2| cheater cheater

~Alina~

By the time I get back to my dorm Hali is lying on the couch with a bowl of popcorn watching Friends. I shut the door behind me and fall on the couch beside her.

"Men suck." she says.

"Figure skating sucks." I say.

We both look at each other.

"What's wrong?" we both say at the same time.

"You go first." I say grabbing a handful of popcorn and shoving it in my mouth. Popcorn is not in my diet but who cares anymore.

If Mrs. Model sitting beside me is eating it so am I.

"I caught Jake with Lindsey."

"Oh my gosh."

"Don't worry bout it. I went over there to break up with him. Now I don't look like the bad guy." she smiles and I high-five her. "Still hurt though... Anyway, what's your problem?"

"Coach said I'm too slow. And I just got a text from her on the bus that she's signed me up for some hockey player to 'train' me." I roll my eyes turning my attention back to the tv.

I'm on a one way track headed for the Olympics and now I'm being "trained" by someone who probably has no idea about figure skating.

"So just don't go." she said fixing her eyes back on the tv.

I handed her my phone with the text from Coach on my screen.

Coach: ...oh and if you decide not to go. I'll still replace you with Madeline... no pressure though

Hali turned to look at me. "So let me get this right... You don't go and she replaces you or you don't learn to be fast enough she replaces you..."

I took another handful of popcorn and picked through it. "Yeah, pretty much." I said.

Hali turned back to the tv. "Wait you took the bus?"

"Yeah my cars in the shop until next Tuesday. Something with my tires and the engine. I'm not really sure I zoned out when the mechanic started talking." Hali laughed.

"Just take my car then. It's not like I have anywhere to go." she huffed.

I stood up and walked to my room. "Thanks." I said calling from my room.

I woke up to 12 texts.

2 from mom.

7 from my group chat with the other figure skaters.

1 from Madeline.

And 2 from an unknown number.

I clear all the messages and click on the unknown number.

Unknown: Hey I'm the hockey player that's supposed to be training you.

Unknown: I'm Reece btw

I just stare at my phone in disgust. The dorm is quiet so I assume Hali is gone to class. I jump up and walk into the kitchen wearing a sports bra and my leggings from last night.

I was too pissed to change or take a shower but now I feel gross. I pour myself a bowl of cereal and watch my phone. It's still open on the counter. I take it and my bowl of cereal back to my room.

I pick my phone up after a few minutes and answer.

Me: I'm Alina

Me: and I don't need your help

He answered almost immediately.

Reece: that's not what I was told...

I haven't even met this kid and I already hated him.

I left him on read for an hour. On my way to class he texted me back.

Reece: I'm sorry that was mean.

Reece: Can we start over?

Reece: TOO LATE!!

Reece: ReStArTIng**

Reece: Hi, I'm Reece

I couldn't help but laugh.

Me: I still don't like you.

Reece: that's okay

Reece: We could get some runs in today if your free??

Me: I have classes then practice practice so idk

Me: Are you at least getting paid?

Reece: Nope. I'm doing this out of the kindness of my heart <3

Me: I have a feeling you don't have a lot of that...

Reece: Ouch!

Reece: No but fr I need to know by lunch -ish

Me: Got a hot date?

Reece: Only if you wanna go out to dinner with me ;)

Me: Never

Me: I'll let u know by lunch

At lunch I got out my phone and texted Reece.

Me: I can about 6 or 7

Reece: GREAT!!

Reece: I'll see you at the rink :)

Selene slid into a seat beside me.

"Did you do the paper for English?" she asked.

"CRAP! I forgot." I said my head falling into my hands.

"Ok awesome! I'm not the only one." She took a sip of my Diet Coke.

She kissed my cheek. "I guess I'll see you in English when we both get zero's." She walked away and I saw her outfit of the day.

I loved Selene for many reasons but one of them was because she wasn't afraid to wear what she wanted. Always something homemade and colorful. Usually thrifted.

In the middle of English with Selene sitting beside me, my phone buzzed.

Hali: SOS

Me: What!?!

Hali: Meet me at Crunch after English

I turned my to Hali and showed her my phone. She immediately picked up her phone and texted Aurora, Selene's roommate and one of our other friends.

English drug out an extra 20 minutes because the universe hates me. Hali and I ran to Crunch, a little cafe on campus.

Aurora sat there with Hali. I saw no tears which was a good sign. I sat down across from her.

"I ran here like a psychopath so this better be sad or rlly good." I said taking a bite of her donut.

"Oh lord. You're going to wish you skipped class for this." All of us leaned in to hear her better. "Ok so the girl Lindsey, Jake was cheating on me with found out he was also cheating on her with some Delilah bitch... Anyways she got him undressed and then kicked him out of her dorm without clothes and he had to steal some bitches mini skirt and walked ALL the way to his dorm in nothing but a mini skirt."

We all burst out laughing. "How do you know this?" Aurora asked.

"Well I saw him running back to his dorm and then I saw Lindsey and she apologized because she didn't know we were together." she shuddered. "Whatever, so I asked her about it and she told me and I swear on my Gucci purse I was rolling around on the ground laughing my brains out." We all started laughing again.

I was sitting in the stands, my skates still laced. It was 7:56 and he still wasn't here. I had been waiting forever.

Me: I've been waiting for an hour...

It took him seconds to respond.

Reece: omw

He totally forgot.