Ice on the Outside, Screaming Love on the Inside Chapter 01

Ice on the Outside, Screaming Love on the Inside Chapter 01

Fresh into high school, I fell for hockey captain Joren Calder.

He was distant, and though we flirted for a year, we never made it official.

Until one day, my best friend Marnie and I shared a cafeteria table with Joren.

Suddenly, I heard his thoughts.

[How can she be so cute?]

[Are those star hair clips? Why do they look so adorable on her?]

[I wish I could eat with her every day—just the two of us.]

I stared at Joren in shock, then looked at Marnie, who was wearing star hair clips.

The fried chicken in my mouth instantly lost all flavor.

“Um… you guys go ahead. Something came up, I gotta go.”

…

The second I stepped out of the cafeteria, the tears came pouring out.

We’d never even dated, but my chest felt hollow, like I’d just been dumped.

No wonder.

Whenever Joren had a hockey game, I dragged Marnie along to bring him sports drinks. Even with that cold look on his face, he’d take the drink and finish it in one go.

When I brought him breakfast, he’d be waiting by the school’s front entrance first thing in the morning.

He was distant, but he’d accepted every bit of affection I’d thrown his way.

So all of it had been because of Marnie.

He’d only wanted to get closer to her.

A thousand tiny aches spread through my chest.

I skipped my usual lunch break and ran laps on the track instead.

I didn’t head back until my afternoon class was about to start.

The second I walked in, Joren’s eyes met mine.

[Is she upset? Why are her eyes red?]

[Are her grades slipping? Is that why she’s sad?]

[Would things be easier for her if I tutored her…?]

I glanced behind me. Marnie had just woken from a nap and was slumped over her desk, looking cranky and half-awake.

Of course.

I went back to my seat.

Marnie looked at me. “Ophelia, why’d you ditch lunch halfway through just to run laps?”

Then she leaned close to my ear and lowered her voice.

“Don’t tell me you’re trying to lose weight for love.”

My chest felt tight. I muttered under my breath.

“Both our grades have dropped several spots lately. Our parents are going to kill us when we get home.”

“Who has time to worry about romance?”

Marnie tsked.

“Then let’s get your Joren to tutor us after school.”

I looked up at Joren.

He was focused on a practice problem, but the tips of his ears had turned red.

[Ask me. I can definitely help her bring her grades up.]

[Then I’ll convince her to apply to Harvard. We could go to the same college and be together every day.]

[Just thinking about it makes me ridiculously happy. I like her so much.]

Something sour and bitter twisted inside me.

Then what did this whole year of me practically chasing after him even mean?

I turned down Marnie’s tutoring idea.

“Forget it. I can study at home just fine.”

I had zero interest in third-wheeling them.