Falling For The Wrong Captain

Heather's pov

“Omg isn't that Jason and Alyssa?”

Someone in the party said aloud.

I turned, the red cup still in my hand.

At first, my brain refused to understand what I was seeing.

That wasn’t—

No.

My boy best friend since middle school and my boyfriend since senior year walked in with his arm slung loosely around a petite blonde.

Alyssa Milano.

The girl who made my life a living hell, who laughed at my secondhand shoes and who constantly reminded me everyday that my father worked for her boyfriend's father.

I set the cup down a little too hard on the counter as I went over to where he stood, each step feeling heavier than the last.

He didn't notice me at first.

He was too busy smiling and touching her.

“Hey, Jason?"

My voice wasn't loud but it sliced through the chatter just enough.

He turned, eyes landing on me. For a second I saw confusion in his eyes before mild recognition.

"Oh, hey Heather.”

Heather.

Not babe. Not anything that meant something.

And his hands?

Still around her.

"Hey charity case.” Alyssa beamed.

I swallowed her usual insult, still keeping my eyes on him.

" Aren't you forgetting something?”

He barely reacted. Just sighed and leaned down, muttering something into Alyssa's ear.

She giggled, casting me a quick sideways glance.

"Make it quick though, I'll be waiting upstairs" nudging her shoulder against mine as she walked past me.

" What is this about Heather?” he said, already irritated.

"You really forgot, didn't you?"

“Yeah," he said, rubbing his temple, " I forgot how you always manage to show up and ruin a good time.”

For a second I just stared. " Ruin..?" My voice came out smaller than I intended.

“This is a postgame party, Heather. For the team, Why are you even here?"

A few people nearby had started to notice.

Conversation dimmed as head turned.

Heat crawled up my neck.

“It's… our anniversary Jason.” I said, quieter now.

He dragged a hand over his face, exhaling sharply. “God I don't have time for this bullshit"

He turned to leave but I reached out and grabbed his shirt before I could stop myself.

" Jason, wait.."

But he turned and shoved my hand off him so abruptly I stumbled back, my heel catching me slightly as I struggled to steady myself.

A small gasp rippled through the crowd.

“Are you actually serious right now?" He snapped. " Can I have one night without you clinging to me like I owe you something?”

I tried to say something but his expression hardened at the effort.

" You know what's crazy?” He said, glancing briefly at the people watching us before looking back at me. " The fact that I stayed with you this long when you're not even in my circle or class.”

Something tightened painfully in my chest.

"Do you even know why I did?” Stepping closer. " Because I felt sorry for you Heather and you're just really a ‘charity case’, That's it”

His words didn't register immediately, like my brian refused to accept them.

A ringing started in my ears and around us, people started with murmurs and whispers.

“You don't mean that," shaking my head “you're just… you're upset…"

He scoffed then sighed. " Let's just end this,” he said flatly. " That way you won't have to keep embarrassing yourself over dates I don't care about…. Enjoy the party.”

And just like that, he turned and walked away, only this time I didn't try to stop him.

His friends followed, laughter picking back up like I hadn't just been torn apart in the middle of the room.

‘I mean, we all saw this coming.’

‘She's just the housekeeper's daughter’

‘Did she really think he loved her?’

Voices crept in low and for a moment I couldn't breathe.

They were right.

I never fitted into this school anyways, not with my thrifted uniform and scholarship status.

Not when everyone here was a descendant of legacy billionaires and high ranked royal bloodline.

Not when, the reason I even got to attend was a gift from Mr Crownsville to my mother for his outstanding service at work.

If I stayed another second, I was going to break down right here and I couldn't give them that.

So I moved fast, through the crowds and towards the door, till I was past the noise and the night air hit my skin.

I kept walking with my head down, past the garden and towards the parking lot where things were quieter but that was when I bumped into a larger figure.

Draven Crownsville.

The school's god and golden boy and prized possession.

All time championship winner in every hockey game, except the last one where Jason scored the last point on the opposite team.

Draven Crownsville was the bane of my existence, the son of Mr Vander Crownsville who founded the school and of course, gave me a scholarship.

His blue eyes on me made a cold chill run down my spine, his iconic dragon tattoo was as clear as day on his neck.

He was flanked, as always, by three guys who served as both bodyguards and an audience.

“Fucked up night, scholarship girl" he said calmly, hands in his pockets.

Staring lazily with an expression that had no right looking as good as it did.

I hated him.

" Can you just leave me alone?” I rolled my eyes.

“And why should I?" He chuckled.

I moved to pass him but he stepped in front of me, blocking the way and edging close enough to inhale his cologne that smelled like it could buy my existence and everything my family owned.

"You plan on crying near the garden up front?” he asked as I blinked back the incoming tears.

He did know what happened but I didn't have a reply for him since saying the wrong words could cost my mother her job.

"Nobody gets to make you cry scholarship girl, only I have that right”

It sounded more dangerous than it should have.

"You don't know anything about anything so please just leave me alone" I shot at him.

His gaze narrowed towards the house, like he could see Jason and Alyssa and the fun they were both having.

“Oh I know enough, scholarship girl" his gaze travelled back to me "I know he was your best friend since god knows when and that you loved the asshole that he was but he never for once looked at you, never gave you a nickel of his time. Every one sees it, it's almost sickening"

My chest tightened at the truth. "What do you gain, telling me this? Why won't you all just mind your own god-damned business!" I briefly glanced at the other three guys behind him.

I expected him to get pissed, to push me off and humiliate me further but instead he smirked, like he was impressed and said.

“Let me offer you a deal, scholarship girl"

I couldn't imagine the horror it was until the words slipped out from his lips while he stared down at mine.

“Be my girlfriend.”