Chapter 5: The MVP

Hazel's POV

The next evening, the rink thundered with cheers so loud they rattled through my chest. Cold air bit at my cheeks, the scent of ice and adrenaline filling my lungs.

Jaxon Carter skated across the rink like he was born on it; fast, and ruthless. Every goal he scored made the crowd scream louder,

“Carter! Carter! Carter!”

I stood just behind the players’ bench, my heart pounding in sync with the sound of blades slicing the ice and my clipboard clutched in my arms, taking notes as the team's assistant.

But every time he scored, his eyes found mine through the blur of his helmet like he was checking to make sure I was watching.

He was insufferable.

And yet, impossible to look away from.

Near the center of the ice now, Trey cut him off, their sticks clashing and the crowd roaring. This was not just about the match, it was a silent war between them that had always been there. Trey was the senior star, and Jaxon was the junior, stealing the spotlight he had once clung to and his position as Captain.

I hated to admit it, but Jaxon was faster. He spun past Trey like it was nothing, the kind of move that made the crowd lose their minds. I wanted to hate him for it… But God, he made it look effortless.

He skated past two defenders from the opposing team now, and fired the puck straight into the goal, the bleachers went wild.

The buzzer blared declaring us as winners.

“Goal! Carter scores his third and final goal tonight, the Ice Hounds take it home, 5–3!” the announcer’s voice boomed over the speakers. “That’s the Hounds’ MVP right there!”

Coach bellowed from the sidelines, “That’s how it’s done, Carter!”

He tore off his helmet, breathless and grinning, sweat dripping down his neck as his teammates swarmed him. Even from across the rink, I could see it, that spark in his eyes that said I told you so.

Trey smiled, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. He skated over, slapped Jaxon’s shoulder a little too hard, without saying a word.

I exhaled slowly, my heart pounding in my throat.

I should’ve been celebrating the team’s win, but all I could think about was that grin, how Jaxon Carter somehow turned everything, even victory, into a dare.

***

Later that night

I stood in front of the mirror, tugging at the hem of my swimsuit.

“Wait, are you actually going?” Sasha asked from her bed, a face mask smeared across her cheeks. “To a hockey party? You barely go to class parties.”

“How do I look?” I asked, flashing her a smile.

She sat up, grinning. “In that? Oh, he’s so done for you, Hazel. You look hot. Like, scary hot.”

“Good,” I said. “I want him to choke on his confidence.”

She nodded, “You know what? I like the new you.”

“I’m not new,” I muttered. “Just temporarily reckless.”

I sighed and looked at my reflection. The pink swimsuit hugged my curves a little too well, especially without my usual sweater.  My hair was let loose, free and bouncy, and for once, I looked confident. I quickly layered it with a kimono.

I wasn’t dressed to fit in.

I was dressed to annoy him.

Jaxon had said no pink.

So, of course, I wore pink.

And I was kind of hoping he’d hate it.

Sasha leaned in close to me now, reaching for my makeup bag. “Reckless needs eyeliner. Trust me.”

Before I could protest, she swiped a line of black eyeliner along my lashes, stepped back, and smirked. “There. You’re dangerous now.”

Dangerous? I wasn’t sure about that.

But maybe I wanted to be just for tonight.

"You still owe me the juicy gist, remember." She called after me before I closed the door.

The party at the Ice Hounds’ house was already in full swing when I arrived. Music thumped through the open windows, and laughter spilled into the night air.

I spotted Jaxon near the porch steps, surrounded by a group of teammates.

His red board shorts hung low with his half-buttoned striped shirt exposing his hot body. His damp hair curled at the tips, like he just stepped off the cover of a beach magazine, and of course, with his casual smug look, like he didn’t know what he did to people.

When he turned and saw me, his smile disappeared, and he stared at me blankly.

His gaze trailed down slowly, from my face to my collarbone and to my legs, lingering just long enough to make my heart trip over itself.

He didn’t say anything at first, no lazy grin, no cocky smirk, just silence and his eyes stunned, like he’d never really seen me before.

Then his voice came out soft. “You look… amazing.”

I blinked. That wasn’t what I was expecting.

He stepped closer, and he was still staring at me like I was something rare. “Wow, Hazel.”

I rolled my eyes, gripping my kimono tighter. “You said no pink.”

He finally saw it, “I did, didn’t I?”

I raised a brow. “Was that your brain short-circuiting now?”

He grinned, closed the space between us, and ruffled my hair like we were six.

“I take it back,” he teased. “You look decent.”

He said I looked amazing a few minutes ago, but did he mean it, or was this all still part of the pretend?

I swatted his hand away, but my cheeks were already warm.

“Whatever,” I muttered. “Let’s go play pretend.”

“Right,” he said, but there was a softness in his eyes as he offered me his hand.

As we stepped into the house, the bass coming from the speaker vibrated in my bones, and my palms were already sweaty. When everyone saw us together, the effect was instant.

Heads turned and conversations slowed down.

People stared.

I heard someone whisper my name.

Someone else gasped. One guy even tripped over the beer pong table.

“Who's that hot girl with Jaxon?”

“Is that seriously Hazel?”

"No way she is that hot with her big clothes."

I tried not to react, but my stomach tightened.

Without my glasses and sweater, I wasn’t just the quiet girl in class anymore.

I was with Jaxon Carter.

And they all noticed.

Jaxon leaned down to whisper, “You sure know how to make an entrance.”

“You’re welcome,” I whispered back, fighting a nervous smile.

We walked in farther, deeper into the glowing lights and pulsing bass, hand-in-hand like the best couple on campus.

But nothing about this felt natural.

Not the way my heart beat faster when his fingers brushed mine.

Not the way his eyes kept finding mine when no one was looking.

Just as I was trying to steady my breathing, Tiffany spotted us instantly from where she was.

“Hazel,” she purred, her voice laced with venom as she walked up to us. “What a surprise.”

I stiffened. Jaxon’s grip on my hand tightened slightly.

“Tiffany,” he said with a polite nod, but his tone was cold.

She didn’t even glance at him. Her eyes were locked on me.

“I wasn’t sure you’d actually come,” she said, letting out a mocking laughter. “Then again, bold move wearing pink. You desperately want to belong.”

“Thanks,” I said coolly. “I dress for myself not to belong anywhere.”

She laughed, soft and condescending. “Oh,

sweetie. That’s cute.”

Then she leaned in very close and lowered her voice, her lips barely moving.

“You should probably go home while you’re still a mystery. Because trust me… You don’t want to find out what happens when the party gets real.”