CHAPTER 2- THE TEAM CAPTAIN
1637 Words
If anyone had told me two weeks ago that I’d be standing in front of the boys’ hockey dorm at Northbrook University pretending to be my twin brother, I would’ve laughed in their face.
Then punched them for the audacity.
But here I was, doing the exact thing I would've punched someone for.
The campus stretched around me like something out of a movie. Tall brick buildings with ivy climbing their sides, wide walkways crowded with students, and a massive sports complex looming in the distance like a nightmare.
Northbrook University.
Home of the Northbrook wolves, One of the most competitive college hockey programs in the country.
And apparently my new life.
I tightened my grip on the duffel bag slung over my shoulder.
Inside were Ashton’s clothes.
Ashton’s ID. Ashton’s entire life.
I looked down at myself again, accessing my outfit and posture. The grey loose hoodie hung on my small shoulders, hiding any little curves I had. The baggy jeans added to my armour.
My hair had been tucked under a black beanie, and Ashton had insisted I cut it shorter so it wouldn’t give me away. I cried and mourned my hair. I was in a wolf cut, Ashton's stupid hairstyle.
It brushed just below my ears now.
A group of hockey players walked past me, laughing loudly, carrying their gear bags like they weighed nothing. My bag weighed a ton. It was huge, Like… ridiculously huge.
I glanced up at the dorm building again.
The Bears residence was plastered boldy on it.
The hockey team’s housing.
My stomach twisted.
This was my last chance to turn back and save myself from the trauma that lay ahead.
Once I walked in there, Ashton Miller officially came back to school from the 2 weeks break.
“Okay,” I muttered to myself.
“You can do this.”
I adjusted the strap of the duffel bag and pushed the door open.
The lobby buzzed with noise.
It was like I walked into an alternate universe where only men existed. Men in all shapes and sizes.
The faint smell of sports deodorant and gym bags floated through the air.
“Yo, Miller!” I heard a voice behind me.
My heart started a chaotic drumbeat.
You've got this Ash. Smile and wave. Do the bro hug thingy and get on with your life.
I lifted my hand in a casual wave.
“Bro!”
My voice sounded deeper than usual. It took a lot of training to sound this deep.
Thank God Ashton and I already sounded similar.
The guy gave a hand salute and continued on his way.
Phew!
I released the breath I’d been holding.
Okay. That wasn't so bad.
I could do this.
Hopefully.
I approached the front desk where a bored-looking resident assistant sat scrolling on his phone.
“Name?” he asked without looking up.
“Ashton Miller.”
He finally glanced at the computer.
Then at me.
Recognition flickered across his face.
“Oh, yeah. Miller"
I forced a small grin.
“Guilty.” I mentally face palmed. Really? Guilty? That's all I could come up with?
The dude looked like me like I should say something.
I had nothing to say.
"How can I help you bro. Lost your room key card?"
I mentally punched myself. I had just come to the reception desk like I I was a new student when Ashton Miller has been in this school for years.
"Yeah bro, went for a party, got wasted, my wallet go stolen" I lied through my teeth.
I'm sure Ashton's wallet was safe in this duffel bag but I was too dumb to check.
"Sick" the desk guy answered absentmindedly. He rummaged in a drawer beside him and came up with a spare key card.
"Goodluck explaining that to Milton" he snorted.
Shit. I'd successfully gotten myself into trouble with the team captain already.
Kade Milton
The human problem Ashton had conveniently forgotten to warn me about until the last second.
My stomach flipped.
“s**t" I said, grabbing the key card.
The RA nodded toward the elevator.
“Welcome back.”
Fantastic, Just fantastic.
I headed for the elevator, trying not to look like someone who had absolutely no idea where she was going. Because honestly, I didn't.
The elevator doors opened.
Three guys in hockey varsity jackets stepped out.
One of them slapped my shoulder as he passed.
“Glad you're back, man. Tryouts are gonna be brutal this year.”
My heart stuttered. Who the heck is this now?.
I nodded.
“Bruhh, prepare to be whooped.”
The dude looked at me weird, like I had a third eye, and I willed the ground to open and swallow me.
