I didn’t know where I was. The world was a blur of white—sterile, bright, and unfamiliar. As my eyes adjusted, the blinding light resolved into the clean walls of the school clinic. Panic bubbled in my chest until I saw Rhys’s face. His usual brightness was dimmed by concern, but his presence steadied me.
“Hey,” he said softly. “You’re awake.”
I tried to sit up, but pain flared in my head. Rhys gently eased me back down. “Take it easy. You took a hard hit.”
Memories rushed back—the gym, Alex’s sneer, the ball slamming toward me, the floor rushing up. I closed my eyes, trying to breathe through the ache.
“The nurse said you should rest,” Rhys continued. “You’re going to be okay.”
“What happened?” I whispered.
Rhys’s jaw tightened. “Alex happened. He spiked the ball at you. You hit you
