022

Reis’s POV

The cold hits differently when you are pissed. It doesn't get you numb, instead, it sharpens your senses.

Every breath burned a little harsher in my chest as I pushed off the ice, my skates carving deep into the surface with more force than necessary.

The sound echoed across the rink, sharp and grating, but I didn’t care.

I needed the movement, the impact and something to drown out everything running through my head.

“Reis, pass!” I barely registered the shout before the puck slid toward me.

My instinct kicked in immediately and I caught it cleanly.

Now in possession of the puck, I shifted my weight, and shot it straight into the net too hard that the net rattled violently.

A few guys whistled.

“Damn,” Calvin muttered. “Who pissed you off this early?”

I didn’t answer, I just skated back with my jaw tight and eyes scanning the rink until they landed exactly where I didn’t want them to.

Ocean wasn’t on the ice and he wasn’t even trying to pretend like he cared about practice.

He was sitting on the bench, elbows resting on his knees and head slightly bowed as he stared at his phone like the rest of us didn’t exist.

Something inside me snapped at the sight and before I even realized what I was doing, my grip tightened around my stick and I flung it.

It skidded across the ice with a loud scrape, spinning wildly before coming to a stop near the boards.

Silence fell in the rink as every head turned in my direction.

“What the hell?” Fred called out but I didn’t even look at him as my gaze was locked on the guy sitting there like he owned the place.

“What’s your problem?” Xavier asked.

Immediately, I pointed straight at him.

“If he’s not going to practice,” I said, my voice cutting through the rink, “then he shouldn’t be allowed to play in our next game.”

A few murmurs broke out as they alternated their gaze between Ocean who was still unbothered and me.

Ocean could get away with things the rest of us couldn’t and that was because he was good.

Hugh, the team captain skated over quickly, his presence immediately commanding attention.

“Reis,” he said, his tone firm but controlled. “What’s going on?”

“What’s going on?” I repeated, a bitter laugh slipping out. “That’s what I would like to know.” I added, my gaze still fixed on Ocean.

“Come on, be clear,” Hugh pressed.

Still seething, I finally looked at him.

“He sits there during practice like it’s optional, but still gets to play like nothing happened.” I snapped as Hugh glanced toward the bench.

Ocean hadn’t moved or reacted since I started throwing tantrums. He just sat there watching with a calm expression that only made things worse.

“He thinks he’s better than everyone,” I continued, my voice rising slightly. “That’s why he acts like he owns everything.”

“Reis…” Hugh started.

“No,” I cut him off. “If the rest of us have to be here, then he should too.”

The rink had gone completely quiet now as everyone was waiting for what was going to happen next.

Hugh exhaled slowly, then turned toward the bench.

“Ocean,” he called only then did Ocean move unhurriedly like he had all the time in the world.

He stood up, pocketing his phone, and then stepped onto the ice without a word.

That alone should have satisfied me but it didn’t because the way he looked at me, calm and unbothered got under my skin more than anything else.

“Hey,” Calvin threw a stick at him which he caught effortlessly then we resumed practice but it wasn’t practice anymore for me.

Every pass, move and shift was calculated and targeted at him. I pushed harder, skated faster and checked rougher.

Every time I got close, I made sure he felt it. A nudge that lingered too long, a hit that carried just a little more force accompanied with a word under my breath.

“You think you’re untouchable?” I said once as we brushed past each other.

He didn’t respond, just skated on.

And that silence, it was worse than any insult.

It fueled me.

“Say something,” I snapped the next time we crossed paths.

Still nothing, not even a glance.

My chest burned with frustration, anger and something deeper I didn’t want to name.

We clashed near the boards, shoulders slamming together hard.

The impact echoed but still, nothing from him.

He just pushed off and kept going.

“Fight back!” I shouted, unable to hold back anymore.

My voice rang across the rink and just like I wanted, Ocean stopped.

Slowly, he turned and this time, he looked at me. His eyes were dark now and his shoulders were tense like he had accepted the challenge.

“Good.” I muttered under my breath, skating towards him so fast and aggressively that the next collision wasn’t accidental.

We slammed into each other, sticks clashing, and bodies colliding with enough force to draw gasps from the sidelines.

“You done?” he asked quietly. The calmness in his voice only made it worse.

“Not even close,” I shot back then shoved him.

This time, he shoved back harder only to give me a pitiful look afterwards he turned around to leave.

“Who do you think you are?” I yelled again, raising my stick slightly in readiness to swing.

Ocean spun around at once, the grip on his stick tightening.

“Hey!” Calvin’s voice cut through sharply as he skated in between us, pushing against Ocean’s chest.

“That’s enough,” he said firmly.

Hugh was there a second later.

“Break it up!” He yelled pushing me aside while Calvin handled Ocean.

The moment shattered but the anger didn’t.

After a while, I shrugged Hugh off, breathing hard, my chest rising and falling rapidly.

“Practice is over,” Hugh announced, his voice carrying authority.

A few groans and muttered complaints rented the air but no one argued.

Ignoring everyone, I skated off the ice, grabbing my stick on the way. My hands were still trembling as I headed toward the locker room.

***

The sound of running water filled the space as I stripped out of my gear, tossing everything into my locker with more force than necessary.

My mind was still racing as it replayed everything from his look and the way he didn’t react until the very end.

It pissed me off more than it should and more than I wanted to admit.

Dragging in a deep breath, I ran a hand through my damp hair, exhaling sharply.

Why did it matter so much?

Why did he…

I stopped because I knew the answer and I didn’t like it.

I grabbed my shirt, pulling it over my head quickly, not bothering to wait around.

The sooner I got out of here, the better.

I stepped out of the locker room, the cooler air hitting my skin immediately.

Voices echoed faintly down the hallway but I barely paid attention as I made my way towards the exit.

Just when I thought it was all over, I saw them and at once, I halted like my body had forgotten how to move.

Astrid and Ocean were standing a few feet away with their fingers intertwined like it was the most natural thing in the world.

Smiling, she stood on her tip toes while Ocean leaned downwards slightly so she would whisper something into his ear.

When she pulled away, she was giggling while Ocean was laughing heartily.

“Dammit!”