All's fair in Love and Hockey - A Nick and Charlie Fan Fiction

Drumsticks

Rykers Pov:

I watch Charlie and Jackson leave the locker room. I look around to see everyone's names up on a locker. I find my name and my heart sinks. You'll be able to play again, but it may not be like you used to. My doctors words from my last check up ring though my ears. I didn't have the heart to tell Charlie I wasn't sure if I'm actually going to play again. I'm not sure I want to. I slump down hiding my head in my hands. The door creeks open and Nick walks in. "Oh uh sorry I just forgot my jacket." He says pulling it down over his head. "We can't wait to have you back and playing again." A shoots a smile and heads towards the door. "Nick wait" I stand up walking over to him. "Yeah?" He turns back. "Is there anything going on with you and Charlie?" I run my hand up my arm nervously.

Nicks Pov:

"Is there anything going on with you and Charlie?" Rykers cheeks turn red and he looks down breaking eye contact. "Why?" I ask annoyed. "I uh..." he stutters. "I want to ask Charlie out. You know I've liked him since freshman year." "Yeah I know" I roll my eyes. "I just, I always thought maybe you two were dating. But Charlie swears your not and I think maybe he likes me too." He rights Charlie does like him, he said his crush is over but I seen him holding his hand today and I know that look. "I don't know why everyone insists there's something going on with Charlie and I" I scoff. "Oh come on Nick, I've seen the way you look at him. You may not be together but there's no way you don't have feelings for him." He mumbles sitting back on the bench. He rubs his knee. "How's the pain?" I soften. "Nice way to change the subject." I roll my eyes sitting next to him. I may not like him but I don't want to see him hurt either. "Charlie's made it clear he doesn't have feeling for me okay?" I sigh putting my hand on Rykers shoulder. He brushes it off "so you don't care if I ask him out?" he stands up wincing in pain. "Just let me help you to your dorm" I lift his arm putting it over my shoulder to prop him up. "Okay" he groans. We reach his dorm room and he hands me the key to open the door. I help him to his bed so he can sit. "Thanks" he mumbles as I head toward the exit. I stop before walking out the door. "Don't hurt him Ryker. I know you mess around a lot. Charlie will want something serious. You better be ready for that" I huff walking out the door slamming it behind me. I walk back to my dorm room down the hall and slam my bedroom door. I trip and fall into my bed. Cursing I look down to see what I tripped over, it's Charlie's drum stick. I pick it up holding it close and tears form. I think back to the day Charlie Spring rejected me.

Flashback: Summer of Junior Year.

"Char pleaseeee show me how to play the drums I could totally be good at it" I whine. Whining always works on Charlie. "Fine, Nick I'll teach you but don't break my drumsticks again" he rolls his eyes chuckling. I sit down on the seat and Charlie sits on my lap. My cheeks heat up and I forget how to breathe. I've been in love with Charlie since we were kids but I never knew it. It wasn't until freshman year when he fell head over heals for Ryker that I realized it. Charlie picks up his sticks telling me to grab his hands so he can feel the movement. I swallow hard placing my hands over his. He moves swiftly creating his own beat. "Okay now you try" he move off of me handing me the sticks. I crash them against the drums until Charlie grabs my hands laughing begging me to stop. I slip them in my back pocket pulling him back down on my lap. "I can't believe your that bad" he throws his head back laughing. "Hey Char?" I say grabbing his attention. "If I liked boys would you go out with me?" I ask breathlessly. "Why" he responds tilting his head. "Is this your way of coming out to me?" A smile forms on his lips. "Uh.. no I just wanted to know if you'd date me if you could." I look down not wanting to meet eye contact. "No I don't think I would. Your my best friend and it would just be weird" he shrugs. I push him off softly. "I gotta go I'll see you tomorrow" I yell running down the stairs. I walk home crying only to realize I still have his drum sticks in my pocket.

Present day:

Tears are falling down my cheeks and I hold the duel stick tight. I never gave them back keeping it as a reminder that he doesn't like me like that. I lay down and groan. I would have came out that day if he had said yes. I was going to ask him out for real.. but he rejected me without even a second thought. I should let him be happy with Ryker and least one of us could get the man we want.

Rykers Pov:

Nick leaves the room and I flinch at the sound of the door slamming. I grab my phone texting Charlie.
R: Hey Charlie, just want to make sure you made it back to your dorm safe.
There's no answer so he must still be with Jackson. I scroll though Instagram looking at his pictures. My phone digs at the same time as Jackson walks in the door.
C: yeah, Jackson and I just had a good talk
R: oh what about?
C: do you want to go to breakfast tomorrow with me? I heard there's a food spot near campus.
R: it's a date 💕