despite my big blow up at the blake game, it seemed that the only people who hadn't gotten over it were charlie and fulton.

i sat in the locker room, trying to tie my shoes, when russ, danny, julie, and kenny came up to me.

i finished my last lace and looked up at them, "what's up, guys?"

kenny smiled devilishly,"we need your help."

i gave him a confused look, standing up,"with what?"

"we're gonna spray varsity's stuff with liquid nitrogen," julie explained, causing me to smile. it was a genius idea,"but we need you to get in and take it from the science department."

i smiled, placing a hand on my heart,"well, first of all, thank you for thinking of me."

she chuckled,"of course."

"secondly," i started,"how are we supposed to steal a giant metal canister of liquid nitrogen?"

kenny held his hand up,"i have a plan, don't worry."

i pressed my lips together, trying to decide if i wanted to take part in this. i would be really nice to get them back, they had ruined one of my favorite white shirts. it was only fair they we ruin their things.

i nodded,"let's go."

danny smiled triumphantly,"i knew you'd be in."

•

we stood in the varsity locker room, having successfully stolen the liquid nitrogen from the chem lab.

russ grinned as i sprayed various jerseys and letterman's,"i love this liquid nitrogen."

kenny voiced his concern,"i don't think it works."

i laughed as i finished freezing cole's stuff, "yeah, it's working."

"hey, do you think they'll miss this big old tank in chemistry class?" danny asked us, slapping the metal canister.

i shrugged and stopped at adam's jersey. we hadn't exactly talked since i blew up at him, but i still wasn't sure i wanted to ruin his stuff.

julie turned to the boys,"what about banksie?"

russ shrugged,"he's one of them now, ain't he?"

i stared at his spot, my expression softening,"i guess so."

danny looked at me with concern,"do you want one of to take over, linsk?"

i nodded, glad for the save,"yeah, thanks. i'll write the message."

i handed the hose to kenny, who smirked,"how about full pressure?"

"sorry, cake eater." russ shrugged, watching as we completed the job.

danny turned to me,"i got you."

he let me get onto his shoulders, and i grabbed the shaving cream, shaking it up.

"what are we writing again?" i questioned, offering a suggestion,"'fuck you, you stupid bitches, we hate you and hope you get west nile virus'."

danny laughed,"i like it, but it's a little wordy."

i shrugged, willing to admit when i was wrong, "so what is it, then?"

"varsity sucks ice." he replied, holding onto my knees.

i laughed,"that's good."

i wrote it as big as i could,"kenny thought of it."

i finished writing and hopped off of danny, wiping my hands on my jeans,"perfect."

julie smiled at the writing, looking around at the frozen room,"we should probably get out of here."

i nodded and we left, walking away fairly quick, hoping not to get caught.

we went our separate ways, something about a project.

danny stayed with me, feeling the need to talk, "so, you and banksie aren't talking, but you still won't spray his stuff?"

i shrugged, shaking my head,"he said he didn't do the shower thing. guess it was only fair."

danny scoffed,"oh, come on. that's not why you didn't ice his stuff."

i rolled my eyes. of course that wasn't the reason i'd didn't ice his stuff, but i was too stubborn to admit it to anyone.

i started to protest,"danny-"

"you did it because you still like him," he cut me off,"even though you're mad at him."

i looked up at him, wondering if he had a reason for saying this,"so?"

"so," he started,"you need to talk to him. preferably before he sees what we did."

i sighed, mulling over the possibility that danny was right. historically, that's never been the case, but there's a first time for everything.

i managed to find an excuse,"even if i did wanna talk to him, i don't know where he is."

danny sucked in his breath, shooting me an awkward smile,"so...it's possible, i told him to meet you in the quad."

i rolled my eyes, annoyed, but not surprised, "danny-"

"it's nonnegotiable. go." he said sternly, pointing towards the quad.

i ran a hand through my hair, the thought of apologizing wasn't necessarily enticing,"fine, i'll go."

he smiled and pushed me in the direction of the quad,"great, i love you, good luck."

i stuck my tongue out at him and walked off, upset that he was making me do this.

when i got to the quad, adam was sitting on a table top, with his hands in his lap. i sucked in my breath as i noticed what he was wearing. it was a button down under a sweater, something he knew would get to me. he knew his preppy style was my weakness.

he looked up at me and smiled flatly,"hey, scarlett."

i sighed, eyeing him for a second,"i guess i should apologize."

i grew silent, my stubbornness snapping my mouth shut, and he looked around, wondering if i was going to continue.

