LOGINPractice finally wrapped up.Noah dragged himself out of the pool, his muscles burning. The rest of the team scattered toward the locker room, Marcus mumbling about Coach’s insane workout, Tyler messing around about relay spots, just the usual mess after a hard session.Noah grabbed his towel and wandered to the showers.He stood under the hot water way too long, letting it hit the knots out of his back. I felt almost human again.When he finally pulled his clothes on and packed up, most people had already headed out.The athletic wing was mostly empty now. A handful of guys are still getting dressed. Somewhere down the hall, the janitor’s cart squeaked.Noah shifted his backpack up onto his shoulder and pushed through the door.The evening air was sharp enough to make him yank his hoodie tight. He walked toward the bike rack, thoughts already spinning ahead. Chemistry test tomorrow. English essay due Friday. Homework mountain waiting at home.Then he saw Joe.Moving slowly across th
The rink emptied out slow once practice wrapped up. Players wandered toward the locker rooms in tired little packs, jerseys clinging to their backs, skates scratching loud across the concrete. Coach was still barking at the second defensive line about their positioning. The assistants scooped up stray pucks, hustling to clear the ice.Liam stuck around up by the bleachers a bit longer.Just watching.Not watching Jay this time.Watching the space, really.Always felt colder in there after everyone left. Less alive. All that noise gone took the warmth right along with it.He exhaled slow and stood up.Moving too quick made his ribs ache.Served him right.He headed down the side hallway instead of the locker room, hand shoved deep in his pocket, face blank again by the time students filed past.Outside, the parking lot was washed in blue-gray dusk.Liam slumped onto the concrete ledge.Alone.His phone vibrated. Just once.He ignored it.A few minutes went by and footsteps tapped up ne
Noah snapped his chemistry book shut a little after ten. He’d been reading the same sentence over and over anyway. Time to call it. He brushed his teeth, pulled on an old t-shirt, and crashed into bed. The apartment was dead quiet. Just the fridge humming and the road outside. Every muscle complained from practice, but it was the good kind of ache. The familiar kind that meant something.For a while, he just lay there, staring at the ceiling. His phone stayed dark and still on the nightstand nobody trying to reach him. He rolled to his side and shut his eyes. Sleep didn’t bother making him wait.Next morning rolled in gray and uninspired. Hoodie on, wind biting, Noah pedaled through it, locked up his bike, hauled his books under one arm, and got swept in with the crowd heading for the doors.First period? English. Mrs. Paterson glided around like she’d rather be anywhere else, dropping essays onto desks with her trademark quick comments.“Strong thesis, weak conclusion,” she said, wit
The hallway outside the admin wing felt off once Noah left Liam behind. Quiet in a way that’s not just empty it sticks, heavy, after a bad conversation. Liam leaned back against the wall. He stared at the tiles.“Don’t be angry with him, he worried about you.”That kept looping.“I know that,” he’d said.His jaw tightened.That was the problem. He did know Jay worried. Jay always worried. Even after fights, after being shut out, after Liam made it clear he shouldn’t. Jay still had that look. Like losing Liam would really matter.And somehow that made everything harder.Liam pushed off the wall, refusing to let the thoughts settle in, and walked away.Noah headed toward the pool building, backpack slung on one shoulder. His fingers still tingled from the chill outside. The sun stretched long lines across the pavement,lazy. Students moved in little groups, voices overlapping. Someone bounced a basketball at the gym. In the distance, laughter came and went.The usual campus noise.He lik
Morning showed up colder than Noah expected, sharp enough to make him wince.He stared at his half-awake reflection, toothbrush dangling out of his mouth. Hair sticking up everywhere, bags still shadowing his eyes a souvenir from staying up too late messaging Jay.They hadn’t flirted or tried to patch things up. Just talked. Still, whatever was between them, it lingered.Noah rinsed, changed into his uniform, grabbed his bag, and slipped out before his mom was fully awake.Outside, the early light painted everything that dim, blue gray you only get before sunrise. He bumped his way down the apartment stairs with his bike—.....right into Joe barreling around the corner.“Jesus—”Joe, out of breath already, cracked a grin. “Good morning to you too.”“You almost killed me.”“But I didn’t, right?”Joe’s grin widened. “That’s just friendship obligations.”Noah rolled his eyes, but his shoulders relaxed a bit.They set out for school together, bikes side by side. The streets were mostly em
Joe took off first.His bike coasted down the slope by the sports building. Wind pulled at his hoodie, nothing too dramatic just enough to remind him it was getting late.“Text me if you spiral,” he tossed over his shoulder, not a glance back.Noah snorted. “Go home.”Joe lifted a lazy hand, and that was it.Noah lingered one extra moment after Joe disappeared through the gates. Campus was still dotted with groups of students, but it was quieter now. Practice was ending. Club rooms shutting down. The sky above the buildings had that deep blue shade that comes right before full-on night.His phone buzzed in his pocket.Mom.He picked up right away. “Hey.”“Did you eat?”Of course. Straight to that every time.Noah smiled, just a little. “Not yet.”“You should’ve eaten after practice.”“I’m heading home now.”He could hear dishes rattling in the background, some voices, a TV going somewhere.Mom dropped her voice a notch. “I’m still cleaning the kitchen.”Noah leaned his elbows on his h







