Edge Of The Ice (On Going And Own Book)

Unravelling Threads . 23

Alex slid into his seat just as the last bell rang, pulling out his notebook and trying to shake off the restlessness from his conversation with Cass. The familiar monotony of homeroom should’ve been a comfort, a break from all the chaos. But today, even the classroom felt stifling. He barely noticed when Ms. Keller, his homeroom teacher, strode to the front of the room, her usual stern expression softened by a slight smile.

"Alright, everyone, settle down," she called, tapping the board to get their attention. “Before we get into announcements, I just want to remind you all that the Winter Arts Showcase is coming up next month. If any of you are interested in volunteering or showcasing any work, make sure to sign up by the end of the week.”

The mention of the showcase made Alex glance across the room at Darcy, one of Cass’s closest friends. She sat near the window, absentmindedly doodling in the margins of her notebook. Darcy was always talking about her latest art project, and Alex knew she’d already signed up for the showcase. She caught his gaze, flashing him a quick grin before returning to her sketch.

Alex made a mental note to ask Cass if they were planning to submit anything. With all the pressure of their upcoming competition, it had probably slipped Cass’s mind, but he knew how much art meant to them.

As the announcements dragged on, Alex’s thoughts drifted again. He was already planning to meet Coach Greene after school to go over drills for the regional tournament, but the more he thought about it, the more the weight of his obligations pressed on his chest. He knew Coach would push him harder than ever, and the last thing Alex wanted was to let him down. But balancing that with his relationship with Cass—it was becoming impossible to keep it all straight.

“Alex?” Ms. Keller’s voice broke through his fog, pulling him back to the present.

“Huh? Sorry, what?” Alex blinked, realizing she was staring at him from the front of the room, arms crossed.

“I asked if you’re planning on attending the Winter Showcase,” she repeated, her brow raised.

“Oh, uh, probably not. Got regionals to focus on,” Alex mumbled, sinking lower in his seat.

Ms. Keller didn’t press him further, moving on to the next student. But Alex could feel the curious glances from his classmates. The pressure was building from all sides, and it was becoming harder to hide how much it was weighing him down.

As the class finally wound down and the bell rang, Alex hurried out of the room before anyone could stop him. He needed to get some air, to clear his head before the rest of the day consumed him.

But as he made his way down the hallway, he ran straight into someone—literally. He stumbled back, almost dropping his books. Looking up, he found himself face-to-face with Mr. Taylor, the school’s guidance counselor. He was a tall, lanky man with wire-rimmed glasses and a perpetually calm demeanor.

“Whoa, slow down there, Alex,” Mr. Taylor said with a chuckle, steadying him. “Everything alright?”

Alex forced a nod, though his heart was still racing. “Yeah, just… running late to class.”

Mr. Taylor gave him a look that suggested he wasn’t entirely convinced. “You’ve been looking pretty stressed lately. You know my door’s always open if you need to talk.”

Alex appreciated the offer, but the last thing he wanted was to sit in the counselor’s office and spill his guts about everything. He’d never been good at that. “Thanks, but I’m good. Just a lot on my plate.”

Mr. Taylor nodded, though his eyes lingered on Alex for a moment longer. “Alright, well, take care of yourself, okay? And remember—balance is key.”

With that, he patted Alex on the shoulder and continued down the hall. Alex exhaled, relieved the encounter hadn’t lasted longer. He had enough people telling him to find balance, but no one seemed to get how hard that actually was.

As he made his way to his next class, his phone buzzed in his pocket. He quickly checked it, expecting another message from Cass, but instead, it was from his coach:

Coach Greene: Meet me at the rink after school. We’re going to work on your timing for the power plays. I want you ready for anything at regionals.

Alex shoved his phone back into his pocket, feeling the familiar tug of responsibility pull at him. As much as he loved hockey, sometimes it felt like there was no room for anything else in his life. No room for Cass, no room for his own thoughts—just ice, drills, and endless pressure.

And as much as he wanted to be there for Cass, he couldn’t shake the fear that something was going to give. Whether it was his performance at regionals or his relationship, he wasn’t sure. But either way, it felt like the ground beneath him was starting to crack.