Binding 13

At practice with the academy on Saturday, Johnny plays poorly. He is pulled aside by his coach, who questions him about his performance, but Johnny avoids telling him the truth: He is in pain from his injury and distracted by Shannon. He leaves practice and drives home, loudly playing music in his car and trying not to think about Shannon.

At school, Shannon continues to avoid Johnny, confusing and frustrating him. The idea of being “ignored didn’t sit well with [Johnny],” who is used to being the center of attention (226).

On his way to his coach’s office to discuss the upcoming playoff match against Royce College—the school that Johnny used to attend in Dublin—Johnny is stopped by Bella. She tries to talk to Johnny about their relationship, but Johnny is adamant that there has never been anything more than sex between them. Angry and annoyed, Johnny leaves her standing in the hall and turns the corner, running into Shannon.

Shannon thinks about the violence of the last couple of days, in which her parents fought so severely that she called the police, and her father again physically abused her. She is scared to go home, afraid of what will happen.