A Hockey Player's Guide To Deception

Chapter Five

Apart from that nasty encounter with Louis, the rest of the week had passed by without much trouble. Kayla had gotten familiar with most of her classes and was learning to navigate the school without getting lost. To her surprise, her disguise was holding up better than expected. No one seemed to have caught on yet.

Sure, she noticed a few confused looks when she introduced herself, but that was understandable. They were probably expecting a six-foot-two, broad-shouldered brute, not a five-foot-ten, seventeen-year-old who could easily be mistaken for a freshman. Still, every time someone did a double-take, her heart raced, but so far, no one had questioned her—at least, not out loud.

Kayla let out a sigh as she rounded the corner, heading toward the dining hall. It was mandatory for everyone to be on time for all three meals of the day, whether you felt like eating or not. Attendance was non-negotiable. Even more absurd, they insisted everyone use a fork and knife—no exceptions. She rolled her eyes at the thought. Why the school felt the need to dictate how they ate, she couldn't understand.

Picking up her pace, Kayla glanced at the clock. She had five minutes before the heavy doors to the dining hall would slam shut, barring any latecomers. St. Thomas Academy took punctuality and discipline seriously—too seriously, in her opinion—but she wasn't in the mood to find out what happened to those who showed up late.

Ishaan had been kind enough to let Kayla join his group of friends, sparing her the awkwardness of having to ask, "Can I sit here?" She made her way to their usual table, where they were already seated.

"How's everything going?" Ishaan smiled as she sat down.

"Great so far," she replied, just as the heavy doors shut with a loud click. She exhaled in relief. In the dining hall, each table had to wait their turn to be served, conversation and idle talk was discouraged during meals. Usually, the room was filled with the clatter of forks and knives against ceramic plates, a thick silence looming in the air. Communicating while eating wasn't advisable, and it made every meal feel more like a chore than a social event. After thirty minutes, the doors would swing open, signaling the end of the meal. Everyone was expected to leave, even if their plates were still half-full. So, if you wanted to catch up with friends, you'd have to save it for later—time at St. Thomas wasn't something you could waste.

Kayla had to admit, the food was excellent—a far cry from the fast food and canned meals she was used to. The opulent menu offered an array of starters, main courses, and desserts for both lunch and dinner. One might think they were dining at an expensive bourgeois restaurant. Yet, Kayla doubted the other students were impressed. Judging by the way they scrunched up their faces at meals that had her mouth watering, they were clearly used to this level of luxury. What felt like a rare culinary experience to her was just another routine day at St. Thomas. She never wasted a second when it came to eating her food.

"You'd think, with the way you eat, you'd be a giant by now," Ishaan leaned in, whispering with a chuckle. His eyes sparkled with amusement. Kayla froze for a moment, her fork hovering over her plate. She glanced at him, searching his face for any hint of mockery, but all she saw was the easy warmth of his smile. There was no malice behind the comment, just friendly teasing.

She let out a nervous laugh, trying to play it off. "I wonder where all the food goes. Definitely not my muscles."

Ishaan grinned and shook his head before returning his attention to his food. Kayla set down her cutlery and shifted in her seat, feeling the growing urge to pee. She closed her eyes briefly, mentally preparing herself. Over time, she'd gotten good at holding it in, preferring the privacy of her room's bathroom. But on days when she couldn't avoid using the male bathrooms, she always chose the stalls, staying hyper-aware and making as little noise as possible.