Chapter 89

Chapter 89
KAIA

The notification email arrived just as I was nursing my second cup of coffee, still wrapped in yesterday's oversized sweater and Adrien's lion pin glinting against the fabric. My heart stuttered when I saw Professor Mellark's name in my inbox.

Dear Kaia,
I'm delighted to inform you that you've passed your exam with a very respectable grade. Your scholarship remains secure, and I wanted to personally congratulate you on your improvement. Enjoy your Christmas break – you've earned it.
Best regards,
Professor Mellark

I stared at the words, reading them twice to make sure I wasn't imagining things. A very respectable grade. Scholarship secure. The relief that washed over me was so intense I had to set my coffee mug down carefully and take a shaky breath. I'd done it. Actually done it. My scholarship was safe, my future intact, and for the first time since the accident, I felt like maybe – just maybe – I was still capable of being the person I used to be.

My fingers found the lion pin without conscious thought, and immediately Adrien's face filled my mind. His patient explanations, the way he'd looked at me when he fastened this pin to my chest, the absolute certainty in his voice when he'd said I could do this. The urge to share this moment with him hit me so suddenly I actually reached for my phone before stopping myself.

What would I even say? Hey, I passed, thanks for the good luck charm? It seemed simultaneously too casual and too loaded. And what if he was busy? What if I was reading too much into those perfect moments we'd shared?

I stared at my phone screen, cursor blinking mockingly in the empty message field.


---

Two hours later, Amy dragged me away from my overthinking spiral and into the winter wonderland that downtown had become. Christmas lights twinkled from every storefront, artificial snow dusted the sidewalks, and the air smelled of cinnamon and pine from the holiday market.

"You're glowing," Amy announced, linking her arm through mine as we wandered past a display of vintage ornaments. "I take it the exam went well?"

"I passed. Scholarship's safe." The words still felt surreal on my tongue.

"That's amazing!" She squeezed my arm, then shot me a sideways look. "So why do you look like you're waiting for something?"

Heat crept up my neck. "I don't know what you mean."

"Uh-huh." Amy stopped walking and turned to face me fully, her knowing smile impossible to miss. "Spill. What's got you all fidgety and distracted? And don't say it's just relief about the exam because you've checked your phone approximately fifteen times in the last ten minutes."

I tried to protest, but she raised an eyebrow that said she wasn't buying it.

"Fine," I muttered, pulling my coat tighter around myself. "I just... I want to thank Adrien. For helping me. But I don't want to bother him if he's busy with something important."

Amy's grin turned absolutely wicked. "Ah. And you're sure it's just about saying thank you?"

"Yes!" The word came out too quick, too defensive. "I mean, he was really supportive, and I feel like I should acknowledge that, but I don't know what he's up to lately, and—"

"Kaia." Amy's voice was gentle but amused. "You're allowed to miss him, you know. It's been almost a week since your romantic sunset date."

My cheeks burned. "It wasn't romantic. It was just... nice."

"Right. Just nice. That's why you're wearing his pin like it's made of precious gems and asking about him every five minutes."

Before I could form a coherent protest, she was already answering my unspoken question.

"He's been a nervous wreck, actually. There's this huge hockey game coming up – the mid-season championship against Sierra Crest Bears. They're neck and neck in the conference standings right now."

Amy's expression grew more serious. "Nate told me whoever wins this game basically secures first place going into winter break. The outcome of this game is crucial for their league standings."

My stomach dropped. "When?"

"This weekend, I think. Nate said Adrien's been practically living at the rink." She studied my face with entirely too much interest. "Why? Thinking of going to cheer him on?"

The suggestion made my pulse quicken in a way that definitely wasn't just friendly concern. "I don't know. Maybe. If he wanted me there."

"Oh, honey." Amy's expression softened into something almost tender. "Trust me when I say that boy would want you there."

ADRIEN

Coach's voice cut through the sound of skates on ice and sticks hitting pucks, commanding every player's attention as we gathered around the bench.

"Gentlemen, this is it. Sierra Crest Bears, this Saturday. Home ice advantage." His weathered face was serious, the kind of expression that meant business. "They're sitting two points behind us in the standings. Win, and we go into Christmas break at the top of the conference. Lose..." He shrugged. "Let's just say Santa won't be the only one making lists."

A few guys chuckled, but the tension was palpable. We'd been building toward this moment all season, every practice and scrimmage leading to this one game.

"Their defense is solid, but they've been struggling with turnovers in their own zone," Coach continued. "If we can pressure them early and often, we've got a real shot at rattling their composure. Nate, you'll center the first line. Thompson, you're with him and Davies. Adrien, you'll anchor the second line with Foster and Kim."

I nodded, already mentally running through plays and possibilities. This was what I'd been training for, what every bruise and early morning practice had been building toward. So why couldn't I stop thinking about a girl with uncertain eyes and our conversation by the sea?

The rest of practice blurred by in a haze of drills and strategy sessions. By the time we hit the locker room, my muscles were screaming and my mind was finally, mercifully focused on hockey.

But the moment I sat down to change, she was back in my thoughts.

The pin. I wondered if she was still wearing it, if it had helped during her exam. Had she even taken the test yet? God, what kind of friend was I that I didn't know something that basic about her life?

Friend. The word sat wrong in my chest, too small for whatever was growing between us.

I pulled out my phone, thumb hovering over her name in my contacts. What was the protocol here? How long was I supposed to wait before checking in? We'd had one perfect evening together, but that didn't give me the right to monopolize her time or demand updates about her life.

Except... she'd seemed happy that night. Comfortable. Like maybe she wanted me around as much as I wanted to be there.

I started typing a message three different times and deleted each one. Hope your exam went well sounded too casual. Thinking about you was way too intense. How are you feeling about the test? was just awkward.

"You look like you're defusing a bomb," Nate said, dropping onto the bench beside me with considerably less grace than his usual athletic coordination suggested.

"Just... trying to figure out what to say to someone."

"Ah." His knowing nod was almost as infuriating as Amy's had probably been earlier. "Let me guess. A certain someone who makes you forget how to form sentences?"

I glared at him, but he just laughed.

"Dude, just be honest. Tell her you're thinking about her. Girls like that."

"It's not that simple."

"It really is, though." Nate started pulling off his gear with the efficiency of someone who'd done this a thousand times. "You're overthinking it. If she matters to you, just say so."

Before I could argue with his oversimplified logic, my phone buzzed with an incoming message. My heart stopped when I saw her name on the screen.

Hi. I hope you're not too tired from practice. I wanted to let you know I passed my exam – kept my scholarship. I also heard you have a big game this weekend. Would you maybe want to meet up? I'd love to tell you about the test, and I was thinking... maybe I could come cheer you on Saturday? If you want the support, I mean. No pressure.

I read it twice, then a third time, each word sinking in like warm honey. She'd passed. She was proud enough to share it with me. And she wanted to come to my game.

The smile that spread across my face felt unstoppable.

Nate glanced over at my expression and shook his head. "Yeah, you definitely overthink things."

I was already typing back, fingers flying over the screen.

Congratulations! I'm so proud of you. I'd love to hear all about it. And having you at the game... that would mean everything. Are you free tomorrow? I know a place we could talk.

Her response came back almost instantly: Yes. I'd like that.

For the first time all week, the nervous energy in my chest transformed into something that felt suspiciously like hope.