Page 79 of Broken

My tears flowed then, hot and fierce down my cheeks, my world crumbling around me.

Chapter 21

“That’s it! You’ve got it! Focus! Move, move, move!” Coach Larson yelled to us guys out on the court.

Yeah. On it, Coach. But it’s hard to focus when I know why everyone’sstaringat me today!

I hadn’t been too worried when Izzy explained why she was probably going to the office, but the office didn’t have grounds to spread it around school. Someone else had done that. By the time lunch hit, the rumors about me and Izzy were rampant.

There’d been no shutting this one down. And honestly, no point in it. Izzy was going to start sitting out of dance this week, which would only be proof. What really pissed me off was how fast everyone was willing to believe it. It wasIzzy. Her reputation deservedsomedoubt on the topic before there was proof.

Butminedoesn’t.I groaned internally at the thought, hating that mine affected her so much now. I hadn’t even gotten to see her since everything came out. Mr. Johnston swiped my phone when I tried to message her earlier, and I felt like a dick for missing her and the others at lunch. The counselor’s timingseriously sucked. Even Coach had caught me after hearing the rumor break out…

“Get it together, Pierce! Stress about it later!” Coach yelled. “Hustle and watch your teammates. See who’s open. I need your head in this practice!”

Later my ass…Not with all the stares, not when everything suddenly felt so much more real. Not even basketball could save my sanity today.

By the time I made it to the showers, I’d swear I could feel every pair of eyes boring in my back. It was driving me crazy, but I knew it was all in my head. The guys still understood the concept ofcreepy,no matter how much they were dying to ask.

I shuddered, unable to shake the feeling. Suddenly desperate for air. Or space. Room to even think. I rushed to finish what had to be the fastest shower of my life.

Back in the locker room, I caught movement near the doors and saw David slipping outside.Weird. I’d thought for sure I was the first one out of the showers.

I blew it off, heading over to the row with my stuff. What did I care if someone wanted to get out of here early? I should’ve thought of it myself.Maybe I still can if I hurry. But before I could even open my locker, I heard something around the corner.

I glanced over to see who else had skipped the showers, but whoever it was had their head ducked inside their locker.

“You okay, man?” Jet called out.

Zane’s head jerked up, catching me watching, and both our eyes narrowed into dark looks, the hatred between us filling the small room.

“Fuck off and mind your business, Pierce,” Zane snapped, slamming the locker shut to follow David outside.

Yeah, I hate you, too.

“What was that about?” Jet asked. “You know Izzy would be pissed if she found out you were trying to pick another fight with Zane.”

“He’d deserve it for what he fucking did to you,” I ground out.

“Yeah, well, he got benched the rest of the season for that. I’m serious, though.”

“I know.” I waved him off. “I didn’t even know he was out here.”

“Okay…cuz it really looked like you were in a hurry to get out here for something.” Jet gave me a doubtful look, and I shook my head.

“No, I just had to get out of the showers.”

“Why?”

“Don’t ask, man.” I didn’t feel like going into the weird rationalizations of my mind right now.

Jet shrugged and headed over to his locker to change. I’d just finished pulling on my clothes when some of the guys started to trickle in.So much for getting out of here.I grabbed my sneakers and sat down on a nearby bench, hoping that I could get them on fast enough to avoid an interrogation.

“So, is it true, man?” Kyle asked not a moment after I sat down.

My jaw clenched as I stifled a groan, and I bent to pull on one of my shoes. “Is what true?” I feigned ignorance, pushing the irritation from my tone, for the guys at least.

“You know what I’m talking about. It’s all over school. You. Izzy. Pregnant. What’s the deal?”

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