Chapter 122: The Break Line

Aveline's POV

Coach Hale's whistle cut through the freezing morning air. "Move! We've got twenty minutes before the gates open!"

Students hurried across the town square carrying heavy boxes, folding tables, and green Christmas decorations. Volunteers rushed between the stalls while the loudspeakers blasted holiday music that nobody seemed to hear.

The fundraiser was packed with rows of festive stalls, and the early-morning shopping crowd was already forming at the entrance. I tightened my grip on a box of paper cups. Then I looked up.

Kieran Hampton was walking towards me.

We were stuck inside Booth 4, which was supposed to be for hot chocolate and gift wrapping. The silence between us felt incredibly heavy. Kieran didn't say a single word at first.

He just stepped into the small booth, reached over, and quietly took a jammed tape dispenser out of my hands. His large fingers worked at the plastic smoothly until it clicked open. He set it back down on the wooden counter, then reached into his jacket pocket, pulled out a small handful of mini marshmallows, and dropped them straight into my steaming cup of cocoa.

"You never texted me back, Asher," Kieran murmured, his deep voice dropping low so the passing students wouldn't hear him.

"I was busy helping my mother," I said, keeping my answer completely flat.

Kieran leaned against the counter, his broad shoulder brushing right against mine as we reached for a roll of red ribbon at the same time. Our fingers touched for a second, and neither of us pulled away. He looked down at my face, his intense eyes softening completely. "I missed you."

My throat burned. I wanted to tell him the truth so badly, but right across the path, a group of five massive hockey players from our city league rivals, the Rackers, were laughing loudly.

They had been assigned to a charity puck-shot booth directly opposite ours. Throughout the morning, they had been staring at our roster, making sarcastic comments, and deliberately bumping shoulders with our players to provoke a fight.

"Brooks, stop slacking! Help Hampton and Carter with the gift wrapping until the crowd thins out!" Coach Hale’s voice barked from the side.

Landon Brooks adjusted his jacket and walked into our booth, looking completely awkward. Milo Hayes leaned against the counter right behind him to borrow some extra markers, grinning loosely. Landon and Kieran had not spoken since their massive blowout on the mountain trail, and Landon kept his arms crossed tight over his chest. But Milo refused to let the silence stay.

"Come on, Brooks, stop being a miserable old man," Milo smirked, shoving Landon’s shoulder. "And Hampton, you two are the best buddies on this team." Talk to each other."

Landon shifted his weight, looking up until his eyes met Kieran’s. "Look, Kieran... about the trail. I was just stressed about the video and the league board. I shouldn't have called you a jerk."

Kieran looked at his best friend, his rigid shoulders finally relaxing. "It's fine, Landon. I was on edge too. We're good."

I watched them shake hands, and for a tiny moment, I actually smiled. The heavy tension in the booth finally cleared. But the peace did not last long.

Cassian Thorne walked over to the edge of the path, carrying two warm coffees. He stepped straight up to Daphne Sinclair and handed her one of the cups. He smiled, his large hand reaching out to gently wipe a spot of whipped cream off Daphne's nose.

Daphne smiled back, pulling her coat tight as Cassian wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close against his side. A junior varsity player nearby whistled and laughed.

Theo Mercer was standing by the next booth, and his head whipped around instantly. His face went completely red with fury as he saw Cassian's hand on her hip. He clenched his fists so hard his knuckles turned white. He marched straight into the middle of the path, blocking their way.

"Don't tell me there is something really going on between you guys," Theo yelled, his voice cutting right through the music. "Since when did this start?"Daphne! You're dating the guy whose brother got ruined because of his own mistake, and he was busy blaming Asher? You're a backstabbing traitor!"

Daphne flinched, stepping back as her eyes filled with tears. "Theo, please stop. It's not like that."

"Don't lie to me!" Theo shouted, a massive crowd of students quickly gathering around them with their phones out. "Cassian visits you during the break! I know he does!"

