Chapter 33 Silent Hallway
The move back to the dorms felt like walking into a trap. I carried my last box down the hallway of the third floor. Usually, this place was loud. There was always music playing or girls laughing in the common room.
Today, it was dead silent.
As I walked past Room 302, the door was open.
Three girls were sitting on the bed. They were looking at their phones. When they saw me, they didn't wave. They didn't say hello. One of them leaned over and kicked the door shut.
Bam. The sound echoed in the hallway. I felt a lump in my throat. I hurried to my room and pushed the door open.
Chloe was already there. She was sitting on her bed, sorting through my medical flashcards.
When she saw me, she stood up fast. She looked relieved, but also very worried.
"Elena! You're back," she said. she rushed over to help me with the box. "I was starting to think you were going to stay at your brother’s place forever."
"The repairs are done," I said, setting the box on my desk. "I had to come back. My dad... he expects things to look normal."
Chloe sat back down. She looked at the closed door, then back at me. "Elena, have you looked at the campus boards today? Or the group chats?"
"No," I said. "I’ve been busy moving."
"Don't look," Chloe warned. "People are being mean. Really mean. Since the news broke about the hockey playbook, everyone is looking for someone to blame. And since Jaxson is missing, they are looking at you."
"Why me?" I asked. I felt a cold chill. "I’m a medical student. I don't even know how the hockey servers work."
"They’re saying you’re the one who convinced him to do it," Chloe whispered. "They say you wanted the money for your lifestyle. Marcus has been telling everyone that Jaxson was just a pawn and you were the brain."
I sank onto my bed. My head throbbed. "That’s a lie. I have my own money. Why would I steal from a hockey team?"
"People love a scandal, El," Chloe said sadly. "Especially when it involves a billionaire’s daughter and a scholarship kid. They want to believe you’re the villain. It makes a better story."
I looked at my anatomy books. I had spent so many hours studying to be a doctor. I wanted to save lives. But now, my reputation was being shredded by people who didn't even know my middle name.
"Is it true?" Chloe asked suddenly. Her voice was very small. "Is he really gone? Did he really do it?"
I looked at my best friend. I wanted to tell her. I wanted to say, He’s in my basement, Chloe. He’s innocent. My dad is the one pulling the strings.
But I remembered Leo’s face. I remembered the danger. If I told Chloe, she would become part of the secret. And my father crushed anyone who knew too much.
"I don't know where he is," I lied. The words felt like lead in my mouth. "And I don't believe he’s a thief."
Chloe nodded, but she didn't look convinced. "Just be careful, okay? People are angry. The Vipers are the pride of this school. If the team loses the season because of this, the students won't forget it."
While I was hiding in my dorm, the atmosphere at the ice rink was even worse.
Leo stood in the center of the locker room. The smell of cold air and hockey tape was usually his favorite thing. Today, it felt like poison.
The team was gathered for a meeting. Usually, when Leo stood up to speak, everyone went quiet. They respected him. They followed him.
But today, Marcus was sitting on his bench, loudly sharpening his skates. The shrr-shrr-shrr of the metal against the stone was the only sound in the room.
"Listen up," Leo said. His voice was strong, but he looked pale. "We have a game in forty-eight hours. I know there are a lot of rumors. I know everyone is upset about the playbook leak. But we are the Vipers. We play through the noise."
"What noise, Vance?" Marcus asked. He didn't look up from his skate. "You mean the noise of our rival team knowing every single one of our plays? Or the noise of our Captain hiding a traitor?"
"Jaxson hasn't been proven guilty," Leo said.
"He’s gone!" Marcus shouted, standing up. He threw his skate tool into his locker. It made a loud, ringing sound. "He ran away the second the IT department started asking questions. That’s what guilty people do. And you’re standing here telling us to 'play through' it? How can we play when we don't trust the man standing next to us?"
Cooper was sitting in the corner. He was looking at his shoes. He looked like he wanted to disappear. He knew the truth, but he was too scared to speak.
"I am still the Captain of this team," Leo said, stepping toward Marcus. "And I say we focus on the ice. If you have a problem with me, we can settle it after practice."
"I do have a problem with you," Marcus sneered. He looked around the room at the other players. "We all do. Why are you so protected, Leo? Is it because your daddy pays for the new scoreboard? Is it because the school is afraid to touch a Vance?"
The room went dangerously quiet. The other players looked at each other. Some of them looked away, but some of them, the seniors, nodded.
"This isn't about my family," Leo said.
"It’s always about your family," Marcus replied. "Everything at this school revolves around you and your sister. And now it’s costing us our season. I think we need a new vote. I think we need a Captain who cares more about the Vipers than he does about a thief."
Leo felt a surge of anger. He wanted to swing. He wanted to knock that look off Marcus’s face.
But he knew that was exactly what Marcus wanted. If Leo fought him, Coach would have a reason to strip him of the "C."
"The Coach hasn't called for a vote," Leo said through grit teeth.
"Not yet," Marcus said. He picked up his helmet and walked toward the door. "But after we lose the next game because the other team knows our every move, the fans will call for it. And so will the board."
Marcus stopped at the door and looked back at the team. "Anyone who wants to actually win should come to the gym with me. We’re going to rewrite the signals. Without the Captain."
One by one, the players stood up. They didn't look at Leo. They followed Marcus out of the room.
Soon, only Leo and Cooper were left in the locker room.
"Leo," Cooper whispered. "I’m sorry. I didn't go with them."
"Go, Cooper," Leo said. He sounded tired. "If you stay here, they’ll target you next. Go learn the new signals."
"But Jaxson—"
"I’ll handle Jaxson," Leo said. "Just play hockey, Coop. That’s all you can do."