Chapter 159: Forced moves

Aveline's POV

I stood near the glass doors of the front lobby, watching Silas walk across the parking lot with his gear bag, but my heart was beating fast. Leaking that video had worked. Silas was out of the building; behind me was full of the sound of students whispering.

"I know it was you," a deep voice said behind me.

I spun around quickly. Kieran was just standing there. He did not look happy that Silas was gone. He looked serious as he turned his face toward me.

"I know you are the one who sent his video all over Crestwood," Kieran said, his voice low so the passing students wouldn't hear us. "What's wrong with you, Aveline? Getting revenge doesn't mean you move selfishly just to get what you want. You are putting yourself in too much danger right now."

I looked up at him, my hands clenching into fists. I didn't want to hear a lecture from him about what I had just done. "Silas deserved to leave this school. He was hurting people, Kieran. If you think keeping the halls quiet is more important than doing what is right, then you don't know me at all."

Kieran took a step closer to me, looking frustrated.

"That is not what I am saying, and you know it. You are twisting my words. I don't care about Silas. I care about what happens to you when the school starts looking into who leaked that video. They aren't stupid.

They are going to trace who uploaded it, and you don't know what happens when the school starts looking into something like this.”

They won't find anything,” I said flatly. “Nobody will know it was me.”

"You are clearly acting on impulse," Kieran said, his voice rising a bit before he forced it back down. "Yes, Silas did something bad. He was a bully.

But the way you are going with everything is very bad. You are not thinking about the next step. You are just striking at anyone who gets in your way because you are angry."

"I am doing what needs to be done," I whispered back, my teeth gritted. "Nobody else is helping me find the truth. Cassian is just looking for someone to blame. If I don't move, who will?"

"And who told you to use that video today?" Kieran asked, his eyes narrowing as he looked down at me. "It was Theo, wasn't it? I saw you two talking earlier.

I didn't say anything. I just stared at him, my jaw setting tight.

"Don't trust Theo," Kieran warned, his voice turning sharp. "I'm serious, Aveline. All this help he is giving you lately- how are you sure it is coming from a good place?

Theo doesn't do anything unless it saves his own skin. He is using your anger to point you at his own enemies, and you are just following him. He wanted Silas out of the way for his own reasons, not to help your brother."

I felt a sudden wave of anger hit me. I looked up at his face, thinking about my morning conversation with the counselor.

"Then I should trust you instead?" I asked, my voice cracking slightly before I kept it deep. "Is that what you want? I should trust the guy who goes behind my back?"

Kieran frowned, looking completely confused. "What are you talking about? When did I go behind your back? I've been doing everything I can to keep you safe since the semester started."

"I was called into the guidance counselor's office this morning," I said, taking a step toward him. "I was told that I should apply for the University of Michigan because their athletic department reached out about me. They are talking about a possible scholarship. It happened right after I told you that I was considering Minnesota.

Then suddenly Michigan contacts the school about me. Did you arrange that, Kieran?"

Kieran's face went from confused to genuinely angry. His shoulders went stiff as he looked at me.

"Why do you think I have anything to do with that?" Kieran snapped, his voice rough. "You think I can just call a university and make them offer you a scholarship?

Obviously, you are playing well on the ice, Asher. It is normal for schools to notice you when you play like a professional.

I didn't call anyone, and I certainly didn't make any deals for you. If they want you, it's because of your numbers, not my family. Don't blame me for an opportunity you earned yourself."

"It's just too convenient," I said, my chest heaving.

"I feel you knew I wouldn't attend Michigan without a possible scholarship, and now the office drops a letter in my face."

"I am trying to help you build a future, Asher!" Kieran said, his voice cutting through the space between us.

"But I don't control the scouts. If you don't want to go to Michigan, don't apply. But don't stand here and accuse me of lying to you."

We were still standing there, arguing in the middle of the lobby, when a sudden, loud burst of music cut through.

"Look out! Clear the way!" Landon's voice shouted from down the main corridor.

The doors opened, and a huge crowd of seniors came marching out, holding phones up to film. In the middle of the group was Katty. She was wearing a bright red dress, and behind her, three guys were holding up a massive, glittery poster board. The letters on the front were huge and neon pink.

HAMPTON, WE ARE THE IT COUPLE. PROM?

A loud cheer came from the students blocking the lockers. Confetti poppers went off, sending silver foil flying through the air, and a girl started blasting a pop song from a speaker.

It was a massive, loud public promposal. Reed was laughing, waving a camera phone in the air, while Milo was whistling from the back row. Katty walked straight up to Kieran, a wide smile on her face as she handed him a box of chocolates.

The hubbub was loud, and everyone was chanting his name.

"Say yes! Say yes!" the crowd roared, clapping their hands.

"Come on, Hampton!" a guy from the lacrosse team shouted. "Don't leave her hanging!"

Kieran stood completely frozen. He looked at Katty, then his eyes snapped back to me. He looked stuck.

The crowd was pressing in from all sides, pointing their cameras right at his face, waiting for a show. Katty stood there smiling, surrounded by phones and shouting students, waiting for his answer. The entire lobby was watching him, holding their breath. The noise was making it impossible to even speak.

I looked at his pale face, then I looked at Katty's smile. A sudden feeling of disgust rose in me. I couldn't stand here and watch this fake high school show for another second. I turned around before Kieran could answer and walked out.

Pushing through the doors into the courtyard.

I walked fast until I reached the quiet space behind the science building. The cold air hit my face, but it didn't calm my head down.

"That was quite a show out there," a quiet voice said from the shadow.

Theo stepped out, his face calm. He walked up to my side, looking down the empty path toward the parking lot where Silas's car was driving away.

"Silas is gone, Ave," Theo said, his voice flat. "He's officially suspended. You got your revenge for what happened. It would be better if you stop looking into everything now. Just let it drop before things get worse. The school got their scapegoat, and you don't have to disguise yourself anymore."

I looked at him. "I can't stop, Theo."

"Why?" he asked, his brow furrowing slightly. "The biggest threat is out of the school. You're safe. Silas can't threaten you anymore."

"Because this isn't just about getting Silas out," I explained, my voice steady and cold. "Silas is only one part of what happened to my brother. I still need to clear Asher's name completely. I need everyone to know he wasn't the monster they think he was.

Getting him kicked out doesn't fix what happened to Oliver."

Theo stared at me for a long second, his eyes still. His face remained quiet. "And how are you going to do that? The paper trail from the pharmacy is a dead end. Nothing is connecting the drugs directly to what happened to Oliver."

"My mother found another laptop hidden deep in one of his drawers," I said, leaning closer to him. "I haven't opened it yet, but it's sitting on my desk right now."

Theo's fingers went still. He didn't blink, his face remaining quiet. "A second laptop?"

"Yes," I nodded, my heart starting to beat fast with a new wave of determination. "I don't know what's on it yet. I believe I can use it to expose every single person who was involved in harming Asher. Maybe I'll finally find something that tells me what really happened."

You shouldn't open it alone,” Theo said quietly.

“Why?”

“Because you don't know what you're going to find.”

I turned away and started walking toward the main building as the bell rang for the next period. I was already thinking about the laptop waiting for me at home and everything it might reveal about Asher.