Page 54 of Spiral

“We can go just as friends, if you want. No funny business. Cross my heart.”

He smiles at me, his warm eyes glistening in the low light of the tunnel.

“I–” I stammer, uncertain of what to say.

You like Henry, Georgia. He’s the guy you want.

The image of Natalia wrapped around Henry’s body, her lips sealed to his in a moment of passion, abruptly floods my memory and stops my breath.

But he doesn’t want you.

“Yes… I’ll go out with you.”

“Attagirl.”

31 | Henry

THE CAMERAS TURN off and I instantly free myself from Natalia’s grasp.

“What the fuck are you doing?!” I snarl, not waiting for a response as I push past her and the reporters surrounding me.

“Finishing what you started, Henry!” she calls after me, her sing-songy tone infuriating me further.

I yell out Georgia’s name, my voice breaking and raspy as I shove my way through the crowd.

I’m stopped multiple times by Titan fans, dressed head-to-toe in maroon and white, congratulating me on the game, inviting me to after parties, asking me to sign their jersey. I ignore them all, bulldozing through until I reach a clearing in front of the exit tunnel.

She’s gone.

I ball my hands into fists, my ears reddening in frustration and anxiety, when a hand softly touches my arm.

“Hi, pookie. Amazing game!”

I turn to face her, and my breath quickens. My mom looks different than when I last saw her – happier. Her face is decorated with smile lines and crow's feet that I don’t remember being there before. Her trademark bleach-blonde hair has grown out and been replaced with more natural golden highlights, illuminating her face with their warm hue.

“Mom, I-I don’t have time right now.”

My voice is tense and uncomfortable, blood rushing to my face as I realize how much time I’m losing.

She’s probably out in the parking lot. If I run, I can catch her, tell her I’m sorry–

“Don’t be silly, Henry. I came all this way! Sarah should be down any min–”

“I’ve got to go,” I interrupt, immediately bolting through the exit tunnel without waiting for a response.

The sound of my voice, desperate and pleading, echoes through the empty passageway as I call Georgia’s name. I’m consumed by exhaustion as I step outside – my breaths are deep and labored, my jaw clenched with uneasiness.

“You just missed her,” Watson grunts, a maniacal smirk on his lips as he leans his back against the entrance of the tunnel.

I stiffen, a scowl sharpening my features. “What are you doing out here?”

A leisurely chuckle escapes him as he distances himself from the brick wall, sauntering towards me.

“Comforting your girl, Anderson. She’s devastated that you’ve been cheating on her this whole time.”

He pouts his lower lip and blinks rapidly, mocking me. Before I can think, my hand clenches into a fist as I drive him back against the brick wall, pinning him. The impact resonates with a thud, his gear scraping against the rough surface as he struggles to free himself from my grasp.

“I told you if you went near her, I’d kill you,” I hiss, my fist raised.