See you after class, meet you on the ice.

Prologue

An assortment of lights dispersed on Espresso Ayenew, bringing sweat to his face even while resting on the ice. 'I just have to nail this opening sequence, then I'll leave.' He told himself, reassuringly. Espresso hit play on his track and strutted out into the middle. His thin, yet brawny arms laid out effortlessly in front of him. The track starts. He glides out on the ice, curving in on the left inner blade. His feet sway below his, carrying his body elegantly. His arms fluttering, 'Okay, time for the opening triple salchow,' Espresso greets the jump starting on the back outside edge on his left foot. He soars into the air, his body sailing above the ice. His body rotates mid air and he-

SLAM!

"Alright, team! I'm going out to set up the nets, get your gear on and hit the ice in ten!" The blonde team captain's voice boomed through the ice rink. The team groaned as they sluggishly made it into the locker rooms, some talking about their morning while others were gossiping. The captain yawned and stretched his arms, his face also not amused by the fact that practice took place soon. Espresso made an audible groan of pain that followed after the hockey captain's announcement. While the captain was busy putting on his skates his head perked up from the sound. He peeked his head around the corner of the entryway in the rink, revealing Espresso's—almost—limp body face planted on the ice. "Oh my god, are you okay?" He slid over to the brunette, curving his blades to stop over his body.

"Ugh.." The body croaked as it rose with a struggle. The captain offered a hand to Espresso, who took it slowly. The brunette had no idea who it was, since his glasses were halfway across the ice. The other pulled Espresso into his arms, then looked down at him,

"Is this better?" He sighed in relief

"I can't see." Espresso bluntly blurted out

"Huh?"

"I can't see." He repeated, "My glasses,"

"Oh!" He perked up looking around, "Uh, why don't I go sit you down and I'll look for them?"

"I can care for mysel-"

"No, I insist!" The captain begged as he pushed the other gently over to the passageway. He helped Espresso over the step of concrete over to one of the blue-padded benching areas. Espresso wanted to do things for himself, but his body hurt enough, so he didn't put up a struggle. He watched the blob drift off onto the ice, then turned his attention to the yelling college men.

"Dude! You looked at my breasts for so long, Haha! You're soo gay!" One said, obnoxiously.

"No I didn't! I was lookin' at the lack of chest hair you got, tha's probably why you're baldin'!"

"Ooooh!" The room echoed with teasing and laughter.

"Sorry about them, they're a bit annoying." The voice broke Espresso's train of thought and now his eyes were on the captain. The blonde grabbed Espresso's hand and placed the glasses in them. He put them on and his eyes adjusted to the fuzzy lighting around his,

"Thanks... what's your name? You look oddly familiar.." Espresso puzzled,

"Madeleine Castillon, The captain of the hockey team,"

"Oh, you sit behind me in Political science, right? I'm Espresso Ayenew." Madeleine taps his bulking fingers on his chin,

"Oh yeah! What brings you to the rink, Espresso?"

"I figure skate." He starts, "I was actually practicing my routine until you barged in here and I fell." He scowled, obviously half joking but Madeleine didn't get the joke. The blonde's hand flew to his own mouth,

"I'm so sorry!" Madeleine scrambles around, worryingly. Espresso didn't expect the burst of energy, "Are you hurt? Is everything okay?" Espresso put his hands out in defense.

"Yes, yes, I am fine. Just some bruises." Madeleine furrowed his eyebrows,

"There has to be something I can do to make this up to you!" He grabbed Espresso's hands delicately and got on both knees with a desperate look plastered across his tan face. 'So extra.. Wait, isn't he rich? I could take advantage of this moment..' Espresso let this mischievous thought pass,

"Actually, there is." His lips curved into a effortless smile,

"And that is?"

"I get coffee everyday down the road on campus. Since all those coffees rack up it can get pretty expensive. And since what you did could've caused me a concussion and internal bleeding, I think that it's a good payback if you paid for my coffee this month." Madeleine rested his shoulders and sighed with relief,

"I could do that! Just give me your dorm number." With that he pulls out his phone and opens the notes app, then hands it over to Espresso. Espresso takes the phone while internally screaming out of excitement for free coffee. It may seem a little selfish, but Espresso doesnt care. The brunette hands the other his phone back with his dorm number, as long as his phone number. "Alright I'll text you after my practice." 'Oh, great. He's one of those texters.' and suddenly Espresso regretted his whole statement.

"Well, I have to go catch my first class." He backed up towards the door, anxiously.

"No problem, See you around?"

"Yeah, By-" The door closing cut off Espresso's last words and left Madeleine clueless on what to do.

"Hey Capt'! Why isn't the nets out?" One teammate called.

"Ohh, It's probably because he was flirting with that one figure skater~" Another teased, which flushed Madeleine's face with a light red.

"I was not!"

"Oooh so.. What's that?" The teammate pointed over to Madeleine's well-lit phone, exposing the phone number he just got. Giggles of team filled the stadium.

"Keep talking and you're all getting extra laps in conditioning tonight." The laughing stopped and others shuffled away. "Now get this rink set up!"

This was gonna be

one

long

month...