My heart was beating so hard it felt like it might punch through my ribs.
The elevator doors closed before he got the chance to say anything. Thank God!
I sagged slightly against the wall.
Ashton should've told me the names and characteristics of all his player friends, so I wouldn't be making these dumb mistakes.
The elevator dinged on the third floor.
I stepped out into a hallway lined with identical doors. The hallway stretched so long, it was almost mystical. It smelled of a certain cologne Ashton was obsessed with, manly and antiseptic.
My eyes scanned the numbers until I finally found Ashton's, my new room.
Room 312.
My hand hovered over the door.
Inside that room was the captain of the hockey team, Kade Milton.
the guy who would probably notice if Ashton suddenly stopped showering with the team.
Inside that room was the biggest threat to my secret.
I inhaled. You can pull this off Ash.
I slid the key card, hands trembling. The door opener to a massive room.
These kids were being spoiled.
Two beds sat at opposite corners of the room, a reading table besides each bed.
Sports equipment littered everywhere.
Hockey sticks leaned against the wall like weapons waiting for battle.
One side of the room was pretty bare while the other side looked more lived in.
There was no human in sight though.
I dropped the duffel bag onto the empty bed.
“So far so good,” I whispered. I took time to take in the room again, noticing the little details that'd aid my stay. Details like, Kade Milton was more of a butterfly in terms of cleaning. He loved being able to see everything he owned, so stuff crowded his corner in neat stacks.
The sudden click of the door made me jump. My entire body was immediately on flight or fight.
The door swung open wider revealing an over six foot guy in black Jersey shorts and a black tank top.
Kade Milton.
I knew immediately.
Even if Ashton hadn’t shown me pictures, I would’ve known.
Some people just exuded authority like expensive perfume.
He was tall. Like really tall. How did 5'8 Ashton even get accepted into this division?
His broad shoulders filled the doorway, His dark hair was slightly messy, like he’d run his hands through it a dozen times, and his jawline looked like it had been carved out of stone by someone with a very very aggressive chisel.
But it was his eyes that caught me. They were sharp, maybe too sharp.
It was the kind of eyes that looked like they missed absolutely nothing.
His eyes landed on me. For a second, he just stared. I willed my legs to stop shaking.
Then one corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
“Well,” he said.
His voice was low and teasing.
“Look who finally showed up.”
My brain scrambled for the correct response.
Ashton said he was Cool with Milton. But what exactly did cool mean??? I didn't have the chance to know.
Just Be cool Ash.
“Miss me?” I said. I mentally face palmed.
Kade stepped fully into the room, closing the door behind him.
Up close, he was even bigger.
Great. Perfect.
Just what i needed.
He tossed his gym bag onto the chair and leaned against the reading table.
He grabbed a hockey stick leaning against the wall and spun it absently in his hand.
“So,” he said.
“Tryouts start Monday.”
My stomach dropped.
Monday? That was three days away!
Three days to figure out how to be a Division One hockey player.
In front of the captain of the hockey team who also happened to be my roommate.
No pressure at all.
"Sure! I'm pumped!" Was all the enthusiasm I could muster.
Kade leaned back on his elbows, studying me again.
“You seem different,” he said suddenly.
My spine went rigid.
Different? Different how??
I forced a laugh.
“Different good or different bad?”
He tilted his head slightly. “Just different.”
His eyes lingered on me like he was trying to solve a puzzle.
My pulse hammered in my ears.
“Your skin looks a lot smoother," he shrugged again. "Maybe you just needed a break.”
What sort of team captain noticed the condition of his teammate's skin?!!
I curse my skincare.
"Facts! I've been doing some skincare and yoga during the break bro! gotta look good for the pictures." I winked at him. Why did I wink at him!
I grabbed Ashton’s hockey bag and set it on the floor, trying to look normal.
This was already not going well, and I had five months left.
I took a much needed breath as I focused on unpacking and ignoring Kade Milton's intense eyes.
Five months.
That’s all I had to survive, and I was going to take it one day at a time.
Yeah.
This was definitely going to end well, or not.
We'd have to find out.
- Writer
