Chapter 81

Our vacation was cut short and all of us traveled back home after the accident for the rest of our winter break.

When he saw me, my father gave me a tight hug and wouldn't let me leave his sight. He insisted on making sure I was perfectly fine and even took time off work for a few days just to keep me company.

"Dad, I'm feeling much better already, you don't have to miss work just to watch me lay on my bed," I told him as I sat under my warm covers, and he brought my dinner to me on a plate.

My leg still slightly hurt from my fall, but I was able to walk on it and apply pressure without needing anyone's help.

In order to heal it, I'd been staying off my feet and icing my left ankle.

It had already been a week since the accident and the winter holidays had passed by slowly.

It was a new year, and the last day of the weekend, meaning that school was tomorrow.

I knew that thanks to the rest I'd had in the past week, I wouldn't feel any discomfort walking from class to class tomorrow. But I hadn't trained since before our winter finals.

I wondered if that would be possible now…

"Shana, I'm so grateful that you're okay." My father reached a hand out to touch mine. He's been a lot more affectionate with me ever since I got back. It's a big contrast to how he was before.

"Do you know how horrible that earthquake was? On the news, they were saying that it was one of the worst they'd ever seen in that area."

"I know, Dad," I sighed deeply. "You've only told me that every day since I got back."

I understood that my father was only worried about me, and it showed how much he loved me, but I wanted to forget all about that awful day already.

It had been on repeat in my mind, and it was driving me crazy. Especially what happened to Lucas...

I still hadn't talked to him since our argument, and I had no plans to either.

My phone had been blowing up with missed texts and calls from him all winter break, but I just couldn't find it within myself to answer him.

I was still extremely upset about his willingness to give up our friendship just to please his father. And yes, to Lucas's point, we could easily still easily see each other in school without his father's prying eyes—

but that wasn't the point.

The point was that he still respected his father more than me, even though I've been nothing but loyal to him. Kendrick has belittled, controlled, and harassed Lucas for years.

But Lucas still feels a need to want to please him.

And after the conversation I had with Lucas, it seemed as if he didn't fully grasp just how much he had actually hurt me.

He thought it was a problem that could easily be fixed, but I was sick and tired of his submissiveness when it came to his father.

He didn't even try to fight Kendrick on the matter. He just gave in. Choosing hockey over me seemed like the easiest decision he's ever made.

And it's not that I'm upset by the choice he made... I knew how much being the Dragon's hockey captain meant to him, but I thought I meant more — or at least enough for him to fight for.

He could've had hockey and my friendship if he showed some resilience and fought for it.

But he just accepted Kendrick's demands so easily.

First, it was his engagement to Victoria that he kept secret, and now it was this.

It was frustrating to watch his behavior around his father. It was like he was an entirely different Lucas, and I hated that Lucas.

The Lucas I knew was strong and caring, standing up for others and doing the right thing.

The Lucas around Kendrick Busch was timid, scared, and fearful. He couldn't even stand up for himself. He couldn't even argue even though he wanted to, deep down.

But I guess I was wrong about him, and it hurt to know how he really felt about me and our friendship...

__

Before school the following morning, I was heading to my car when I remembered our trash needed to be taken out.

I threw my backpack in the car and headed to the side of the house where we kept our trash bin.

When I started to roll it down the driveway, I realized that it was a lot heavier than usual.

Was it just due to my lack of training these past few weeks?

Had I gotten weaker?

When I stopped the trash bin by the curb, I lifted the lid to inspect its contents. Nothing was unusual, just our full trash bags.

But underneath the trash, I noticed something shiner covered. I lifted the bag and found a six-pack of empty beer bottles.

My mouth fell open in shock as I stared at the bottles. Those couldn't be from my father, could they?

I hadn't seen him drink any alcohol in the past few months... and he hadn't been acting strange lately.

Well, besides the fact that he was overly worried about me and my health. But what parents aren't worried for their children's safety?

I put the trash bag back in the bin and closed the lid.

One of our neighbors must've thrown their trash away in our bin... it was the only explanation I could think of.

My father promised he wouldn't drink anymore, and I had to trust that he'd keep his word.

He wouldn't betray me like this...

At least, I hoped he wouldn't.

__

Once I was at school, James found me standing by my locker.

He'd been pretty shaken up after the accident, which was the last time I had seen him. But now, he appeared to be doing much better.

He was back to his usual, goofy self, and even managed to make fun of the outfit I decided to wear today.

"What's wrong with my dress?" I asked, looking down at the little yellow sunflowers all over my skirt.

"You never wear dresses," James said simply. "It's weirding me out."

“New year, new me. As they say,” I teased playfully. "You know, I think you'd look beautiful in a dress.”

"Of course, I'd look beautiful Shana. Duh." James raised one of his brows. "By the way, where's Lucas?"

I rolled my eyes and let out a long exhale. I supposed James hadn't been filled in on what had transpired between the two of us.

I began explaining everything that had happened with Lucas and I, hoping that James could give me some advice or insight.

Once I finished, James's face was pulled into a deep frown. "Well, that's funny. I talked to Lucas over the break and somehow, he forgot to mention any of that."

"He probably thinks I'll just get over it like the whole lying-fiancée fiasco." I crossed my arms over my chest. "Do you think I'm being unreasonable? Should I not be this upset?"

"Hell no, Shana!" James exclaimed. "Lucas messed up, big time. I understand that he wants to make Kendrick happy, but at what cost? I don't think he understands how much his actions hurt us."

"That's exactly what I was thinking," I said. "I think he thinks what he's doing is right."

"Well, it's not." James stuck his thumbs in his backpack straps. "I'm on your side here, Shana. Until Lucas realizes his mistake and makes up for this, I'm going to avoid him with you."

"Thanks James, but how will you avoid him at hockey practice?" I asked skeptically. "That's going to be hard to do."

"Don't worry about that," James assured me. "I think once he sees we're both upset about this situation, he'll come to his senses and make things right."

Boy, did I hope that James was right.