Monday, Morning

Layne had asked him a few questions about Pine Hill’s hockey team, and Noah admitted to him that he had been friends with them before they moved. But both Julia and Lacy didn’t want to talk about hockey, so Noah told him they could talk about it later.

With later, apparently, he meant Monday, since his parents had asked him to cover shifts both on Saturday and Sunday evening, and he had to go home soon after finishing his smoothie.

He had tried to get the recipe from Lacy, but she said that Frey had given it to her a few months ago, telling her it was a secret recipe from some Zen place in Asia, and to not give it to too many people. It wasn’t supposed to be used for earthly satisfactions. He just wanted her to look after her grandmother and Julia.

When he arrived in school, however, Lacy’s and Frey’s secret smoothie recipe wasn’t the main topic. As soon as he arrived, Layne dragged him to his hockey friends—and Daphne, Jackson and Karen—and announced to them that Noah was from Pine Hill, and he knew their hockey team.

Apparently, knowing their opponent was all that was needed to win over more of their friends, who suddenly were super kind to him. It just didn’t sit well with Noah.

“We just need to know a few facts about them,” Layne explained, when Noah voiced the fact he didn’t feel comfortable talking about their tactics. He didn’t so much care about the team, as he cared about the fact Colin was their captain. But he couldn’t tell them he dated him for two years, and that was why he felt uncomfortable spilling their secrets. It wasn’t like he just knew average facts about their team everyone knew in school.

No, Noah knew their gameplay, by heart.

And suddenly, when these guys were all too eager to hear more, Noah started doubting Colin’s motives to seek contact after months of silence. If these guys wanted to know everything about Pine Hill, who’s to say Colin didn’t just want him to spill more information about South Cedar? He had been publicly seen with some of their players, and Julia had tagged him in posts with them. He himself even posted pictures with them.

What if Colin knew his new friends were part of South Cedar’s hockey team, and he was just slowly warming Noah up to spill secrets? Secrets he couldn’t offer him to begin with.

Still, Noah didn’t want to tell them too much, so he just shrugged and told them he didn’t really know much.

“Who’s their best player?”

“I don’t know…”

“Dude,” Layne said, placing an arm around his shoulder, “they will find out as much possible about us as well. Do you really want us to have a disadvantage?”

Noah shrugged. He really didn’t care that much. He liked watching it. But the sole reason he had been so into the game was because Colin was into it, and he was always telling him everything about it. Noah was a sucker when it came to Colin being enthusiastic about anything, and hockey was the main topic to cheer him up whenever he was being moody. But honestly, Noah couldn’t care less who had an advantage or not. And he really didn’t want to spill their secrets.

“It’s just the opening match,” Santino said casually, staring at him patiently, “it’s not like we’re asking you to tell us their secrets.”

Noah sighed, unable to deny Santino answers as soon as they made eye contact.

“Colin Randall is their best player, okay? He’s their captain and he’s a right winger. But really, I don’t know much so don’t ask me more.”

“No weakness?” Layne mumbled hopefully.

“No.”

“Just one?”

“No.”

Santino chuckled, kicking Layne against his shin, “Leave him be. You said so yourself. They were his friends. Why would he rat them out in any fucking way?”

Noah sent him a thankful look, since Layne backed off, and most other team members soon left to see their own friends. When he looked up, Karen was coldly staring at him, and he shuddered in discomfort.

He tried to ignore her to the best of his abilities, but she kept staring at him, or Santino, without ever saying a thing, and it made him nervous. And scared. And right before he was able to walk into his classroom, she blocked his way, pushed him back into the hallway, and smiled sweetly at him. It was truly nauseating.

“I respect you for not spilling their secrets. Layne can be a bit much.”

“Yeah… no problem,” Noah replied unsurely. What was he supposed to say? “I’m not going to tell you anything either, if that’s what you’re after.”

“What? No! I don’t care,” she laughed, slapping him on his shoulder playfully. Noah really rather wanted to throw up at the fakeness of her gestures. Now she was being nice? How coincidental; right after she learned he knew more about her boyfriend’s opponent. “Anyway, I just wanted to let you know I respect you for that. You’re not as bad as I thought.

