Chapter 12

     Chapter twelve: Good fuck

    Gavin POV

    For my pre-game ritual, I knocked the post with my stick three times and groaned. Crouching in the crease, I adjusted my goalie mask.

    Coach blew the whistle, and the team erupted into motion. Wearing the fifty-pound goalie gear, I stood in position.

    "Alright, let's work on breakaways!" he yelled.

    I focused on the players zooming toward me, tracking the puck. Aaron, the team captain, charged first. His stickhandling was a blur as he deked left, then right. I shifted, weight transferring to my left skate.

    He released the puck, and I snapped my glove hand up, snagging the wrist shot.

    "Nice save, Gav!" Aaron called out, grinning. It was strange because we were only friendly on the ice. Yet today we were super friendly; coach had to see we were willing to work on our relationship for the team.

    We needed to make it to playoffs.

    Next up was Alex, our rookie winger. His eyes locked onto mine, and I sensed his determination. He unleashed a slapshot, but I was already moving, my blocker absorbing the impact.

    The drills continued, my teammates testing me from every angle. I was in the zone, reacting on instinct.

    Snap shot from the point... glove save.

    Rebound attempt... pad save.

    Breakaway from our captain... stick save. When I noticed the puck coming, my reaction was fast and I did a butterfly, stopping the puck from passing the goal line. The next pick was off the post.

    Coach blew the whistle again, signaling the end of practice.

    "Good work, guys! Gavin, solid game face today!" Coach Seth praised us.

    I straightened up, sweat-drenched and grinning. Aaron gave me a head nod. He walked towards me and it was awkward for a second.

    "Coach is watching, stop looking at me like you want to kill me," Aaron whispered.

    On cue, I fostered the biggest smile I could and pulled him for half a hug as we groaned at each other. My eyes peeked at the coach, who nodded at both of us.

    "Good practice, Hawkins."

    "You too, Archer," I deadpanned.

    Clapping to get our attention, our heads snapped to the coach. "Bad news for us, Tyler isn't returning, not for at least three months."

    We all let out a groan of frustration. Tyler was our top defenseman on the ice; he had gotten into a bike accident two days back. Tyler did illegal bike riding for extra funds, and it had led to him being hospitalized.

    "What are we going to do, Coach? We are short on a player, and Aiden's skills aren't good enough to play the games," Liam Black, aka L-Train, the left wing, asked. Grey eyes and black curly hair, he was the ladies' favorite.

    "I know," he let out a sigh of frustration. It felt like this season was cursed. Aaron was not in the right frame of mind because of the breakup, though he had his head in the game now. Tyler was in the hospital, and I...

    Well, I was a different case.

    __

    Janice: Wanna hang out?

    I read the text, stepping out of the locker room after my shower. The thought of thinking or doing anything else but hockey tempted me. Hence, I agreed. Janice was a good fuck. She wasn't messy or needy. She respected my boundaries and rules. I liked that. No commitment, no worry.

    Me: Sure

    Janice: Kk. Come pick me up, cheer practice is over. My ride left me.

    I read the text thrice before I could physically bring myself to respond to it. She wanted me to pick her up; I didn't do that for everyone. I loved my own space too much. Only Iris had ever been in my car. I didn't like the idea of Janice riding in my car and touching my things.

    Heaving out a heavy breath, I deleted my long string of text and replied.

    Me: K

    Minutes later, I found Janice along with her crew, the art teacher, and Lyric? Weird combination.

    The art teacher looked pissed while she conversed with Lyric. Janice stood cradling her bruised arm, and the other girls were pouting.

    What was happening?

    "Janice is begging that I should not punish you, but you are blaming her. How could you?" I heard the teacher yell, rage fueling her words.

    My eyes flitted to Lyric, who happened to be typing into her phone. Why was she texting during this situation? Who?

    Janice caught a glance of me, did a double-take, and exclaimed in the highest-pitched voice I had ever heard in my life. It made my ears burn, "Babe!"

    In an instant, I understood Janice's game in all this.

    "Are you okay?" I asked Janice, even though I was staring at Lyric. It felt like the question was for her instead.

    "I am fine, babe. This girl hurt me," she told me in a soft voice, tears filling her eyes. This girl was such an actress. I had seen her tear up before; she was madly talented.

    Rage grew in me when she touched my arm. I wanted to push her off, but Iris's sage words rang in my head. 'Lyric is on a scholarship and has no one to support her. If she does anything or even retaliates to any of these mean girls, they would make her lose it. They have been at it since first year.'

    I had asked why Lyric never fought back against the bullies. In Velmont, certain people had power while others were nothing but stooges.

    Playing the role of the boyfriend, I asked, "Miss Spencer, are you going to apologize?"

    Lyric's pupils widened at my question. She was stunned that I'd asked her to apologize without asking for details. It was better this way.

    "I don't think an apology is enough, Mr. Hawkins. Miss Spencer broke the rules, and she has to be expelled."

    "But, ma'am, doesn't the rule book say after three strikes before a student could be expelled?" I shot back. In the first year, each student was given a copy of the school handbook of rules. I was bored after losing one of my games one night, and I read it.

    The art teacher tossed her brows in surprise that I actually knew that. It was unfair to be known as the dumb jock. So stereotypical.

    "Well—"

    I couldn't let her finish. I turned to Janice and asked, "Miss Spencer is going to apologize. Babe, are you okay with that?"

    After a little bit of coaxing from me, she nodded. Miss Lia agreed and left.

    Until one of Janice's friends pushed the phone out of her hand, and they began attacking. I stood and watched it happen.

    I could have helped, but I didn't. Lyric kept looking over, her eyes begging me to help her, but I couldn't do that. I continued playing the part of the boyfriend until she kissed me. Something inside me snapped, and I could no longer do this.

    She had broken the rule.

    Soon, we arrived at my car. I got in, starting the engine. She stood outside next to my car door.

    "Aren't you going to open the door for me, babe?"

   My nostrils flared at the absurd question, I snapped "First, I am not your babe. We have an agreement, not a relationship. Is that clear?"

    Her lips quivered, and she nodded. "Yes."

    "Secondly, I want you and your friends to go and apologize to Lyric."

    Stunned, she shot back, "Why do you care? You didn't do anything when we were hurting her."

    She was right. I was an idiot. What had come over me?

    "I have my reasons," I lied. I was having a bad day, and I took it out on Lyric. I was an asshole.

    Janice gave me a your-not-fooling-me-with-your-bullshit look.

    Wrapping her arms around her chest in a defensive stance, she shook her head. "I am not apologizing to her."

    I laughed humorlessly. "Fine. Then we are done. Find a ride for yourself."

    "Gavin!" she yelled at me when my car started moving. Blocks away from the school, I heaved out a sigh, thankful I had managed to stop her from getting into my car.

    My thoughts strayed back to Lyric. I hit the horn of my car, even though there was no car in front of me. I hit it three times before I could calm myself down.

I just ruined a good fuck schedule because of that mute girl. She was going to be the end of me.