Chapter 15

**•KAIA•**

I pushed aside the glass sliding door and stepped outside. The cold night breeze nipped at my skin, and I pulled my cardigan closer around me.

Miss Levont had prepared a wonderful dinner tonight, and we had so much fun. She was very nice and easy to talk to, and her constant bickering with Gabriel never failed to amuse us.

I just learned that they've only been divorced for a year. Arguing with each other on a daily basis was fun to watch, but secretly, I think it's probably their love language.

I gazed up at the sky, seeing that the moon was out tonight and the sky was littered with small twinkling stars. I smiled before walking down the steps that lead to the dock at the lake.

There was a peaceful silence lingering in the air as I stepped onto the dock. There were bright light balls attached to each side of the dock, lighting up the whole area. The dark water that surrounded me glimmered under the moonlight, and I inhaled a deep breath of fresh air.

This was perfect.

Amy's parents had already retired for the night, whereas Amy and Nate stayed up on the couch, talking and flirting.

I didn't want to hover around and ruin Amy's moment of spending some alone time with Nate to get to know him better. She looks genuinely happy around him, and I was happy about that too.

Except her brother, who constantly reminds Amy every time now that whatever she's planning to make happen with Nate is never going to happen on his watch.

I get that he was just being the overprotective older brother he is, but he's a total buzzkill at this point. It was annoying. Speaking of Adrian, he never stayed around either, straight after dinner.

Who knows where he disappeared off to, but it was peaceful when I didn't see his face around more often.

The wood suddenly creaked behind me, and I quickly turned around. The devil himself started making his way on the dock towards me, and I sighed in annoyance.

Great. It was just the perfect time when I needed him.

Something red sparked from his mouth, and I quickly realized that it was a cigarette. He was smoking along the way and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke that was quickly carried away by the breeze.

I folded my arms together and turned away, facing the lake. A few seconds later, he appeared by my side, facing the same way. The scent of the burning cigarette quickly infiltrated my nose, and I turned my head away from him.

A long moment of silence stretched out between us. Me staring quietly at the lake, and him just smoking his cigarette.

After a minute without talking, I slowly turned to the back to start walking back to the house.

"What's your professor's name?" His voice suddenly breaks the intense silence in the air, making me freeze.

I turned back around to face him, and he slowly did the same before flicking the cigarette butt away into the lake.

"Why?" I asked suspiciously.

He raised his brows at me.

"Why do you think I'm asking?" He answered coolly.

I folded my arms tighter and fought back the urge to smile.

"Are you seriously considering what I said? To beg my professor and let her know why I needed another chance."

He gave me a long stare and quietly took a step forward.

"No, I was thinking more about telling her why you deserved to get that zero."

My heart immediately shattered with disappointment. I scoffed while narrowing my gaze on him.

"Why did I think you were ready to make amends?"

"Make amends?" He mocked.

"You know, none of this wouldn't have happened if you weren't such an asshole from the start."

He chuckled and shook his head while looking down at the dock.

"I was wrong about you too." He stated while looking sideways at me. "I tried to be friendly since you were my sister's friend, but it turns out you're just an intolerable little bi-"

He paused before the rest of the words left his mouth. My anger started boiling when I realized he was about to call me a bitch.

"People wouldn't have taken the rumor seriously if it wasn't for you, making it into such a big deal." I snapped back.

His eyes glared at me, and he took a couple of steps towards me until he was right in front of my face.

"You see." He grits out. "That's the problem that you don't fucking get. Starting a rumor like that might not spark many people's interest, but it sure as hell can be used as an advantage by other players when you're playing head-to-head with the opposite team."

He stopped and inhaled a deep breath, trying to keep his temper in check.

"Don't fucking underestimate the power of provocation because anyone in the ice rink could use it to play dirty." He continued while pointing his finger in my face.

"That lie you created that people have been spreading around is a fucking disadvantage on my side because if someone decides to use it to provoke me during the game, I will lose everything I've worked hard for by not hesitating to strike back."

I finally released my breath after he finished raging out on me. I did a little smirk while holding his intense eye contact.

"You have that little self-control?"

A tick immediately appeared on his jawline.

"I don't like being provoked."

"Right." I replied sarcastically, and a dark look passed between his eyes as he took one more step closer.

I stepped backwards, but it only allowed him the chance to get closer, and my heart skipped a terrified beat when I realized he was slowly backing me towards the edge of the dock.

"What about you, then? You think you have more self-control than I do when it comes to being provoked?" He taunted, and I hesitantly took another step back.

"I could test you right here." He said as his body closely pressed against mine.

"See how much you can take until you finally..."

A scream almost burst from within my throat when my left foot slipped on the edge, touching the water below.

"Snap!" He finished while reaching out and grabbing my waist in time before I could fall backwards in the lake.

My heart pounded loudly against my chest while I stared up at him with shock and breathed really heavily.

His eyes locked onto mine as he held me tight against his chest, still standing near the edge of the dock together. Then, a corner of his mouth slowly lifted, and for the first time, I started to fear what he might do next.

"Well, that wasn't so hard." He teased. "You're already weak, and I bet you would cry if I let go of you right now."

He deliberately loosened his arms around me, and I gasped before grabbing hold of him tight, causing him to smirk.

"Don't." I pleaded desperately, and he raised an eyebrow at me.

"Don't what?"

I clenched my jaw and dug my nails harder into his shoulder.

"Don't....let go."

"Are you asking me or telling me?" He retorted and playfully tried to drop me again.

"I'm asking you not to drop me in the water."

He suddenly chuckled.

"What's the magic word?" He responded with a smug smile on his face.

God, I want to slap that smile off his face so badly.

"Please." I forced myself out through clenched teeth.

"Well..." He suddenly pulled his arms away, allowing me to fall freely.

I gasped, but he grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me back in on the dock. My heart was beating wildly, and I was afraid I was going to have a heart attack next.

I waited until my heart was calm again and my breathing was steady before looking up and glaring at him.

"Goodnight, Kaia." He said with a mocking laugh before heading back up to the house.

I glared daggers at his back, scowling in annoyance that I had no choice but to let him get away with what he just did to me.

I wanted to punch something and scream my frustration out, but it was already too late.

He has already won.