(Hockey BxB) Whistle In The Wind

-𝐈𝐈𝐈-

╔══《"I'm still angry at my parents,》══╗
for what their parents' did to them."

       Váli quickly spun the lock to his combination habitually. The lock popped open and he reached in to place a couple books on a shelf. The school day was over, and he finally had something to look forward to. Closing his locker, he turned toward the direction of the nearest exit, excited to finally be done with school. When he turned however, he saw his brother approaching.

       Aksel never talked to Vál in school. It was a rule. Aksel was popular, and Váli was a nobody--they didn't interact. That's why Vál shot his brother a look of confusion as he walked up.

       "Luc's got a concussion, they think," he stated immediately. "I'm going to stick around a little. You can walk to the rink or wait ten minutes and I'll drive us all." He's got a concussion? A sick feeling resided in Váli's stomach.

       He had been the one to cause the concussion of course. He hadn't been looking where he was going in first period, running into Luc and another student. He heard the sound of Luc's head hitting the desk. He saw as his body went limp on the floor, his legs tangled in Vál's.

       He was selfish. Lucien was injured, but at that moment, all he had noticed was his face. He had stared at his thick eyebrows and scattered freckles. If it weren't for Mr. Correy walking over and assessing the situation, he would've stared for an eternity.

       Váli hadn't offered to take Lucien to the nurse. He knew he couldn't carry him even if it was life or death. Vál was strong, but in that moment his limbs turned to jelly and his heartbeat quickened. Am I sick? He remembered thinking, confused and suddenly out of breath.

       In the blink of an eye, he was in second period--French III--and he hadn't heard anything else about Lucien, forcing himself to forget the fall even happened.

       But now Aksel stood in front of him and was telling Vál he had injured his best friend. Every muscle in his body was telling him to just wait the ten minutes in the truck, but his consciousness knew he had to apologize.

       "I'll go with. I have nothing better to do," he murmured. A smile appeared on Aksel's face. No other words were exchanged while the two headed for the nurses office.

       "Hello, dears," a kind voice rang out as they entered. "How can I help you today," she asked politely.

       "Is Lucien Cordes here?" Aksel asked, glancing around the corner.

       "Oh, yes! He's right over here," the lady exclaimed while leading them around to a bed. Lucien sat upright on the edge. The moment Aksel walked in, he glanced up from his phone and smiled. Standing, they dabbed each other up before wasting no time to begin friendly banter.

       "Leave it to you to get a concussion," Vál heard his brother faintly laugh. He stared at his shoes, trying to zone out of the conversation.

       It wasn't long before he was brought back into the conversation, however, when he heard his brother question, "How'd you get it, anyway?"

       Váli's face turned red and Lucien turned his gaze to him. "It's my fault, I wasn't looking where I was going," he peeped, embarrassed.

       "Nah, it's no one's fault, Váli. I wasn't looking where I was going either. We both fell, I just happened to hit a desk on the way down," he smiled, making eye contact with Vál.

       He couldn't look away. Lucien's voice sounded like honey: smooth and even. He said my name. Váli registered in the back of his mind. He made my name sound sacred. Like it was a blessing to say it. Embarrassed at his own thoughts, Váli quickly broke eye contact and continued his staring contest with the floor.