Chapter 6 Past lives and half truth

The fluorescent lights in the dressing room hum like a migraine.

Ivy Ransom sits stiff in a plastic chair, wearing a smiley Women Leading Women T-shirt two sizes too big. Rey Navarro lounges across from her, legs stretched out, boot tapping the floor in time with a silent beat. Neither speaks.

Their call time was twenty minutes ago. The producer keeps poking her head in, saying things like "almost ready" and "just one more tweak to the lighting," but Ivy knows a stall tactic when she sees one. Someone's nervous about putting the League's two most volatile players in front of a camera together. Probably smart.

Rey fidgets with her mic pack, finally breaking the silence. "They spelled my name wrong on the cue cards. Twice."

Ivy stares at her own card. Her name is right, but the words beneath it-Ambassador for Player Integrity-make her want to laugh until she vomits.

"We look like a before-and-after commercial for trust issues," Rey adds.

"Shut up."

Rey smirks, but it's tired. "Nervous?"

"I don't get nervous," Ivy lies.

Rey raises an eyebrow. "Sure. Like you didn't almost bite Cassidy's hand off yesterday."

Ivy flinches. "Don't talk about her."

"You brought her up."

"You always bring her up."

Rey goes quiet.

Outside, someone shouts "ten minutes." Ivy exhales through her nose and adjusts her shirt. The fabric itches.

Sixteen. Minnesota.

Summer hockey camp. The air smells like lake water and bug spray. Ivy leans against a log bench around the campfire, hoodie pulled tight over her knees. Across the fire, Alex Marshall-wide smile, chipped nail polish, hair in a messy bun-tells a story about a prank she pulled on her older brother.

Everyone's laughing. Ivy's pretending to.

Someone nudges her. "You think Alex is cute, right?"

Ivy snorts. "She's not my type."

"What, too loud for you?"

"Too... freckly."

The lie tastes like ash.

Later, after lights out, Ivy sneaks to the mess hall to steal marshmallows. Alex is already there, leaning against the counter.

"Couldn't sleep either?" she asks.

Ivy shrugs. "Too humid."

They stand in silence. Alex tosses her a marshmallow. Ivy catches it. Their hands brush. It's nothing. It's everything.

"You ever think about... other stuff?" Alex asks, voice low.

"What kind of stuff?"

Alex just smiles. Takes a step closer.

Ivy panics. She blurts, "I'm into this guy back home. Super tall. Goalie."

Alex's face shutters. "Cool."

Ivy lies again. "Yeah. Super cool."

She ghosts her for the rest of camp.

And hates herself for it.

Present Day

"What are we even doing here?" Ivy mutters.

"Propaganda," Rey says. "With better lighting."

"You ever been scared?" Ivy asks suddenly. "Of... wanting the wrong person?"

Rey studies her. "Yeah. Once."

Seventeen. Charter school.

Friday afternoon. The library smells like cinnamon gum and printer ink. Rey paces near the graphic novels, clutching a glittery card she made herself.

Nina Patel. Beautiful. Brilliant. Always wears galaxy socks.

Rey walks over, heart in her throat. "Hey, Nina?"

Nina looks up. "What's up, Rey?"

Rey hands over the card. Inside: Wanna get coffee sometime? Just us.

Nina reads it, cheeks pink. "Oh... Rey. You're awesome. But I'm straight."

Rey nods like it's fine. Like her ribcage isn't caving in.

"Cool. No big."

She walks home. Sits in the garage with the card ripped in half. Her mom finds her there an hour later. Doesn't say a word. Just sits beside her and offers a grape popsicle.

They don't talk about it.

But Rey remembers every word. Every sting.

Fifteen. Ivy's backyard.

Fourth of July. The firepit is blazing, and the neighborhood kids are lighting sparklers. Ivy sits on the porch with her best friend Liza, legs dangling over the edge.

"Do you think we'll ever like... fall in love?" Liza asks, squinting at the stars.

Ivy shrugs. "Probably. Eventually."

"With a guy or a girl?"

"I'm not into girls."

Liza gives her a long look. "You say that a lot."

Ivy kicks at the air. "Because it's true."

But when Liza lays her head on Ivy's shoulder, something twists deep inside her. Not fear. Not disgust. Just... pressure.

Present Day

The shoot begins.

The director says, "Natural smiles. Genuine connection. Think empowerment."

Ivy deadpans. Rey sighs.

"Action!"

Ivy: "We stand together, on and off the ice."

Rey: "Because unity makes us stronger."

They hold the smile. Flashbulbs pop.

Rey mutters, "That was painful."

Ivy: "I've had worse first dates."

Rey blinks. Then grins. "You asking me out, Ransom?"

"In your dreams."

"Most nights, yeah."

Ivy's cheeks go red. She looks away.

"Hey," Rey says softly, serious now. "Back then, after Nina, I thought maybe I was just... too much. Too gay. Too obvious."

Ivy nods slowly. "I spent years pretending it wasn't anything. That I didn't feel... whatever it is I feel."

Rey leans back, her smirk gone. "Guess we both played different games to survive."

Outside, snow has started to fall. The world turns quieter.

Something's shifting between them. Dangerous. Inevitable. Real.

They leave the set without saying much else. But as they walk side by side, Rey brushes Ivy's hand.

Not holding. Just close.

And Ivy doesn't pull away.