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The Problem With Valdez
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2026-09-14 08:22:14Chapter Three — The Problem With Valdez
Beck woke up irritated. He didn't know why. Well. That wasn't entirely true. He knew exactly why. Aitor Valdez. Beck stared at his ceiling, remembering yesterday's game. The goal. The victory. The way Aitor had looked at him afterward. Next time, we win. Beck rolled his eyes. "Whatever." He got out of bed. Today was supposed to be easy. Practice. Classes. Practice again. Nothing complicated. Nothing worth thinking about. And definitely nothing involving Aitor. At least, that was the plan. By the time Beck arrived at school, the entire hockey team was already talking about the tournament. "Did you see the rankings?" Mason shoved his phone toward him. Beck looked. Their school had moved up. Westbridge High — #4 He smiled. "Nice." "And look who's right behind us." Beck's smile disappeared. St. Aurelia Academy — #5 "Of course." Mason laughed. "You really hate that guy." "I don't hate him." "You've said his name fourteen times since yesterday." "That's because he keeps showing up." "He's on another team." "Exactly. He should stay there." Mason shook his head. "You two are weird." Beck grabbed his bag. "Let's practice." The rink was quieter than usual that afternoon. Most of the tournament teams had the day off. Westbridge didn't. Their coach believed that winning wasn't something you waited for. You worked for it. Beck was halfway through a drill when the doors opened. He heard voices. Several players walked into the rink. Beck turned. St. Aurelia. His stomach dropped. Not because he was nervous. Because he was annoyed. Their coach spoke briefly with Beck's coach before the visiting team began moving toward the opposite side. Apparently, the arena had been double-booked. Both teams were practicing. Together. "You're kidding," Mason whispered. Beck stared across the ice. Aitor was removing his gloves. He looked up. Saw Beck. And smiled. Not a big smile. Just enough. Beck immediately looked away. His coach blew the whistle. "Hayes! Focus!" "I'm focused." "Then show me." Beck pushed off. Hard. He flew around the rink. Faster. Faster. He didn't notice Aitor watching him. He didn't notice the slight smile disappear from Aitor's face. And he definitely didn't notice that Aitor was doing exactly the same thing on the other side of the rink. Trying to skate faster. Trying to prove something. Neither of them would have admitted what. After practice, Beck headed toward the locker room. He was tired. Sweaty. Ready to go home. Then he heard footsteps behind him. "Hayes." He stopped. Aitor. Beck sighed. "What?" "You dropped this." Aitor held out Beck's glove. Beck stared at it. Then at him. "Oh." He took it. "Thanks." Aitor nodded. Beck turned to leave. "Wait." Beck looked back. "What now?" Aitor hesitated. "You were fast today." Beck raised an eyebrow. "Are you complimenting me again?" "No." "Sounded like it." "I was making an observation." "Right." Aitor looked away. "You're good." Beck smiled. "So are you." The words came out before Beck could stop them. Aitor looked back at him. For a second, neither moved. Then Beck cleared his throat. "Don't let it go to your head." Aitor smiled. "Too late." Beck laughed despite himself. Only for a second. Then he remembered who he was talking to. "See you tomorrow, Valdez." "See you, Hayes." Beck walked away. This time, he didn't feel angry. And somehow, that bothered him more than anything else. Because enemies weren't supposed to make you laugh. They weren't supposed to compliment each other. And they definitely weren't supposed to leave you wondering when you'd see them again.
