Chapter 1

Cassie’s POV

The bass from the speakers throbbed against the wall and the floor. The sound was vibrating under my heels as I swayed slightly to the music, clutching my cup firmly like it was going to slip from my fingers.

The colored lights which were all over the room danced across the walls and ceiling, illuminating laughing faces, dancing bodies, and the unmistakable haze of youthful chaos. 

It was a student party and as expected, it was wild and unfiltered. It was the kind of place Otto loved but tonight, it wasn’t just any party. It was the night that Otto promised to finally make things official between us. 

My heart was pounding loudly in my chest, not from the music blaring from the speakers, but from the anticipation of what was coming. 

For the past two months, we had been seeing each other in secret. To others, we were just friends but it was more than that. 

We shared a lot of stolen kisses after his hockey practice, shared flirty texts at 2AM, I cheered him from the stands like an idiot in love and he never corrected anyone who assumed he was single.

But tonight would be different. He had told me himself that he was going to tell everyone that I was his. That promise echoed in my head louder than the music.

To look more appealing to him, I had worn the red dress he once said made me look like temptation personified. I even curled my hair the way he liked it. 

It was my first time doing this as I had never tried this hard for anyone before, and honestly, it was both thrilling and terrifying.

My phone beeped and immediately, I pulled it upwards but it was just an I* notification.

The time was 9:47 PM, yet there were no messages or missed calls from him. 

Where is he? — I thought, looking around the place but he was nowhere to be found. 

My comfort was that none of his teammates were in the room.

Jade, my best friend who was supposed to keep me company, was down with a fever so she couldn't come. 

After one last quick scan, I typed out a quick text.

Hey, where are you? I have been waiting. — I sent it to him, my finger hovering over my screen.

I waited for a while, hoping he would respond to my message but he hadn't even read it. 

The moment my screen lit up, I thought it was a response from him but it was a read notification but no reply. 

That should have been my first red flag. But no, I told myself he was just nervous. Maybe he wanted the moment to be perfect, maybe he was with his teammates, or maybe God help me I was just overthinking.

I kept scanning the crowd, my heart doing somersaults every time someone with his build appeared. 

Then finally, around 10:12, I saw Otto Greene walking into the room. He looked like he always did, careless and magnetic. 

He still carried the easy swagger in his step. As usual, he wore his cap backwards and was donned in his favorite navy jacket.

My heart leapt in joy as I made my way towards him. A bright smile was plastered on my face as I raised my hand slightly but he didn’t even look at me.

Even when he glanced my way for a split second, he regarded me as if I were just another face in the crowd.

Confused, I raised my phone again. 

Maybe he didn’t see me? Maybe the lights were messing with his eyes? 

I sent another message to him; I see you, come say hi? I missed you. — I sent, biting my lower lips.

The moment the message was delivered, he pulled out his phone, read it but he didn't respond. 

A knot formed in my stomach as I stared at his figure which was slowly disappearing into the crowd.

“What's happening?" I tried to laugh it off saying he was just stressed from practice and was tense because of the game he was having tomorrow. 

Or, he just needed space. But it wasn’t space he was taking, he was taking a distance. 

The longer I stood there watching him, the more I noticed it. He didn’t look like someone about to make a big romantic announcement. 

He looked like someone hiding and I was the one he was hiding from.

The thought lodged in my chest and I couldn’t breathe properly, it seemed my lungs had been clogged. 

Unable to bear it anymore, I decided to head to the bathroom to clear my head before returning to confront him. The floor was occupied so I had to push my way through the crowd until I got to the hallway. 

With my back against the cold wall, I pressed my hand to my chest as my heart rammed mercilessly against it.

“Don’t cry, you’re just being paranoid. Wash your face, cool off and pull yourself together.” I muttered, reaching out for the bathroom door and then pushed it open.

That instant, the world collapsed. 

There he was, Otto with his hands all over Jade, my best friend. Their mouths were fused together, like they were starving. 

Jade was giggling in between kisses, as Otto hands explored her hips like they were his favorite playground. Her back was against the sink, and his hoodie was already half way off.

I couldn’t even scream as I was frozen.  

My body was cold and stiff and my breath was caught somewhere between my chest and my throat.

They haven't seen me yet as they were too busy devouring each other.

When Jade finally noticed the door was opened, her eyes widened and then narrowed like I was the one intruding.

Otto turned at the distraction, his lips still swollen and red and when he saw me, he froze. 

I didn’t say a word to them. With a broken heart, I kept staring at him like I was searching his soul.

After what seemed like forever, I turned around, returning to the party ground. 

My legs carried me to the bar counter as if it was on autopilot. The noise in the room did nothing but deepen the hollow in my chest.

“Vodka,” I told the bartender. He gave me a swift look before he poured it and the moment he slid the glass across the counter, I downed it. 

I took another shot and let it burn down my throat. I was trying not to think about what I saw but I couldn't.

Before tears could start rolling down my face someone laughed behind me. It was rough, cocky and annoyingly familiar.

“You look like you just caught your boyfriend cheating.”

“Maybe I did.” I muttered, not bothering to look up as the stool next to mine scraped against the floor. 

“You know what they say, better now than after you tattoo his name on your ass.”

I turned my head to confirm who the intruder was. Turns out that it was no other than Ledger Rivers, the Captain of the school hockey team. 

He was a renowned playboy with a smirk permanently attached to his lips. He was Otto’s opposite in every way. He was gritty where Otto was polished and blunt where Otto was smooth. 

And right now, his sharp gray eyes were scanning me like I was some kind of puzzle.

“You’re Cassie, right?” he said, signaling the bartender.

“And you’re trouble.” I retorted. 

“Damn right.” He grinned, shifting his gaze to the bartender, he said, "Double tequila." 

“Care for a glass?" He asked but I didn't respond.

Raising his brow, he said, “Come on, you already got your heart stomped on tonight. You might as well drink with the devil.”

“Fine, let’s see what the devil’s got.” As soon as his order arrived, we clinked glasses and downed the shots.

The only reason I had agreed to come to this party was because Otto asked me to. It was the first time he was asking me to attend a function with him.

Since I had no reason to be here anymore and I didn't want to keep a playboy company, I scraped my stool against the floor.

“Are you leaving?"