Party 2nite?

Noah’s P.O.V

I tugged my jersey over my head, the sweat already drying on my skin after practice. The room buzzed with post-practice chatter–dull aches, bruises, and the usual locker room banter filling the space. However, Matt was unusually quiet today, fingers moving furiously over his phone. For once, I didn’t feel like I had to be walking on tiptoes, so I sank onto the bench in front of my lockers, pulling off my skates and socks and letting the cool air hit my overheated skin.

Just then, Jaxon came out of the showers with a towel around his waist and plopped beside me after grabbing a hoodie from his locker. His perpetually messy black hair flopped into his eyes as he grumbled under his breath about something.

“Man if I fail another AP class, my mom’s going to disown me,” he muttered, pulling at his hoodie strings. Was that a GQ sweater? I swear to God this idiot I call my best friend could be obsessed with designer brands like it was his last meal.

Shaking my head, I chuckled at his statement. “Maybe stop skipping your classes to hang out with…who was it again? Jessica?”

“Julie,” Jaxon rolled his eyes. “And we do more than hanging out. You know she actually fucking squirts and so does her twin.”

My brows almost climbed into my hairline as I shot him a surprised look. “How do you even know that? Actuallly…” I threw my hands up. “Keep it to you yourself.”

A shit-eating grin twisted his lips and he did a funny dance with his brows. “I’ll tell you still. We had a threesome and the girls fucked each other. It was so fucking hot bruh. Maybe you can join us next time. I’m sure the girls would love to have the infamous icy captain in their bed.” as if to support his words, Jaxon made a circle with one hand and started inserting a finger into that hole, miming sex.

Giving him an unimpressed look, I rolled my eyes. “And you wonder why you’re falling behind.”

“Not everyone’s a monk like you.” he laughed, making me wonder how I’m bestfriends with this knobhead. “Anyway, I’m still screwed. No way I can handle this workload and practice at the same time.”

I leaned back against the bench, stretching out my legs. “You’ll be fine. Look at me. I’ve got a heavier course load than you, and I get by.”

Jaxon shot me a glare but it was halfhearted at best. “Yeah, but you’re a fucking nerd and a freak of nature.”

“It just takes a little time management, dude,” I smirked with a shrug.

“A little time management,” he scoffed. “Bro, if the guys knew their Icy captain was such a nerdy dork who reads fucking lit at midnight, they’d lose their minds.

I kicked his shin lightly. “You call me that again and I’ll make you do suicides for an hour straight next practice.”

Jaxon only grinned in response. “Oh no, the nerd is gonna make me run. I’m shaking in my skates.”

“Shut up, " I grumbled, and we both burst out into laughter. He grabbed my head in a lock and began rubbing his knuckles into my head as if I was that kid he had met years ago. Laughing, I punched at his sides lightly, trying to get him off me. It didn’t matter that the other guys may see their captain let loose like this. My friendship with Jaxon had always been easy.

We went way back, farther than anyone on this team knew. I still remember the summer camp where we met. My dad, always hellbent on keeping up his legacy through his sons, sent me to some elite hockey training program when I was seven. I’d been the youngest there, awkward as hell, with my dad’s expectations looming over me like a storm cloud. I wasn’t even sure I liked the game then. It was just something I played for fun with my older brother who was ten years older than me. But the next thing I knew, I was dropped off at a freaking summer camp for three weeks without as so much as a hug, leaving me surrounded by strangers. I might have cried a little, begging my dad to take me back home.

Jaxon had been the first person to talk to me. Bigger, louder, a few months older, and completely self-assured in a way I couldn’t even fake. He’d teased me for my “baby face” but stuck by me through every drill like we’d been friends forever. Where I froze under pressure from the hellish coaches, Jaxon thrived, turning every loss into a joke. Maybe it was because of his Italian mom, but Jaxon was also very expressive with his body. I mean he would hug me anytime I won something–he still did now–and plant a large kiss on my cheek. There wasn’t a time in the summer camp when he wasn’t ruffling my hair or keeping me in a headlock. It was like having an older brother again, except this one was warmer and the best friend I never knew I needed.

Also, his family always visited him on weekends, showering him with hugs and kisses even when the coach complained that he was too mischievous.

Meanwhile, I sat on the sidelines, pretending I didn’t care that my dad didn’t show up unless I won a gold medal.

Soon when Jaxon noticed that nobody ever came for me, he snuck us out of camp one day–I still don’t know how he did it but we went to his home and spent an entirety of two days. That was one of the most bizarre yet wonderful experiences of my life. In my home, the most affection my mom or father ever showed me was a smile or a nod in my direction but Jaxon’s mom had taken one look at me and wrapped me in a bear hug like I was one of her own.

After that day, we were stuck together like glue and when my father met his father and the two started working on some business deals, it was a sealed friendship.

“Yo, Earth to Noah,” Jaxon said, finally letting go of my head.

I blinked hard, realizing I’d zoned out completely. “What?”

He nodded towards the corner of the room where Hayes sat, stripping off his gear with sharp, irritated movements.

“What do you think of your rookie?” 

I followed his gaze to Dorian and as always, he looked…intense. The guy had this presence that was impossible to ignore, like a magnet that pulled all the attention in the room without trying, and to make matters worse, he didn’t seem aware of his ability to control a crowd. His red hair was damp with sweat and though he wasn’t looking at me, his emerald eyes were glaring at one of the rookies, Jacob I think, Greg’s rookie.

I cleared my throat, forcing myself to look away. “He’s good. Really good. After watching him play the last game, I’m feeling confident about the season.” 

Jaxon nodded though his brow arched slowly. “I agree, but don’t you think he’s a little..standoffish? Dude barely talks to anyone, and you’re supposed to be his godfather. Is there like some history between you guys that I don’t know about?”

A sad smile curled my lips and I shook my head. That was the thing I always wondered too. I didn’t know the guy so why did he hate me so much? Knowing Jaxon was waiting for an answer from me, I muttered. “No. I mean, I don’t think so. Maybe he’s just used to doing his own thing. Not everyone’s a team player right off the bat.”

“Well, maybe you should try talking to him.” Jaxon finished tying the laces of his sneakers. “He’s  good, but he’s not going to be much help if he keeps acting like a lone wolf.”

I was thankfully saved from a response when the bench began vibrating. I glanced down to see my phone blinking with a text from Rose.

–Party 2nite at the house. You coming? ;)