Chapter 24 The Arrival Of Trouble
I thought things couldn’t get worse.
I was wrong.
The halls were buzzing more than usual that morning. Students whispering, glancing, pointing. A familiar unease settled in my stomach as I pushed through the crowd.
“Have you heard?” Tessa whispered as I passed. “There’s a new transfer. Just got here from another school.”
“Who?” I asked, trying to appear casual.
“Not sure. But everyone says he’s… different.”
Different. My stomach tightened. That word always meant trouble.
By the time I reached the gym, the team was already there. Kylen stood at center ice, focused as always, the tension around him sharp, unyielding. And then… I saw him.
The new guy.
He was leaning casually against the wall, tall, broad-shouldered, hair slightly tousled. And somehow, even from a distance, he had a presence that made everyone stop and stare. Players nudged each other, whispers spreading like wildfire.
“Who’s that?” I asked Tessa quietly.
“He’s… supposed to be joining the hockey team. Can’t believe they accepted him so quickly.”
My heart twisted without reason.
Kylen glanced at the newcomer briefly. Something subtle crossed his face. A flicker of curiosity—or was it recognition?—but he quickly went back to practice, acting like it didn’t matter.
The new student stepped onto the ice. The sound of skates slicing through the ice made my stomach tighten. The guy moved like he owned it, effortless and confident. The way he handled the puck, the speed, the control—it was clear he was someone to watch.
And Kylen… Kylen didn’t smile or even acknowledge him. Not yet. But I saw it in the corner of his eye—the tension building like electricity.
Lilibeth arrived shortly after, walking straight to Kylen. She didn’t notice the new guy, didn’t need to. Her eyes were locked on him, confident, sharp. But the new student didn’t go unnoticed by anyone else. Whispered reactions, curious glances, even the coach stopped mid-instruction.
I found a bench, heart pounding. I didn’t want to look, but I couldn’t stop my eyes from finding him. Something about this boy set the room on fire. Something about him made Kylen… shift slightly, even if just for a fraction of a second.
I didn’t know what was coming next. I only knew that whatever this new guy brought… it wasn’t good for me.
Practice ended. Kylen walked past me, eyes avoiding mine. Lilibeth trailed closely behind, whispering something into his ear. I felt like an outsider in my own life.
And then the newcomer skated by, giving me a brief, knowing glance. Confident, almost teasing.
My stomach knotted.
This was going to be a season of chaos.
And it had just begun.
By the next day, the new student had officially joined the team. His name was Adrian, and he didn’t just fit in—he dominated. Players looked up to him immediately, and the coach made it clear he expected him to start practicing like a star.
Kylen didn’t take his eyes off him for long. Something about Adrian made him tense, controlled. His usual calm demeanor cracked just enough for me to notice. Every subtle glance, every shift in posture—it was obvious Adrian wasn’t just any new player.
And Lilibeth? She was thrilled. She leaned closer to Kylen at every opportunity, whispering things that I couldn’t hear, laughing at jokes that made him stiffen. But even she couldn’t ignore Adrian’s presence. The guy had a natural charm, confidence, and skill that drew attention everywhere.
Practice was brutal. The boys were competitive as always, but Adrian made it personal without saying a word. Every hit he made, every shot, every turn on the ice challenged Kylen. Kylen responded, harder, faster, angrier.
And I watched, heart pounding.
I didn’t like the way he looked at Adrian, not the way I was used to. There was rivalry there. Jealousy. Something raw and untamed.
After practice, the locker room was chaos. Players crowded around Adrian, joking, teasing, asking questions. Kylen stayed slightly apart, sharp and focused, but his jaw was tight. Lilibeth hovered near him, brushing past his shoulder as if to claim him in public, but it only made him more aware of Adrian.
I stood at the edge, unsure if I was more scared for him or for myself.
Finally, Kylen left the locker room first, walking out silently. Lilibeth followed. And Adrian lingered for a moment, catching my eyes before stepping out the door.
There it was again. That look. That smirk. That energy that made my stomach drop and pulse quicken all at once.
This wasn’t just a new student. Adrian had arrived to stir chaos.
And I had no idea how much worse things could get.
Because the hockey season hadn’t even started yet.