017

Astrid’s POV

By the time I reached my hostel, the sun had already begun its slow descent behind the campus buildings.

The golden light spilled through the windows of the hallway, stretching long shadows across the floor as I climbed the stairs to my room.

My mind kept replaying the moment at the rink over and over again.

Ocean sitting there, his leg bouncing impatiently, the way he relaxed the second my message was delivered and finally that smile that parted my lips too.

When I pushed the door to my room open, I was expecting an empty space but Dawn was inside.

She had just returned from school, judging by the bag she had tossed carelessly on her bed.

The moment she saw me, her eyes lit up and that was my first sign of trouble.

“Oh my God,” she said immediately, sitting up straighter. “Where have you been all day?” She shrieked.

I hated when she makes that sound as it meant she had questions, lots of them at that.

And right now, my brain was far too tangled to deal with an interrogation.

“Nope,” I said, tossing my bag on the bed.

“Nope?” She blinked, raising her brow at me.

“No questions,” I added, already moving toward the bathroom.

Her mouth opened, closed then opened again before she managed to say, “Astrid…”

“Later.” I cut in, watching her jaw drop from the corner of my eyes.

“You can’t just say later after disappearing all morning and then coming back looking like…”

I shut the bathroom door before she could finish but I could still hear her muffled voice from the door.

“I swear if this is about Ocean…” I turned on the faucet to drown her out.

Silence filled the small bathroom as warm water ran into the sink.

Grabing the cold sink with both hands, I couldn't help but stare at my reflection in the mirror.

For a moment, I didn’t recognize the girl looking back.

Her hair was slightly messy from the wind outside. Her eyes looked tired but there was something else there too.

Something restless and curious.

“What are you doing?” I whispered softly to myself.

Fake dating Ocean, meeting him again after what happened last night?

It all felt dangerous and wrong.

Drawing in a deep breath, I leaned forward slightly, resting my hands on the sink.

“You’re being stupid,” I muttered and almost immediately, a small voice in my head agreed.

It was a bad idea but then Reis.

The memory hit me like cold water as anger flared suddenly. It was sharp and burning.

Before I realized what I was doing, my fingers were curled around the edge of the sink.

“No,” I whispered.

I wasn’t going to sit around feeling pathetic, not again.

If Reis thought I would spend the rest of the semester crying over him, he clearly didn’t know me at all.

“Fine,” I said to my reflection, straightening up slowly.

“Let’s do this.” I muttered.

I cleaned up quickly, washing my face and fixing my hair before stepping back into the room.

Dawn was sitting cross-legged on her bed, staring at the door like a detective waiting for a suspect to crack.

The moment I stepped out, her eyes narrowed.

“So,” she said slowly.

“No,” I said quickly.

“Yes,” she replied immediately.

“No interrogation.”

“A little interrogation.”

“Dawn.”

“A small one?” She pressed on.

Dragging in a deep breath, I sighed dramatically as I made my way toward my closet.

“I’m going out,” I said.

“With who?” she asked instantly.

I hesitated for half a second, then said it, “Ocean.”

The silence that followed was explosive. Her jaw dropped so wide that I thought it might fall off.

“Ocean?” she repeated, like she was tasting the word.

“Yes.”

“Ocean as in Ocean?”

“There’s only one Ocean you and I know.”

She jumped off the bed after that.

“Oh my God,” she whispered loudly. “You’re going on another date with Ocean.”

“It’s not a date.”

“Uh-huh.”

“It’s not.”

“Sure.” She smirked but I ignored her and started running my fingers through my clothes.

But then, I paused, my hand hovering over a dress as the memory of last night flashed through my mind.

Something mischievous stirred inside me at the thought.

Fine, if I was doing this, I might as well do it properly.

Smirking, I pulled out a dress forcing Dawn to gasp.

“Girl,” she said dramatically, walking over. “That is not casual.”

I held the dress up against myself, a slow smile spreading across my face.

“Exactly.”

Crossing her hand on her chest, I watched as her grin grew wider.

“Oh this is going to be good.” She said with glee, rubbing her hands together like a horsefly.

Dawn hovered around me the entire time chipping in fashion tips like she was paid to do so.

At one point she flopped on my bed laughing when I almost tripped while putting on my shoes.

“You’re nervous!” she sang like a canary.

“I am not.”

“You are.”

“I’m just rushing, I don't want to keep him waiting.”

“Same thing.” She smirked.

Eventually, I finished getting ready then proceeded to check myself out in the mirror.

The dress hugged my figure perfectly.

It was simple, elegant and a little daring.

Dawn who was standing next to me whistled.

“Reis is going to faint if he sees you.” She chirped, her eyes glinting with mischief.

“I’m not doing this for him.”

“I know,” she said, smirking. “You’re doing it for Ocean.”

“Dawn.” I called with a warning tone but she burst out laughing again.

“Go already,” she teased, pushing me toward the door. “Before your hockey prince starts sending search parties.”

I rolled my eyes but grabbed my bag anyway.

When I stepped outside, the evening air felt cooler. It was supposed to be soothing but my racing heartbeat made it impossible.

The campus café was warm and softly lit when I walked in. I didn’t have to wait because he was already there.

Ocean sat near the window, one arm resting casually on the back of the chair as he glanced at his phone.

He looked up the moment I stopped by the table.

I allowed him to run his eyes through me, from my hair, to my dress and then my heels.

When he was done with his assessment, a small smile touched his lips but before he could say anything, I blurted.

“I’m sorry.”

Taken aback, he blinked.

“What?” He asked after a brief silence.

Suddenly nervous, I leaned closer.

“About last night,” I said quickly. “Running away like that. It was childish and dramatic and…”

“Astrid.” He cut in and immediately, I stopped talking.

“You don’t have to apologize.”

“But…” I tried to talk but he halted me.

“You were overwhelmed,” he said calmly.

“I still shouldn’t have turned off my phone.” I muttered, fiddling with my fingers.

“Yeah,” he replied, nodding slowly.

My stomach dropped then he added quietly, “Don’t do that again.”

“Why?” I blurted and that instant, he met my eyes.

“Because I thought something happened to you.”

The words caught me off guard and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say so I just nodded.

Coffee arrived a few minutes later, and the conversation slowly shifted. We talked about school, classes and a whole lot of random things.

Before now, all I knew about him was his vendatta with Reis, but Ocean was surprisingly easy to talk to.

Before I knew it, we had finished our drinks then he leaned back slightly, studying me.

“So,” he said after what seemed like forever. “What do you want to do?”

Flicking my hair, I shrugged then mumbled, “I don’t know.”

He tilted his head thoughtfully then his eyes lit up slightly, “Come to my game tonight.”