"So, Alex, how have you been doing?"

Alex asked me to come with him to his therapy session after practice. He has a busy schedule, because after, he has to go to his own practice (well, of his former team), and after that, he has the night shift in the castle. 

I'm nervous to talk to his therapist, though Alex assured me she's the sweetest lady ever. Yet I don't know what I'm supposed to say, or how much he told her about me, or us. 

"I'm doing better, actually," he says nervously, putting his hands under his thighs as he kicks his legs. I'm seated next to him in a position not unlike his. 

"The eating schedule you've made for me is really helping, so thank you for that," he adds. "The issues on the team. . . They're taken care of. I'm actually joining Jake's team next month."

With an interested expression, she leans forward to me. "Oh? You don't go to the same college, then?"

I shake my head. "No yet, anyway. Ask him again in a month."

Alex smiles at me. "Jake's really been helping me with the eating, Jo. He deserves as much praise as me."

I wave that away. "No, no. He's doing it all on his own, really. I'm just cheering him on, like a proud parent."

Jo grins. She's obviously endeared by how our conversation is going. "Now, I think you both deserve praise. Jake, I see you're supporting Alex very well. That's not easy, and with the way you're giving him all the credit. . . He's lucky to have you."

I see Alex nodding in an exaggerating way, agreeing with her. "Absolutely, I am."

She turns to him, at which he stops being dramatic and gulps. "But you're doing amazing too. You're taking initiative to get better with food, and to leave the toxic people behind you. I want you to be proud of that, alright? You're still in a journey, and it'll be a long way, but you'll get there. Keep surrounding yourself with people like Jake. They will guide you in the right direction, and you can do the rest."

Later, much later, after an hour of this, Alex walks out of therapy with his hand in mine. "Did she just tell me to get more boyfriends?"

"Don't you dare," I warn him. I know we're playing, and I only go along with his joke to see his smile again. 

He shrugs. "I don't need two, anyway. No one could accompany you on my number one place."

These little moments mean more to me than I think he knows. I don't want big gestures. All I want is Alex holding me, loving me, telling me we'll be together forever. Anything else won't do it for me. 

"Care to join me to practice? I know you probably have some work for school, and it's completely fine if you can't. Just wanted to offer," he whispers when I take place behind the steering wheel. He looks a little vulnerable, with his hands folded in his lap, but he's hiding it by sticking his chin higher. 

"Which is why I brought my books with me." I point at the backseat where, next to our sport bags, my textbooks lay. Immediately, a smile spreads over Alex' face. I read it as relief that he doesn't have to be alone. 

While I drive to his ice rink, I hold his hand in mine. He's talking about how excited he is to see the kids at work again, and my chest warms as I hear how happy it makes him. He doesn't let his teammates bring him down, and I'm very proud of him for that. 

I park in the only empty spot left, and of course it's right next to Justin's car. Alex ignores the boy, though, and grabs his and mine stuff without sparing him a glance. For his record, Justin doesn't try anything either. Maybe Alex' breakdown earlier this week had some positive aspect too, then. 

We walk inside, past the other teammates who try to reach out to him. I know Alex hears them apologizing over and over again, but he talks over them to me. "Any urgent assignments this week?"

I shake my head, a little anxious by all the stares we get. "No, no. I'm just starting to study for the finals."

He smiles. "Hell, I'm so happy I only join you after the finals are over. Imagine me studying as hard as you."

I give him a gentle push. "Now you're saying I'm a nerd."

My books, first in both of his arms, are swung to one arm as he wraps the other around my shoulders. "But you're my nerd."

"I'm not a nerd!"

"Alex?"

We turn at the sound of his name, full of surprise and dread. Elias is standing in the doorway, with wide eyes and a document in his hand. He's pale and looks like he's about to stagger any moment now, but I can't bring myself to feel sympathy. 

"Y-you're leaving the team?" 

All around us, guys look up in shock. Alex, being Alex, shrugs and drops his sport bag to the floor. My books are placed carefully on the benches of the stands. "Since I'm kicked out of my house, I figured I might as well make sure I don't have to see you at all anymore."

I keep myself to the side, plopping down on the stands and pretending to be sorting my books. As much as I want to support Alex, he's handling this on his own just fine, and I trust he doesn't need me. When it seems I'm wrong to do so, I'll step in. 

