In the heart of Harvard, Alessia Gilmore is ready to embrace her second year and the independence it brings. After a summer spent reconnecting with friends and discovering herself, she's determined to step out of her twin sister Rory's shadow and ca...
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The sharp scrape of skates on ice echoed across the rink as Beau darted through a set of cones, weaving with practiced speed. The cold air hit his face, and he could feel the intensity of practice kicking in. Coach was pacing at the sidelines, watching each drill with an unusual focus, clipboard in hand and his face set in a deep scowl. There was a certain charge in the air today-something beyond the usual tough practice.
Beau's gaze caught on Riley ahead of him, handling the puck with that easy confidence he had, and Beau couldn't help but grin. Riley shot him a quick, playful glance as he sped past, a flicker of silent challenge sparking between them.
Coach's whistle finally cut through the noise, pulling everyone to center ice. Beau, feeling the strain in his legs, skated over with the rest of the team, breaths heavy but ready for whatever Coach had lined up next.
"Alright, listen up!" Coach's voice boomed. "You all think you're hotshots on the ice, but this is going to be different." He paused, looking them over, his gaze sharp. "We've been invited to the regional invitational tournament. You'll be up against the best teams out there-quarterfinals, semis, maybe even finals if you keep your heads straight. And it's going to be out of town. Fancy hotel and everything."
A ripple of excitement and murmurs ran through the group, and Beau felt a thrill of anticipation spark in his chest. This was what they'd been working for, a real shot to prove themselves. Next to him, Riley nudged his shoulder, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth, and Beau returned it, the two of them sharing the same unspoken eagerness. A big tournament and a weekend away? They were all in.
Coach raised his voice over the chatter. "Don't go thinking this is some vacation. Practices will be doubled up until we leave, and I want each one of you giving it everything you've got. No slacking."
Riley shot Beau a smirk, eyebrows raised as if to say, You ready for this? Beau answered with a subtle nudge of his shoulder, their quiet connection laced with both excitement and the familiarity of having each other's backs on and off the ice.
Coach sent them right back into drills, pushing them harder than ever. Beau and Riley's easy chemistry on the ice was obvious as they worked through the intense sets, skating in sync and cutting sharp through each drill. Every so often, Beau would catch Riley's gaze and feel the warmth of that quiet, steady understanding between them. They moved as one, Riley's easy confidence mirrored by Beau's determination, and the unspoken connection between them was like a pulse running through each pass, each shot on goal.
During a break, Beau looked up to see Alessia sitting in the stands, a notebook balanced on her knees. She was glancing up every so often, probably finishing some class notes between periods. When she noticed Beau watching, she gave him a quick wave and a smirk, clearly amused at the sight of him and Riley soaked in sweat and still pushing through.
Riley, catching the interaction, gave Beau a small grin, then dropped his stick on Beau's shoulder, leaning in slightly. "Think she's keeping tabs on us?"
Beau laughed under his breath. "More like she's probably laughing at us. Or just wondering why we're still standing."
"Honestly, I'm wondering the same thing," Riley said, chuckling. His hand brushed Beau's as he adjusted his gloves, the small touch grounding them both in that easy, secret closeness they shared. It was subtle, a comfort they rarely showed around others, but in moments like this, Beau felt it more strongly than ever.
As they laced up for the final round of drills, Avery, who'd mostly kept to himself, skated up and fell into step beside them. Beau glanced over, noting Avery's determined focus. Over the past few practices, Avery had started to drift more into their group, finding a rhythm alongside him and Riley in a way that felt surprisingly natural.
"Guess you're ready for this tournament, too?" Beau asked, giving Avery a nod of respect.
Avery shrugged, but a small smile tugged at his lips. "Ready as I'll ever be. Just hoping we don't embarrass ourselves out there."
Riley grinned. "With Coach breathing down our necks, he won't give us a choice."
Avery smirked at that, sharing a look with Beau and Riley. "If we get through his training, the tournament should be easy, right?"
The three of them laughed, a sense of camaraderie settling among them. Avery's presence felt natural, like he was finally a part of the rhythm that Beau and Riley had. Beau didn't miss the look Riley gave him, a quiet assurance that they had each other and, maybe now, Avery too.
As they closed out the final drill, Beau felt that familiar pulse of adrenaline and satisfaction from a practice well done. Glancing at Riley, he caught the warm glint in his eye and returned it with a soft nudge, a promise that they'd make the most of this tournament together.
