~Six months later~

"You okay, man?"

I look up from staring at the floor when I hear Oliver's question. We've gotten along greatly since I entered the team, and me taking extra care of his little brother in the castle connects, too. 

"Everything's fine. I'm just preparing for the game," I tell him, honestly. I'm not lying; I am preparing for the game. But I'm not focusing on our team strategies or my teammates, no. I'm fucking stressing about us playing against my former team in about ten minutes. 

Everyone is here. Max, Justin, Benjamin, Thomas, . . . and Elias. I haven't seen them in a long time, which I'm glad for, but this also worsens my anxiety. Are they mad I left the team? Will they take it out on me on the ice?

"Are you sure you can do this?" Jake whispers, scooting closer. "I don't want you to feel like you have to face them. We'll win, even without you. Just like last time."

I mock his last sentence. "Don't get cocky. Our team was better, we just had a shit communication."

Jake snuggles closer to me, resting his head on my shoulder as he watches me put on the last of my gear. "I remember you communicating very well, though. It's something I cursed at, since I wasn't feeling too well and all."

I mess up his hair, because it will surely make him groan, but also because I love going through his fluffy hair. "You were cursing at me? How rude—"

"Would you two lovebirds stop kissing each other's ass and think about the others? Yeah?" Flynn grumbles, his face about as dark as an approaching storm. 

Right. Dante's on the other team. 

Since they somehow broke their situationship off two months ago, Flynn has been grumpy and drinking non-stop. It's gotten even worse when he saw Dante shopping together with a girl, though I'm not sure it was a date. My best friend tends to spend time with his sisters when he's sad. 

"Flynn. . ." Jake starts, but gets cut off by his best friend. "No, it's fine. I should be happy for you guys."

Yet he is not. I often catch him staring whenever Jake is asleep in my arms, or when we're doing something together. It's not the creepy way of staring, more like he's longing after a person to do cute stuff with, too. It surprises me, because Flynn does not seem to like physical attention. Jake tries to convince me otherwise, but I just can't picture it. 

I've tried to talk with Dante about all of this, but he doesn't want to elaborate. He cuts me off the second I say Flynn's name, and then he won't answer my texts for the following three days. After a week or two, I've given up. He doesn't want to talk about it, which is fine by me. 

"Alright, guys! I want to win, so we have to kick their ass! Come on! Oh, and Flynn, behave, will you? I don't need two fights within a week. Understand that?" Coach Mabins shouts. We all jump up, some more energetic than others (cough Flynn cough).

"Flynn, I asked if you understood?" Coach repeats. Flynn stays somewhere behind us as the rest of the team makes their way on the ice. With a frown, me and Jake turn on the same time. Our friend collapses right in front of us. 

"Oh my god!" Jake gasps, plopping to his knees in an attempt to soften Flynn's fall. He seems unconscious at first, unwell by heat or stress or something like that, but that's not the case. His hands go up to his face, throw his helmet off and hide his whole expression. 

"I can't—I can't do this," he whispers, sorrow audible in his voice, even in that low tone. "I'm sorry. I thought—I though it'd all be better by now. But he's—he has someone new—"

"This is about a boy?" Coach screeches, an almost inhumane sound. He hoists Flynn up by his armpits and grabs his chin so our friend looks up at him. 

"You're getting on the ice, and you're going to play your best game ever. Yes, Flynn? Whoever this boy is, show him you're stronger than his attempt to break you. You're Flynn Harrison, for fuck's sake. He should be avoiding the ice because of you."

Flynn's bottom lip trembles, but he gives a short nod. That's enough for Coach to let go of him and take a step back. He points at us, at the door. "Go out there and show him, Flynn. Your friends will be there for you when it gets hard."

Jake reaches for Flynn and drags him along. By the time we're on the edge of the rink, Flynn has put himself together and is nodding frantically, as if to convince himself of something. "I saw him kissing with someone else. Not the girl he was shopping with. That was his sister. Yesterday, at the bar. He was drunk and I wanted to look out for him, but then he disappeared with some other drunk, and I found them kissing in the bathroom."

