SHIRTS OFF!!!

NOAH’S POINT OF VIEW.

“Shirts off, everybody!!!!” The coach’s commanding voice exploded across the ice rink before I managed to catch my breath after the fifteen-minute lap he just made us run. My body froze, my eyes wide as I stared around me. None of the guys reacted; they shrugged out of their shirts, leaving me standing there……shirt on.

I swallowed, already feeling the coach’s icy gaze on me before I glanced at him.

“You!” He pointed directly at me. “Baby face doll!” Every second felt like another nail in my coffin. I knew this wasn’t a good idea… that’s it, I’m going to get caught in less than forty-eight hours.

“Me?” I blinked.

“No, the damn Zamboni.” His glare deepened. “Of course you!” The guys snickered again.

“Yes, Coach!”

“You deaf?”

“No, Coach!”

“Then why are you still dressed? Do you need me to sing it to you?” The guys snickered. Sweat trailed down my spine as I searched for an excuse.

My brain felt like it had short-circuited. Underneath this jersey was enough duct tape to hold a collapsing bridge together.

The second I lift my shirt, I’ll be on the first flight back to America before lunchtime. I can almost imagine Dad’s disappointed glare.

My hands gripped my shirt hard like he could snatch it from my body at any moment. “I….i….”

“Well, go on then… don’t tell me you’re a lady under there.” My eyes almost bulged out of my sockets.

They burst into fists of laughter while I tried not to pee myself. “N-no, coach….i…..it’s just that i….” I forced the first idea that came to mind. “I have a skin condition.”

Silence hit the rink as the coach’s stare deepened. “So does my grandmother, Brooks. Take it off!” Laughter exploded around the rink again as heat flushed around my cheeks.

“I mean….” I cleared my throat when my real voice slipped out. “My doctor said I shouldn’t expose my skin after training; it’s quite contagious for anyone within a….. three-mile radius.”

My lies had piled on so much that I felt bad for my guardian angel.

Coach folded his arms, his stare harder as he asked, “You got a note?”

“I… left it.”

“How convenient.” He said with an unamused chuckle.

I swallowed again, my heart pounding so hard, so loud I could taste it. Please… please, for the love of hockey, don’t tell me to prove it.

He looked me up and down before jerking his chin towards the ice. “Fine.”

Relief flooded me so quickly, my knees almost buckled. He stepped closer, so close I could smell his sweat and expensive cologne. “But if I find out that you’re lying….” His eyes narrowed, making me swallow again. “I’ll make you skate untill next Christmas.”

“Understood, Coach.”

“Good.” He blew his whistle and roared. “Everybody on the line!”

Within seconds, we were sprinting across the rink as our lives depended on it. Back and forth, again and again, until my lungs felt like they were set on fire. My eyes burned as sweat dripped into them. Fuck, Canada was cold.

“No shortcuts!” Coach roared, sprinting along with us. “Move your feet, boys! If you can still breathe, you ain’t skating hard enough!”

I gritted my teeth and pushed harder. The boys' hockey team in this academy was made of something else. They were stronger, faster, bigger.

One guy dashed past me like I was standing still, while another shoulder checked me so hard I nearly fell face-first on the ice.

“Watch it, baby face!”

That nickname somehow made the guys snicker yet again. Great, it's barely been here a couple of hours, and I’ve gotten a nickname?

The coach hollered, and my gaze somehow landed on Jace.

He looked flawless, like he wasn’t sprinting across the ice at an even faster speed than we were.

He whooshed and dashed so fast, I barely caught wind of his face before he went round the ice.

What the hell is he made of?!

Just when I thought I would really die from my heart exploding, the coach blew his whistle. I released a breath of relief. Finally, I could get some rest.

Wrong.

“Puck time! Everybody split into two groups right now!” Coach roared.

I really might die before the day ends.

Two hours later, I was still alive. Water dripped all over me as I poured it onto my sweaty face.

