Chapter One -The Cold Truth

Anna's POV

I had always been the one who believed in Carter. I’d been with him through thick and thin, supporting his dreams and trusting him with mine. But tonight, that trust was shattered. And it happened in a way I could never have imagined.

It wasn’t just a quick, impulsive gesture. It wasn’t a misunderstanding or something that could be easily explained away. No, it was a full-on kiss. A kiss that tore through my heart in a way that left me feeling hollow and raw. The sting of betrayal cut through me like a knife. And the worst part? It wasn’t just anyone he was kissing. It was Jessica. The same Jessica who Carter had cursed for breaking his heart and throwing him aside.

I had never imagined that Carter would betray me in front of everyone, with Jessica of all people, in the middle of the game. I swiped at my tear streaked face and took a shaky deep breath.

"There is no way in hell I'm just going to walk away like this," I breathed.

The sight of them—Carter and Jessica locked in that kiss—was like a slap to my face.

The noise of the crowd faded, the roar of the game became nothing but a distant murmur, and all she could hear was the pounding of my own heartbeat in my ears.

My hands began to shake, and her vision became stained with red as the enormity of Carter's betrayal sank in. The distant chirping of my cellphone faded out the ringing in my ears as I pulled it out of my jacket pocket.

"Where did you disappear to?" Courtney's voice sounded through the speaker.

"I umm, came out for some air. The noise, was uhh, bothering me a bit." I lied but I knew she wouldn't buy it.

"That's bullshit. You grew up with this noise when your dad played hockey, and we sat in on every game. Where the hell are you?"

"I told you, I'm right outside. I'll come back in a minute." I hung up the phone and took another deep breath.

My legs carried me without direction, aimlessly, like a marionette whose strings had been cut. I turned a corner, my eyes slightly unfocused, and then, as if on cue, I saw them.

Carter and Jessica. Standing together, still too close for comfort. Carter’s hand was resting casually on Jessica’s waist, and Jessica was laughing, her head tilted back, her blonde hair shining under the fluorescent lights. And Carter… Carter was smiling at her in a way that made my stomach churn. It was the same smile he used to give me, the one that made me feel like I was the center of his world. But now, it felt like a lie.

I froze. My heart pounded, and I felt my chest tighten with a mixture of fury and despair. I wanted to scream, to run up to him and demand an explanation.

“Carter,” I finally managed to whisper, my voice low, but it was enough. He turned, his eyes locking with mine. For a brief moment, he looked startled, like he had been caught doing something he shouldn’t. But then, the look in his eyes shifted. The shock faded, replaced with something she couldn’t quite place—something cold, something distant.

“Anna…” he began, but his voice faltered. He seemed unsure, almost apologetic, but there was no way to take back what had already happened.

My hands balled into fists at my sides. I was so angry, so hurt, that it felt like my chest might explode.

"What? Cat got your tongue? Or should I say slut?" I grinned when Jessica's head snapped back like my words slapped her literally in the face.

"This isn't...sigh. Look, this has to wait until after the game. I'm going back out there and I need to have my head in the game," Carter shifted even closer to Jessica and her cat-like smirk made the pounding in my ears grow even louder.

"I won't be here after the game. I'm leaving, so whatever you need to say, say it now," I said between gritted teeth as my fists clenched and unclenched at my sides.

Jessica's irritating high-pitched voice let out an annoying screech-like sound as she placed herself between me and Carter.

"Carter owes you nothing, Anna. He just came to the realization that he chose the wrong person to guide him forward. He needs someone who won't make him work so hard for comfort and support. If you know what I mean?" Jessica's manicured finger pointed at me up and down as her eyes narrowed in a bored expression.

Without another word, I closed the distance between us and my right arm swung up fast and hard, swallowing my yelp when my fist connected with Carter's jaw. Jessica screamed as I watched the blood begin to drip at Carter's bottom lip, turned and fled.

"Get back here you little b***h! Oh my God, Carter are you okay? You're bleeding!" Jessica's shrill voice dulled out behind me as I continued to walk away.

This time, I didn’t care where I was going. I didn’t care about the game or the people around me. I just needed to get away from him and all of this. The tears flowed freely now, blurring my vision even more, but it didn’t matter. Nothing mattered anymore.

And, for the first time in a long time, I walked away from the love I thought I had.