Chapter 37: Understanding you better

Aveline’s POV

The bell rang sharply through the philosophy hall and every student moved at once, chairs scraping loudly against the floor while conversations immediately filled the room. I packed my books quickly, already planning my escape before Kieran could continue whatever dangerous line of questioning he had been trying to corner me into earlier. Sitting beside him for almost an hour had felt like being trapped beside a fire you knew would eventually burn you if you stayed too close.

Daphne waited near the aisle while Theo tossed his notebook carelessly into his backpack. “This new seating arrangement is a crime against humanity,” Theo complained as we stepped into the hallway crowd. “Mr Harrison acts like separating hockey players is going to magically increase brain cells.”

Daphne laughed softly beside me while students brushed past us toward the stairwell. Crestwood’s hallways were always loud after class, voices echoing while teachers shouted useless reminders nobody listened to.

Theo leaned closer toward me as we walked. His joking expression faded slightly. “You okay?” he asked quietly. “You looked like you were about to pass out back there when Harrison sat you beside Hampton.”

I forced out an awkward laugh. “No, I wasn’t.”

“You definitely were,” Daphne added gently, touching my arm for a second. “Seriously, Asher. Kieran is...”

Her sentence died instantly.

Because Kieran appeared out of nowhere.

He moved through the crowded hallway like people automatically parted for him without realising it. His hockey duffel bag hung over one shoulder, his jacket partially unzipped, dark hair still slightly messy. He ignored Theo completely. Ignored Daphne too. His eyes settled directly on me with that same intense focus that always made my pulse feel unsteady.

“Since we’re partners now, Carter,” he said casually, “I figure I’ll just crash at your place after practice. See what kind of setup a straight A student has.”

Every muscle in my body tightened.

There was absolutely no way I was allowing Kieran Hampton anywhere near my house. Near my mother. Near Asher’s hospital paperwork. Near anything that could expose me.

“That won’t be necessary,” I replied immediately. “We’re doing it at yours. Four o’clock. Give me the address.”

One of Kieran’s eyebrows lifted slightly, like my sudden response genuinely amused him. He reached into his pocket, pulled out a folded receipt and scribbled an address onto the back before handing it over to me.

“Suit yourself,” he said lazily. “Don’t be late.”

Then he walked away.

Just like that.

The hallway noise slowly returned around us but Theo kept staring after him with visible tension in his expression. Once Kieran disappeared around the corner, Theo stepped closer toward me than usual. His hand lifted slightly like he wanted to touch my shoulder before he stopped himself midway.

“I don’t like this,” he admitted quietly.

I frowned. “It’s literally a philosophy project.”

“It’s not just a project and you know it.” Theo lowered his voice further. “Guys like Hampton break things when they get bored.”

Something about the way he said it felt too personal.

“I’ll be fine,” I said carefully.

Theo still looked unconvinced. “Let me come with you. I can wait in the car or something.”

I blinked at him. “Theo, seriously..."

“Just call me if he tries anything.”

The strange intensity in his voice caught me off guard. For a second, I just stared at him. Theo had always been protective, but lately it felt different somehow. Sharper. More emotional than before.

Daphne noticed it too.

Her eyes flickered briefly between us before she gave me a small smile. “Text us when you’re leaving.”

“I will.”

Even as I walked away toward the parking lot, Theo’s strange behaviour stayed in the back of my mind.

By four o’clock, I was standing outside the Hampton estate questioning every decision that had led me here.

The house was enormous.

Not in the warm, lived. In wealthy family homes usually appeared in movies. This place looked cold. Sterile. Sharp edges, massive windows, dark stone walls and perfectly trimmed hedges that looked untouched by actual human hands. Everything about it screamed money without comfort.

The front doors alone were taller than me.

I barely had time to knock before one of them opened.

Kieran’s father stood there.

I immediately understood where Kieran got his intimidating presence from.

The resemblance between them was obvious, same sharp jawline, same eyes but where Kieran carried tension like barely restrained fire, his father felt like ice. Controlled. Cold. The kind of man who probably made entire rooms uncomfortable without raising his voice.

“Hi, sir,” I said carefully. “I’m Asher. I attend Crestwood.”

His expression didn’t change.

“I know,” he replied flatly. “The mascot.”

The unnecessary emphasis on the word made heat crawl up my neck.

Then he stepped aside silently, allowing me inside.

The interior somehow felt even colder than the outside. Expensive marble floors stretched across the massive entryway. Everything looked perfectly arranged, perfectly polished and completely lifeless.

“Sit,” Mr Hampton instructed before disappearing further into the house.

I lowered myself carefully, gripping my textbook awkwardly while silence swallowed the room whole.

Then voices echoed from somewhere deeper inside the house.

I recognised Kieran immediately.

I stood instinctively, moving slightly toward the sound before stopping near the edge of the hallway.

“We haven’t had a chance to talk,” Mr Hampton’s voice said coldly. “I saw the Boston report, Kieran. Pathetic. You’re playing like a coward and now I hear you’re failing a joke elective?”

“Who says it’s a joke?” Kieran shot back immediately. “If I didn’t take it seriously, he wouldn’t be here for the project.”

“I didn’t fund Crestwood’s arena so my son could tarnish my name.” His father’s voice hardened further. “You are a Hampton. It’s high time you started acting like one.”

The silence afterwards felt heavier than the argument itself.

I shifted slightly and finally saw them through the partially open doorway.

Kieran was completely still, arms folded tightly across his chest while his father faced him like he was addressing an employee instead of his son.

“You embarrass yourself with fights, distractions and weak performances,” Mr Hampton continued harshly. “Every scout watching you expects greatness and lately all I see is wasted potential.”

Kieran didn’t answer.

But I noticed the tension in his jaw immediately. The tightness in his shoulders. The way his hands curled slightly at his sides.

He looked exactly like he had during class earlier. Calm on the outside Barely holding himself together underneath.

“You’re too emotional lately,” his father said. “That’s dangerous for an athlete.”

Something ugly twisted inside my chest hearing that, because suddenly Kieran made sense. The pressure. The anger. The constant need to be perfect.

His father treated him less like a son and more like an investment he was terrified might fail.

Eventually Mr. Hampton walked out of the room without another glance. His footsteps faded upstairs moments later.

Then Kieran spoke without turning around. “I know you’re there.”

I froze briefly before stepping fully into the room.

Kieran finally looked at me. “Enjoy the show, Carter?” His laugh sounded humourless. “Didn’t know you liked to voyeur.”

Normally I would’ve insulted him back immediately, but standing inside this house after hearing that conversation, the words wouldn’t come.

Instead, I walked toward the table and dropped my philosophy textbook onto it.

“Page 142,” I said quietly. “Let’s get this over with.”

Something flickered briefly across Kieran’s expression..Surprise maybe.

He pulled out one of the chairs slowly and sat across from me. For the first few minutes, the only sounds in the room were pages turning and distant ticking from some expensive clock hanging somewhere behind us.

The tension between us felt different now.

“You’re quiet,” he said eventually, leaning back slightly in his chair. “Usually you’ve got some smartass comeback ready.”

I kept my eyes on the textbook. “My friends don’t talk to me like that.”

The room went still again. Then I added quietly, “I was just thinking about how different people define loyalty.”

That finally made me look up.

Kieran was staring at me differently now.

Caught off guard Like nobody had ever responded to him with understanding before and he genuinely didn’t know what to do with it.