"But you- you're our captain!" one sputters. Alex turns to him. "I'm not, Max. Justin is. Or did you forget about the fact you replaced me, too?"

Max is silent now, but glares at Justin, behind Elias. The guy looks broken, gripping onto his duffel bag tightly. "Alex. . ."

"Don't." Alex shakes his head, holding up a hand. "I don't want to hear it. This is the last time I'm playing with you guys, before I join Jake's team."

Now all eyes on me. I slowly turn red, but keep my eyes strictly on my books. Then, a voice whispers, "You're friends with him? Come on, dude, you're leaving us for that? He's the enemy!"

Alex shakes his head. I'm surprised by how calm he is. "No, I'm not friends with him. He's my boyfriend. And right now, you're acting more like an enemy than he ever was."

Jake, breathe. Do not get flustered by him openly calling you his boyfriend. 

I hide my face under my books, attempting to hide my giddy smile, too. Everyone probably knows what's up, but I don't mind. 

"Wait—you're gay?" A high-pitched voice pops in. I look up, seeing Elias' girlfriend standing beside him with wide eyes. What was her name again? Annabelle?

Alex sighs, facepalming himself. "I don't need to explain it. I'm just here to play hockey."

"You said it was a phase!" she accuses her boyfriend. Alex' nose scrunches, but besides that, he doesn't react. Instead, he places a kiss on top of my head and disappears into the lockerroom. Since he's the first to leave, I'm guessing he'll finally not have the broken shower. 

I turn my attention back to my books, now for real. The people left here are not ones I find worth conversing with. Sadly, they don't agree with that and step closer to me. 

"The fuck you think you're doing? You're not welcome here. And you can't steal him away!" one snaps. I wish I could remember his name, but they all look alike. So, I'll just name him Bart. 

"I didn't steal him away," I explain, trying to keep my voice even. I'm not nervous; I'm furious. "You drove him away. There's a difference."

"What the hell are you guys doing here? To the lockerroom, and fast!" their coach interrupts, which relieves me. They make their way to where Alex has already disappeared, leaving only the coach and Annabelle in the same room as me. 

I keep my attention on my work, but I notice the coach giving me a weird look every ten seconds or so. Annabelle paces for a few minutes before giving in and sitting down next to me. 

Tons of seats, but where does she sit down? On the chair next to me. Of course. 

"Jake," she whispers. I sigh and give up on getting any work done, then turn to her. Her eyes are still wide. "April Fools isn't here yet. What is this madness?"

Jesus Christ. "Funny. I could ask you the same. I'm betting my boyfrie—oh, sorry anorexia guy—would like too know, too."

Her gaze quickly settles on the rink, not daring to look at me again. "I didn't know you knew about that."

"That shouldn't matter," I tell her. She shrugs, as if Alex isn't worth more than that. A careless shrug, a thought on the background, someone not good enough to have a conversation about. It makes me so angry, because he's so much more than that, but I can't form the right words. 

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that she betrayed Alex, just like that, when my boyfriend returns from the lockerroom. Since he was the first to enter it, I'm sure we have a little more time before the rest comes out. 

I get up and head to walk to him skating small circles on the ice, obviously trying to get my attention, when I spot someone on the stands. Someone who is always here to support Alex, even if he isn't seen. Someone who doesn't know that Alex won't be here the next time there's a practice. 

Should I say something to Alex? I can't just do nothing, right?

"Oh, hi," he grins, hitting the border of the rink. His grin doesn't reach his eyes, but at least he's trying. 

"Hi, baby." I grab his hand and twirl with it. His hands must be one of my favorites parts of him; they're huge and rough, yet he uses them so gently. It's wonderful, really. 

"What did she say to you?" He lifts his chin in Annabelle's direction. "Arabella, I mean."

Her name is Arabella?

"Nothing much," I shrug. "But now we're talking about people we should talk too—" "Hey, I'm not saying you should talk to her!"

Alex is horrified. "Did it seem like that? God, no, avoid her at all costs if you can."

I swipe my thumb over the back of his hand. "No, no. It's okay. I just wanted to bring something else up. But I don't know if you're open to talking about it."

He frowns, a little confused but more bothered. "Of course I am. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Well. . . it's about your grandpa," I say, my voice turning into a whisper at the last word. His eyes widen, and he immediately looks around the rink. Eventually, his gaze lands on his granddad sitting all alone, at the top of the stands. 

