Page 28 of Sticks & Serpents

That seemed easy enough.

A single tap, and he would vanish from my life again, just like he had three years ago. I could ignore it—just let the silence settle in like an old friend. But instead, I found myself locking my phone; the screen going dark as if that could somehow erase what he had said.

The flutter in my chest felt all too familiar—an old rhythm I thought I had buried. I paced the room, every footfall echoing with doubt and frustration. My reflection in the mirror caught my eye, and I barely recognized the girl staring back at me: wide-eyed, a little too vulnerable. Was this how I had become? Just another pawn in Damien’s twisted game?

I pressed my fingers against the cool surface of the dresser to steady myself, feeling the weight of his words like a lead ball in my stomach. How did he do this? How could one simple message pull me back into a world where nothing made sense?

A part of me longed for that casual connection we used to share—the way he would tease me until laughter spilled from my lips and melted away any anger or confusion between us. It felt so innocent then; now it was tainted with everything that had happened.

But deep down, beneath all the memories and emotions tangled up in knots, I knew better than to respond. He thrived on chaos; it was his lifeblood. He wanted me off-balance so he could sweep back into my life with that devil-may-care charm that always made my heart skip.

I took a deep breath and stepped away from the mirror, shaking off the moment of weakness that threatened to swallow me whole. No more games. No more letting him into my head or my heart.

Yet even as I tried to convince myself of that truth, uncertainty clawed at my resolve.

I didn't trust myself.

And that was what scared me the most.

I grabbedmy bag and headed out the door, determined to put Damien out of my mind. I had errands to run for the charity game, a task that should have felt straightforward. But the moment I stepped onto campus, it was as if he lurked in every shadow.

I made my way to the rink office, glancing at the posters announcing the charity event plastered around campus. As I passed a group of students, their hushed tones reached my ears.

“Sinclaire’s off the leash again.”

“Logan’s hand is fucked—might miss the whole season.”

I bit my lip, forcing myself to ignore them. The whispers didn’t stop there; they buzzed like angry bees in my ears, filling the air with something unsettling.

“He’s dangerous.”

Those words hung in the air, heavier than bricks. My heart raced as I remembered Logan's pale face when I saw him last.

But alongside fear came something else—a strange admiration that rippled through the crowd. They didn’t just fear him; they respected him.

I entered the rink office and found a few staff members setting up for the upcoming event. They nodded at me but cast glances toward an empty corner as if expecting Damien to appear at any moment.

“Did you hear about Sinclaire?” one of them asked under his breath.

“Yeah,” another replied, a hint of awe lacing his voice. “Dude’s untouchable thanks to his father.”

Untouchable.The word wrapped around me like a shroud, both infuriating and intoxicating. How could he hold such power over everyone? Even after what happened with Logan?

The staff continued discussing Damien's latest antics while I busied myself with schedules and logistics for game day. Every time someone mentioned his name, my stomach churned—not from fear alone but from a confusing mix of nostalgia and unresolved feelings.

“Hey Holly,” one of them said as they handed me a clipboard filled with notes on player assignments. “You’re working with Sinclaire now? That should be interesting.”

I forced a smile, trying to hide how rattled I felt inside.

As I shuffled through papers and checked off tasks on my list, all I could think was that this was supposed to be about charity—a noble cause—yet somehow it had twisted into something far more complicated than that. And there he was again, casting his shadow over everything I tried to do.

I couldn’t shake him off; he was everywhere—and it felt suffocating.

I flipped through the clipboard, pretending to focus on the notes, but my mind drifted. Images of Damien flooded back—his smirk, the way he leaned in when he wanted something from me. I could still feel the heat radiating off his body, the way he filled a room just by walking into it.

I remembered standing next to him, how effortless it felt to belong. It wasn’t just about being his girlfriend; it was about being part of something bigger. The thrill of being with someone who commanded attention and respect. I had felt invincible, as if I were wrapped in a protective cocoon made from his chaotic energy.

And yet… it came with fear. The kind that prickled my skin whenever he got too intense or too reckless. I hated myself for missing that feeling—the rush of adrenaline that coursed through me when I knew everyone else stepped back because they feared him. He was a force of nature, and I had stood at his side, feeling untouchable.

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