“You good?” Jace stood beside me, piercing blue eyes looking into mine. The back of my throat itched as I nodded, barely finding my words. I kept doing that; losing words whenever he looked at me… and I hated it.

“You always did skate like that, Owen.” He chuckled, bending low to ruffle my wig before skating away.

The coach stood in front of us, clipboard tucked underneath one arm. “If I call your name, it means congratulations.” He paused, glaring at each of us recruits while Jace and his team stood behind him. “And if I don’t call your name, you’re not playing.

Rest assured, you’re one of us… and you get a chance to redeem yourself later. Just not now.”

My heart rate spiked yet again as silence filled the rink. One by one, he called names. Some of the guys cheered and got high-fives, while others groaned.

My stomach twisted tighter with each passing second. “Owen Brooks.” My head snapped up as I stepped forward.

“Yes, coach!”

He didn’t smile, not even a little. “You’ve got good hands, “ a smile tugged at my lips as hope filled my chest. I made it? I made it! “But your conditioning needs work.”

The hope that flared in my chest dashed immediately. “You’re not making the starting roster, Brooks. You’ll train with the development squad, practice with us in full, and maybe you’ll earn your time.”

My shoulders dropped, and I couldn’t help but wonder…..Maybe I wasn’t that good. Coach looked me in the eye and finished, “Whether you ever play a good game is up to you. Until then, don’t be a wuss.”

“Yes, Coach!”

It wasn’t the dream I imagined, and that hurt. However, it was also a chance. I could prove myself if I worked hard enough. The coach blew his whistle again and roared;

“Time to plan sleeping arrangements!”

My head snapped up again……what does he mean by sleeping arrangements?

“Everyone will be paired in twos, and you shall share a room. When you get your card, discuss with your roommate or don’t…..I don’t really care. But if you must know, the academy rules state that no one is allowed to sleep elsewhere. Not if you don’t want to be expelled. So pick a card, and get on with the shit.”

Fucking hell! I bit my lower lip hard as a guy held the box towards me. My fingers trembled as I filled. Your hand goes into the box. I moved them around as if it would help until I picked the card that felt slightly different.

“Please don’t be Jace; please be anyone but Jace,” I muttered under my breath as I pulled it out. Flipping it over, my eyes nearly popped out of their sockets when I saw the names on the brown card.

Owen Brooks & Jace Donovan

I was to share a room with him?! Before I can think again, a painfully familiar feeling falls over me. I glance up to meet Jace’s piercing gaze.

He smirks once he sees the names on the card. “Looks like you’re stuck with me, baby face.” His lips pulled in a smirk as he slung his arm over my shoulder. “Hope you don’t snore.”

I swallowed before giving him a manly enough chuckle. Snoring was the last thing I had in mind.

By the time I got to the room, my mouth fell open. This was the space they expected us to share? It could fit six apartments in one! It was so large, so luxurious, I didn’t question the insane tuition fees. I slid my suitcase beside the bed closest to the en-suite bathroom.

Placing it on the bed, I unzipped it. That was the moment Jace walked in. His heavy footsteps felt like they hit my heart directly.

“You’re already in here.” I heard him chuckle behind me.

I cleared my throat and tried to deepen my voice. “Yeah, I am.” He doesn’t say anything for a moment, and usually, I would be grateful, but I couldn’t help but think

Does he suspect anything? We grew up together untill he had to leave America when I turned eighteen… maybe he knows it’s not Owen? Is that why he’s silent?

I swallowed again, “uh…..crazy tryouts today, right?”

“Crazy? Not really.” He chuckled again. “Coach was gentle today.”

“If that’s gentle, I don’t want to see him harsh.” I rushed out, my real voice nearly peaking out. All I heard was his snicker before silence hit the room again.

I was incredibly hot. Sweat clung to my skin, both from practice and from having to hide under layers of clothing to hide my curves. Plus the fact that my crush was literally standing across the room from me!

“What is that?” Jace suddenly asked. I flipped around, my eyes wide as I looked at my body. Did he see something?

