Micah’s POV
The grueling, three-hour lecture felt like a lifetime. It was even more agonizing by the sudden exit of Noah, Damon, and the rest of the hockey players midway through. They had all checked their phones simultaneously, their expressions turning instantly rigid before they silently packed their bags and slipped out the back doors. I could only assume university management had rushed in a replacement coach to salvage their season.
But as the professor’s voice droned on in the background, my mind refused to leave the ice rink. I couldn’t stop obsessing over our head coach’s sudden disappearance. The memory of the man’s heavy, suffocating grip on my hand yesterday replayed in my mind like a horror movie reel.
’There is absolutely no way a man that arrogant just up and left for a random family emergency,’ I thought, a cold sweat breaking out across my palms. ’Did Damon threaten him? Or... did Noah?’
A heavy wave of guilt washed over me the exact moment Noah’s name crossed my mind. Why was I suddenly grouping my brother in with a psycho like Damon Silver? Noah had always been my protector... innocent, calm, and steady. But lately, I felt like I was looking at a complete stranger. The memory of him violently shoving Damon off our pavement last night, his eyes flashing with malice right before he mask-shifted back into his sweet brother persona, made my stomach twist into a painful knot.
I buried my face in my hands, my fingers tangling in my hair as the rest of the lecture hall finally began to empty out. I deliberately lingered at my desk, desperately wanting to avoid the suffocating crowd. A few remaining students were overtly pointing at my row, their muffled whispers vibrating through the empty space.
They were talking about me. It was entirely because Damon and Noah had practically fought over who got to sit next to me today.
Once more than half the room had cleared, I threw my backpack over my shoulder and made a break for the exit. But before I could reach the safety of the hallway, a tall girl stepped directly into my path, cutting off my escape route.
"You’re Noah’s brother, right?" she asked, her eyes scanning me with an irritating mix of curiosity and condescension.
The phrase hit me like a physical blow. Instantly, the suffocating ghosts of my high school years rushed back. Back then, I didn’t have an identity. I wasn’t an individual; was always just ’’Noah’s brother.’’
I blinked past the sudden sting of erasure, forcing my chin up. "My name is Micah."
"Right," she replied, rolling her eyes slightly as if the distinction couldn’t matter less to her. "Anyway, we’re throwing a massive bash tonight, and we’re really hoping you’ll convince your brother to show up. I mean, you can totally come along too... Micah."
She thrust two glossy, metallic cards into my hands.
"I don’t really know about that..." I stammered, my chest tightening.
"Just convince him," she interrupted, giving me a patronizing pat on the shoulder. "I’m completely sure the golden captain will listen to his precious little brother. Thanks!"
She spun on her heel, giggling as she walked away to rejoin her friends down the corridor. I stared down at the heavy invitations, a bitter taste rising in my mouth. It was pathetic. They only wanted me there as bait. Nobody actually cared about Micah Miller.
Anxious to drown out the noise in my head, I hurried across campus to the media team headquarters. The main room was surprisingly quiet for once, most of the staff already out on their designated athletic rotations. I walked straight down the narrow hall and pushed open the door to Raven’s private office.
She was sitting back in her chair, a telephone pressed tightly to her ear. The moment she saw me, she gave me a sharp wink and held up a single manicured finger, signaling for me to wait.
I closed the door quietly behind me, my heart hammering against my ribs as I listened to her side of the conversation.
"I’m incredibly sorry, but I am legally not at liberty to disclose his personal information, sir," Raven said, her voice dropping into an uncharacteristically strict, professional tone.
I flinched, my blood turning to liquid ice. ’Whose information? Mine?’ A paralyzing terror seized my throat. Was that my father on the other end of the line? Had he finally uncovered my anonymous column? The sheer urge to sprint out of the building and vanish into thin air took over my senses.
"Thank you so much for your feedback and your review, though. I will surely let the author know," Raven concluded smoothly, slamming the telephone receiver back onto its cradle with a heavy, exhausted sigh.
"Who the hell was that?" I gasped out, my voice trembling violently. "Was it my father?"
"Well, thankfully, no," Raven groaned, rubbing her temples. "That was actually the Vice Chancellor of the university."
"What?" My jaw dropped. "The Vice Chancellor called the media room just to comment on my article?"
"Oh, absolutely," Raven said, a dramatic smirk returning to her face. "She was desperately trying to fish for the real identity of ’The Secret Sinner.’ I highly suspect a very powerful, very angry parent lodged a formal complaint this morning. Honestly, it might actually be your crazy pastor father pulling strings."
"My father will literally skin me alive if he ever finds out about this," I whispered, the room spinning slightly.
"Right, right... relax, kid," she chuckled, waving a dismissive hand. "Don’t worry your pretty little head. I will always protect my favorite scandalous author. Your secret is entirely safe with me."
Raven leaned forward, her eyes lighting up with sudden mischief. "Anyway, why are you hovering in my office looking like a ghost? You’re not just here to celebrate the fact that Volume Two already hit two hundred thousand live views on the student forum, right?"
’Two hundred thousand views already?!’
The number screamed in my head. The article had completely broken the campus internet in less than twelve hours. I forced myself to blink past the shock, swallowing hard as I steered the conversation back to the paranoia consuming me. "Do you... do you know anything real about what happened to the head coach?"
"The coach?" Raven shrugged carelessly, reaching into a bag on her desk. "The official statement from administration says he had a sudden, severe family emergency. I mean, the timing is completely weird, but honestly? I don’t give a damn."
"But what if it isn’t an emergency?" I pressed, stepping closer to her desk, my voice rising in panic. "What if something terrible happened to him? Like... what if someone cornered him, hurt him, or threatened his life?"
"Micah," Raven said, her tone suddenly flat as she stared at me. I went quiet, raising an eyebrow in defense. "You are being completely, utterly delusional right now."
"But Raven—"
"Just drop it, kid. I am entirely certain that whatever happened to that creepy old man happened for a damn good reason. Be it a sudden threat, a real family emergency, or..." She gave a theatrical, uncaring shrug. "...even his brutal death. Who cares?"
She snapped her fingers in front of my face, breaking my trance. "Now, go do your actual duties. I need to get out of here early to pick out a highly convincing swimsuit for the massive blowout tonight."
"A swimsuit?" I repeated blankly.
My eyes fell directly to the glossy, metallic invitations still clutched in my trembling hand. I flipped the card over, my heart instantly stopping as I read the location and time. It was a massive varsity pool party. And it was happening ’tonight.’
A wave of pure panic crashed over me. I only had a few hours to face Noah, look him in the eye, and somehow convince him to step into a crowded den full of the exact hockey players and rumors he was desperately trying to keep me away from.
"Damn it," I cursed under my breath. Without giving Raven another syllable of explanation, I turned on my heel and burst out of the media office into the blinding afternoon light.