"Wait," he called.
"This is all your fault." A tear slid down her cheek when she whirled to face him. "Why can't you just leave me alone, Jesse? Go on calling me ice princess and ignoring my presence."
"Hey." He stepped closer, wondering how he ever sat in the same room as the girl before him and didn't notice the way her cheeks reddened at the smallest things, or the way hurt lingered her eyes. "I really am sorry."
She wiped the tear away. "I know you are. Just... I don't like stepping out of my routine, feeling uncomfortable."
He smiled. She reminded him of Cassie with her carefully thought out days, designed so she'd never have to speak to anyone she wasn't related to. Her routine—set up by her therapist—kept her comfortable.
Just like Charlotte's.
"Have you ever been to the principal's office?" he asked, knowing the answer already.
She looked away. "No."
"I'm sorry I got us thrown out of class."
"Stop apologizing, and let's just get this over with." She walked into the front office and stopped at the secretary's desk. "We've been sent here by Mr. Thompson for talking in class."
Mrs. Fuller—the secretary—gave them a tight smile and pointed to a line of empty chairs near a closed door.
Jesse relaxed into a seat next to Charlotte, who sat with a rigid posture. Her leg bounced with nerves.
"Let me handle this, okay?" He knew how to deal with Principal Morgan. The guy was a big hockey fan. It was easier than if they’d been sent to see Vice Principal Madison. She was the nicer of the two, but the only sport she cared about at this school was surfing—thanks to her son, Nate, who’d gone pro.
Charlotte looked sideways at him. "If I were you, I'd have quit by now. Why do you still play?"
He thought for a moment. "Because when I'm on the ice, nothing else matters. I don't have to think about my responsibilities at home." He stopped himself. Only Roman knew what home was like—that he was basically raising his brothers and taking care of his dad. "There's no homework or relationships. It's just me and my teammates. Everything else fades away. I could never give up that feeling. I love the game."
Silence stretched between them before Charlotte spoke again. "It's like that for me too when I'm running a skating program. At least, it used to be."
"Are you trying to say we have something in common, Charlie?" He grinned.
"No."
"Yes, that's exactly what you said."
She shook her head but failed to suppress her smile. "You lose a lot."
"Thanks for reminding me."
She laughed. "What I meant to ask is why now? You're willing to lose face with the guys by telling them to take a lesson from me. They don't like me."
He couldn't refute it. He knew what most of them thought of her, but he also didn't care. "They might not like it, but some of these guys have never gotten to experience a win. Even a single one is a feeling that can never be taken away. It's like this tiny light in the darkness you can return to whenever you get lost. I want them to have that, to experience it. Sure, I'd love to win every game. But... I need to start with just one."
She stared at him. What did she see? Someone who'd gone off the deep end? A guy with giant delusions?
A single high school game meant nothing in the grand scheme of things.
But it also meant everything.
"I think..." He held his breath when she paused. "You're a good captain, Jesse Carrigan."
A smile spread across his lips. "And I think that was a compliment, Charlie Morrison."
She hadn't taken her eyes from him when Principal Morgan opened his door and waved them inside.
8
Charlotte
Principal Morgan didn't speak as he rounded his desk and took a seat. He gestured to the two chairs in front of his desk. Charlotte lowered herself to sit and clasped her hands in her lap, twisting them together as she forced breath into her lungs.
Jesse sat beside her, looking too relaxed for someone who was in the principal's office.
Charlotte's gaze bounced around the room from the cherry desk to the diploma hanging on the wall from Muskingum University, wherever that was.
She wanted to crawl under the desk and hide, to pretend this never happened.
If her mom found out...
She pushed a breath past her teeth and chewed on her lip. Jesse gave her a sideways grin.
Principal Morgan drummed his fingers on the top of his desk and directed his gaze at Jesse. "What class were you two kicked out of?"
"Chem." He shrugged. "But we were only watching a video."
