Chapter 3 Teammates

"Ava?"

Mia's voice brought her back, and Ava blinked and lowered her hand from her temple. "I am fine."

Mia studied her for a moment, but Ava gave her a reassuring smile before she could ask anything else. "I just felt a little dizzy."

"Maybe you should sit down."

"I will be fine."

Mia nodded, accepting the answer without pushing further, and around them the arena was gradually emptying, students leaving the stands while others crowded around the players, celebrating Northwood's victory. The noise was overwhelming, but Ava barely noticed it, her mind kept returning to the stranger. She did not know him, or at least she was certain she did not, yet something about his face had stirred a memory she could not reach. Ava forced herself to stop thinking about it, reminding herself that she had come to Northwood for Caleb, and that was what mattered.

She glanced toward the rink, where Jace was surrounded by his teammates, though he looked distracted, his eyes moving toward the entrance every few moments.

Mia noticed. "See?" she said.

Ava looked at her. "See what?"

"He keeps looking at you."

Ava sighed. "I think he is trying to figure out who I am."

"Maybe," Mia said, smiling. "Or maybe there is something more."

"There is nothing more."

"You say that now."

Ava shook her head and started walking toward the exit, and Mia followed. "So, why did you come to Northwood?"

Ava hesitated. "For school."

Mia laughed softly. "Everyone comes here for school."

Ava glanced at her. "I wanted a fresh start," she said, an answer that was not entirely a lie.

Mia seemed satisfied. "I understand that."

They reached the hallway outside the arena, and Ava suddenly stopped. "Mia."

"Yes?"

"Do you know anything about Caleb Rhodes?"

Mia's expression changed slightly. "Caleb Rhodes?"

Ava nodded. "You know him?"

"Not personally. I was not here when he played."

"What do you know about him?"

Mia thought for a moment. "He was apparently one of the best hockey players Northwood ever had. My brother used to talk about him sometimes."

Ava's attention sharpened. "What did he say?"

"That Caleb was supposed to go professional after graduation."

"Then what happened?"

Mia lowered her voice. "He disappeared."

Ava already knew that, and she wanted more. "Did people think he ran away?"

"Some did."

"And the others?"

Mia shrugged. "There were rumors that something happened at the academy, but I never knew whether they were true."

Ava's fingers tightened around her phone. "What kind of rumors?"

Mia shook her head. "I honestly do not know. People stopped talking about it after a while."

Ava looked back toward the arena, where Jace was still there, and their eyes met, this time without him looking away. Ava felt something tighten inside her chest, and Mia followed her gaze. "That is Jace Hunter."

"I know."

"He was Caleb's closest teammate."

Ava turned sharply toward her. "What?"

Mia looked surprised by her reaction. "I thought you knew."

Ava looked back at Jace, her brother's best friend, the boy who had looked at her as though she had returned from the dead, and suddenly she realized that finding Caleb might begin with finding out exactly what Jace Hunter knew.

Ava did not move. Jace remained across the arena, surrounded by teammates who were still celebrating, yet his attention had shifted completely toward her.

Mia nudged her gently. "You should probably go talk to him."

Ava looked at her. "Why?"

"Because you clearly want answers." Mia smiled before walking toward the exit. "I will see you tomorrow."

Ava watched her leave, then turned back toward the rink, where Jace was no longer standing. Her stomach tightened, and she looked around the arena until she noticed him waiting near the hallway leading toward the locker rooms.

Ava walked toward him, and when she reached the hallway, Jace glanced behind her. "Where is your friend?"

"She left."

"You should leave too."

Ava crossed her arms. "You keep saying that."

"Because you keep ignoring me."

"And you keep refusing to answer my questions."

Jace looked at her for several seconds. "What do you want to know?"

Ava almost laughed. "Everything."

"That is not possible."

"Then start with Caleb."

His expression immediately changed. "What about him?"

"You were his closest teammate."

"Who told you that?"

"Mia."

Jace looked away. "She was right."

Ava studied him carefully. "What happened to him?"

Jace remained silent. "You knew he was going to disappear, didn't you?"

"No." The answer came quickly enough to sound convincing.

Ava searched his face. "Then what happened that night?"

Jace's eyes hardened. "Why are you asking?"

"Because he was my brother."

"I know."

"And because everyone keeps telling me different versions of the same story."

Jace leaned against the wall. "Caleb was angry that night."

"Why?"

"I do not know."

"You were with him."

"Yes."

"Then how can you not know?"

Jace looked down. "He received a phone call."

"From who?"

"I never found out."

Ava's heartbeat quickened. "What happened after the call?"

"He left."

"Alone?"

Jace hesitated. "No."

Ava stared at him. "Who went with him?"

Jace looked directly into her eyes. "I did."

The hallway suddenly felt colder, and Ava stepped closer. "Where did you go?"

"The old practice building."

"Why?"

"Caleb said he needed to show me something."

"What?"

"I never found out."

Ava's frustration grew. "You keep giving me pieces and expecting me to accept them."

"I am telling you what I remember."

"Then remember harder."

For the first time, something broke across Jace's expression, fear, though it disappeared almost immediately. Ava noticed anyway. "What happened at the practice building?"

Jace pushed himself away from the wall. "Nothing that night."

"That is impossible."

"It is the truth."

"Then why did you look at me tonight like you had seen a ghost?"

Jace froze, and Ava held his gaze. "You said I was supposed to be dead."

His face became unreadable. "I made a mistake."

"No," Ava said, shaking her head. "You did not."

She turned away, and behind her, Jace spoke quietly. "Ava."

She stopped.

"If you really want to find Caleb, stop asking people what happened."

She turned back. "Then what should I do?"

Jace's eyes held hers. "Find out what happened before that night."

Before Ava could ask what he meant, he walked away, and she stood alone in the hallway, staring after him. Then her phone vibrated, and a new message appeared.

Ask him why Caleb was afraid of you.