It's flexing, ticking, muscles bulging at the corners of the usually relaxed strong jaw. Legs bouncing and restless. Breathing heavy and quick. Expression, wild with skin taut over sharp features carved in stone. Gloved fist slamming against the plexiglass, causing it to rattle and if it wasn't so strong and sturdy, I'd swear it would shatter from the harsh contact.

Tariq's beyond angry.

"Amore, you need to go talk to him, this is too similar to when he injured his knee," Mrs. Araneo begs her husband.

"He'll calm down," Mr. Araneo states, but I don't miss the way his skin crinkles around his eyes in concern.

This isn't good.

The power play is over and Tariq skates back in going so fast I can barely keep an eye on him as he glides around other players. We're up, three to two. It's an intense and aggressive game. Tariq and Rasheed have gotten into a couple of fights with other players, with Tariq shouting and purposely antagonizing the other team as if wanting to cause the fights. Panic ripples through me.

Something is very wrong.

I glance over at Heather who's wide-eyed and lifting her shoulders at me. Neither of us knows what's going on. I know Tariq and I are going through a lot but the last I heard from him, he was relieved about learning the truth, angry yes, but mostly relieved. But as the game was about to begin, he didn't ask me to see his name like he always did, that's when I knew something wasn't right.

What happened?

"Ramirez is going for a drive," Mrs. Araneo clutches onto her husband's arm.

A player from the opposite team strikes the puck hard from far away but Winston blocks the shot and it bounces off his pads, drifting to the corners. Rasheed gets it and sends it Beau's way, who passes it to Tariq. Players surround him and I watch as Tariq moves the puck with remarkable precision, as if it's effortless, his stick fast and easily maneuvering it with grace and skill. He's a ways from the net but he gets a clearing and takes it. It's like all he has to do is snap his wrist and the puck fires right into the net, over the goalie's head.

The buzzer rings out, but there's no celebratory gloating from him and Rasheed skates, fist pumping the air but Tariq ignores him. Rasheed's brows pull-down and his mouth sets into a sullen frown. The game is getting close to ending but instead of the usually excited jitters, I'm nervous. My feet are crossed and I can't stop my foot from shaking.

A shift happens and Tariq's off the ice. I'm wired and stressed, heat circling around me and it isn't until I can't take the sound of the hockey sticks clanging against one another anymore, that I get up, needing a break. "I need some water."

"I'll come with you. I need to check my phone anyway. I can't ever get service in the stadium," Heather says.

I tell Mr. and Mrs. Araneo I'd be back and promise Farrah I'd bring her back a Sprite. As Heather and I walk out I ask her, "What is with him?"

She looks a little pale and takes a deep breath. "I'm not sure but I do know that the last time he was like this it didn't end well."

"Wasn't he drunk though?"

"Yeah, which is why no one is doing anything yet. He's clearly upset but he's good. Hockey can get pretty intense, it's probably just that."

We reach the concession stand and I go up, ordering my water and Farrah's Sprite as Heather digs through her purse for her phone.

"Elodie." I turn and Ellis is waving at me.

I wave back and my order number is called but before I can get to it, Ellis comes over giving me a polite side hug. "It's been a while."

I pat his back. "Yeah, I haven't seen much of you since last semester. How are the new classes treating ya?"

He shoves his hands deep into his pockets. "Good. Miss having my buddy though. How's the pregnancy been?"

For a second I'm shocked by his question.

Of course, he heard about it, everyone knows. It's the first time someone has asked me though, so a big smile puffs up my cheeks. "It was rough at first but I'm in the second trimester and it's been better. How's Pepper?"

"We broke up, I'm with someone else now."

"Oh, I'm so sorry."

He shrugs his shoulders. "It's no big deal, it happens. Tracy's really awesome though."

My smile vanishes.

Okay, there's more than one Tracy on this campus.

It's a pretty common name.

"Tariq's playing a hell of a game," Ellis continues. "That guy is crazy good. I can see what all the hype was about."

At the mention of Tariq, I realize I should get back to the game. "He is. It was good seeing you, Ellis. I hope you have a good semester and maybe we can catch up sometime?"

He glances behind me, gives a subtle wave then those piercing blue eyes are back on me. "It was good to see you. Tell Tariq I said good game."

"Yeah, I will."

I search for Heather but can't find her. Grabbing my water bottle and Farrah's Sprite, I go over to the area where I get the straws. Setting the soda down, I go to open my water bottle but the seal is already broken.

Weird.

Shrugging it off, I go to take a sip.

A hand grabs the water bottle, yanking it from me before the cool water could touch my lips. "What the heck?"

Heather clutches the plastic bottle staring at the bottom, holding it up into the light. "Please tell me you didn't drink any of it... because if you did, you need to purge now."

My face pales and I shake my head. "No."

She grabs the cap to the water bottle, sealing it tight then takes Farrah's Sprite, throwing it in the trash. "I got a text from Tariq and now I know what's going on."

I'm getting dizzy and have to blink a couple of times so the room stops spinning. "Heather, tell me what's going on."

She lifts the bottom of the water bottle at me and through the clear plastic, I see a dissolving pill. "I got a text from Tariq to keep an eye on you and thank God I got it in time because someone just tried to drug you."

My heart literally stops.

My ears ring and fear seeps into every little pore and what that could've done to me and my baby. "Who would do something so cruel?" I whisper.

Heather grips the bottle, her eyes hardening. "Colin."

I swallow, trying to fight the rising panic burning up my throat. I'm going to puke. I rush to a trash can and empty all the contents in my stomach.

Popcorn is not fun to throw up. It burns and scratches my throat to the point I'm afraid it's bleeding. I can taste the butter among the acid and I vow right then to never eat it again.

