Chapter 46: The Gravity of Us

Aveline’s POV

The Crestwood gymnasium was complete chaos.

Music blasted through giant speakers so loudly that the floor kept vibrating beneath my sneakers while red and black lights flashed across the packed bleachers. Students screamed every few seconds, waving hockey banners and foam fingers in the air while cheerleaders rushed around throwing free shirts into the crowd.

The annual winter pep rally always looked insane.

But tonight felt worse.

Tonight felt suffocating.

I stood behind the velvet ropes of the sports betting booth, aggressively tearing raffle receipts while trying not to panic. The gym smelled like sweat, popcorn, cheap cologne, and spilt energy drinks. Every few seconds somebody shouted my fake name from somewhere in the crowd.

“Ash!”

“Yo mascot!”

“Carter!”

Normally hiding as Asher helped me blend in.

Tonight it felt impossible because Barrett and Silas were somewhere inside this building Watching my every move

Every time the entrance doors opened, my chest tightened painfully. I kept expecting one of them to appear beside the booth with those cold smirks stretched across their faces.

“You look like you’re about to fight someone.”

I gasped and spun around too fast, smacking my hip against the wooden counter Kieran stood inside the booth. I hadn’t even noticed him unlatch the divider.

“How do you keep doing that?” I snapped, pressing a hand against my chest.

A lazy smirk touched his mouth. “Doing what?”

“Appearing out of nowhere like some creep.”

“That’s harsh, Ash.”

That stupid nickname alone was enough to mess with my head now.

Kieran leaned casually against the counter beside me wearing black jeans, a grey hoodie, and a dark blazer that honestly made him look unfairly attractive. His dark hair looked slightly messy as always. Which somehow made him look worse for my sanity.

“What are you even doing here?” I muttered. “Shouldn’t you be with the Titans' line?”

“I’m co-chairing this mess with you, remember?”

He reached past me for a stack of betting tokens, his chest brushing lightly against my shoulder.

My brain completely went numb. Being this close to him was dangerous.

“You’ve been staring at the doors all night,” he murmured quietly.

“I’m working.”

“Mhm.”

“I am.”

“You ripped the same ticket four times.”

I looked down immediately The paper in my hands was destroyed.

Kieran laughed softly under his breath, and somehow that stupid sound made my stomach flip harder than it should.

Gosh, this was bad, really bad, because somewhere between late-night study sessions, diner fries, hockey talks, and him looking at me like I mattered, I had started falling for him.

The hockey captain I was supposed to investigate had somehow become the one person making me feel safest at Crestwood.

“Hey! Ash!” Daphne’s voice broke through my thoughts.

I looked up quickly.

She stood outside the booth smiling brightly at me, wearing a cropped Crestwood hoodie with glitter brushed across her cheeks. Her blonde ponytail bounced as she leaned slightly over the counter.

“You look stressed,” she laughed softly before sliding a tiny wrapped box toward me. “Pep rally emergency mints.”

A painful wave of guilt twisted inside my chest.

Daphne liked Asher The fake version of me. Meanwhile, the real Asher was still unconscious in a hospital bed while I walked around wearing his name like stolen skin.

“Thanks, Daph,” I muttered quietly.

Before she could answer, another shadow appeared beside her.

Cassian Thorne.

The crowd nearby immediately shifted nervously the second they noticed him. Even at Crestwood, Cassian carried that dangerous energy that made people automatically move aside.

His eyes scanned the gym before landing on me.

“Those two transfer guys?” Cassian said flatly. “They’ve been hanging around the equipment hallway all day.”

My stomach dropped instantly.

“They look sketchy as hell,” he continued while dropping a locker key beside my clipboard. “If they bother you tonight, tell me.”

I blinked at him. Months ago Cassian bullied me for existing Now he sounded ready to fight people for me. The weirdest part was… he genuinely meant it.

“Thanks,” I muttered carefully.

Cassian shrugged like it was nothing. “You’re part of the team now, Carter.”

The words hit me strangely hard.

