in hopes she'd agree with me. "Fine. If that's what you want, Beckett". Natalia hops off my desk. She makes her way towards the door, giving me another narrow-eyed glance then proceeds out the door and down the hallway.