The concrete concourse under the arena was vibrating. Hours before the puck was set to drop, thousands of boots had pounded up the stairwells, their rhythm carrying through the steel rafters down into the visiting locker room. Outside, the sub-zero wind howled, but inside the stadium, the air was thick, hot, and charged with thunderous electricity.
Up in the stands, the arena was an ocean of screaming fans. Banners hung from every railing, painted in bold varsity lettering: SURPRISE THE WORLD and OUR TIME. Student sections pounded rhythmically on bass drums, the deep thump-thump-thump rattling the plexiglass panels surrounding the rink.
In the very front row, right behind the home bench, Lila pulled her scarf a little tighter around her neck, her hands trembling slightly against the cold
