Northwood

Chapter Ten — Northwood

The campus was bigger than Beck had imagined.

Not just bigger.

Massive.

Buildings stretched in every direction, connected by wide paths lined with trees, benches, and students carrying boxes, backpacks, and enough coffee to survive an entire semester.

Beck stood beside his mother’s car with his hands on his hips, staring at the university sign in the distance.

NORTHWOOD UNIVERSITY.

He had imagined this moment for years.

Sometimes when things at home got difficult, he had pictured himself standing here. Sometimes after losing a game. Sometimes after getting his grades back. Sometimes after hearing people talk about how impossible it was to earn a hockey scholarship.

And now he was actually here.

“Still can't believe it?” his mother asked.

Beck looked at her.

“Not yet.”

She smiled.

“You earned this.”

Beck looked back at the campus.

“I know.”

But hearing her say it made something in his chest loosen.

He had worked for this.

Every early morning.

Every brutal practice.

Every game where his legs felt like they couldn't take another shift.

Every time someone told him to be realistic.

The scholarship wasn't just money.

It was proof.

His mother squeezed his shoulder before helping him with the last box.

“You'll call me tonight?”

“Obviously.”

“Beck.”

“I'll call.”

“And don't forget to eat.”

He laughed.

“Mom, I'm going to college, not war.”

“Same thing.”

He shook his head, smiling.

After they finished moving his things into his dorm, Beck changed into a Northwood hockey shirt and headed toward the athletic centre.

That was the part he'd been waiting for.

The hockey.

He had spent enough time thinking about the future.

Now he wanted to see the place where that future would actually begin.

He followed the signs toward the hockey facilities, backpack hanging over one shoulder.

Students passed him.

Some wore Northwood merchandise.

Others were already wearing sports gear.

Beck smiled when he saw the massive building ahead.

NORTHWOOD HOCKEY CENTRE.

“Okay,” he muttered.

“This is actually happening.”

He pushed open the doors.

Cold air immediately hit his face.

The smell of ice.

The faint sound of skates somewhere deeper inside.

The distant echo of a hockey puck striking the boards.

It felt familiar.

Comforting.

For the first time since arriving on campus, Beck felt completely at home.

He walked farther into the building.

Then he stopped.

Because someone was standing near the entrance to the rink.

Black hair.

Tall.

Athletic.

A familiar posture that Beck would have recognized anywhere.

His stomach dropped.

No.

Absolutely not.

The person turned.

Their eyes met.

Aitor.

For several seconds, neither of them moved.

Aitor looked just as shocked.

“Hayes?”

Beck stared at him.

“Valdez?”

Aitor's expression changed from surprise to something Beck couldn't quite read.

“What are you doing here?”

Beck let out a disbelieving laugh.

“I could ask you the same thing.”

Aitor glanced toward the hockey centre.

“I attend Northwood.”

Beck blinked.

“So do I.”

Silence.

Aitor's jaw tightened.

“You're kidding.”

“I wish I were.”

Beck looked past him toward the rink.

Then back at Aitor.

“Wait.”

A horrible realization slowly appeared on his face.

“You play hockey here?”

Aitor raised an eyebrow.

“Obviously.”

Beck stared at him.

“No.”

Aitor folded his arms.

“What?”

“This cannot be happening.”

“Why?”

“Because I spent four years trying to get away from you.”

Aitor gave him a small, almost amused smile.

“And yet here you are.”

Beck pointed at him.

“Don't make that face.”

“What face?”

“That smug Valdez face.”

“I don't have a smug face.”

“You absolutely do.”

Aitor stepped closer.

“You still talk too much.”

“And you still think you're better than everyone.”

“I am better than most people.”

Beck laughed once.

“There he is.”

For a moment, the tension between them felt exactly like high school.

The same arguments.

The same competition.

The same inability to stand in the same room without turning everything into a challenge.

But something was different.

They weren't seventeen anymore.

They weren't standing outside some high-school rink waiting for the next championship game.

They were adults now.

College students.

And neither of them had expected the other to be part of this chapter.

Beck looked toward the rink again.

“So…”

Aitor followed his gaze.

“Yeah.”

“You're actually on the Northwood team?”

Aitor nodded.

Beck shook his head slowly.

“You have got to be kidding me.”

“I assure you, Hayes, I am not.”

Beck dropped his backpack onto the bench beside him.

“This was supposed to be my fresh start.”

Aitor looked at him.

“Maybe you should have picked another university.”

Beck's eyes narrowed.

“Maybe you should.”

Neither of them moved.

Then someone shouted from inside the rink.

“Valdez!”

Aitor turned.

A player was waving him over.

Aitor looked back at Beck.

“Practice.”

Beck smiled sarcastically.

“Can't wait.”

Aitor walked away.

Beck watched him disappear through the doors.

Then he muttered to himself.

“Four years.”

He picked up his bag.

“Four years of peace.”

He followed toward the locker room.

“And now this.”

But there was one thing neither of them knew yet.

They hadn't just ended up at the same university.

They hadn't just ended up in the same hockey centre.

They were about to discover something much worse.

They were going to be teammates.

And neither of them was prepared for what that meant.