Chapter Seven

I saw Asher's truth in front of me this morning.

As the guy brushed off the ice and took his bag like it was nothing to him, I couldn't force myself to go. I just got held up with the vile scene I just saw in my own eyes. Asher didn't deserve the treatment he got.

Raw fury clouded my vision and I walked furiously to Asher with conviction. Like I was supposed to be mad, I just couldn't see someone get violated and just shut up. I didn't understand why he would let his dad get away with something like that.

"You're pretending that this doesn't affect you, I know you do," I sputtered out to him and his eyes were distant as if he saw ghosts behind me, his curls looked touchable on the sides of his ears, his lips chapped and his face was faded. I sighed as I felt the need to ask, "are you okay?"

He just had a thin-lipped dim to his face and ignored me as he wandered to our school with his usual poker face, I stomped on the ice as I growled lowly at the impossible guy. I planned to talk about his sister, but it wasn't the right time.

I had to do some research of my own.

A muscled arm went around my shoulder and I saw Leslie, who smirked down at me due to our height difference. I really wondered why Leslie suddenly decided to spring up on me again — he usually would ignore me or pretended he didn't know me ever since the beginning of our senior year — not that it troubled me. It was normal for two childhood friends to part in their own ways, I got busy with my family and he got busy with his band and the team.

"You could've worn something better. You know we have an international soccer match today." He commented, and I looked down at my violet sweater that I wore with my black leggings and boots. It was the least of my concerns as my eyes fleetingly went to Asher opening his locker.

I talked to Leslie as I turned my gaze away from him, "I forgot that it was today."

Our school always held soccer tournaments in our spacious fields behind the building, where people from around the world joined to compete. Especially before the last days of December, luckily for them, the field had a closed roof to protect it from the snowstorms that occured from November till January. Leslie was the leader that represented Armenian Hustlers and he was the public speaker for them, they were raised up together and it was something he was proud of even though he fought with them a lot.

"Just joking, you look great," he chuckled as he ran a hand through his silky black hair. "Do you want to wear my jersey tonight?"

According to Leslie, no was a yes. Not interested was an absolutely. His insistence made me doubt a lot and I didn't like being in doubt.

I was almost going to face him about it, but a certain person with piercing eyes came in between us along with a fake awed smile.

"Yes, let me have your jersey because your friend here," she patted my back with her hand, "isn't interested." She alluded and I was somewhat relieved that she seperated us at the right time.

Jocelyn and I didn't have much relation to each other. She was friends with my sister, but everyone was friends with Vera because she was badass and everyone idolized her. The only thing I verified about her was that she knew Asher and that there was a 'a good girl turned bad' myth about her.

Leslie's demeanor completely changed from relaxed to tense. It was like he had his guards up when she was present, and there were a lot of whys in the air.

Leslie stayed silent and she took that as her cue to leave when she strutted in her silver leggings and bright pink sweater that highlighted her athletic figure. I didn't miss the way she leaned over Asher to whisper something in his ear as she daringly stared at me with a mysterious smile.