Before I could answer, someone shoved through the crowd behind Daphne, accidentally bumping into her shoulder. She lost her balance instantly in her shoes. Cassian caught her before she could fall.

One second she was stumbling. Next, his hand was firmly wrapped around her forearm keeping her steady. Daphne froze. Her cheeks immediately turned bright red.

“Oh my God sorry,” she stammered awkwardly.

Cassian looked down at her for a second longer than necessary before slowly letting go.

“Watch where you’re going, Sinclair,” he muttered.

Daphne looked equally confused after he stepped back.

Okay. Something definitely just happened there.

“The Titans' line needs to report to the ice tunnel immediately! The assistant coach’s voice exploded through the speakers.

The gym erupted into screams instantly.

Students rushed toward the rink entrance while the hockey line started gathering near the tunnel doors. Cassian glanced toward the crowd before looking back at Daphne one last time.

Then, instead of walking ahead, he stayed beside her through the chaos like he was unconsciously making sure nobody shoved into her again.

My eyebrows lifted. No way, absolutely no way.

“You’re staring,” Kieran murmured beside me.

“I think Cassian is feeling Daphne.”

Kieran nearly choked laughing. “That’s like 3D impossible .”

“I’m serious.”

“That man doesn’t even have a heart to feel.”

“He caught her.”

“He also bodychecks newbies for fun.”

I snorted before I could stop myself. Kieran looked at me for a second too long after that And suddenly the air between us changed again.

The teasing faded.

His dark eyes stayed fixed on my face while the screaming crowd blurred around us.

“You smiled,” he murmured quietly.

“What?”

“You actually smiled at me.”

Heat rushed into my face instantly. “Shut up.”

His smirk widened slightly. “That’s probably the nicest thing you’ve said to me all week.”

Before I could respond, Milo suddenly appeared at the booth looking completely out of breath.

“Bro!” he yelled at Kieran. “Coach is losing his mind looking for you.”

“I’m coming.”

Milo looked between both of us suspiciously.

Then his eyes narrowed dramatically.

“Wait…” He pointed between us slowly. “Why do I sense a new form of friendship between you guys?”

“It's more like pep rally partners,” I answered too quickly.

Milo gasped loudly. “OH MY GOD.”

Kieran rolled his eyes immediately. “Relax.”

“No no no hold on,” Milo said while climbing halfway over the counter. “Did the mascot just force our dearest captain....?”

“Milo,” Kieran warned.

“You’re literally standing two inches from each other, so devoted to something you never agreed to do before.”

“It's called helping Milo.”

I almost choked laughing at how weird Milo’s face was, not believing Kieran a bit and Kieran actually laughed this time.

For a second I forgot about Barrett and Silas completely because I was too distracted staring at the way Kieran looked while laughing.

Milo pointed dramatically at both of us. “I knew something was fishy, you guys just being partnered up casually like it's a thing".

“Get out,” I muttered.

“You know what?” Milo continued proudly. “I support this emotional growth Hampton.”

Kieran shoved him lightly toward the tunnel. “Move before Coach benches you.”

Milo finally backed away laughing loudly before disappearing into the crowd.

The second he left, silence settled between us again.

Well. “You should go,” I told Kieran quietly.

“In a minute, you good?”

I looked away immediately. Because the truth was… I was terrified. Barrett and Silas knew something I could feel it And the way they stared at me made my skin crawl.

Kieran noticed the fear on my face instantly. His expression changed. “Ash,” he said quietly. “Did anyone threaten you?”

My throat tightened.

Because I didn’t know the reason why they attacked my brother and still looked at me like we had some kind of unfinished business.

And I definitely didn’t know why Kieran suddenly looked ready to destroy anyone who scared me.

Before I could answer, the crowd erupted into another round of deafening screams. The hockey players were officially entering the ice.

Kieran still didn’t move. Instead, his fingers brushed lightly against the back of my hand resting on the counter. Then he leaned down close enough for his mouth to brush near my ear.

“Don’t disappear on me tonight, Ash,” he murmured softly over the noise. “The second this game ends, I’m coming right back to you.”