A Hockey Player's Guide To Deception

Chapter Thirty

They were back at the academy, and to her surprise, little had changed since they left. Louis kept his word, never pressing her for more than she could give. Yet, there was something new in the air between them, something quietly refreshing. What bound them wasn't a wild, consuming whirlwind of passion, but a gentler current---a slow and steady closeness built on mutual respect and Kayla found out comfort in that.  They had been in school for two weeks and were already thrust into the crazy world of assignments and hockey practice.

The sharp blast of the whistle cut through the air. Kayla tipped back her bottle, gulping down a mouthful of water as she tried to steady herself for the game. Her body had adjusted to the rest she'd finally and was still stuck in Hibernation mode.

"Knowing the truth, it's insane that the other guys are clueless," Louis leaned down, his lips brushing close to her ear as he whispered. Kayla's cheeks flamed red, and she spun to look at him, heart hammering.

"Shhhh! What if someone hears you?" she hissed, glancing around nervously. Her fingers twisted the hem of her jersey, trying to steady herself.

"I doubt anyone's paying attention to us," he murmured, eyes glinting with mischief.

"I'm not willing to take any risks," she replied firmly, though her chest fluttered under his gaze.

He took a deliberate step closer, and her pulse jumped. She flashed him an alarmed look, and he smirked, that smug curve of his lips sending a jolt straight through her.

"Chill, Kingston," he muttered, trying to keep her voice steady. He chuckled lowly, the sound vibrating through his chest, and Kayla felt her knees weaken. She rolled her eyes, running a hand through her tangled curls to act nonchalant.

"Kingston," he said again, sharper this time.

"Kingston..." he echoed, stepping closer, gaze teasing. She ignored him.

"Or should I say... Kayla?"

Her head snapped toward him, eyes wide. "You wouldn't dare!"

"Oh, I would," he said, a spark of daring in his eyes.

"Do it, then," she challenged, trying to steady the tremor in her voice.

"Oh, you're daring me now?"

"I am."

"Okay." He grinned, boyish and infuriating, and opened his mouth wide---like a freaking hippopotamus about to make a public announcement.

"OH KAY---" she yelped, leaping over him, her hand slapping right onto his lips. She glared fiercely, but he immediately broke down laughing.

The boys around them shot weird looks their way, but Kayla, her panic still prickling through her mind, couldn't have cared less.

"You little shit," she snarled, voice sharp, which only made Louis's laugh deepen, the sound rumbling through his chest like a warning she secretly found thrilling.

The locker room hummed with low chatter, the low scrape of tape pulling tight around sticks, and the thud of skates being laced. Kayla tugged at her gloves, flexing her fingers as nerves curled tight in her stomach. Louis was already adjusting his helmet, calm and collected, as if he'd done this a thousand times before.

The door cracked open, and Coach's voice carried in, firm and steady. "Alright! Let's go get them!"

The players rose almost in unison, the scrape of blades against the concrete floor echoing through the room as they grabbed their sticks. A few exchanged quick fist bumps, others tapped their gloves against the doorframe for luck. Kayla adjusted her helmet, heart pounding louder than the clatter of gear.

Louis led the way down the tunnel, his stride confident, shoulders squared like he owned the ice already. Kayla followed in step with the team, the chill of the rink seeping in as they neared the boards. The sound of the crowd grew louder, a dull roar waiting to swallow them whole.

Then came the thud of sticks against the bench and the slam of the gate swinging open. One by one, they spilled onto the ice, the blades cutting smooth lines across the frozen surface.

She took a deep breath.

It was game time!

The cold bit at Kayla's cheeks as her blades cut across the ice, each push sending a sharp spray of frost behind her. She forced her body to focus, to move with the rhythm of the game, stick low and eyes scanning for the puck. For a fleeting moment, she felt weightless---like she really belonged out here.

Kayla skated backward across the blue line, her eyes locked on the forward charging in. She squared her shoulders, ready to block him out.

But instead of angling for the puck, he came straight for her.

WHAM!

An elbow caught her high, sending her crashing off balance. Her skates tangled, and before she could recover, her body slammed to the ice. The back of her helmet struck with a sickening thud, the sound echoing louder in her skull than in the rink itself.

The crowd erupted---a jagged mix of gasps, shouts, and stunned silence. The noise hit her all at once, muffled and distorted, pressing against her skull. White spots burst across her vision. The ceiling lights above blurred into a spinning haze as her breath caught, shallow and uneven.

Kayla tried to push herself up, but her arms trembled under her weight. The world tilted. For a moment, she wasn't sure if she was on the ice or still falling. 

Before Kayla could even blink, Louis shot forward, sliding right in front of her and slamming into the player who had body-checked her. Rage radiated off him in waves. Without a second thought, he lashed out, his fist connecting with a sickening crack that sent the man's helmet flying across the ice.

Louis's eyes were blazing, his breath ragged as he didn't stop. Punch after punch, he drove the other player backward, swinging with a ferocity that left the attacker reeling. Blood started to stain the ice, spattering across their jerseys, but Louis didn't care.

The other guy finally tried to fight back, and the two collided in a brutal, chaotic blur of fists and motion. Kayla's heart raced as she watched, half terrified, half in awe, as Louis unleashed every ounce of fury he'd been holding in.

"The fuck is wrong with you?!" he roared, his voice raw and sharp, cutting through the stunned gasps of the crowd. His eyes burned with a fire that promised this wasn't over.

"This effing blackie!" the player spat, his words dripping with hate. The venom in his voice sent a chill straight down Kayla's spine.

Louis's grip was like iron as he yanked the man closer. "What did you just say?"

"I said this fucking black half---"

Louis didn't wait for him to finish. He swung again, fists flying, blacking out on him with a ferocity that made Kayla flinch. Her stomach churned, fear bubbling in her chest. It was almost like he was possessed, completely consumed by rage.

Kayla's vision began to swirl as bodies crowded around them, shouting and grappling to pull Louis and the other player apart. The air was thick with the sound of fists hitting, skates scraping, and the shocked gasps of the crowd. Her head spun violently, dizziness twisting through her skull, and the chaos pressed in from all sides.

She tried to lift her head, but the world tilted and blurred. Every shout, every slam, every scream felt like it was hammering straight into her brain. The ice beneath her seemed to vanish, and her strength drained away. Light fragmented across her vision, harsh and stinging, until finally, everything went black.

Here's another chapterrrr. Hope Y'all like it. Cause i really enjoyed writing it hehe. ALL THE LOVE. XOXO. IVY