"He got extremely mad at me for the first ten minutes, and then cried a bit, and then hugged me and we made up."

Taylor twisted in the front seat to look at Clara, who was sitting in the back. "That simple?"

"Yeah. He got mad at me for not telling him about it happening and cried because the world is cruel and tries to take advantage of people, and then told me it wasn't my fault."

Aubrey hummed. "That's better than I thought."

Clara nodded. "Me too, honestly. I thought I was going to be grounded for the rest of my life. Oh, and he thinks he knew what drug it was that Jamie gave me."

Aubrey and Taylor both glanced at her with a curious gaze.

"It is new on the North American market and it kind of plagues Europe. My dad called it confetti salts."

Taylor turned the corner onto a quiet street of town, where only one house was lit up, leaking flashing lights all over the lawn. "How'd you convince him to let you come to the party?"

She shrugged in the mirror. "I may or may not have told him."

Aubrey sighed. "You best hope you don't get caught."

Clara scoffed. "Caught? Me? I am sneaky enough that I could steal government files without anyone noticing."

"You mean that dusty paperwork from your dad's office?"

Clara shrugged. "Same thing."

Taylor pulled to a stop a little way down the road. "Jacob is hopefully already here. I think he was helping Nolan set everything up, just remind me that I have to take him home with me."

Aubrey shot Taylor with finger guns and she rolled her eyes. She stopped the truck and paused in the front seat.

"Are you ready to do this?" Clara asked, leaning forward from the back seat.

"Not in the fucking slightest."

"You don't have to tell him," Aubrey suggested. She was wearing a pale purple shirt and dark jeans, both of which accented nicely with her loosely curled brown hair. "Just leave it for another day."

Taylor shook her head. "I can't do this anymore. I can't just sit there and watch him and not tell him. It isn't fair to either of us. Plus, the amount of times he has caught me staring at him is making him suspicious."

Clara gave her a thumbs up. "Okay, we will be ready to leave at a moment's notice if need be."

Taylor nodded and clenched her hands in her lap. Every part of her body was trembling with nervousness. All she had to do was tell him. Spit it out. Just tell him.

She shook her head in nervousness, and opened her door, stepping out of the truck and onto the snow-covered road. "Come on, let's go before I vomit."

The three girls linked arms and walked up to the door, stepping inside.

"Jesus," Taylor murmured. "I swear these parties keep getting bigger."

Clara nodded her agreement and handed her a bottle of water. "Here."

Taylor rolled her eyes, but accepted it, and hummed as Clara grabbed one for herself.

"Ready?" Aubrey asked.

Taylor shook her head. "I am very much not ready."

Clara laughed. "Well, too bad that Aubrey and I are. Go get him, you awesome bitch."

Taylor glared at her as the two vanished into the throng of people that were spread throughout the large expanse of the house. She looked around at the crowd, searching for Nasir's face, but to no resolve.

She sighed. What if he didn't show up? She had pulled on her best pair of jeans and her cutest shirt for this. Taylor shook her head in pain at her own thoughts. She couldn't let herself be to upset, because then at least she could avoid her problem until tomorrow.

The loud music began to drown out her thoughts, some pop song being played on the radio from time to time. It seemed that almost everyone had a beer in their hands.A haze spread throughout the house, reeking of sweet-smelling marijuana and various vape scents. Taylor scrunched her nose in disgust. It was everywhere, and pungent.

"Hey, Taylor!"

Taylor turned her head to Isaac, who was grinning at her. She smiled and made her way through the crowd to where he stood, sporting a beer and a loose windbreaker and a backwards hat.

"Have I introduced you to my girlfriend?" He asked.

Taylor shook her head and sized up the pale girl, with a large smile and blonde hair. She had seen her at a few of the hockey games and at school. She was a grade above her. "Hi!"

"This is Jess."

"Hi!" Jess greeted her. "So you are the legendary Taylor. I heard you're one of the best first aiders the Falcons have ever had."

