Chapter 19
Chapter 19
Kelsey paused at the sound of her name, turning with a mild curiosity that might be afforded to any stranger. As Jason sprinted toward her across the courtyard, she observed him with detached interest, as though watching a scene in a film that held no personal significance.
The distance wasn’t great, but he ran as though his life depended on it–like an Olympic sprinter in the final stretch of a race. His usually perfect appearance was disheveled, his face flushed with exertion, his eyes bright with an intensity that seemed excessive and somewhat puzzling to her now.
“Kelsey,” he said, smiling as though he’d discovered a treasure. “I finally found you.”
Kelsey lifted her gaze to meet his, her expression neutral, not from effort but from genuine indifference. The pain that had once consumed her had simply faded, replaced by a calm emptiness where her feelings for him had been.
“Can I help you with something?”
Her tone was neither cold nor warm–just polite in the way one might address a classmate from years ago whose name you barely remember. Jason stood speechless, visibly stunned by her reaction.
Never in all their time together had Kelsey looked at him this way. The girl who had once blushed at his smallest attention now regarded him with the same interest she might give to wallpaper.
“Kelsey,” he began again, his voice softer now. The arrogant hockey star was gone, replaced by someone humbled and uncertain. “I came to tell you I was wrong. I’m sorry. I was so wrong about everything.”
Kelsey blinked, slightly surprised that he had traveled so far just for this, but the surprise was intellectual rather than emotional–like finding an unexpected solution to a math problem.
Before she could respond, Jason continued, the words spilling out of him.
“I’m sorry for approaching you with ulterior motives from the beginning. I’m sorry for manipulating you to secure Hannah’s Juilliard nomination. I’m sorry for calculating and scheming and using you. And most of all-”
Jason faltered, voice catching.
“At Tyler’s party, I’m sorry for not believing you, for thinking you hurt Hannah, for telling my teammates
to-”
He couldn’t finish the sentence. Instead, he looked up at her, his expression pleading.
“Basically, I was wrong about everything. All of it was my fault.”
17:00
Chapter 19
“Kelsey, please, can you forgive me?”
Kelsey considered him for a moment, the way one might consider a moderately difficult request from a stranger. His apology registered as information rather than something that touched her heart. She had moved so far beyond the girl who had loved him that his words, however sincere, could no longer reach that part of her.
“Okay,” she nodded slightly. “Fine, I forgive you.”
She said it easily because it cost her nothing. Forgiveness wasn’t about rekindling feelings but simply acknowledging his apology and moving on. The past had lost its power to hurt her.
For a moment, Jason’s eyes lit up with hope.
He’d been right–Kelsey must still care for him! Otherwise, why would she forgive him so easily?
But his elation lasted only seconds before Kelsey continued: “So, can I go now?” She glanced at her watch, her mind already returning to her schedule for the day, thoughts of dance classes and new choreography far more engaging than this conversation.
Jason stood frozen, finally registering that despite her words of forgiveness, her expression remained completely indifferent. There was no warmth in her eyes, no hint of the girl who had once looked at him with such affection.
The realization sent a sharp pain through his heart.
He understood now. Kelsey hadn’t forgiven him because she still cared. She had forgiven him because she no longer cared enough for it to matter. What had once been the center of her world was now merely an interruption in her day.
Panic rose in Jason’s chest as he reached for her hand, suddenly desperate.
“If you’ve forgiven me, please give me one more chance. Let me try to win you back properly.”
“I’ll do anything–just please, give me one more chance!”
17:00
