Page 19

Liam

I was never into sports. Grams used to make me sit with her while she watched soccer games on TV with her friends but I was never interested in them. While she and her friends cheered on, I’d scoot into a corner and read my comic books.

Not wanting to see Hayden was just one of the reasons I didn’t want to go to the hockey game this evening. Even if things were good between us, I doubted I’d enjoy watching a group of men skating with their sticks and chasing a tiny puck between them.

It’s only after I step into the ice hockey arena that I realize how wrong I was about the sport. The moment I enter, a wave of energy hits me. From the chill of the ice to the echoing cheers of a thousand fans...everything fascinates me.

The moment I reach my seat, Dr. Blanton and Professor Patel welcome me warmly. They’re both experts in their research fields but tonight, they’re all here for hockey. Both of them are wearing the Thunder Knights’ colors of royal blue and gold. They even have a stack of banners between them.

Amused by their enthusiasm, I sit down in my seat, wondering if seeing Hayden would change the excitement flowing through me. He never texted me or tried to talk to me after that night in my apartment.

I should be feeling relieved now that Hayden has finally given up on me but there’s a small part of me that still hopes he’d muster up the courage to choose me, that whatever he felt for me was strong enough to make him brave.

“Keith said he had to cajole you with a front-row ticket to get you here,” Professor Patel says, grinning amusedly at me. Even though he’s in his early sixties, he looks extremely fit under his tweed jacket.

“Sorry,” I quickly apologize. “I don’t watch hockey.”

“Have you ever attended any games before?” Professor Patel asks.

I shake my head, feeling nervous.

“Well, let’s see how you feel about the sport after the game’s over.” He grins, gently patting my shoulder in an almost fatherly way.

“Sure,” I say, starting to feel more at ease with him.

“He’s already taking a liking to you,” Dr. Blanton whispers in my ear. “Didn’t I tell you this was the best way to meet the head of the department?”

I nod. “Thanks for inviting me here, Dr. Blanton.”

He waves a hand, grinning. “Our boys could do with some extra fans tonight. Just look at the number of supporters the Silver Bears brought in today. It feels like the game’s happening in Silverlake U’s campus!”

“They should be charging them extra for their tickets,” Dr. Patel mutters, frowning, clearly unhappy with the people in the stands who’re sporting colors of green and silver.

Being a novice, I nod politely, not really understanding their deep-rooted dislike for the opposing team. It’s only when the game starts that I realize why they’re so annoyed by the supporters of the Silver Bears.

The Silver Bears are bloodthirsty. Their strategy to win the game is all about hurting the opponent’s side until they break or just give up out of sheer terror.

I soon spot Hayden in the center, leading the game. From the very start, he charges forward, weaving, dodging, and stealing the puck with an impossible mix of grace and aggression. I’m no hockey expert but even I can tell he’s the most talented player on the ice.

I watch him take hit after hit, but no matter how hard he falls, he always gets up. By the time the game reaches the second half, my entire body feels stiff, my muscles locking together as I grip the edge of my seat out of sheer dread.

The Silver Bears are getting desperate.

They no longer seem to aim for the puck. They’re all focused on hurting Hayden to stop him.

“Roy is making it straight for Bastian,” Dr. Blanton mutters from my side, his gaze burning with a rage I didn’t think he could muster.

Following the direction of his gaze, I follow the tall, massive player in green and silver who’s adjusting his angle, and streaking right toward Hayden.

I stop breathing, knowing what’s about to happen.

The second Hayden crosses the blue line, Roy strikes.

His massive body collides against Hayden’s shoulder, launching him off his skates and sending him crashing into the boards.

A collective gasp rises from the spectators. Everyone holds their breath to see whether Hayden can get up after the vicious attack.

My hands ball into fists. I hate seeing him get hurt over and over again.

Despite wanting Knightswood to win, I want Hayden to quit. I want him to take a break and look after his injuries.

My heart pounds against my chest as I watch Hayden remain motionless on the ice. He no longer seems to have any life left in him after that crash.

But then...he moves.

The crowd roars like a beast as he pushes himself back on his feet. I can’t see his face clearly because of his helmet but I can tell he’s having difficulty breathing.

“Do you see the kind of resilience a player needs to be in this game?” Dr. Patel says from my side. A fierce expression spreads on his aging face as he keeps his focus on Hayden. “No matter how many times you fall, you have to get up to finish the game. People like you and me need to go about our jobs with the same kind of determination. Your experiments might not always give you the results you want but you don’t give up. No matter how many times you fail, you stay on course and keep going until you have what you’re aiming for.”