"What—what is he doing here? How did you know? I thought—his wife disowned me, Jake. Why on earth would he be here?" he stresses. I squeeze his hand, trying to comfort him. Maybe it wasn't smart to say this. He already has too much stress because he has practice alone, and now his granddad is here too. 

"Just because you're a couple doesn't mean you have the same opinion," I tell him. "I ran in on him that night of. . . the duct tape, you know. He told me about your grandma, and how he's still supporting you. The one you choose to love is not something he can be mad about. His words, not mine."

God, so much has happened since that night. I am now officially Alex' boyfriend, and a reason more for his grandmother to disown him. Being bisexual, alright, but actually having a boyfriend makes it way worse. 

His blue eyes widen beneath those dirty blonde locks again. Then, he curses under his breath. "I'll need to talk to him. Fuck, that means I might be late to my work. Can you grab my phone and text Shana that I'll be ten minutes late? You can find her under the name The devil wears Adidas instead of Prada."

I muffle my laugh and nod, heading to the dressing room when I'm almost crushed by a few anxious hockey players. They're almost late, so I wait around the corner until the last one has left the hallway. 

To be sure, I knock on the door before entering. I don't expect anyone left in the lockerroom, but I don't want to cause a jumpscare either. 

No response. I slip inside and search Alex' blue bag, which I easily find. The stickers we stuck to it when we were little are still hanging to it, which makes me happy. He's so cute. 

A panicked noise sounds through the room. Alarmed, I turn and look around, only to see it's nothing. The room is empty. Then where did the noise come from?

With Alex' phone gripped tightly to my chest, I step toward to showers. "Hello? Is someone still here?"

I stay silent, listening for an answer. My heart almost stops when I hear water running. "Oh gosh, I'm so sorry! I-I thought no one was here anymore! I'll leave now!"

The same noise repeats. I stare at the phone in my hands in doubt. Someone who's showering wouldn't make panicked noises, right? But what if they're just surprised I'm here? 

Before I can make a decision, the door opens again. Alex is in the doorway, with narrowed eyes and a determined look on his face. "Have you seen Elias in here?"

I shake my head, unable to answer. In my defense, a lot is happening right now. 

On wobbly legs, due to the skates on his feet, he walks past me to the entrance of the showers. "Elias? Can you answer me, man?"

The same noise again. Alex and I lock eyes, at which he nods at me. Because he can't walk decently with the skates on, I go first. When I look back, I see Alex dropping to the floor and untying his skates. 

"Elias?" I repeat, glancing in each shower I pass. The sound of water running gets louder until I'm at the back shower, which must be the broken one Alex had to use. I can see (and smell) the mold from a distance. 

I take a deep breath and look behind the corner, scared to see a butt-naked Elias. Instead, I see he's fully clothed, sitting on the floor right under the cold water, with his hands and feet tied together with socks. There's one in his mouth, too. 

A hand on my back brings me out of my shocked state of being. "Come on, love, we've got to help him."

Alex immediately turns off the faucet, kneeling next to his teammate. Elias' eyes are wide and wet, though I don't know if it's the tears or the water coming from the shower that's the cause. 

I join them, freeing Elias' mouth and hans while Alex works on his legs. "I—oh God—I'm—"

Alex shakes his head, resting a hand on the back of Elias'. "Take your time. You don't need to explain, we understand what happened."

The switch Alex has made in just a few minutes is amazing. Ten minutes ago, he was glaring daggers at Elias, and now he finds it in himself to comfort him. Of course, the circumstances ask for it, but I still admire his strength. 

"They—Justin, he got a-angry because I was def-defending you," Elias stutters, staring at Alex but not quite looking at him. He's shocked and traumatized. 

"And everyone was on their side?" Alex asks, and I hear the irony in his tone. Elias doesn't, though, and nods. He even curls up in Alex' arms. 

"Max, Thomas—everyone. I thought they were on our side." He swallows. Alex recoils. "There is no our side, Elias. Imagine today happening again, but me joining Justin and thinking all of it is funny. Imagine how that would feel."

Elias starts shaking his head, his body trembling all over. "N-no, please. Alex, I didn't mean it like that. I thought you ruined my only chance on a future. Please."

I see Alex gritting his teeth, but he doesn't comment on it. Maybe that's for the best.