𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨 • 𝗔. 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦

𝑇𝐻𝑅𝐸𝐸

[n a r r a t o r]

Dean Portman had always told himself he wasn't good enough and he wasn't worthy to play. Whether that be where he comes from or it be how much money he carries in his pocket he always finds away to bring himself down. So when he got the opportunity to play alongside America's best players he couldn't believe it, he didn't believe it. It took him exactly 2 days before being fully convinced that he should go.

He arrived 6 hours late to the motel and had been placed with Ken Wu. At first the little boy was weary about the older boy that could most certainly pass as a man. But once they started talking  finding that you can find interest in people who share none of your own. Ken didn't care about where he grew up or about how good he can play nor the money in his pocket. He just wanted a friend. And when he was given that he couldn't have asked for anything more.

Adam Banks was compressed against Alexis Stansson although the girl couldn't see the deep woven frown he had created once he took a glance at the girl she could still feel his unnerving presence behind her. The girl tried her best to wiggle around the ropes trying to adjust her stance closer to Luis but the rope wouldn't budge. In fact it only pulled tighter around her torso.

The rope got to a point it was so tight it would burn her forearm every time she tried to lift it, red marks painted her arm as small dots kissed her frozen flesh. Her bones stilled as she felt Adams chest heave against her back. His breath hit her neck gently. Her ears pounding with the sound of his heartbeat as it quickened in rhythm. Adam looked down at the Stansson girl. He felt her hand skim against his knuckles as his hairs stood on end.

He felt himself melt underneath her touch and his breaths turn cold as he took long pants in failed attempts to calm himself down. He felt his jersey stick to his skin and the small puddle of sweat spread on his back as their fingers would touch every now and then.

"- everyone move to their right now!" Dean ordered. His head pointing into the direction as he moved his arms budged the rope further to the right. "Who made you boss? Everyone move to your left!"

Not even a second later the team went tumbling. Adam gripped onto Alexis  his arm wrapped around her waist as she too fell down with him, pulling the rest of the team down with her, in a perfect domino affect and abyss of groans erupted onto the rink but  the two didn't care- well they didn't notice.

They were to caught up tangled in each other to care. Alexis felt her heartstrings tug and her bones crack underneath her shins, her chest pressed up against his own as their hearts beats in unison. Her arms propped up on either side of his face, Adams hands still skin tight on her waist.

Alexis felt her skin glow red, her skates shuffling on the ice as she raised to her feet. Luis gripping onto her shoulders as he held her into his side. He chuckled at the girl as she tumbled and stalked into circles grabbing onto the thin fabric of his jersey to steady herself in a balanced position.

"- you guys can argue all you want but I'm not untying you until you move as one."

After countless tries and multiple arguments and a few hits to the back of the head team U.S.A. moved as a flock, a team. Coach still on their wing as he spoke words of encouragement, his arm pointing to each direction that the team is to move towards.

"Now you're learning! Communication! That's it, good. Move together, charge! Alright turn!" The team shuffled right, smile wider than their faces as they finally accomplished the tightening circle.

"You look like hockey players, I'm proud of you team. You worked hard today- but hockey should also be fun." He grabbed the rope passing it to Dwayne.

"Rancher Dwayne, round me up some stray cattle?" Dwayne took the rope in his hands- flashing a lop sided smile as he looked at the rope in awe. "My pleasure."

The team spreads out onto the rink. Cheers of excitement and melodic shouts fill the walls with the shrill of laughing teenagers in their brightest of moments.

"Hey there cat." Julie laughs as she nudges Alexis against the boards skating away from Dwayne as he spins the rope above his head. "Oh shi-"

Charlie pulls the girl away from the rope. His hold on her forearm never once faltered as they skated on the rims of the rink. His hand found its way in the brunettes hand as they race and weave throughout the swarm of screaming teammates. "Sorry Conway but every man for himself," his eyes widen. Alexis hands press against his shoulders as the black-haired beauty pushes him into Dwayne' grasp. The lasso loose on his torso as he takes his seat on the bench. I giggle at him when he shaves ice onto my ankles as I skate back.

"Last time I save you." Charlie snickers. His elbow meets my own as we click our skates together. "If you say so Conway."

"Alex!"  The blonde girl sits on the highest chairs in the stadium. Her honey brown eyes glisten underneath the harsh light of  that reflected into the ice. Luis sat on her right as he let the cold devour him whole. His legs stiffen and his arm freeze as he runs his hands along his skin.

"Here!" Alexis shouts as she throws the boy a junior worlds crewneck. He pulls it over his head covering his exposed skin, the warmth of the crewneck instantly aerates onto his own body as it loosens the tension in his neck and releases the knots that formed on his shoulder blades. "Wouldn't you get cold?" Alexis shrugs unbothered as she folds her own arms across her body.

Adam, Charlie, Guy and Jesse couldn't help but stare at the girl. Watch in awe as her plump lips gape, how her hair fell in front of her eyes as it carves out her intense features. Her skin glistened underneath the subtle sunlight that seeped through the windows mirroring a perfect gold colour onto her tanned skin.

"They call her Hypno for a reason." Averman teased as he ran the bottom of his hockey still along their helmets. The four boys in turn hit his helmet at once, the small group groaned in agony as they rubbed at the small bruises that started to form at the nape of their necks.

"Stupid Luis and his stupid hair." Jesse slurred. His face twists as he stares at the three that sat unbothered by the obvious gossip being shared below them.

Jesse Hall never really did relationships, he's never put any thought into it. He preferred to be on the ice than hanging out with a girl that only entertained him half of the amount hockey could. But as soon as he stares at those honey draped eyes and that annoyingly charming smile he couldn't help but smile too. He couldn't help that fluttering feeling that widened in his stomach or that irritating itch that scraped at his throat every time he tried to talk to the girl.

But then he'd tell himself not to fall for someone on the first day, because although they may be attractive their personalities could be the total opposite. But Alexis Stansson is the definition of beautiful inside and out. With each fibre of her being she was truely a good person, raised up from the soils of those of kind and caring riches that her parents provided her. But even the most perfect of people carry the heaviest of demons.

It was just a matter of time when people find out, it's a test of sooner or later will someone get too nosy for their own good to realise that Alexis Stansson is like the rest of us, a barrier of her own secrets and a keeper of her own whispers and gossip.

"Fuck her." Adam hated her, with the strongest bones in his body at the heaviest of weights that weighed him down on the daily. He loved to hate her , but for no reason at all. Nothing behind it. But for a reason to be discovered.

And a good reason at that.