Chapter 3: The Hockey Princes

Lila.

“Stop it!”

Brielle’s sharp voice cut through the gym, snapping me out of my already messed up rhythm.

My feet wobbled mid-spin, and I nearly toppled over but I was quick to stabilize my movement so my fall wouldn’t be too painful.

“Arghh! Shameful! You’ve already made a mistake. Now get back to the side… Let someone else go first!” she angrily ordered, her eyes burning with disdain.

And immediately, a chorus of snickers rose from the cheer squad.

My face became red with embarrassment and I pressed my palms to the floor, trying to steady myself, but the laughter stung, echoing in my ears.

“Ohhh… Not Suprise,” Brielle muttered, smirking at my clumsiness. “Clearly, you’re better at watching and dodging a ball than actually performing.”

I quickly scrambled to my knees, swallowing my embarrassment as every part of my body screamed at me to vanish… to disappear.

The hockey boys began to move towards us and Brielle’s smirk disappeared.

She straightened her back and tried to reclaim attention, puffing her chest like a peacock. “Ladies! The star captains of our hockey teams and our wonderful players have graced us with their presence!”

The cheerleaders gasped, fawning toward the doorway. I, however, could still feel a weight in my chest I couldn’t shake…. I tried to focus on something else instead of the hot boys filing into the gym.

Coach Leo’s voice rang through the gym, calm but firm. “Kael! Jace! What brings you here?”

Brielle quickly stepped forward, her smile forced, trying to seize control. “We were just lucky enough to have the captains visit! And of course…” she gestured to me,

Kael’s voice interrupted, calm, but precise as he pointed at me. “When did she join the cheer team?”

“Yea, isn’t she the girl that went all full black widow yesterday at the field?” A raspy voice spoke from behind.

Brielle quickly blinked, flustered for the first time since I had met her . “Yes… She’s… she’s here for tryouts. She hasn’t joined yet. Honestly… she might not, she ruined the simple routine she was supposed to do.” Her words dripped with venom, her ominous glare only visible to me.

I shrank under her stare, heat burning my face, my pulse racing. The tension was suffocating. Every beat of my heart sounded deafening in the gym but I wouldn’t let my panic show, at least not to her.

Brielle seemed like someone who fed off of peoples fear hence why she acted like an upcoming witch.

Another tryout girl stepped closer and placed a hand on my shoulder. “Don’t feel down.. I think you did great,” she whispered, her words shockingly sweet and kind.

I managed a shaky smile. “Thank you,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

coach Leo cleared his throat. “Lila… tell us did you try cheerleading at your previous school?”

my body stiffened, as hesitation clawed hard at my throat.

Do I tell the truth? I could feel the weight of the two rival captains’ eyes on me, unmoving, judging, almost consuming me. I swallowed hard and still remained silent.

Another voice from the hockey team broke the silence. “She should join, I mean from what we saw, she’s obviously…. Flexible and pretty enough.”

The words made my stomach twist. The heat from their gaze, the intensity, the silent judgment..it pressed down on me, a tangible force. Brielle’s anger simmered in the background, but she couldn’t see that I alone could feel the sharp hatred she directed at me.

I tried to focus on my breathing, to steady my hands, to ignore the snickers and whispers around me. But it was impossible. The scrutiny of the captains, the disdain from the squad, the tension in the air… it felt like a pressure cooker ready to explode.

The girl gave me a warm smile, but there was a flicker of caution in her eyes.

“Is everything okay?” I quietly asked.

“I saw how they were looking at you,” she said quietly, nodding toward the hockey captains. “I didn’t want to act like a jinx, but… that kind of attention? It usually or should I say it always spells trouble. You should be careful.”

I frowned, confused and curious at the same time “Why?? Who… who are they?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly despite my attempt to appear composed.

Her eyes sparkled with knowing amusement. “Well the brown haired one is Kael Donovan... He’s the captain of the Silver Claws hockey team. And the cold prince looking one is Jace.. Jace Morgan, captain of the Iron Fangs. They are literally the heartthrob of this great prison we call an institution… especially our dear Brielle so trust me darling do not be near the hockey princes.”

I blinked, trying to process the information. “Ohhh that explains the googly eyes… And what about… you? Are you also crushing on them?” I asked, a little hesitantly.

She shrugged lightly. “I like my life the way it is.. peaceful and calm,” she said simply, a small smirk tugging at her lips.

Before I could ask her to clarify what she meant by that, the sharp ring of the school bell chimed and echoed through the gym.

“Alright, ladies and our distinguished uninvited guests,” Mr. Leo called cheerfully, clapping his hands. “Time to change out of your sweaty gym wear and get to clas… Let’s keep it moving people!”

We all scrambled, gathering our things. I forced myself to straighten up, to keep my nerves in check.

But even as I obeyed, a strange, prickling feeling crawled over my skin. I turned slowly, scanning the gym for a last look.

No one seemed to be watching me. The girls were chatting and laughing, Brielle was still fussing with the squad, and Mr. Leo was herding the group toward the locker rooms.

But I felt it again… the unmistakable, almost suffocating weight of a gaze. My chest tightened, and I froze, heart hammering.

I turned fully, and still… no one seemed to be looking at me.

Unbeknownst to me, two sets of eyes were locked on my every movement. Kael Donovan’s calm, piercing stare and Jace Morgan’s intense, unreadable gaze followed me as if I were the only person in the room.

A shiver ran down my spine. The air around me seemed to hum with anticipation, though I didn’t yet understand why.