Chapter 7 Chapter 7

Skylar's POV

It was already late into the night when I heard the door open. I didn't move. I lay still on the bed even though I instantly perceived that Maddie's perfume filled the room.

"Are you asleep?" she called out to me.

I opened my eyes slowly, feigning sleep, not because I wanted to deceive her, but because I just needed to rest.

I don't want to talk about anything tonight, nothing. I blinked my eyes and closed them again.

I felt the moment she sat on the edge of the bed close to me. Her fingers stroked my hair gently.

"I'm really sorry I wasn't there for you tonight, Sky. I heard what happened, and that Penny girl is a bitch, but I promise I'm going to make her pay. I'm going to make her pay for what she's done. No one treats you like that, not when I'm here."

She said those words even when she wasn't sure I was listening.

I shut my eyes tightly. My teeth dug into my tongue until the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth, but still I didn't move. I didn't make a sound. I didn't open my eyes. I just lay still, pretending to be asleep.

When she finally stood up from the bed, I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding all along.

"Thank you, Maddie," I whispered, knowing very well she had not heard me, but I said it anyway, just the same way she wasn't aware that I had heard her.

I woke up the next morning to Maddie making breakfast in the kitchen. I stood up quickly when the smell of coffee filled my nose.

Wiping my eyes, I dragged my feet towards the kitchen and found her in pyjamas, making two cups of coffee. There were slices of bread on the table and sauce.

"Good morning, Maddie," I greeted.

She looked up at me and smiled. "Did you drink too much last night?" she asked.

I turned to her, my eyes wide. "No. What did you hear?" I asked quickly, thinking she was accusing me of getting myself drunk, but she shook her head.

"Nothing. I didn't hear anything. Your eyes look swollen and sore, like you're having a hangover, and your cheek looks flushed. I just thought maybe you drank too much."

I swallowed saliva, finally breathing out in relief. "No, I didn't drink too much. I only had a single glass. Nothing more," I said, standing up straight to her.

She walked over. Her hands rested on my shoulder as she slowly began to stroke my arm.

"I heard what happened last night, baby, and I am very sorry that I wasn't there. How could she do that to you? What the fuck is her business if you're a virgin or not?" she said.

I could hear the annoyance in her tone. I could tell she was very pissed off, just as I was, but it already happened.

The entire team now knows that I am a virgin, a pathetic one. The whole academy knows, and everybody is going to be looking at me differently from now on.

"It's fine, Maddie. I cannot let her bother me. I need to maintain my scholarship, and Penny is the least of my problems here." I said, playing the tough girl, even though deep down inside I was scared.

I was scared about how they would look at me when I went out today, especially the boys.

They would definitely have something to say about what happened last night, but I needed to shut out all of them.

"Don't worry, I'm going to be by your side all day," Maddie said as if she was reading my thoughts.

I frowned, looking up at her,

"But you can't do that. You have your own programmes to run. You're in the medicals, Maddie. I can't drag you along with me in sports", I said.

"Well, I can skip a few classes today. You need me, and I am going to be there for you," Maddie replied in a tone that instantly eased my fear.

I am lucky. I am actually lucky to have her as a friend.

Yes, feels hopeful for me.

"Thank you, Maddie. I really appreciate this," I said. Walking over, I wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug.

×××

We had just stepped out of the dorm that morning when I heard there was an emergency team meeting in the council hall and we needed to be there in 15 minutes.

Maddie held my hand as we exchanged looks.

"They are not going to let you in," I said to her. After a brief silence between us, she nodded already, but her grip on me did not loosen.

"Not a teammate, I know, but I promised I'm going to be with you all day," she said.

I blinked. My gaze moved to our entwined fingers and back up to her face.

"I know, Maddie. I know you promised, but this is not something we can change. It's a team meeting. They won't let a medical student come in. I have to face this alone. I'm afraid," I said.

She slowly pulled her fingers away. Stepping closer, she pushed the strands of hair from my face, tucking them right behind my ears, before placing her two hands lightly on my shoulder.

"I wish I could be in there with you, but I can't, so I need you to walk in there with your head up. None of them in that room is better than you. They are all assholes. You are the real deal. You are the best one here, so do not let anyone look down on you. If you feel like you've been degraded, speak up. Let them know who you are and let them know that they have to do much more than talk ill about you to actually get to the level where you are right now."

My lips fell open. I wanted to speak, but I couldn't utter a word. I was staring at her face, and it looked like I was staring right at my guardian angel.

Every word she spoke was the right word I needed to get my spirit alive that morning.

I opened my mouth to speak.

"Sky, what are you still doing there? Come in before Coach gets here." I heard Jordan's voice calling for me immediately.

He was standing close to the door.

I looked at him and moved my gaze back to Maddie.

She gave me a reaffirming smile.

Slowly, she let go of me. I took slow steps away with my back, before turning around and walking over to Jordan, Maddie's words replaying in my head.

"Are you okay?" Jordan asked. I smiled and nodded. "Yes, I'm good. I just hope that today is good too."