"Jesse." He sighed. "Was Miss—" he looked down at his notes "—Morrison distracting you?"
She jerked her head up. If anything, it was the other way around, but of course, the golden boy could do no wrong. She opened her mouth to speak, but Jesse got there before her.
"It was my fault." He leaned forward in his seat. "Principal Morgan, you know me. When have I ever caused trouble just to cause trouble? I'm sorry for the disruption. It won't happen again."
The man couldn't buy that, could he? Charlotte watched Principal Morgan get sucked into Jesse's charm just as her mother had. Just like everyone else in this school.
It shouldn't have made her angry, but for some reason it did. "Stop." Both men turned to look at her. Finally. She gripped the arms of the chair. "I am just as culpable as Jesse." Yeah, culpable. They could suck on her SAT word. She wasn't going to let Principal Morgan fall at Jesse's feet, ignoring her presence.
"Miss—"
"Morrison. My name is Charlotte Morrison. You know that, sir."
"Morrison." He considered her for a moment before recognition sparked in his eyes. "You're Keith Morrison's daughter, our wonderful hockey coach?"
"No." She leaned forward. "I'm Charlotte Morrison, the decorated skater suffering through the inane hockey obsession in this school. Keith is my dad, yeah, but I'm so much more than his daughter." She sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. "Are you going to punish me for interrupting class or are we done here?" She didn't know where the words came from. It didn't sound like her, but for a moment, she felt some of the power she suspected Jesse did.
Because she'd stood up for herself for once.
Jesse's lips twitched, but he kept a smile from forming as he coughed. "That's right, Principal. Charlie, here, is an um... decorated skater." He clamped his lips shut as if holding in a laugh.
Principal Morgan steepled his fingers. "I'm sorry, Charlotte. I didn't mean to disregard you."
"Then next time, don't. It's really not that hard." The words were out before she could call them back. Would the real Charlotte Morrison please stand up? At least before she got herself in serious trouble.
"That attitude won't do in this office." He narrowed his eyes as a lock of black hair fell into his face. "I am not inclined to punish those who speak out of turn in class unless it becomes a recurring theme."
"But, sir, are you really going to let her speak to you like that?" Jesse said with feigned innocence.
Charlotte wanted to kick him, but that would have been too obvious.
Principal Morgan, once again hanging on Jesse's words, pursed his lips. "We believe in respect in this school, Miss Morrison. Jesse is right. I cannot let your outburst here go without consequences."
Charlotte shrank in on herself, her momentary courage vanished when she heard the word ‘consequence.’
"One detention should do." He opened his drawer to pull out a detention slip.
"Sir, please." She had to stop him. If she had after school detention, she'd have to get her mom to sign the slip.
"Principal Morgan." Jesse sent her a smile. Was that supposed to be comforting? He was the reason she was in this mess. "What if there's an alternative that will punish Charlotte and also help the school?"
He stopped writing and looked up. "I'm listening, young man."
"She can help the hockey team beat Venice."
In
terest sparked in his eyes. "Is that so?"
"I want her to work with us. Just for a practice. She wasn't lying when she claimed to be a good figure skater. I've never seen anyone move on the ice like Charlotte."
Charlotte warmed at the compliment, but she pushed the feeling away in favor of irritation. He'd orchestrated her punishment to get what he wanted.
"You really think she can help the team?" The principal tapped his chin.
"I do."
He thought for a moment longer. "Okay, Charlotte. After school tomorrow, report to the rink for practice. It is up to Coach Morrison if he wants you to work with his team, but I will put you at his disposal." He slid the detention slip across the desk.
"You can't make me go to detention off campus." She shifted her eyes from Jesse to the principal.
"Think of doing this for your school."
"Yeah, because my school cares one bit about me," she scoffed. "It doesn't matter to me if the team wins their big game. I have a competition to prepare for."
