DRIVE ME CRAZY

29

Grace

I took the earliest bus back to campus, though I knew by the time I arrived, the game would likely be over. My heart felt heavy, unsure if I was doing the right thing, but my mom's words echoed in my mind: You're making the right decision, Gracie. You need to talk things out with Reed. But the thought of facing him after everything that had happened—the photos, the fight—made my stomach twist in knots.

I turned off my phone during the ride, unable to bear the flood of notifications from people I barely knew. The constant buzz of comments about the photos and videos of Reed and me was suffocating. Each new ping felt like a dagger, reminding me of how exposed we were, how personal moments had been twisted into gossip. Salem and Sophia had promised they wouldn't release anything, yet now everything was out for the world to see.

The bus ride felt endless, my mind running in circles. By the time I reached campus six hours later, it was nearly dusk, and my body was exhausted from both the travel and the emotional weight I carried. I had left all my things at my parents' house, taking only my phone with me—my connection to Reed, to this world that now felt so fractured. I didn't even have a change of clothes. All I had were the remnants of my resolve, the need to fix this mess, and the burning hope that Reed might still be waiting for me to make things right.

When I finally got to the arena, it was a madhouse. The game hadn't ended yet; it had gone into overtime, and the crowd buzzed with excitement. Yet I felt completely disconnected from the energy around me, as though I were walking through a fog while everyone else moved in sharp, clear lines. My eyes scanned the court, hoping to see him, but Reed wasn't out there.

I spotted Jessica sitting in our usual seats, her eyes wide with surprise when she noticed me approaching. I swallowed hard, my heart thudding in my chest.

"Hi," I said, my voice barely audible over the crowd. "Where's Reed? I haven't seen him out there."

Jessica's face tightened, concern flashing in her eyes. "Grace, they kicked him out of the game."

"What?" My voice rose in shock, disbelief crashing over me. "Why? What happened?"

Jessica hesitated, glancing toward the court before turning back to me. "There was a fight. I don't know all the details, but Reed lost his temper... I think the stress of everything—everything with you, the photos—it got to him. He's probably in the locker room, but—"

I didn't wait for her to finish. My heart dropped to the pit of my stomach as I turned on my heel and pushed through the throng of people toward the locker room. Reed had always been intense on the court, but this... this wasn't just about the game. This was about us. The pressure had finally broken him.

The hallway to the locker room felt impossibly long, my footsteps echoing in the narrow space. With every step, my pulse pounded louder in my ears. What was I going to say to him? Would he even want to see me after everything?

As I reached the door, I hesitated for a moment, my hand hovering over the handle. I could hear muffled voices inside, but I couldn't make out what they were saying. A lump formed in my throat, my mind spinning. I wasn't sure if I was ready for this conversation, but I knew there was no turning back.

I pushed the door open.

The locker room was dimly lit, and the heavy smell of sweat and defeat hung in the air. Reed was sitting on a bench, his head in his hands, his body tense with frustration. His jersey was crumpled beside him, and I could see the rigid set of his shoulders, the way his chest heaved with uneven breaths. He hadn't noticed me yet.

"Reed?" I whispered, my voice barely breaking the stillness.

His head snapped up at the sound of my voice. For a moment, our eyes locked, and I saw everything in them—pain, anger, confusion. But most of all, I saw the hurt I'd caused him.