“Yes, Sir,” I agree in a sober tone.

A strong emotion fills my heart, sending currents through my body.

It’s a moment before I realize it’s pride.

Pride for the way Hayden doesn’t give up. Pride for the way he doesn’t resort to violence but stays focused on scoring goals.

At the same time, I feel my anxiety rising.

While the crowd roars and cheers, I can see that Hayden is hurt. His movements are stiffer than before and lack the elegance he had at the start of the game. He’s also favoring his right side and doing his best to avoid body contact even with his teammates.

He’s in pain and hiding it.

I expect the referees to intervene at any moment but no one seems to notice. Seeing Hayden in so much pain breaks my heart. I desperately want to rush to him and tell him to stop being a stubborn idiot, and that winning a game isn’t as important!

But I can’t. Helplessness, like I’ve never felt before, crashes over me.

Because even if this crowd doesn’t stop me from running into the rink, I can’t rush to Hayden. I can’t command him to do anything when I’m not even allowed to talk to him.

Hell! I shouldn’t even be here watching him play.

My fingers grip my jeans hard, my stomach churning from watching the game turn into a blood bath.

While my attention is focused on Hayden, the team’s goalie and captain, Logan Johnson gets so badly hurt, that the game has to be stopped. Tearing my gaze away from Hayden, I look toward the injured player on the ice.

As they remove his helmet, I recognize him immediately.

He’s the same guy I’d seen at the Italian restaurant. No wonder Hayden was spooked seeing his team’s captain there. No wonder he lost his cool, scared of the consequences if the captain saw him on a date with another guy.

A heavy sigh escapes me.

I can’t bring myself to be angry at Logan. Not when he’s down with a group of paramedics and referees hovering over him.

“Shit, he’s not going to be able to play,” Dr. Blanton says, looking pale and worried.

“Silverlake has monsters playing for them,” Professor Patel hisses angrily. “They diverted the attention of the defensemen by going after Bastian repeatedly. Their true target was Johnson. He’s an excellent goalie and they knew they can’t score with him protecting the goal line.”

“They came up with a strategy to break our Knights,” Dr. Blanton says in a hollow voice. “And they succeeded.”

Professor Patel nods with a grim expression.

“The Knights are already ahead by three goals,” I say, looking between them. “We can still win, right?”

“It all depends on how good the backup goalie is,” Dr. Blanton explains. “Now that Johnson has been removed, the Bears will be thirsting for the new goalie’s blood. If he can stand against their brutality, we have a chance to win. Otherwise...” He lets out a sigh, not even wanting to say we’d lose.

Tyler Moris, the backup goalie, skates into the rink as soon as Johnson gets carried away on a stretcher. He fidgets, shifting from side to side, looking nervous as the Silver Bears stand before him like a bunch of hyenas who’ve smelled fresh blood.

Tyler is so badly spooked out, he barely does anything to save the puck from crossing the goal line. Every time the Bears get hold of the puck, they score, steadily catching up to the Knights.

When the scoreboard flashes the final score 5-3 , my heart sinks.

The Knights lose the game to the Bears.

Hayden...lost.

After all that fighting, all that pain...he still lost.

A cold, hollow feeling settles in my chest as the supporters in green and silver roar and cheer. Their voices are deafening but I barely hear them. My ears ring and my pulse throbs in an erratic rhythm.

I can only imagine how Hayden must be feeling right now.

Looking toward the rink, I search for him. When I finally spot him among the players in blue and gold, I find him standing all by himself in a corner, his gaze fixed on a man in an impressive black suit.

With his helmet off, I catch an expression on his face that sends icy tendrils through my veins. Unlike his teammates, he doesn’t look disappointed and exhausted. He looks wrecked.

With a jolt, I realize Hayden’s wearing the same expression as the time I pulled him out of the sea. Either the loss devasted him or it’s something to do with the man who’s caught his attention.

I glance back toward the stranger, taking in his tall, muscular build and dark hair. He has a cold, unmoving demeanor and is staring right back at Hayden.

“Come on, Meyers,” Dr. Blanton says, lightly shoving my shoulder. “It’s time for us to go.”

Turning around, I see that people are exiting the stands. I don’t want to leave yet but I’m forced to get up so that I’m not blocking the way for others. Helplessly, I follow the crowd, exiting the arena while my heart aches for Hayden.