Page 24 of Tusk & Puck

Or, that was the plan…

Sitting on my car’s windshield, under a wiper blade, is an envelope and a single rose. My blood goes cold. After everything else that just happened, this is the last thing I need right now.

I snatch the envelope from the wiper and rip it open, my hands shaking like something straight out of the movies.

Dearest Melody,

It's so unfair how you're being ignored. You only want what's best for the students. But that beast of an orc is putting them all in danger with his reckless showing off. It's not enough that he ruined his own career, now he's dragging the whole school down, too.

Don't stop fighting, Melody. The students need you, even if the school doesn't see your worth. Wear this rose in your hair so I'll know you got my message. I'm always watching over you, keeping you safe from the monsters even when no one else will. Your bravery is so inspiring. But if you let me, I can be your monster slayer and rescue my harmonious princess.

Yours always,

A Friend

Or Am I?

I readthe letter three times, just to be sure I’m understanding. Whoever has been stalking me knows even more about my life than I previously assumed. It’s creepy. Terrifying even. And yet… whoever this person is, they’re the only one who seems to be in my corner. That’s disappointing.

I grip the rose tightly between my thumb and forefinger. I can’t deny the gift, and more importantly the sentiment, is sweet. More than ever, I need to know who this is. How closely are they watching me? When did they leave this for me? And what are their actual intentions?

I can’t stand this going on much longer. Any of it.

13

JAROMIR

It’s the third period and the score is two to two.

I hadn’t expected just how excited I would be to finally see my kids play someone else, but I am. Even though I can see all the little awkward moments, the opportunities a real hockey player would have taken and used, it doesn’t make it any less exciting. Yes, they’re kids, but they’re the kidsI’vebeen teaching, and I want to see them destroy Central Elementary.

Melody and Verog are next to me. They’re every bit as excited as I am, though they’re a little quieter about cheering when one of our kids scores a goal. They’d probably call it politeness if I asked, but I call it cowardice.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” I cry. “Great defense! Great pass!”

“I have to give it to you, they do seem to be learning something,” Verog says. “They’re playing a lot more aggressively and together than I’ve ever seen them.”

I nod. “Well, I certainly can’t take all the credit. You’ve given them all great fundamentals, and it’s their own hard work that’s gotten them to this point. But I’m not gonna take none of the credit either.”

Verog laughs. “That’s my Jaromir.”

Melody doesn’t seem as pleased. I get the sense that she’s been a little more distant lately. Maybe she’s nervous about me having asked her out. Or maybe, as Verog suggested earlier, she’s still mad about what happened at the principal's office.

“It’s definitely an exciting game,” she says distantly.

The other team hits the team randomly into our half. Just like I hoped, our defense snaps it up and passes it to the forwards.

“I just couldn’t be more proud of them,” I say. “Well, unless they win. That would make me a little more proud.”

I check the clock. Ten minutes to go. Everything’s really coming down to the wire. At that moment, someone leans in from behind me.

“Excuse me. Are you the volunteer coach who’s been working with them?”

I turn around. It’s a young woman with short, brown hair. She’s one of the teachers from the school, I’m nearly sure, but I don’t know her name.

“That’s right,” I say. “Jaromir Fletcher. Glad to meet you.”

“I’m Lucy, one of the teachers.” She shakes my hand gladly. “Melody told me a lot about how you were working with the kids. I decided I had to come to watch the game myself and make up my own mind.”