With a dramatic gasp, Jake flicks Flynn's head. "You went to a bar the day before a game?!"

"Ow!" Flynn hisses, rubbing his sore spot. "I didn't drink anything! I was on my way home from the library when I saw him biking, but the wasn't going in a straight line so I followed him. We might be on bad terms, but I don't want him dead."

I sigh. If only Dante had called me last night. I would've gladly drove out and brought him home. It makes me a little uneasy to hesitate whether or not Dante knows he can count on my anytime. No matter where I am or who I'm with. 

We feel Coach's hot breath in our necks, so we quickly skate on the ice. The rest of our team, and the others, are already there and waiting for us. Oh. 

Jake blows me another quick kiss before we part our ways. Every time he does that, it makes my heart a little heavy. In a good way. I love it when he shows me affection. 

When the official starts the game, my eyes scan the other team. To my surprise, Justin isn't there. Dante is, and he's obviously very set on the game. He joined the team again after his dad started paying for his debts again, when he and Flynn broke things off. 

Elias is still in the goal. Every time I get close, I see a nervous tremor go through him. His hands are trembling awfully, too. But that's not my problem. 

"Hey!" Flynn shouts as he gets tackled by none other than Dante. My best friend's eyes are narrowed, and he skates away without making sure Flynn's okay. I skate over and help him up. He seems a little upset. 

"Ignore it. Demand an explanation later," I warn him. "Now, focus on the game."

With obvious reluctance, he does as I say and lets go of the topic. Multiple similar collisions happen again throughout the game, but Flynn gets motivated more and more after each one. 

Ten seconds before the game ends, he scores the winning point. Without looking back, he skates off the ice and disappears into the changing room. Out of the corner of my eyes, I notice Dante doing the same. I'll check up on both of them later, first I want to give Jake his celebration kiss. 

"You played well," I tell him, carrying his helmet for him. He seems a little off, a little annoyed. Contrary to that, I'm actually pretty happy because we kicked their ass. Not to sound cocky, but the team was better when I was still in it.

"That second goal could have been avoided," he mutters. "I don't know what the hell I was thinking."

Oh, so that's it. He's frustrated with himself. "I would give you a kiss to soothe the disappointment, but you stink," I tease. He grins and shoves me aside. 

"I should get a nicer boyfriend," he pouts, opening the door to the changing room. I'm just about to pinch his side when we see what's happening. 

So this is where our roommate and my best friend had to go so soon after the game. Their helmets are sprawled out over the floor, just like their hockey gear. I catch sight of two people running into the showers, right before they turn on. 

Hm. Seems like we'll have to interrogate them later. 

I'm about to turn to Jake and give him a playful wink, maybe suggesting doing the same, when I hear giggles coming from the steamy room. Christ. They're like horny teenagers. 

"What the hell?" Jake sighs, sitting down on a bench. I plop down next to him, helping him by taking off his hockey gear. The rest of our team is somehow still gone. Maybe they're celebrating on the ice, or maybe we escaped Coach's meeting. I ebt they're all stuck listening to his comments. 

"Are you tired, sweetheart? Why don't you take a hot shower, and we can go out to eat something after. What are you in the mood for? Pizza? Pasta? Something non-Italian?"

He shrugs, pulling me closer and giving me a hug. "No. You choose. I just want to spend some time with you. What about we head home now and shower there? We can get comfy on the couch."

Though I would rather go out to some cozy restaurant, eat something and then have a stroll in the park or along the canal, I do think it's better if we shower at home. Flynn and Dante probably think so, too. 

"Alright. Let's go, then. Dante, I expect an explanation via text by tomorrow evening, at the very least!" I shout before grinning at Jake and pulling him along. 

We may not have had such a bumpy road as our best friends, but we've definitely had a unique story too. We've overcome our childhood separation and Jake's monophobia over the months. 

We're together now though, and I couldn't love our journey more. Perhaps it would have been different if I hadn't moved to the other side of the country, or if I had kept contact. 

It doesn't matter. I'm positive we would have made our way to each other no matter what.