A Hockey Player's Guide To Deception

Chapter Nine

Kayla had endured more than her fair share of bullying. The taunts, the isolation, the abuse-none of it was new to her. She had always dealt with it alone. But something about Edward Scott chilled her to the bone. Maybe it was the emptiness in his eyes or the cold, calculated way he masked cruelty beneath his indifferent facade. For the first time in her life, Kayla was truly petrified. That's why she now found herself in Coach Cleaver's office, recounting the torment she'd suffered over the past few days.

"Edward?" Coach Cleaver's brows rose in surprise. Kayla nodded silently.

"That's odd," he said, leaning back in his chair, crossing his muscular arms casually. "Edward's one of our best students and hockey players. Outstanding, in fact."

Kayla winced internally at his nonchalance. Of course, the golden boy.

"I was unfortunate enough to experience the other side of him," she said, voice flat but full of tension.

"It's hard to believe, to be honest. Edward capable of something like this?" He shook his head, clearly unconvinced.

Kayla's body ached from the beatings she had endured, her muscles stiff, and her mouth still swollen from where she had bitten down too hard to muffle her cries. A sore in her lips stung every time she spoke or ate, but she had no other choice to ignore the pain.

"Well, he did," she said, her voice sharper now.

Coach Cleaver's demeanor shifted slightly. "That's a pretty big accusation, you know. He could lose everything-his position, his reputation."

Kayla's eyes narrowed. "It's not an accusation. It's the truth."

Cleaver sighed, rubbing his chin. "Where's your proof?"

"The proof is all over my body!" Kayla's raised cracked in disbelief, she tilted her head in annoyance.

"I mean, where's the proof that he was the one who did it to you?" he clarified, his tone steady.

Kayla stared at him, disbelief washing over her. "What?"

"Where's the proof that Edward Scott was the one who hurt you?" he repeated slowly, as if she hadn't already made herself clear.

"I told you-" Kayla began, but he cut her off.

"I can't do anything without solid proof," Cleaver said, his voice maddeningly even.

"Are you implying that I'm lying?" Kayla's voice rose with frustration, her hands clenched into fists in her lap.

"Not at all." His eyes flicked to the door as if considering how much longer this conversation would last. "I just need to know if there are any witnesses."

Kayla fell silent, her mind racing. There was one person, but...

"Nolan," she said finally, her voice quieter now.

Cleaver's head snapped up, his brow furrowing at the name. "Nolan?" He paused before exhaling deeply. "He's... unfit. An incompetent witness."

"I don't understand," Kayla said, her glare fixed on him.

Coach made a vague motion toward his head. "Nolan's got some issues," he said dismissively, as if that explained everything.

Kayla's eyes blazed with anger. "You mean because he's dealing with mental health problems, his testimony doesn't matter?"

Cleaver gave her a long, uncomfortable look. "I'm just saying it might not hold up. His credibility... well, it's shaky."

Kayla leaned forward; her voice low but steady. "So, you're willing to dismiss what happened to me? To him? Just like that?"