And with those words, she left again, leaving Noah behind startled.

Monday, afternoon

No matter how annoying it was to have people constantly ask him questions about Pine Hill’s team, it wasn’t what had bothered Noah most. No, if he had to be honest, it was Colin who bothered him more than anyone. Because now, with the new knowledge, he couldn’t stop wondering about his motives.

By the time he got home, he dumped his shoes and backpack in the living room and headed into his bedroom, grabbing his phone. He stared at their conversation while trying to form a decent sentence that wouldn’t sound too aggressive or angry, but still would make it clear right away that he wouldn’t allow Colin to use him. But it all sounded wrong, which was why he eventually called him.

And he hung up again because he wasn’t sure if Colin was able to answer the phone. But before he could type a letter, his phone started buzzing, and Colin’s name appeared on his screen.

He sighed and answered the call.

“Hey, I just missed your call.”

“You’re playing the opening game against South Cedar.”

“Yeah, we are, why?”

Noah rolled his eyes and fell onto his bed with a sigh, “why didn’t you tell me?”

“I figured you knew already. I thought your new friends were on the team.”

“Is that why you suddenly took an interest in my life after leaving me in the dark for months? Because I’m friends with your opponents?”

“Noah?” Colin sounded slightly confused, and it was calming Noah down a little, “we were back in contact before they announced that we’re playing South Cedar. Are you afraid I contact you to what? Ask you to spy on them for me? I wouldn’t do that, you know me better.”

Well, Noah thought, rolling his eyes yet again. He really thought he knew Colin. But then he decided to dump him because he was moving to another town and Colin apparently hadn’t cared about him as much as he claimed he did. And now he was telling him he knew him? The Colin he knew would’ve gone through fire, to the end of the world, to be with him.

“Maybe,” Noah grumbled.

“Noah, there’s plenty of info about Cedar without having to trick a guy I really like. They have a great reputation. They’ve been state champion for the last five years. Everything we want to know; we can find on the internet. We can watch videos. Why would I ask you to do something that is completely out of character for the both of us?”

“Right…”

“Listen, I’m sorry I gave you the wrong impression. I just tried to show interest in you because I miss you. I was actually working up the guts to call you and ask you if you would like to meet up before the game. Maybe we can go out for dinner?”

Noah frowned, surprised. He hadn’t expected Colin to both have a perfectly logical explanation, and to ask him out.

“Is that a no?”

“Uh, sorry,” Noah mumbled, “I didn’t expect you to ask me out…”

Colin laughed, and it was like music in his ears. Colin’s laugh, gentle and amused, made his stomach flip. So, at least the phone call was good for one thing; he now knew for sure he wasn’t entirely over Colin yet.

“You know… sure. I kinda miss us too and it couldn’t hurt to go out for dinner,” he replied, smirking at himself in the mirror. “I’m just not going to talk about hockey with you.”

“That’s totally fine.” Colin replied, audibly still laughing a little. “I can’t wait, really.”

“But Colin?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m not gonna stop myself from seeing others. I miss us, but you also broke my heart and stomped on it, so you will have to prove yourself.”

“Sounds reasonable. Not fun to think about, but reasonable nonetheless.”

“Thanks, for understanding. I mean, it’s not like I’m gonna go out looking, but… you know.” Noah wondered why he was even saying this. Maybe he just wanted to test Colin. See how serious he was about him. See just how much he regretted breaking up with him. The fact Colin didn’t forbid him was good. But then again, shouldn’t he be more annoyed by it?

If anything became clear to Noah, it was the fact he might not be over Colin, he also still wasn’t ready to trust him again. If he’d trust the guy, he wouldn’t question everything he said.

“So… does that mean you figured out you still want to see that guy?”

“Huh?”

“The one you slept with twice. Did you figure out what to do with him?”

“I… did not. It’s so fucking complicated.”

“Tell me about it. Just… all I can say is, follow your heart, and fight for the guy you want. I’ll just pray it’s me.”