I should be used to all the staring by now but today felt different for some reason. It made me anxious to get the day over with. I fought too hard with my mom to let me come back, and I couldn't let these kinds of vibes mess with my head.

Dragging my feet through the halls and up the stairs, I stopped when I saw Summer with a bucket of soap and water. Was she scrubbing something? A locker? Why would she be doing that? She had everyone's attention as they walked by, pointing and mumbling behind her back. I didn't know if she could hear them, but she didn't care.

"Hey!" I called out.

Summer jumped, dropping the soapy sponge onto the ground by her feet. "H-h-hey!" She waved hesitantly then she had her back to the locker, blocking my view of it.

My eyebrows furrowed. "What happened to your locker?" I asked, but then my eyes drifted to the number above her head, and I realized this was my locker.

"Summer..." I said her name with a harsh exhale. "Move," I demanded.

Her gaze became defiant as she pursed her lips. "No." She stood her ground.

The outline of her body couldn't cover everything. I saw some of the red letters peeking out from behind her.

Growing impatient, I tugged Summer forward, and she slid on the soapy floor, colliding with my chest. I kept my grip on her, giving her a chance to regain her balance.

I saw her crane her neck up to look at me, but I didn't meet her eyes again. I was too busy glaring at the word scribbled across my locker. Criminal.

"Cameron," Summer spoke my name with caution. "Are you okay?"

I heard her words, but I couldn't respond. There was rage boiling up inside of me. I wanted to tear the locker off its hinges and throw it.

That's why Summer was here. She was trying to clean it off before I could see it. Damn.

I closed my eyes, trying to find my inner peace, which wanted to elude me.

All the other students were looking at her like she was crazy. Why should she want to help a criminal?

"Cam," Summer said a little louder this time.

I could feel a crowd gathering around us. My arm fell to my side, hanging limply.

I had to pull myself together. I opened my eyes suddenly.

I caught Summer's hand hovering by my cheek. She flinched like I had telekinetically slapped her hands away. Slowly, she lowered it.

"We should tell the principal or something. I don't want whoever did this to get away with it." She told me. "This is not cool." She huffed through her nose. "Move along!" she waved her hands, trying to get the people to disperse. "Mind your damn business!" she snickered. "I can't believe people use moments like this to post on their stupid social media because they find it entertaining. How could other's people's pain possibly be entertaining? They're just as sick as the person who did this. And they're probably encouraging more behavior like it too." She clicked her tongue.

There she goes defending me again.

My eyes flickered down to hers. Summer was standing less than a foot away from me. She was wearing that perfume I remembered picking out with her, and her voluminous hair was half up and half down with her signature side bang tucked behind her ear. She had on this pale blue flowy top with black jeans-shorts and white converses. I liked that color on her. Against her golden brown complexion, it was pretty.

I shook my head, finally gathering two of my brain cells together to respond to her. "Summer."

"Yup," She peered up at me, offering a small smile.

"What are you doing?"

"Uh..." she looked down at the bucket and then back to me. "I thought it was obvious." Her brows pinched together, looking at me like I was the crazy one.

"You can't keep involving yourself in these things." I couldn't stress this enough.

"I can if I want to." She snapped.

"I've asked you not to," I answered with the same attitude.

Summer crossed her arms like she did yesterday. "I don't remember agreeing to that."

I stayed silent with nothing else to say and or do besides stare at the beautifully stubborn girl in front of me.

When the bell rang, summer muttered something then said aloud, "I wanted this cleaned up before class." Her lip curled up in disgust as she stared back at it. "But it's going to have to stay this stupid way until lunch at least, and I'll have to return the bucket from the janitor's closet..." She leaned in to whisper, "Where I stole it."

My lips twitched with an amused smirk, but I held it in. "Are you done?"

"Would you like to use my locker for the time being? I could give you the combo." She pointed to hers with a smile.

I stepped around her, putting in my combo. I'd rather pretend my morning hasn't been crap so far.

"People are just going to keep talking nonsense unless you hit this head-on."

I flashed her a brief grin over my shoulder. "Let them talk. It means I'm staying relevant."

"HA! You and I both know you hate the attention." She lightly punched my bicep. "So don't pretend with me."

All I do is pretend with you.

"Whatever," I grumbled.

"Okay, then. I'll see you around, Cam."

I didn't reply and let her walk off with the bucket and her backpack.

Slamming the locker shut, my forehead fell to the cool metal. I was so screwed.

***

I couldn't remember half of the things that went on in my classes. I zoned out for most of them. I do remember Summer, though. She hadn't talked to me like she had this morning, but I felt her warm presence whenever she was near, and she offered a wave when our eyes met from across the room. I hated to admit it, but it was the highlight of my day.

I opted to skip lunch and headed to the library. I have been putting off the college application process, and mom has finally started nagging me about it. But she knew why I wasn't eager to get started on it.

Halfway to the library, I bumped into my hockey coach Mr. Hughes. He asked me to step into his office, and we talked about his upcoming season. He wanted to let me know that he was expecting to play again. I told him I don't think I would be able to because my teammates don't look at me the same. I would cause my trouble and discord among the member. But the coach wasn't having it. He told me I should think about wasting my potential, and he'll smooth it out with guys if he had to. I didn't want him to try and pull any strings for me.

Like everyone else, Mr. Hughes wanted to know why I pulled that prank. I couldn't tell him, but one look at my face, and he knew it was more than I dared to share.

Coach has spent the last three years with me; he knew his players like the back of his hand. There was very little that slipped by him.

After that talk, my brain was more muddled than before.

I found the nearest computer desk, one of those private boxed-off ones.

Logging into the computer, I stared at the desktop for minutes. I didn't know where to start. Could I still apply for scholarships? Would I still be eligible to play hockey in the future? Will people always judge me as harshly as they were now? I shouldn't be ashamed of my actions when I didn't regret them. I regret that I didn't get the intended result.

The last three months of my life are on record, and I was over here trying to piece together what kind of future I create with that.

I pulled at the strands of my hair repeatedly. Maybe I should go to one of the local colleges and start from there. But they didn't have a hockey team as good as my dream university.

Should I set myself up for failure by applying?

I worked through all my possible options in my head to the point where I was giving myself a headache. I placed my head into the palm of my hands and sighed.

When I felt a tap on my shoulder, I growled, ready to bite the person's head. I looked up and saw no one, but I heard something land on the desk in front of me-a brown paper bag.

I stood up, knocking my knee on the desk in the process. I caught the back of Summer's head just as she was exiting through the double doors.

My eyes dipped down to the paper bag. Did she buy me lunch?

I opened it, eager to see what was inside: a turkey and cheese sandwich, Oreos, and cranberry juice.

My lips moved on their own accord forming a wide grin.

No matter how much crap I gave her for looking out for me, I had to admit, I liked it.