Taylor blinked in surprise, and her ears began to heat up. She looked up at Isaac and he shrugged. "What can I say, you're fantastic. The way you helped Nasir through the asthma attack was awesome."

Taylor blushed a bright pink. "Thank you, that's sweet."

"Any time. You don't get enough credit."

Taylor ducked her head to hide her embarrassment. She twisted to look around once more and her eyes widened in surprise as Nasir stepped out onto the back deck. He was wearing jeans and a jacket. When had he arrived?

"I'll be back. I just have to go talk to Nasir quickly."

Isaac smiled knowingly. "Okay, good luck."

She gave him a perplexed look, but stepped away, pushing through the crowd towards him. Aubrey gave her an encouraging thumbs-up.

Before she could lose her nerve and the adrenaline coursing throughout her veins, Taylor gave her back a nervous smile and shoved her hands into her pocket as she stepped past the various people and onto the snowy wooden deck.

"Hey, Nasir, can I talk to y-" Her voice died in her throat as her hope died in her heart.

Nasir was leaning against the wall, and a girl, from the grade below them, was pressed up against him. Her hand was in his hair, right near the back of his neck, and he had one hand wrapped around her waist, holding her tight against him as they kissed heavily, both of their eyes shut so neither could see her walking out on them.

Taylor blinked twice, before turning and walking back inside. There was a massive lump in her throat that she couldn't swallow and she was breathing heavily.

She took in a shuddering deep breath, leaning against the inside wall. Aubrey appeared next to her. "What's wrong?"

Taylor shook her head, and Aubrey let out a sad noise. "Oh no, come on."

She linked an arm around Taylor's waist and Clara appeared a second later. "Come on, let's go."

Taylor nodded, and they walked through the house to the front door.

"Hey, Taylor?"

Taylor glanced at Jacob. "What?"

"I'm going to stay overnight with Nolan, so you don't have to drive me anymore."

Taylor made a sarcastic face at him and Jacob blinked in surprise, mild hurt crossing his eyes. He didn't respond and instead turned, heading back down the stairs.

Aubrey pulled the door open, and Taylor didn't say anything until she was slumped in the front seat, her head resting on the steering wheel. The truck was still warm from earlier, haven't even having the chance to cool down to the freezing temperature outside that night brought.

"Did he seriously reject you?" Clara asked, her voice astounded. "That doesn't seem like a Nasir thing to do."

Taylor shook her head and squeezed her face up, trying to stop herself from crying. She wouldn't cry over him. He wasn't worth it.

"He was making out with some tenth grader, and if that isn't the biggest 'I don't like you' I don't know what is," Taylor mumbled.

Aubrey and Clara looked at each other, identical stunned faces. Aubrey shook her head, pushing her hands into her lap and stretching, before responding to Taylor.

"Taylor, I know it's sucky, but at least now you can move on, because you know he doesn't like you."

Taylor clenched her hands into fists. "I don't get it though. I thought, maybe that he might like me a little bit, but now." She trailed off, watching her hands in her lap.

"It just wasn't meant to be," Clara mumbled. "I'm really sorry, Taylor. That's awful and sucky. You of all people didn't deserve that."

"It feels like I've been punched in the stomach," Taylor whispered, keeping her voice from cracking by swallowing to subdue the lump in her throat and stomach.

Aubrey let out a heavy sigh. "I'm so sorry Taylor. I know that is the worst possible thing that could happen. Nasir is just a dick."

"But he isn't," Taylor said, thinking of the way he smiled and ran a hand through his hair. "He's sweet, and he's kind, and he's funny."

"It just wasn't meant to be." Clara murmured, rubbing Taylor's back. If Taylor had turned, she would've seen the disappointed, yet surprised, glance that Aubrey and Clara gave each other.

Taylor bit her lip to stop herself from crying or from noticing the pain in her body. "I just wanted to tell him that I liked him."

Aubrey cooed gently, running a hand through Taylor's hair. "I know, dear. It's horrible that this happened. I feel so bad for you, and I feel bad for Nasir because he is missing out on you for some random grade ten girl. You are an amazing person, and you don't need him."

