Page 36 of False Start
K-Otic places a kiss on the top of her head, and there’s a small part of me that hates myself even more than before because I can’t stand how watching that makes me feel. I clear my throat loudly, clicking the plastic of my wrist guards together before I stand and skate out of the locker room.
Slam Night is a beautiful havoc. The rink is vibrating with energy. It looks great with the paint job, but it doesn’t look like Skateland anymore. The grit was part of the charm, and now it looks… gentrified. Which is exactly the vibes Scott exudes with his Versace shoes and baby blue suit.
He’s in the middle of the track, talking to one of the zebras, when I see Mo skating his way. The back of Morgan’s shirt says “Coach” now. Not assistant, just coach. They deserve it, and if it’s the one positive change that comes from all of this, then I’ll celebrate it today. There’s always time to mourn tomorrow.
Every skater has filed out of the locker room now,standing behind the partition wall, waiting for the announcer to call our names. The visiting team always goes first, a kindness we bestow upon them. K and Nia are at the front; as jammers, they’ll be called before the pivots and then the blockers.
“Give it up forReese Ender!” The pivot for the Wolverine Dreams is called onto the track, and I see Nia stumble back. She’s shaking her head, and in a second, she’s skating right through the locker room doors again.
Star and K follow after her.
I follow them.
“No. No, I-I can’t. Not with Reese.” She’s laboring through the words.
Nia’s sitting on the bench, her head between her legs as she takes in heavy drags of oxygen through her open mouth.
“Should I tell Scott?” Star asks her, her hand making soothing circles on Nia’s back.
“No,” I answer for her, causing all three heads to spin in my direction. “You’re not afraid of her. Let’s go skate.”
“Iamafraid of her,” she corrects, her tone sharp, like she’s angry atmefor not accepting it. “I had to learn how to walk again because of her.”
“Yeah? Well, I hit harder, and yet here you are… still walking, skating.” I cross my arms over my chest and lean on the door frame.
She’s staring at me blankly, like she’s thinking through it.
“It’s up to you,” K assures her.
“You’ve got my back?” The question is solely meant for me.
I should feel insulted. Fuck, Iaminsulted. A jammer asking their pivot if they have their back shouldn’t happen.It should be a given. But I’ve done nothing to convince her otherwise.
“Yeah, I’ve got your back, princess.” I push the door open with one hand and gesture out to the track with my head. “Let’s go.”
She gives me a smile and nods, standing and skating past me just in time for the announcer to call her out.
“It’s Nia-Death Experience!” The crowd cheers like they remember her. They probably don’t, but the excitement is enough.
After K-Otic, I’m next, skating onto the track when he calls out for Harvey Dent-Her-Face. I take my place behind the pivot line next to Reese Ender, who doesn’t spare a second glance my way. She doesn’t need to. I’m the one sizing her up. I’m taller and my thighs are thicker, but we’ll just have to see how hard this bitch really hits to make our jammer have that look on her face.
I look back at Nia, past the crowd of blockers between us to find her gaze locked directly on Reese’s back. As if she feels the heat of my stare, she shifts to look my way. I give her a nod, a reminder of the promise I just made.
The referee blows the whistle, and we’re off.
I’m skating, but Reese Ender stays back, and just when Nia is shoved into the wall of blockers, Reese hits Nia in the chest with her shoulder, sending her back. It’s illegal contact, but the zebra can’t see it, and every blocker on our team is too focused on clearing the opposing skaters. It’s not until the pack has left her behind that she’s able to get up. I’m skating backwards, lowering my speed so she can catch up, but just as I’m closing in on her, Reese hip checks Nia out of the boundaries of the track.
The Wolverine’s jammer gets the first points.
We assemble behind our designated lines and wait forthe next whistle. I’m skating forward, but once again, Reese is heading for Nia. I’m too used to jamming, too obsessed with going for the offense to interrupt the way this pivot skates. She’s made Nia her target. It’s obvious.
Nia’s ready for her this time. I skate backwards through the line of blockers again, and with StarScreamer’s help, I’m through, but not in time to prevent Reese from throwing her elbow into Nia’s chest. It sends her skidding on her ass over the track.
I pull my mouthguard out to yell. “REF!” I shout through the noise, but the zebra raises their hands up like they didn’t see anything.
Bullshit.
“That’s fucking illegal contact and you know it!” I’m skating toward the ref, who’s just now blowing the whistle on the jam.
