جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 40

Joe’s Room. 10:47 p.m.Joe sat on the edge of his bed, just staring down at his shoes.The left one still had Liam’s knot. He’d been stupidly careful not to untie it. Like maybe, if the lace stayed tied exactly the way Liam left it, that meant something. That it proved Liam cared at all.But now…Joe’s hands wouldn’t stop shaking.He kept seeing it. Over and over, like his brain had a scratch and the same scene just kept skipping back. Liam with Noah in the hallway. Liam reaching out touching Noah’s face, leaning in, kissing him.It wasn’t even how Noah had frozen up, or how he didn’t immediately shove Liam away. Maybe that was worse. The not-knowing. The way it all twisted up inside Joe’s chest.Did Noah like Liam too? Was that it?Joe’s throat felt tight. If Noah did if that’s why Liam kissed him maybe Liam had feelings for Noah, not Joe. Maybe that’s why Liam kept acting distant these days. Maybe he

At the Stairwell by 10:34am.Noah’s hands shook.“So that’s it?” he said. “You just wanted to? That’s your answer?”Liam barely reacted. He kept watching Noah, his face completely calm.“What were you expecting?” Liam asked.“I don’t know. An explanation. Maybe an apology?” Noah’s voice climbed. “You can’t just kiss someone and act like it meant nothing.”“I never said it meant nothing.”“Then what did it mean?”Liam waited. He pushed off the wall, coming closer.Everything in Noah wanted to pull back, but he stayed where he was.“I kissed you,” Liam said, slower now, “because I didn’t want to lose my chance.”Noah’s stomach knotted. “Chance for what?”“To stop you from screwing up.” Liam chose every word. “I saw you with Vale after the game. I saw him kiss you.”Noah went cold.“And I saw you kiss him back,” Liam pressed on. “So I had to talk to you. I had t

Noah’s Apartment. at 4:17pm.Noah dropped his backpack and flopped onto his bed, exhausted. His phone was already in his hand, though he couldn’t remember grabbing it.Three new texts.Jay: carter please just talk to me Jay: i don’t understand what’s happening Jay: did i lose you?Noah stared at the last one.His thumb hovered over the keyboard.No. You didn’t lose me. I’m trying to help you.But he couldn’t send it. There was no way to explain without breaking his promise to Liam.He shut off his phone and jammed it under his pillow, then lay on his back, eyes fixed on the ceiling, trying to convince himself he was doing the right thing.At Jay’s Room. by 4:23pm.Jay sat at his desk, laptop open and untouched. Phone face up beside the keyboard. No new messages.He’d sent Noah three texts since they’d talked on the street. Still nothing.He scrolled through their c

The locker room feels heavy, like the air itself is pressing in.Jay sits on the bench, still in his gear, hunched over, breathing like he just climbed a mountain.Liam leans against the lockers, arms crossed, face unreadable. He waits.Jay finally breaks the silence again. “What did you say to him?” His voice cuts through the room, sharp.Liam just tilts his head. “To who?”Jay’s tone drops, all warning now. “Don’t do that, Knox. You know who.”“Carter.”Jay stands up, all restless energy now. “Yeah, Carter. Monday, in the stairwell. Yesterday at lunch. What did you say?”Liam pauses, then shrugs. “I told him the truth.”“And that is?”“You need to focus. Distractions are risky. Your dad is watching. I told him what you should’ve said yourself.” Liam keeps his voice measured, not flinching.Jay’s hands tighten into fists. “You had no right—”“Somebody had to,” Liam says, push

Thursday Morning. 5:47am. The Rink.Jay got to the rink early. Nobody else was there not a coach, not a single teammate. The only sounds were the hum of the refrigeration and his skates thumping across the rubber mats.He changed fast, barely noticing the cold. Everything he did was automatic, almost robotic. Laced his skates so tight they pinched. Grabbed his stick. Stepped out.The lights were still half dim, sunrise hadn’t touched the windows yet. He glided out, let himself warm up, slow circles at first. Then picked up speed. Ran through drills without thinking crossovers, tight turns, sprinting bursts. His breath fogged up. Legs burned. But he didn’t stop.At the far end, Jay lined up pucks and started to shoot. One after another. Top corner. Bottom. Right through the five-hole. Sharp, clean shots. No hesitation. Just him and the ice.His phone buzzed from his jacket on the bench. He ignored it. Didn’t need to check. He knew who wasn’t messaging him.6:34am. Team Practice Begin