Heather rubs my back and when I'm finally done she hands me some napkins. I don't care about the disgusted, judgmental looks I'm getting. Colin tried to drug me.

What was he planning on doing?

If Heather hadn't read that text...

If she had been a second late...

Another round of intense vomiting begins, and the sound of the buzzer rings out, signaling the end of the game. Heather soothes me and I finally get some semblance of control over myself and straighten, the room spins and Heather grips my arms, keeping me steady.

"You need water."

My stomach twists at that but she's right. I just don't know how I'll ever drink out of a water bottle again. I'm huffing, sweat dripping down my chest dipping into the valley between my swollen sensitive breasts that hurt. The salty drop hits the band of my bra and even though it's wireless, I still have the rampant desire to rip it off. It's as if the band keeps me from breathing normally and the fabric is trying to rip the skin off my nipples.

"Take deep breaths, Elodie. I texted Tariq, he'll be here soon and get you home."

I numbly nod.

Fear is stealing my ability to talk. It seizes me, thunders in my chest, and rears up in me, gnawing on my insides. My chest rises as I inhale and sinks when I exhale. I repeat, over and over again until the dots blocking my vision clears and sound comes back.

Hoards of people surround us, trying to get out after the game. "I need fresh air."

Heather grabs my arm and helps me to the exit. "It's going to be okay, Elodie. You're okay, the baby is okay. You didn't drink it."

"But what if I had?" I whisper as my bones practically turn to jelly from the shock of it all.

Like a life jacket, Heather clings to me, holding me up. "But you didn't. Don't let the what-ifs win, Elodie. Those can destroy your life if you let it."

Heather's words strike a chord in me and as I step out into the frigid cold air, I'm revitalized. But it's short-lived when my eyes lock with cold grey ones. I didn't dare move, my feet freeze in place.

He goes to take a step toward me but stops when someone yells, "Elodie!"

I look away but don't see anyone because of the crowd.

When I sneak a glance, Colin is gone.

My eyes search for him in the crowd until they land on his retreating back, getting further and further away.

Hands I know so well push my hair back. "Elodie, Blue, baby, please look at me."

My round, fear-stricken sore eyes move to Tariq. "Did you drink any of it? Should I get you to a hospital?"

I shake my head and Tariq's dark eyes shift from me to the crowd. I see the moment his eyes find Colin, how they harden, burn, and then grow terrifyingly cold.

Then Tariq's gone, moving quickly.

"Ruimveld!" I start low and then my roar grows until it could shatter me from the inside.

My vision is red and fury vibrates through my bulging veins. I burst into a full sprint, anger crashing through me like tidal waves. It's like this dark vortex twists and turns inside of me like a tornado about ready to form the second it hits the ground, but in my case, it will be the moment my fist gets to hit Colin's face. He turns around, smug and arrogant, thinking there's no way I'd risk suspension.

He's dead wrong.

And when he realizes it, there's unmistakable horror pulling down his face, paling his skin. I don't waste a single second, my fist breaking his nose, the other hand holding him steady so he can't escape. His body collapses, losing all strength and I pin him to the ground, whaling on him.

"You tried to drug her! My baby!" My shout tears through my throat as my fist bashes in Colin's face. He's gurgling as his hands weakly try to stop my fist's raging assault.

People are screaming. My breathing hurts as I take deep gulps of air, my arm tiring from all the strength I'm using in each swing. I'm ripped off Colin, a strong body pushing me back as I continue to shout at Colin. "Tariq, son, you have to stop. It's okay, she's okay, your baby's okay. You have to calm down. Breathe son."

Every inch of me trembles in my dad's hold and I know I'm most definitely suspended, possibly even done for the rest of the playoffs. Colin is motionless but he is breathing, I can see his chest moving but his face is a bloodied, unrecognizable mess.

My body calms and my breathing evens out. My dad lets me go when I put my hand on his shoulder, letting him know I'm good. I glance around the crowd but all my eyes want to find is Blue.

Tears stream down her face and I stalk over to her. When I finally reach her, my head falls to her shoulder, defeated and she stretches to her tiptoes, wrapping her arms around me. It's when her little bump hits my abs that I lose it.

My arms immediately pull her into me and I cry into the crook of her neck as what could've happened to her and my child haunts me. "I'm okay, Tariq. We're fine, I promise."

Her broken voice shatters me and my arms grip her tightly, sealing her to me as police sirens scream into the night air. I rock her, catching my breath. "I'm so sorry, baby. I love you. I won't let anything happen to you."

"I know." She cries softly, "Because you already didn't."

My voice is rough against her silk skin. "That was Heather."

"No, Tariq. It was you, she wouldn't have known if it hadn't been for your text." The sirens get louder and Blue clutches me tighter, her nails digging into my back. "No, no, no, no."

The reality of what's about to happen smashes into me. I'm about to be arrested for assault, lose my scholarship, and possibly even get expelled.

Car doors open and close, I can hear my dad explaining things, Heather frantically protesting, and my mom crying along with my sister. But it's Blue's stronghold that keeps me from collapsing and her voice rings out pleadingly. "Please don't, he was protecting me, that guy tried drugging me. He didn't..."

Her words die as I wait for hands to pull me away, but they never come. My face lifts and I glance back to see Colin getting up, as the cops grab hold of him and recite his rights. He sways on his feet and one cop calls for an ambulance.

Then the click of cold metal rings in my ears as Colin is handcuffed.

Colin was arrested!!!! How many of you are happy? If you are hit that star button for me :)

Three more chapters!!!! Wonder what's next and how much trouble Tariq is going to get into :O

Thank you all so much for making it this far in the story, I hope you've loved it and enjoy the ending that's coming your way :)

Love you all!

LivingRed