Sworn enemies on ice

  The next day, Jade met his new teammates. After Mendez dropped him off at the training facility, Jade made his way inside. He was directed to the Coach's office, where he met the coach and after a brief meeting, he led Jade down to the locker room.

  Jade's heart hammered as they approached the locker room. They soon stopped in front of a door marked "Titans Locker Room."

Jade's grip tightened around his duffel bag.

Coach Reynolds knocked before stepping in, Jade behind.

"Morning Coach"

"Good Morning Coach Reynolds"

"Coach"

"Listen up people" Coach Reynolds called and everyone in the room raised their head up, including Elliot. For a moment, they locked eyes.  

Jade felt the air shift.

Elliot didn't even smile. He didn't frown. He just stared, slowly in a way that makes Jade's stomach twist.

"Jade Riccio. He's a forward and he'll be playing right wing for this team starting today."

 

"Elliot."

 

"Yes, Coach" Elliot replied, finally looking away. His eyes flicked to the coach.

 

"As the team leader, you'll give Jade a proper tour after training." The coach paused.

 

"I'm aware you two have...history. I don't care. That history better stays off the ice. I won't have it affecting teamwork in this team"

 

"Yes, Coach." Elliot nodded.

 

"I can't hear you." Reynolds turned to Jade

 

" Yes, Coach." Jade said quietly.

 

"Good. Now get to it, training starts in Five." Reynolds said, turned and walked out. The men went back to getting ready.

Jade dropped his duffel bag and started to get ready.

"Hi, I'm Tyler Westwood." A voice came from behind.

 

Jade turned and saw a tall guy with a friendly grin, stretching out his hand. His hazel eyes not leaving Jade's

 

"Jade...Jade Riccio." Jade replied, shaking the guy's hand.

 

"Welcome to the team, Jade."

 

Before Jade could respond, a lazy cough cut across the locker room.

"Well, this is disappointing." A voice follows.

Jade turned towards the sound. A group of players sat on the benches.

Elliot sat right in the middle, he had a slight smirk on his face.

"Executives really went low this time, signing Jade Riccio into the team. What were they thinking?" Another voice, among the group said.

"Relax, guys. I'm sure he's great." Elliot mocked.

"At whatever team he came from. Not here." One of them snorted, added.

Everyone in the room laughed under their breath.

"Assholes." Tyler said, lowly before turning to Jade.

"You don't have to listen to them." 

Jade nodded. He changed into his jersey, then stepped out with Tyler.

Training started minutes later.

 

Players skates into the ice, their skate digging deep into the ice. The air was cold.

 

Jade adjusted his helmet and held his stick firmly.

 

Elliot skated past him, slightly bumping his shoulder against his, deliberately. Like he knew he would react and he wanted that.

 

"You have a problem, Lombardi?" Jade gritted his teeth. Elliot stopped and turned with a devilish smirk on his face.

 

"A problem? No. Just reminding you where you are. My territory" Elliot spat. 

"This isn't your rink, Lombardi." Jade scoffed.

Elliot skated back to Jade. He was now standing in front of him.  He was tall....taller than jade and he couldn't help but find himself lifting his head to look at him.

"I am the team leader, remember?" Elliot sneered.

"Oh, really? Watch me take that away from you" Jade replied. Elliot's smirk vanished.

He pushed Jade slightly and he staggered backwards, Elliot stepped forward and repeated the same action.

"Don't tempt me, Elliot." Jade warned. Elliot laughed bitterly.

By now, everyone on the rink stopped what they were doing and watched.

"Try me." Elliot taunted.

"You think you can come from Apex Vanguard and try to steal what I have?" 

Jade chuckled and dropped his stick, ready to start a physical fight anytime soon.

"Are you scared I'm gonna steal your little glory?" Jade asked and Elliot scoffed.

He tightened his fist.

"This isn't the old days, Jade and History won't repeat itself, I won't allow that." 