Taylor nodded, mild resolve spreading throughout the queasiness of her stomach. She sniffed.

"Fuck Nasir," Clara hissed angrily from the backseat. "You didn't need him, and you never will."

"Yeah," Taylor murmured, sitting upright. "Fuck Nasir."

~~~

"Are you mad at me?"

Taylor looked at Jacob. They were sitting in the parking lot of the arena, and Taylor had her fists clenched in her lap. She didn't want to go in there.

"No," She mumbled. "I'm not mad at you."

Jacob furrowed his eyebrows. "Then what's wrong, because you look like you are ready to kill the entire team."

Taylor huffed in dry amusement. "Maybe I am."

Jacob shrugged. "Okay, well, just don't tell Uncle."

He pushed the door and grabbed his bag. "Are you coming?"

Taylor nodded and left her bag in the car. Jacob raised an eyebrow.

"You left your bag."

"I'm not going to be in there for long."

Jacob made a confused noise. "What does that mean?"

"You'll see," Taylor said, shoving her hands in the pocket of her non-red hoodie and jogging into the arena.

The main part was empty, but if she looked towards the actual rink, she could see the ice and the booth, where the entire team was sitting, skates on, but not in uniform or pads.

She let Jacob pass her and lead what felt like a march to the gallows. He entered the booth before her, and held the door open to let her in before plopping down and pulling out his own skates.

"Oh! Good," Coach said. "You're finally here."

"I'm not staying," Taylor told him, her hands shoved in her pockets with resolve.

Coach raised an eyebrow as the team glanced briefly in her direction, otherwise ignoring her. "What do you mean you aren't staying?"

"I'm quitting the team."

All the side chatter immediately died, everyone turning to face her with shocked expressions. Jacob let out a choked cough of surprise. The only noise was the buzzing of the fans. Taylor kept her gaze on her uncle, her facial features hard. She clenched her hands into fists.

"What? Why? If there is a problem that needs to be addressed, we can fix it."

He looked like Clara when he was surprised. Taylor shook her head before he could continue. "It isn't like that. This isn't that kind of problem. I'm quitting and I'm going to go now."

She turned, keeping her eyes forward and walked out of the booth, heading straight for the exit. She couldn't look back, not now. This was her power march.

She had almost made it to the doors, when a hand grabbed her arm, pulling it from her pocket. Taylor didn't need to look to know who it was.

Taylor yanked her arm, but Nasir held steady to her. "Fuck off."

"Not until you tell me why you are quitting."

Taylor shook her head, keeping her gaze towards the outside. "No, it's none of your fucking business."

Nasir scoffed lightly. He had changed out of his skates and into his shoes. "It is now. We need you on the team."

"No you fucking don't," Taylor grabbed at her arm, trying to pull from his grip. "Let go of me."

"Tell me what's wrong." His voice was steady and calm and she nearly sneered in disgust as she turned to see the worry and concern in his eyes.

"No," Taylor pushed at him with her other arm, not even succeeding in moving him.

"I can stand here as long as you need to tell me what's wrong."

Taylor clenched her hands into fists, looking down at the floor. Her breathing was heavy. Finally, she snapped her gaze to his, putting as much malice and hatred as she could muster into her gaze.

"You want to know why I'm fucking quitting?" She hissed. "It's you, it's always you. It's your fucking way of building people up so they think you are sweet and kind, and then chewing them up and spitting them out like they are worth nothing." She pryed his fingers from her arm, ignoring the hurt in his gaze as she carried on. "You are a fucking dick Nasir and an awful human being! You ruin people's lives. I hope I never fucking see you near me again."

She shoved him away from her and actually succeeded that time in moving him.

"What the fuck does that mean?" He asked, his voice calm, but a tinge of sadness to it.

"It means I'm done with you and your fucking horrible ways. So fuck off you asshole, and have fun playing hockey."

With that, she turned, and exited the arena, leaving Nasir standing there hurt, and confused.