Chapter 82

Shana, I know you've been avoiding all of my texts, but I hope that you'll actually take the time to read this letter.

I feel terrible about what I said to my father when he asked me to choose a distraction. First of all, I want you to know that I don't think you're a distraction, and that should've been the first thing I made clear to him. I shouldn't have let him speak about you that way.

Second, if these past few days of your silence have shown me anything, it's that I don't know how to go around acting like everything is fine — because everything is not fine.

I keep checking my phone, hoping that you've texted or called me. I keep looking for you in the hallways, only to be met with disappointment.

I just want to make things right between us again because I can't take this anymore. I hate not seeing you or hearing your voice.

I don't think I know who I am without you around.

The Dragons have a hockey game tomorrow night at Crystal Falls against the Warriors. They're one of our biggest competitors, and I need my good luck charm there to watch me play.

Please come to the game and let me make things right.

• • Bear

I must've read the note that Lucas left in my locker four times before I realized that James was standing right behind me.

"Holy shit!" I swore, clutching a hand to my chest. "You scared me. How long have you been hovering behind me?"

"Hovering? I'm not hovering, this is just how tall I am." James raised a suspicious eyebrow. "But I don't know how you didn't notice me sooner, I've been standing here for like two minutes now."

"Sorry." I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. "I was a little distracted."

"Is it because of that?" James asked, pointing to the letter in my hands. "What is that? Do you have a secret admirer?"

"It's from Lucas," I simply said. I reached my hand out to offer it to him. "Wanna read it?"

James snatches the letter from my hands eagerly as if he was waiting for me to ask him.

His eyes skim the paper a few times before finding mine. "You know, he actually tried talking to me about this yesterday at hockey practice?"

"Really?" I asked, growing curious. "What did he say?"

"Well, at first he noticed that I was ignoring him," James paused, "and I told him I knew everything that he said to you last week. I told him I didn't agree with it and that it was wrong to let Kendrick push him around like that. He already controls almost every aspect of his life, why should he tell him who he can or can't be friends with?"

I gave James a knowing look. "Let me guess, he said he doesn't want to disappoint his father."

"Actually, not this time." James sighed. "He seemed upset about everything. Even during practice, something was off — like he was agitated or restless."

"Serves him right. He's made his bed, now it's time for him to lie in it."

"I couldn't agree more," James said. "You would think that he'd take a look at Kendrick's life and see how miserable it really is. Kendrick has 'friends,' but all of those 'friends' are just people he does business with."

This was something I had never considered before.

"He doesn't have any close friends?" I questioned. "What about Victoria's parents?"

James gave me a humorous smile. "Seriously, Shana? You think Kendrick would be besties with Victoria's stone-cold father and uptight mother?"

"Sounds like someone has some harsh opinions on Victoria's parents," I said, crossing my arms over my chest.

James shrugged. "It's not like you don't think the same thing about them. At the scene of the accident, they were being so awful to Lucas for no reason."

"Of course," I agreed. "That's how a lot of Alpha families are. They think they're the only people that matter, so when they found out Victoria was hurt, they needed someone to blame."

"Right. Well, anyway, Kendrick is not friends with Victoria's parents. That's just another example of a business-only relationship."

"It's kind of weird how he has no friends..." I trailed off, thinking about how Kendrick must live his life.

I supposed his only friend was the business that he's cultivated, and while it's impressive, it's also extremely sad. How could someone go through life alone like that?

"It explains why he is the way he is though, doesn't it?" James asked. "I don't know how Lucas hasn't realized that. He needs to take a step back and re-evaluate everything."

"How he hasn't already surprised me," I added. "It's impossible to please someone who will never be satisfied with anything. Trying is only going to wear him down."

"Trust me, Shana. This intervention for Lucas has been years in the making. I think he's almost at his breaking point," James said.

"I don't know..." I took the letter from James's hands, reading the last line again.

Please come to the game and let me make things right.

"If he wants to make things right, he's going to have to work a bit harder. I feel like we've been so easy on him," I told James.

"I think you're right. When we found out about Victoria, we could've put up a bigger fight," James said. "Those are the kind of lies that can end friendships."

"I don't think I'm going to go to the game at Crystal Falls tomorrow. I don't want to give in too easily."

"Do what you think is best for you, Shana. I'll support you in whatever decision you make." James gave me a warm smile. "Okay, well I gotta head to math class. Text me if anything else happens or if you have any juicy gossip to share."

"You're obsessed with juicy gossip," I joked, rolling my eyes. "Why is that?"

"I watch a lot of reality TV, okay?" James said, starting to walk away. "Is that a crime?"

When James was out of my sight, I glanced down at the letter again.

Without thinking about it, I crumbled it up and tossed it in the trash on the way to my next class.

And surprisingly, it made me feel so much better.

__

My phone started to buzz on my bed again when I was home later that day.

It was almost time for me to head to bed. Who could be texting me this late?

I grabbed my phone and felt my heart flip at the name on the screen.

Lucas: Did you get my letter?

Lucas: At least let me know if you got it.

Letting out a deep sigh, I go to respond to him.

Me: Yes.

Lucas responded immediately.

Lucas: I meant everything I said, but I still have so much I want to tell you. Will I see you at the game tomorrow?

I chewed on my bottom lip, trying to think of a response.

I already knew I wasn't going to go to the game... but how would I tell him that?

Me: No, I'm not going to the game tomorrow. I've got homework to catch up on.

Lucas probably knew I was lying since it was the beginning of a new year and none of our classes had too much homework yet.

I saw the chat bubbles appear, indicating that he was typing.

But suddenly, the bubbles disappeared, and Lucas never answered me back.