“W-what?” I cleared my throat again.

“That.” He pointed, and I followed his finger until my eyes found the stack of pads and tampons peeking out of what I thought was a carefully hidden package.

Thank you so much, Owen!

“I….”

“Why do you have those?” My cheeks flushed and untill it burned bright red as I stared from him to the tampons and pads. I wanted the floor to swallow me; it would be better than having to face this.

“I….i…..” I snapped my fingers, as if it would help me think faster, but my brain felt useless. Nothing came to mind.

Jace stood there, waiting patiently for my response. I blinked as if it would help me think faster. It worked because I said something;

“It must belong to my crazy ex-girlfriend.” I winced internally the moment the words left my lips.

“Oh…you got a girlfriend?”

“Yeah, crazy one.” I chuckled, wiping the sweat from my brow.

Big mistake.

The fake eyebrows stuck to me slowly began to slip off. My heart lurched in my throat as Jace’s eyes narrowed.

I’m going to die today…..I know it.

I began to mutter prayers to my guardian angel. “I promise if you get me out of this, I’ll never lie again….well, that’s a lie, but I’ll try, I swear.”

Just then, a knock sounded at the door before it was pushed open.

“Jace, Coach wants you.”

He nodded, making me release a sigh of relief as he walked out. The moment I was left alone, I breathed normally again. My vision blurred as the room began to spin.

I hurriedly hid the sanitary products in my suitcase, hiding them better so no one besides me would see them again. I jumped into the bathroom, feeling icky from the sweat that clung to my skin.

After undoing the duct tape around my breasts, I pulled off the wig and turned on the hot water in the tub. I deserved a thorough soak.

Once I stepped into it, the smell of my coconut wash floated into my nose and loosened every knot in my muscles.

My eyes fluttered shut as I drifted away into my own paradise, lathering the soap suds on my skin.

Suddenly, the door to the bathroom tugged open. My eyes shot open as I stared at it. Luckily, I’d locked it before taking my clothes off.

“W-who’s there?” My normal voice squeaked

“Brooks? Why did you lock the door?” Jace’s voice came through.

“I’m taking a bath.”

“Since when do you lock bathroom doors?” He chuckled, still pulling on the handle while I scrambled out of the tub. I didn’t bother with a towel. I should have known he would be back soon enough.

Shit

The wig, the tape, my sports bra hanging over the towel rack, my clothes scattered across the floor. If he walked in right now, everything would be over. The handle moved again, harder this time.

“Brooks?” He called again, still pushing on the handle. “You alive in there?”

“I-I…” my real voice slipped out yet again; I coughed before forcing it lower. “I’m…bathing.”

“So? We used to take baths together, Brooks. Open the door.” I swallowed, pulling the fresh pair of sweatpants on and reaching for the duct tape.

“Brooks?”

“I’ll be there in a minute!” I snapped, wrapping the tape around my breasts.

“What’s taking so long? I need to get something from there.”

“W-what’s that?” I squeaked, pulling on the duct tape when it caught onto the tap. I pulled on it too hard and undid the wrap.

Ugh!

I hissed, trying not to cry as I wrapped myself again.

“Just open the door, and I’ll get it. Coach wants us to gather for the ritual in twenty minutes”

“W-what ritual?” Sweat mixed with the water from the bath clubbed to my skin as I grabbed the fake eyebrows off the counter.

“You’ll find out soon enough, Brooks. Just open the door so I can take it.”

“I’m almost done.”

“You’ve said that for ten minutes.”

Had I? Panic crashed over me as I grabbed the fake sideburns and slapped them on.

“Just tell me what it is, and I’ll bring it to you.”

“No... oh! I forgot I’ve got a spare key.” I heard him mumble before he stepped away.

He returned not long after, and I could hear the lock twisting….my wig still lay across the counter, the clothes I’d had on before, the sweaty sports bra, the duct tape, everything that would reveal me to be….Noah lay bare before me.

And the door pushed open…