Jesse started to say something, but she cut him off. "I'll do it. One practice. It won't be a detention, so you can rip up that slip." This was the only way to avoid having her mom find out about her trip to the principal's office.
Principal Morgan took the slip and tore it in two before tossing it in the trash bin under his desk.
Jesse grinned. "Welcome to the team, Charlie."
"One practice," she repeated.
He nodded, but his smile remained in place.
"All right, kids." Principal Morgan stood. "Get to your next class. I'll be at the game against Venice. Good luck, Jesse." He paused. "And good luck in your competition, Charlotte."
His words surprised her, but she didn't show it as she walked past the secretary and into the deserted hall.
A laugh sounded behind her, and she turned to find Jesse shaking. "I'm Charlotte Morrison, the decorated skater suffering through the inane hockey obsession in this school," he repeated, imitating her voice. "I can't believe you said that to the principal."
All the air rushed out of her and she deflated. "Oh no." She buried her face in her hands. "What did I do?"
A hand squeeze her shoulder, and she lowered her hands to look at Jesse. "Hey, it turned out okay."
Before she could stop herself, she swatted his arm. "This is all your fault. Are you happy now? You got what you wanted. Now, I have to help you."
"Have you ever thought it might not be as bad as you think? That you might actually have fun?"
Her jaw clenched. "Okay, Jesse." She said his name like a curse. "Here's how this will go. You will approach my dad and tell him you asked for my help. He'll never believe I volunteered it. Under no circumstances is he to learn anything about the principal's involvement."
He drew an X over his heart. "Promise."
"Stop smiling."
"Why?" His smile widened.
"Because this isn't a smiling conversation. I'm mad at you."
"Any conversation can be a smiling one, but can we stop using smiling as an adjective? It's weird."
"You're weird." She started walking toward her locker.
He fell in step beside her. "Nice comeback."
"Why won't you leave me alone?"
"Because the ice princess has hockey moves, and I'm dying to figure out what other kinds of secrets she possesses."
"We aren't friends."
"We could be."
The bell rang overhead, and students poured into the hall around them. Charlotte reached her locker as she lost Jesse in the sea of people. Okay, she ditched him but same thing.
Because she knew the truth. There was very little room in her life for friends, especially ones she knew would consume every part of her.
Jesse Carrigan was trouble.
And she suddenly wanted a little trouble in her otherwise ordered life.
9
Jesse
Jesse couldn't remember the last time he'd gotten up so early. He rubbed his eyes, trying to keep them open as he pulled his Jeep up to Roman's bright yellow house. White trim lined the windows, giving it a cheery feel that didn't exist once you set foot inside.
With his parents constantly out of town on business, Roman pretty much had the place to himself. Jesse turned off the car and hopped out. It was still dark at six in the morning. Who in their right mind did this every day?
Roman was going to kill him.
Did he care? Not so much.
He ran through the swampy side yard between this house and the next until the pond came into view. Early morning light broke free of the dark rain clouds above, casting eerie shadows on the surface of the water.
A dark form stretched out on the far bank. Chompers. Yes, they'd named the alligator that lived in Roman's pond. They didn't know if the same one stayed every year, but it always had the same name. Just like Nippy who lived behind Jesse’s house.
Jesse lifted a hand in greeting to Chompers, a smile curving his lips. Years ago, he'd spent more time at Roman's house than his own. Then his mom died, and he had to be home for his family. Roman took that as a chance to basically start living at the Carrigan house, claiming Jesse's family as his own.
Jesse slipped onto the screened Lanai, skirting the edge of the pool. Roman always forgot to lock the sliding glass doors, a fact Jesse counted on this morning.
He pushed them open and stepped into the dark house. Bamboo flooring stretched in front of him through the cavernous rooms. One could feel lost in a massive house like this.
He wasted no time in jogging to the staircase and taking the steps two at a time. Roman's parents' room stood open and empty, just as Jesse knew it would.
