I gasped, clapping my hands over my mouth as I stumbled back deeper into the small room. My breathing grew too loud, ragged in the silence.
The door flung open, and Hayden stood inches away, his dark eyes boring into me.
I had always avoided looking at him for too long. Hayden was… dangerous in that way. Too perfect and too tempting.
I had been terrified of becoming one of his obsessed bunnies, especially since he was already someone else's fiancée.
But now, with him right in front of me, there was no escape. His pitch-black eyes didn't just look at me, they reached in, as if he could strip me bare and read the secrets I carried from another lifetime.
"Who are you?" he asked.
Kai's voice came from behind him. "The fuck are you doing here?" I kept my head bent, hiding my face. I didn't want him to see me, especially not after what happened on the rooftop.
I had no explanation for how he was reborn!
When I didn't answer, Kai shoved me roughly. "Hey, I'm talking to you!" He had always been so quick to anger.
Hayden pulled Kai's hand away from me, muttering, "that's a girl."
Though Kai frowned, be he still tried looking under my hood.
They talked about me like I wasn't there. "She's just another obsessed bunny," Kai said. Hayden's gaze lingered on me.
I bolted for the door, squeezing between their bodies. "What a creep," Kai muttered.
By the time I was outside the locker room, I let out the breath I'd been holding since the moment Hayden's eyes met mine.
Seeing him again… after everything… after knowing how he died… every part of me wanted to throw my arms around him, to hold on tight, to keep him safe. But I had to remind myself; right now, in this timeline, we weren't close. We weren't even friends.
I rubbed the sore spot on my head where Kai had struck me. It still throbbed, and I winced when my fingers pressed too hard. My fingers came away clean; it was just pain.
Typical Kai. Always inflicting pain on others.
I drew in a shaky breath and forced my legs toward the one place I knew I had to go. The principal's office. If I wanted to change the future and protect Hayden, I had to start here.
By the time I reached the door, my palms were sweaty. I knocked once.
"Come in," a voice called from inside.
I pushed the door open and stepped in. Mr. Lee looked up from his desk, surprise flickered across his face when he saw me.
The glow of his tablet screen dimmed as he clicked something off. But I'd already caught a glimpse; some kind of drama playing in the background. His attempt at looking serious made me want to laugh, but I didn't. I couldn't afford to.
"Miss Porter," he said, clearing his throat, "did you get yourself into trouble again?"
"No," I answered quickly, though it came off as blunt. It was the first thing people always assumed about me. Trouble. If I was in his office, it had to be because of trouble.
He raised a brow. "Then what brings you here?"
I swallowed. "I want to report a potential violation."
For a second, the room was silent except for the faint hum of the AC. Then he leaned back in his chair, studying me with a skeptical look.
Later, when Coach Daniels came in and heard what Mr. Lee relayed, he burst out laughing. "That's ridiculous. Come on, Brown, I've known these boys for years. There's no way."
Mr. Lee—Mr. Brown, as everyone called him, didn't look convinced. He leaned back in his chair with lips pressed together and his eyes narrowing slightly.
I could tell from his expression that he didn't buy my story either, but the only reason he hadn't tossed me out already was because he had no choice.
If I reported this to the board, and it blew up into a scandal, it wouldn't just ruin the team; it could cost him his job.
His fingers tapped against his armrest. "Are you certain about what you're saying, Miss Porter?"
"I saw it with my own eyes," I said firmly.
The coach shook his head, still grinning like it was a bad joke. "You really going to believe her? This is the same girl who pulled the fire alarm just because she didn't study for her test."
My face turned red as anger bubbled in my chest. That had been a mistake; one mistake. And they never let me live it down. I thought I started a fire during chemistry test and I wanted to protect everyone, but instead, got into trouble.
"And," he dragged it on as if making a point. "Tried to fake being sick by forcing a vomit in the middle of PE. She thrives on making trouble."
This man is making me sound like a nut job who goes around causing trouble!
"I am not making this up," I said, my voice was sharp now.
"With your reputation," Coach Daniels said slowly, "it's hard to believe anything you say." He folded his arms across his chest. "Tell me, what are you really trying to get out of this? Hm? Another excuse? Another story?"
"I'm telling the truth," I shot back. My nails dug into my palms.
Coach Daniels leaned forward slightly. "If you're sure, then show me the evidence."
"I'll show you." My voice came out steadier than I felt. I turned on my heel and headed for the door.