Jade clenched his jaw. He opened his mouth to fire back at Elliot but he was interrupted by the white blown.

"Hey!" Coach Reynolds barked.

"What's going on over there?" 

Both men turned as the coach skated towards Reynolds skated towards them, fuming.

"Am I gonna have a problem with you two? I need to know now" Coach Reynolds demanded.

"No, coach. We're good." Elliot replied, his gaze not leaving Jade.

"Good, now get back into training." Reynolds ordered.

"You're at the goal post today, Riccio" Elliot said.

Jade let out a short laugh 

"I am a forward, I score goals. I don't save them." He said.

"It's training, anyone can play any position and I choose you" Elliot said.

Jade turned to Reynolds, hoping he would say something but Reynolds said nothing.

Jade grabbed his stick and skated toward the goal post. He adjusted his helmet and his breathing to steady.

He wasn't a goalie and Elliot knew it.

Jade glanced up. Coach Reynolds blew his whistle, signaling the beginning of training.

One by one, players skate forward, taking turns to fire shots towards the goal.

Jade dropped his stick, he braced himself up, ready to save those goals.

The first luck flew fast...too fast. It slipped past his leg, slamming into the back of the net.

Laughter burst across the rink.

Jade swallowed. He braced himself up again, jaw clenched.

Another shot came, he tried to catch it but he wasn't fast enough.

Goal.

He missed it again.

A third pick flew towards him. He threw his leg out to catch but the puck rolled straight into the middle of his leg.

Missed again.

Coach Reynolds skated to the goal post, shaking his head.

"Jesus, Riccio. You plan to stop any of those goals today?" 

"I'm trying, Coach." Jade said, lowly.

"You suck at trying" Reynolds said before skating away.

Jade raised his head.

Elliot stepped forward, forcing himself to the front of the line. Their eyes met and he had a devilish smirk that sent chills down Jade's spine. 

Jade braced himself, skate carved into the ice, jaw tight. Ready.

 

Elliot lifted the puck, then slammed his stick against it.

The shot went fast.

 

That moment, everything slowed, the noise in the rink blurred.

 

The puck flew and it slammed straight into Jade's stomach, with brutal force, knocking him off his feet.

He fell on the ice hard.

 

Players gasped. Coach skated to him.

 

"You okay, Riccio?"

 

There was a beat of silence.

Then Jade lifted his hands. The puck was in his grip and  he raised it into the air, signaling the team that he caught the puck.

The rink erupted.

 

Players rushed to him, raising him up and cheered loudly.

 

No one ever survived Elliot Lombardi's shot, let alone catch it.

 

"Nice catch, Riccio." Tyler said, ruffling Jade's hair.

 

Jade's eyes flicked across the rink.

 Elliot stood frozen, his face was flushed with embarrassment and anger.

 Jade smirked.

Soon, the celebration ended and Jade made his way back to the locker room. He barely made two steps into the corridor when a hand pulled him.

 

He was yanked into a side room, the door slamming shut behind him.

 

"The f..."

 

His face hit the wall hard, an arm pressed beside his head, trapping him.

 

Elliot.

 

Before Jade could push him away, Elliot caught both his wrists, pinning them above his head, firmly.

"Get off me" Jade muttered.

Elliot didn't answer.

 

Instead, he leaned in. He was too close...close enough that Jade could feel his breath against his neck.

 

For a second, Elliot's head was buried in Jade's neck, his jaw tight, as if he was fighting himself.

 

"Let me go, Elliot" Jade said again.

Elliot inhaled, like he was grounding himself.

Then he pulled away. The grip loosened.

Jade shoved him back, breathing hard.

 

"Nice catch, Jade. You were a hero today" Elliot chuckled, bitterly.

 

Jade glared hard at him, his pulse racing, his skin burning from where Elliot had touched him.

 

"Grow up, Elliot." Jade snapped, turned and headed towards the door.

He placed his hand on the door knob but Elliot's voice stopped him.

 

"I'm gonna make your life miserable here, Riccio."