Chapter 154: The Breaking Point

Aveline's POV

The college hockey arena was packed for the evening rivalry game. The entire senior class got dressed up in the university’s maroon and gold jerseys and thick wool scarves. The energy inside the building was loud and electric. The student sections were roaring, the pep bands were blasting music from the upper rows, and the action on the ice was incredibly fast. It was nothing like our rink back home.

I was leaning against the metal railing, screaming along with Milo and Landon as the home team drove the puck down the ice. Landon was jumping up and down, spilling half his soda, while Milo waved his hands to get the crowd going.

"This is real hockey!" Milo shouted over the noise, his face bright red. "Look at that hit!"

The home team scored a crucial goal, and the entire crowd surged forward in a screaming celebration. I got caught up in the joy of the moment, laughing loudly as the goal horn blasted. I turned my head and locked eyes with Kieran.

He was standing right next to me, his scarf pulled tight. He wasn't looking at the ice at all. He was just looking at my face. I could tell he noticed how much I liked this place, and he looked like he knew our future plans were splitting apart.

The referee skated toward center ice as both teams lined up for the next faceoff. The moment between us felt tense.

After the game ended, the strict school chaperones tried to usher everyone back onto the charter buses to head straight to the hotel.

Katty frowned, waving the folded itinerary in the air. "Guys, we're supposed to be heading back. The bus is waiting."

But the senior class had other plans. While the teachers counted heads near the buses, Milo waved us toward another exit. One by one, we slipped into the crowd before anyone noticed we were gone.

Sweating out the fear of getting caught, a huge group of us ducked into the crowded subway stations, laughing as we slipped away into the bustling city night. For once, we weren't following anyone else's rules.

We followed a group of older college students through the streets until we arrived at a massive house party near the edge of the campus. The music was bass-heavy, making the floors shake, and the rooms were packed with people dancing and shouting over the noise.

I stood near the counter with Milo, watching the crowd. Across the living room, Daphne was standing by the couch with Reed. They were talking quietly, the red party lights reflecting off her hair. Reed smiled, leaning down, and Daphne reached up and kissed Reed right on the lips. It was a sweet, real kiss.

But Cassian was standing three feet away.

The moment he saw Reed kissing Daphne, every trace of color drained from his face. Rage twisted his expression as he lunged across the room and punched Reed straight across the face.

Reed stumbled back into the table, glass bottles crashing to the floor with a loud noise as a massive fight broke out.

The house owner started screaming, the music cut off instantly, and within thirty seconds, the front doors were thrown open. Our entire group was violently sent out of the party into the street.