Between The Pipes

Chapter 1

"If I die and go to Hell real soon, It will appear to me as this room. And for eternity i'd lay in bed in my boxers half stoned with a pillow under my head."- Say Anything- Wow, I Can Get Sexual Too

Music both lulled me into sleep, And lulled me out of sleep. I loved when it lulled me to sleep, The subtle guitar strums or the easy drum beats, The smooth vocals and the sliding tune. Everything about that type of music sent me off into dream land. Music like this, harsh, loud almost angry sounding screams as the vocalist pours his patched heart into the microphone was the type of music that woke me from my sleepy trance.

My alarm clock blared the music I set it to play, Another song by The Amity Affliction, one i must've not known for I didn't recognize the beat. I groaned loudly, pulling the covers over my head as the lead vocalist Joel Birch screamed his agonizing lyrics, Soon followed by the clean vocalist Ahren Stringer, threatening to push me back into the sleepy world i wish i was still in.

"Enough of your shitty music!" I heard the door swing open and knew who it was without even turning my head to look.

"If you jump on me i swear to Chr-" I wasn't able to finish. 210 pounds of mostly muscle crashed into my back, leaving me helplessly struggling underneath it.

"Patrick get off!" I held back a smirk, trying to make my voice sound irritated and annoyed. I shoved my hands underneath myself and pushed myself up slightly, and watched Patrick roll off and land onto the edge of my bed.

Patrick is a big lug. 210 pounds and only 5'11, He was stocky and built for throwing his weight around. He's one of our first line enforcers that coach puts in when the other team is getting a little too rough on us. He's also my best friend since we played junior hockey in 4th grade. We became friends after i blocked a shot of his, and he dropped his gloves and tried to fight me. Coach almost kicked him off of the team until i butted in saying i instigated with a special finger. Since then i've always been there to save his ass in situations like that. He is one sarcastic bastard but that's one of the reasons i love him.

"Ruben come help wakey Fitzy." Patrick was calling for reinforcement. Before i could plead no, i felt his weight press on my legs. "No no, No." I twisted underneath him and shoved him hard with my feet, and watched as he rolled off my bed again. I hurried to sit up to stop the abuse he was throwing at me.

"There's practice today yes?" Ruben stuck his head through my door frame and eyed the both of us. "Nono, I'm interrupting." Ruben smirked and pulled his head back. Patrick laughed and i threw my pillow at him, Giving him a slight eye roll.

Ruben is different than us. He's more serious and not entirely used to our behaviour although he's slowly learning to lighten up. He's only known us since the start of college, and he's come from Germany on a giant scholarship and was forced to room with us, so his English isn't good at all. He's finally learned swear words, And coach isn't that happy with us about that. Eventually he's warmed up and can take and give some of the bullshit we give him.

"Yes practice" Patrick yelled loudly then turned to me. "So that means Fitzy has to get up." I slowly ran my fingers through my tangled bed hair and gave him a shove, stifling a yawn and leaning over to switch the music to something more to Patrick's liking. A song by Say Anything flicked on and Patrick gave it an approving nod before letting me fall back into my bed as he walked out.

~~~

"You fella's know that today we get to meet our back-up's and fourth stringers today?"

Ruben and I nodded, Ignoring the fact that this is what Pat's been talking about the entire week. I scooped more cereal into my mouth and focused on my phone, Watching last nights game for a second time. Even though i knew that my team lost, I still had hopes that Fleury would make that extra stretch to save the puck. The opponents buzzard went off and i swore silently, tossing my phone down on the counter.