He turned toward Roman's room, finding the door also open. Roman lay sprawled across the top of his comforter. He ran hot and never slept with blankets, even with the air conditioner blasting.
Man, Jesse knew way too much about Roman. He laughed to himself and shook his head as he entered his friend's room.
"Rome," he said, knowing it was a long shot to wake him with anything short of cannon fire.
Roman rolled over with a groan.
Jesse kicked the leg of his bed. "Roman."
Nothing.
Looking around, he tried to find something to wake him. Finding nothing, he leaned over the bed and shook Roman by the shoulders.
Roman's arm shot out, hitting Jesse's neck with so much force it stole his breath. He stumbled back, coughing.
"What's going on?" Roman sat up, his eyes dancing around the room before settling on Jesse. It took him a moment to speak again. "Dude, two questions. What the heck are you doing in my room? And what's wrong with you?"
Jesse bent over, putting his hands on his knees. "I came to wake you up," he wheezed.
Roman's eyes settled on the digital clock next to his bed. He flopped back. "Go away."
"No."
"So help me, Jesse, someone better be dying for you to show up at six in the stupid morning."
Jesse turned toward the door. "Get up and get dressed. I'll meet you downstairs in five."
"You still haven't told me why you’re dragging me out of bed."
"It's a surprise."
"I hate surprises."
Jesse sighed. "Rome, if you come with me, I'll stop by Emma's and get you that vanilla thing you like so much."
"It's called a steamer."
Jesse smiled, knowing he'd won. "And tell you what, I won't even tell everyone you basically drink milk every morning."
"It's not just milk."
Jesse left him to sulk as he went down into the most uncomfortable living room he'd ever seen. The Sullivans claimed the furniture was designer, but Jesse figured that only meant hard and narrow.
Roman took longer than five minutes, but he knew his friend needed time to get pretty. When he finally appeared, a sullen frown sat on his lips. "This steamer better be really freaking big."
Jesse grinned. "Come on. Let's go get baby his milk."
"Why are we at the rin
k before school?" Roman stared up at the rectangular building as he finished the last of his drink. "We already have to spend our free time after school here. You better not have gotten me up for an extra skating session."
Jesse opened his door. "We won't be the ones skating today."
He couldn't explain his need to see what Charlotte Morrison could do. She'd shown a glimpse of her skill last weekend, but it wasn't enough.
And if he was going to convince the team she could help them, he had to get Roman on board. Jesse might be captain, but every guy on their team looked up to Roman, wanting just a smidge of what made his star shine so brightly.
He was the rich kid who had everything he could dream of. At least, that's what they knew of him. Popularity was a mirage, determined by who could put out the best lies into the world.
"Do you trust me, Rome?"
Roman swatted him upside the head, knocking Jesse sideways. "What kind of question is that?"
"A legit one." Jesse sidestepped another swat. "Do you ever have these feelings deep in your gut?"
"Yeah, it usually means I need to hurl."
"That's not what I mean." He paused. "Just... you'll see."
He pulled open the front doors, gesturing for Roman to enter and then closed the doors behind them. No one sat at the front desk since the rink wasn't yet open to the public.
Roman threw his cup in a trashcan inside the door of a dark room.
They passed Coach's office, not surprised to hear him in there that early. Jesse wasn't ready to explain his interest in Coach's daughter, so they slipped quietly down the hall. How did he tell the man he wasn't breaking the team's biggest rule; he was just trying to help them win?
Jesse led Roman into a stairwell that would take them to an upper balcony overlooking the rink below. As hockey players, they'd never been into the upper levels, but Jesse knew from experience you couldn't see the faces from down on the ice.
"Are you going to tell me what we're doing yet?" Roman stopped him from climbing higher.
With a sigh, Jesse turned to face him. "That feeling I mentioned... Rome, there's a girl."
Jesse and the Ice Princess (Gulf City High Book 1) Page 6
