Chapter 158: The opportunity

Aveline's POV

I arrived at school early, still thinking about everything that had happened at home. The conversation with my mother was looping in my head, making the familiar school hallways look completely different. I walked toward my locker. Before I could even turn the combination lock, the loudspeakers clicked on above my head.

The announcer's voice cut through the noise of the morning crowd, telling me to report to the guidance counselor’s office immediately.

My stomach dropped, but I forced myself to move. I walked down the long hallway towards the main office, opened the door, and stepped inside. The guidance counselor was sitting behind his desk, sorting through a tall stack of files. He shifted his glasses and looked up at me.

"Ah, Asher," he said, gesturing to the empty chair across from him. "Come sit. You didn't visit last week when I told you to come by."

"I'm sorry, sir," I said, forcing my deep voice to sound level as I sat down. "Some emergency happened at home, so I couldn't make it."

"That's fine," he said, opening a thick folder with my name printed on the tab. He turned a few pages, scanning my grades before looking back at me. "Have you made up your mind about where you want to apply yet? The deadlines are approaching quickly."

"Not really," I replied, looking down at my lap. "I have a few schools in mind, but I haven't decided yet. I am still considering my options."

"That's understandable," the counselor said, leaning his elbows on the desk. "What are your top priorities? Academics, location, sports, cost? What is going to make you choose?"

"I want a good school," I explained carefully, thinking about what I really wanted for my future. "I want to continue playing hockey, but I also want somewhere... far from home. The cost matters a lot too."

The counselor smiled slightly, pulling a fresh white letter out of the folder. "Then there’s a school I think you should seriously consider. They reached out to the school about you."

"Which one?" I asked, my brow furrowing.

"The University of Michigan. Their athletic department contacted us about you."

I froze in the chair, my heart knocking hard against my ribs. The University of Michigan had contacted the school about me? My first thought was Kieran. Of course it was. He had been talking about Michigan. He encouraged me to apply. Now, suddenly, their athletic department was reaching out to Crestwood about me.

Had he done this?

A small wave of irritation moved through me. I didn't want Kieran deciding what happened to my future behind my back, even if he thought he was helping. It felt like he was pushing me into a corner before I even had time to think about what I wanted.

"They've been following your performance from last season," the counselor explained, tapping his pen against the paper. "They’re interested in recruiting you for their hockey program. They've encouraged the school to have you apply as soon as possible."

"Wait... you're saying I could actually get a scholarship?" I stammered, my voice cracking slightly before I dropped it back into the baritone.

"They've encouraged you to apply, and they’ve indicated that you could be considered for an athletic scholarship if you’re admitted and meet their requirements," he said, handing the letter across the desk.

"I'm saying you have an opportunity here, Asher. You should at least apply and see where it leads. So you should get your essay ready."

"So what do I have to do next?" I asked, looking at the official logo on the letterhead.

"We can go through the application together," the counselor said kindly. "I'll also help you contact their athletic department and make sure you understand the requirements. Just focus on your grades and get that essay done."

When I finally walked out of the counselor's office, my head was spinning. A possible athletic scholarship at Michigan was suddenly within reach. It felt exciting, but as I turned the corner by the water cooler, I bumped straight into Theo.

He stopped, looking around the hallway before he grabbed my arm and pulled me into the empty alcove near the lockers.

"We need to talk," Theo muttered quietly. "I discovered something about Silas and Barrett. They are directly linked to the betting app and were actually earning money from it."

"You are lying," I said flatly, shaking my head. "I have the USB that shows the names of the students who used it. Their names weren't there."

"Wait, you have..." Theo stopped himself. I noticed the way his expression changed when I mentioned the USB, but he recovered so quickly that I couldn't tell if I had imagined his eyes widening for a second. "Anyway, that's because they didn't use their real names. They used fake names to hide their transactions."

I stared at him. "And how do you know that?"

"Think about it, Ave," Theo said, lowering his voice. "What if they purposely involved your brother in this cheap scam because they know he needs money? Then they hurt Oliver and made it look like Asher did it to cover their tracks."

I said nothing.

"So when Asher confronted them, they attacked him," Theo continued. "I'm not saying that's exactly what happened, but look at the evidence. Everything we have points in that direction."

I still didn't know if Theo was right. But his theory explained too many things for me to ignore. It explained why Asher had been so badly bruised when he ended up in the hospital. It explained why Silas seemed to hate him so much and need the app password badly. I really felt like I had someone on my side.

"You still have the video," I said, looking at Theo. "The video of Silas harassing that student."

"Yes, let's use it," Theo said.

We didn't wait; we sent the video to the school gossip page, and within minutes, it was spreading across Crestwood. Phones came out in every hallway. Students gathered in small groups, whispering about Silas.

Crestwood cared too much about its image to ignore something like that.

The disciplinary team called Silas into the main office immediately. After the student in the video confirmed what had happened, the school acted quickly.

Silas was suspended and escorted off school property.

I stood near the front lobby, watching him walk toward the parking lot with his gear bag hanging from his shoulder. Since Asher died, I had been chasing answers that always seemed just out of reach. Now, Silas was finally paying for what he had done. He was only one part of what happened to my brother, but seeing him suspended made me feel like I was getting closer to the revenge Asher deserved.