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Against The Ice The ride
Chapter Fifteen — The RideMonday morning started badly.By eight-thirty, Beck was already having the kind of day he wanted to forget.His first class had run over.He'd forgotten his notes in the dorm.And now, standing in the Northwood parking lot, he was staring at his mother's old car.The hood was up.Steam drifted from underneath it.Beck stared.“You have got to be kidding me.”He checked the time.8:47.Practice started in less than an hour.He pulled out his phone and called his mother.She answered almost immediately.“Everything okay?”“My car just died.”There was a pause.“Oh, no.”“Yeah. I'm kind of stranded.”“I told you that car was getting old.”“I know.”“I'll send you some money for a mechanic.”“Thanks, Mom.”Beck hung up and looked at the car again.A mechanic wasn't going to get there quickly enough.He sighed.Then he heard an engine approaching.Not an ordinary engine.A very expensive engine.A black Rolls-Royce pulled into the parking lot and stopped beside h
Against The Ice The Party
Chapter Fourteen — The PartyBy Friday night, Beck had almost convinced himself that college was getting easier.Practice had gone well.His classes weren't overwhelming.And, surprisingly, he and Aitor had managed to survive an entire week as teammates without killing each other.Then Mason sent him a message.Mason: Party tonight. You're coming.Beck stared at the screen.Beck: Who said I was invited?Mason: Everyone is invited.Beck: That's not an answer.Mason: Wear something that doesn't make you look like you're going to practice.Beck laughed.Twenty minutes later, he was getting ready.The party was already loud when Beck and Mason arrived.Music filled the house, people crowded around the kitchen, and students were scattered across the living room and backyard.Beck immediately spotted several Northwood players.Then he saw Aitor.Of course.Aitor was standing near the kitchen with two teammates, looking completely comfortable.Beck shook his head.“Does he ever go anywhere w
Against The Ice Same Jersey
Chapter Thirteen — Same JerseyThe next morning, Beck walked into the Northwood Hockey Centre with one goal.Do his job.Practice.Keep his head down.And, most importantly, avoid Aitor.Simple.At least, that was the plan.The moment Beck stepped into the locker room, he knew it wasn't going to happen.Aitor was already there.Of course.He stood at his locker, tying his skates while music played quietly from his phone.Beck dropped his bag beside locker twelve.“Morning.”Aitor glanced at him.“Didn't think you'd show up.”Beck frowned.“Why wouldn't I?”“After yesterday?”Beck laughed.“You're not getting rid of me that easily.”“Unfortunately.”Beck sat down.“Good. Because I plan on making your life difficult for at least the next four years.”Aitor looked at him.“Four years?”“Unless you quit.”Aitor smirked.“Not happening.”“Good.”For some reason, neither of them looked away immediately.Then Coach walked into the locker room.“On the ice in five!”The entire room came alive
Against The Ice Nowhere To Run
Chapter Twelve — Nowhere to RunFor the first five minutes, neither of them spoke.Beck sat on one of the benches, staring at the locked door as if glaring at it hard enough would somehow make it open.Aitor stood with his arms crossed.“This is ridiculous.”Beck glanced at him.“You've said that three times.”“Because it is.”“Well, repeating it isn't going to unlock the door.”Aitor gave him a look.“You're surprisingly annoying when you're trapped.”“I'm always annoying.”“At least you're self-aware.”Beck rolled his eyes.He checked his phone again.Still no signal.“Someone's going to notice we're missing.”“Eventually.”“Eventually?”Aitor shrugged.“The team probably thinks we left.”Beck groaned.“Great.”He stood and tried the handle again.Nothing.He knocked.“HELLO?”His voice echoed through the empty locker room.Nothing.Beck turned around.“I swear, if we miss practice because somebody forgot to check the locker room…”“That would be your fault.”“My fault?”“You were t
Against The Ice Locked In
Chapter Eleven — Locked InBy the time Beck reached his dorm room, he had already made a decision.Northwood was going to be different.This was his fresh start.No Westbridge. No high-school tournaments. No constant competition.And definitely no Aitor Valdez.Beck dropped his backpack onto the bed and looked around his room.It wasn't enormous, but he liked it. A bed pushed against the wall, a wooden desk beneath the window, a wardrobe, a small bookshelf, and a noticeboard that was still completely empty.It wasn't luxurious.But it was his.And that mattered.He had earned his place at Northwood.The hockey scholarship had brought him here, and Beck wasn't about to waste it.He began unpacking, putting his clothes away and arranging his hockey equipment when his phone buzzed.NORTHWOOD HOCKEY — TEAM ORIENTATIONTomorrow, 9:00 AM.Beck smiled.Finally.Something he could focus on.Hockey.Not Aitor.Across campus, Aitor had just stepped into his own room.He stopped for a moment.Hi
Against The Ice Northwood
Chapter Ten — NorthwoodThe 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 practi
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