Page 19 of Starstruck

I feel my brows tug. “Games?”

It’s then that he points to the jersey he’s wearing, the logo andsignature green and gold colours only now becoming recognisable. “I made the Liberty Lions ice hockey team. Luckily, I got scouted before graduation and landed a scholarship, otherwise I wouldn’t be here right now.”

I blew out a sigh. “Jesus, you must be good, then.”

Finn nodded, a bright smile beaming on his face. “It’s my life. Icouldn’t imagine loving anything more than the game.”

I tore my gaze out the window between our beds, my mindwandering before training my eyes back on Finn. “I’ve actually always wanted to see what the hype was about American sports, so I might take you up on that.”

“First game of the season is next week if you’re up for it,” heshrugged, before pushing himself off the bed and wandering towards the fridge.

I didn’t want to cling to how pathetic the ‘yes’ I called in my headsounded, because this place was supposed to be an escape from everything I was trying to run from. This place was filled with distractions and easy ways I could forget the person I’d become to make headspace for who I wanted to be.

It’s a fresh start.

My dad’s words sounded in my head again, and something about themmade the corner of my mouth tug up.

Small circle. In the shadows. Don’t get too close.

So long as I stuck to those rules and kept my past in the past, I’dbe okay.

“So,” Finn’s voice broke me out of my thoughts as he launched backon his bed. “Are you coming to this welcome event for the freshman?”

My eyes narrowed. “Do I have to?”

“Well,” he huffed, plucking a small black puck off his shelf, tossing it in the air and catching it. “I hear the snacks are supposed to be the best out of all the New York universities.” I kept my stare on him before blinking. Finn tossed the puck between his hands, right before his eyes widened. “My buddy Jesse is coming too, he’s also on the Lions team with me. He’s pretty chill, and hasn’t listened to any music that wasn’t made in the eighties ever since I’ve known him, so he’ll be clueless about who you are.”

Someone who didn’t know me or cared who I was sounded like the perfect type of person to be around. But still, I tilted my head at Finn before he tossed the puck over to me and sighed, “I’ll stand in front of you if anyone recognises you.”

The clammy puck landed in my hands, and as I threw it betweenthem, I took a quick glance over Finn’s six-foot-four frame, realising that was all the convincing I needed to go this thing and blend in.

Maybe I’d count his as one of the shadows where I made a home formyself.

“Fine.”

chapter six

take my breath away (it's literally a sunset)

“Will you just give it a rest?” The words tumbled out of my mouth in a laugh, disguising my slight irritation.

Cora pouts as she stomps her foot, the sound echoing through the hallways, before all four of us squeeze into the only elevator in our dorm building. “No, I won’t, Goldie. You came back after a day of classes in someone else’s t-shirt. And now you won’t tell us why?”

I shrugged as nonchalantly as I could, pushing my lips out as I did. “I just... saw it in a store on my way back here and just kept it on because I liked it so much.”

Her jade eyes turned into slits. “Really?” I nodded, as she knocked her hip to the side and crossed her arms. “You. Goldie Moore. Miss ‘I wear pastels and summer dresses all year round’, bought a black t-shirt on purpose?”

Only now did I realise my mistake, as I looked down at the summer dress I’d chosen to wear to tonight’s welcome event. I don’t know how many different pastel colours swished amongst the fabric that floated to the middle of my thighs, but I could tell you that black wasn’t one of them.

The colour just made me feel invisible, and I’d had enough of feeling invisible. But now I had to convince Cora that it was my favourite.

“Yes, now can we change the subject?” I looked around at my friends, each of their faces concealing a smile. “How was everyone’s first day?”

“Fine.” All three of my so-called friends said at once.

I deadpanned my face. “How am I supposed to put up with this for four years?”

Rory shrugged, that smile she was hiding now a sarcastic curve against her lips. “Easy, just tell us the truth, and we’ll be angels for the rest of college.”

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