LOGINThe day of the championship arrived. The arena was packed to the ceiling. The air was freezing, but the energy of the crowd made it feel like it was burning. Thousands of fans were wearing Northwood blue, waving signs and chanting our names. As we skated onto the ice for warm ups, I looked up into the stands. It didn't take long to find them. In the front row, my mom was standing next to Chloe. Mom was wearing a Northwood scarf, her face glowing with a mix of nerves and pride. Chloe was cheering so loud I could almost hear her over the music.Then, I saw him.My father was sitting a few rows back. He was just sitting there, his arms crossed, watching me with that same unreadable expression. My heart gave a heavy thump. He had actually come.The game was the hardest thing I’ve ever done. The other team was fast and aggressive. They knew about the scandal, and they tried to use it. Every time I hit the boards, someone whispered a slur or a joke about the video."Focus, Liam!" Jax shout
Today, we were out on the ice for our final practice. The sound of skates cutting through the ice was loud. Everyone was focused. We moved in sync, passing the puck back and forth. During a small break, I skated over to the boards to grab my water bottle. I looked around the rink. Something felt missing. I scanned the faces of my teammates; Swiss, Toby, Mark, and the others. Then I realized who was gone."Hey, Swiss!" I called out, wiping sweat from my forehead.Swiss skated over, stopping with a spray of ice. "Yeah, Cap?""Where’s Davis?" I asked, looking toward the locker room door. "The big game is tomorrow. He’s still on the roster. Is he coming?"Swiss shook his head and leaned against his stick. "I haven't seen him since the morning after you came back. He showed up, realized no one was going to talk to him, and he just... disappeared.""None of the freshmen have seen him in the dorms either," Toby added, skating up to join us. "He’s probably hiding. After everything he did, I
The time of the hearing was the most nervous I had ever been. Even though the team was behind me and the students were cheering, I knew that the people in the Board Room held my entire life in their hands.Jax and I met up early. We both dressed in our best suits. I wore a dark blue one that my mom had bought for my graduation, and Jax wore a clean black suit. We looked more like young businessmen than hockey players. We didn't talk much as we walked toward the Administration Building. We just held each other’s hands tightly until we reached the front steps.The campus was still buzzing. There were students standing near the entrance, and when they saw us, they gave us thumbs up signs. But as soon as we stepped inside the building, everything changed.We walked into the large room at the top of the stairs. It was the same room where I had been told to leave just days ago. To my surprise, the room was more crowded this time. There were several professors sitting in the back together wi
I woke up before my alarm, because of the notification sound coming from my phone. A notification from my school email address.I held my breath.TO: Liam SimpsonFROM: Office of the DeanSUBJECT: Formal Hearing and Review of SuspensionDear Mr. Simpson, follow-up to our previous meeting, the Board of Trustees has scheduled a formal hearing regarding your status at Northwood University. You are required to be present on campus by 2:00 PM today. Your interim suspension has been paused pending the outcome of this hearing. Please report to the Administration Building upon arrival.I sat up so fast I felt dizzy. They were calling me back. I immediately dialed Jax. He picked up on the first ring."Did you get it?" I asked, not even saying hello."I got it," Jax said. He sounded breathless, like he had been jumping around his room. "They sent me one too. Liam, we’re going back. We’re actually going back.""I'm packing my bags right now," I said. "I'll meet you at the dorms in three hours."
If you don't get on that plane on Friday, you are cut off. Entirely. I will take the car. I will close your bank accounts. I will remove your name from every trust fund. You will have nothing.""Fine," I said. It was the scariest word I had ever spoken, but it felt amazing to say it. "Take it all. I’d rather have nothing. Jax cares about me. Can’t you see?”The mention of Jax’s name made his face turn a dark shade of purple. "Don't mention that boy in this house again.""His name is Jax," I said again.I turned around and walked toward the door."Liam!" my father barked.I stopped at the door, but I didn't turn back."If you walk out of this room, there is no turning back," he said. His voice was lower now, almost like a threat. "You will be on your own. No one will help you. Not the school, not your friends and certainly not me.""I've been on my own for a long time, Dad," I said. "I just finally realized it today."I walked out of the office and shut the door behind me. I found my m
It was already late into the night. I was sitting on the large leather sofa, the glow of the television hitting my face. I wasn't really watching the show. My mind was still stuck on those videos from the student forum. It felt like a dream, but the warmth in my chest told me it was real.Suddenly, the heavy front doors groaned open. I heard the familiar sound of leather shoes clicking against the floor.My father was home.I sat up straight, my muscles tensing. I saw him walk past the entrance of the sitting room. He looked exhausted. His tie was loosened, and his jacket was draped over his arm. "Good evening, Dad," I said. My voice was quiet but clear.He didn't stop. He didn't even turn his head to look at me. It was like I wasn't even there. He just kept walking toward his study, the sound of his footsteps fading as he moved deeper into the house.I sat back down, a bitter taste in my mouth. Being ignored felt worse than being yelled at. I stared at the TV for another twenty min
Sunday was usually a day off, but some of us liked to go to the rink early just to move around without the pressure of a real practice. It was optional, which meant only the guys who truly loved being on the ice showed up.I arrived at 8:00 AM, thinking I would be the only one there. But when I wal
Usually, before a game, I felt a heavy knot in my stomach. But tonight, I felt better. I looked around the locker room and saw Toby laughing with Miller. I saw Swiss focused, tapping his goalie pads with his stick.I looked at Jax. He was sitting right next to me, humming a song under his breath w
The locker room was loud on Monday morning. It was the first real practice after the big game, and the energy was high. Everywhere I looked, guys were shouting, throwing rolls of tape at each other, and laughing about the weekend.I sat on my wooden bench, slowly pulling on my thick hockey socks. M
The dorm room was dark when I got back. I just sat on the edge of my bed and listened to the sound of my own breathing. My father was out there right now. He was probably sitting in a dark office with the Dean, or maybe they were having a drink at a fancy hotel. He was using his money and his name