Cassian's face turned to pure stone. He stepped directly in front of Daphne, his fists clenching as he prepared to attack Theo. I couldn't just stand there. Daphne was my friend, and Theo was completely out of control.

I sprinted out of Booth 4, shoving past the shopping crowd until I stood right between them.

"Back off, Theo!" I shouted, defending her. "Leave her alone! It is none of our business who she dates!"

"You're taking her side over mine, Asher?" have you forgotten the trauma cassian caused Theo hissed, his eyes wide with a toxic, angry glare.

Right then, the Racker players across the path finally got what they wanted. They stepped into the circle, laughing loudly at us. "Look at these Crestwood babies crying over a girl," the Racker mocked, violently shoving Theo’s shoulder from behind.

Theo turned and shoved the Racker back. The player instantly swung his fist, hitting Theo square in the face.

"Get your hands off him!" Landon roared, rushing into the circle.

A massive fight broke out right in the middle of the town square. Landon threw a punch, and Milo jumped in, swinging blindly. Boxes of donations were knocked over, and decorations shattered against the hard pavement as screaming shoppers ran away. Through the flying fists, I saw Kieran charge into the brawl like a freight train, completely losing his cool as he tackled two Racker players to the ground. If the police arrived, this would cause a lot of problems.

I ran into the centre of the chaos, terrified for him. I grabbed the rough fabric of Kieran's hoodie, my voice full of pure panic. "Stop! Kieran, please! Come with me!"

I used all my strength to violently drag him backwards out of the fight. He finally stumbled back, and I pulled him down the narrow alleyway behind the market booths, panting heavily as the noise faded.

"Why are you acting like that?" I screamed, my voice finally changing back to Aveline's real tone in the quiet alley. "We were clearly trying to end the fight! Why did you jump in?"

"What do you mean, Aveline?" Kieran yelled back, his chest heaving with pure rage. "I should just let them insult my team and my friends? I'm the captain!"

"We needed them!" my voice cracked with desperation, tears finally spilling over my eyelashes.

"The fundraiser was to help hockey players who can't afford to play, look around this was supposed to help kids. Now everything is ruined!

Kieran stared down at me, his face red as his voice shook with emotion. He took a deep breath, his rigid posture slowly softening.

He reached his hand out, trying to grab my fingers. "Aveline, look... I'm sorry. I just lost my temper. I'm tired of you treating me like the bad guy anytime I want to save you from yourself.

You won't text me back. You won't talk to me because I'm trying to save you from your mom. I am putting my absolute best effort into this for you."

I looked at his open hand and stepped back. The movement made his expression freeze.

"I would rather you hate me than let you become another victim of my family," I whispered, the cold reality ripping straight through my chest. "We are done."

Kieran froze. The anger vanished from his face, replaced by a look of total devastation. I didn't say another word. I turned around

Kieran stood in the empty alley for a long minute, his chest heaving. Suddenly, he turned and violently kicked a metal trash can, throwing his fist hard against the brick wall. "Fuck!" he shouted, his voice echoing off the walls.

Landon walked into the alley a moment later, looking for him. "Kieran? The fight is over, Coach is...."

"Go, Landon," Kieran said, refusing to look at his best friend as he leaned his forehead against the cold bricks. Landon sighed and walked away, leaving him to unravel.

A minute later, soft footsteps crunched on the snow. Katty appeared at the entrance of the alley, dropping the box as she noticed his bleeding knuckles. She rushed into his space, her face full of fake worry as she reached up to touch his face. "Kieran? Oh my god, what happened? Are you okay, babe?"

Kieran did not push her away this time. He laughed bitterly, his body shaking with pure hurt and vulnerability. Right then, I turned back into view at the edge of the crowd to look.

Kieran saw me standing there. Our eyes met

He grabbed Katty violently by the waist, pulled her hard against his chest, and slammed his mouth down onto hers in a desperate, angry kiss right in front of my eyes.