he leaned in closer to me,"a-are you going to?"

i held my hand up,"give me a second." i took in a deep breath, trying to jump over this hurdle. i wasn't sure that i had ever apologized to anyone before.

i mean, there was charlie, but that was mostly for his sake. my apology to him, was basically 'i'm sorry you thought that i did something, but i didn't'.

but with adam, it truly was my fault. i couldn't pin it on him, i just had to own up to it.

adam laughed, looking down at the ground,"i missed this."

i let a breath out of my nose, closing my eyes, and looking up at the sky. i didn't know why i was so bad at this,"okay, i'm ready." he gestured for me to continue, so i muttered,"i'm sorry. i probably shouldn't have yelled at you the other day."

he grinned, finding my inability to apologize cut,"i probably shouldn't have let the guys throw your stuff in the shower."

i scrunched my face, looking the least bit guilty, "um, you know...i think we're past that."

he narrowed his eyes at me suspiciously, a little confused, but deciding to drop it,"okay..."

i stared at him for a second, wondering if we were done arguing,"so, are we good?"

he smiled in amusement and nodded, opening his arms to embrace me. i walked to him, wrapping my arms around his neck and pulling him in.

•

i sat in coach's office, trying to explain to him why our team was failing so greatly.

"you're the captain, gilinksy," he told me, throwing his hand up,"you're supposed to be able to keep them in line."

i looked at him in shock, putting both my hands in my hair, completely frustrated,"and i would be able to do so, if they thought i was their captain."

"they're still on that?" coach questioned.

we had originally started this meeting to strategize, but after multiple attempts involving defense and me taking a more active role as captain, we ended up where we are now. both frustrated and ready to dive into a skate sharpener.

i scoffed,"conway is pissed, coach. and we all feel it."

"it's your job to get them in line, gilinksy. if they won't listen, make them." he demanded, though the task was daunting at the very least.

i threw my hands up, feeling defeated,"what do you want me to do, waterboard them?"

he shrugged,"that's not my problem. figure it out."

i ran my hand down my face, deciding i was tired of arguing,"fine, i'll try."

he nodded and i stood up, walking out of the room. i grabbed watermelon chapstick from my bag, feeling my lips had gotten chapped in the heat of the moment.

riley appeared from thin air, causing me to jump,"having some problems?"

i placed a hand on my heart, trying to slow it back down from the scare,"riley, what the fuck?"

he laughed,"sorry, i just forgot my book in the locker room and i came to get it."

my eyes widened, realizing he might have seen what we had done,"did you get it?"

he shook his head, and i let out a breath,"i heard you and orion arguing and i got nosey."

i quirked my eyebrows at him,"right, well, i have to get to forensics, study hall is almost up."

i started to walk, and he matched my pace, coming with me,"i could help, you know."

i laughed, the very thought of him being helpful seemed less than likely,"oh, yeah? well, maybe i don't want your help."

"really?" he raised his eyebrows,"cause it seems like you're team right on the cusp of revolt."

i scoffed, shaking my head,"what do you care? aren't you and your dad actively trying to get out scholarships revoked?"

he pushed open the doors, letting me walk out first,"that's besides the point."

i was getting increasingly more annoyed at the inane conversation. i turned to him sharply, and he stood, leaning against the doors that led to the rink,"what's your deal with me, man?"

he knit his eyebrows,"what do you mean?"

i crossed my arms over my chest, tilting my head,"you're oddly interested in being nice to me. what's up?"

he sighed, looking away from me for a second, "you're mom saved my career, okay?"

i shrugged, not seeing the big deal,"she's one of the best ortho surgeons in the country, sports medicine is her life, she's saved a lot of people's careers."

"i was gonna lose my leg," he started, causing my expression to soften slightly,"i got in a really bad hockey accident, and the doctors here said they had to amputate. but she sent a helicopter and got me to her operating room just in time, and she saved it."

i nodded slowly, sort of understanding his motivations,"right...but how does that translate to being nice to me?"

riley shrugged,"i owe her my life. and you're her daughter, so i guess it's the least i could do."

i let out a breath, deciding to be a little less rigid. i was glad that he still got to play, whether or not it came at my expense. and he was clearly grateful, a trait i hadn't attributed to him.

i sighed,"i don't need your help, riley. thank you."

he nodded solemnly, finding this situation a little awkward, realizing that i now knew he was a vulnerable guy with feelings.

i put my hand on his arm and walked away.