Chapter 20: Redeemed
1079 Words
I never thought I’d be flying across states just to watch a hockey game.
But here I was, standing inside a packed arena in Denver. My heart beat faster as I took in the ice below.
It had been a year since everything fell apart. It was also the year Jax chose to take an extra year to redeem himself before moving to DU.
After the scandal at Northpoint, many people thought his hockey career was over. But instead of heading straight to college, he transferred to Ravenwings for one final year of high school eligibility. No scholarship, no shortcuts.
He started from the bottom, working harder than anyone on the team. He showed up early for extra drills, stayed late on the ice, and spent nights reviewing game footage. Slowly, he climbed from the third line to the second, and eventually became one of Ravenwings’ most reliable players.
What impressed me most wasn’t just how hard he worked physically. It was how he handled everything mentally. After the scandal, a lot of people turned their backs on him. There were rumors, hate comments, and even former teammates who stopped talking to him.
But instead of letting it break him, Jax used it as fuel. He told me once during one of our late-night calls that every time he felt like quitting, he reminded himself why he started, not to prove others wrong, but to prove to himself that he could rise above his worst mistake.
And now, one year later, he had led Ravenwings all the way to the Colorado High School State Championship.
Ravenwings versus Westbridge.
The arena roared with the sound of the crowd. Red and black jerseys filled the stands, and the energy was intense.
I sat with Noah and Sophie near the front, gripping the railing tightly. The cold air from the ice brushed against my face every time the players skated past.
“LET’S GO RAVENWINGS!”
“DEFENSE! DEFENSE!”
When Jax stepped onto the ice during warm-ups, my heart did that familiar little flip. He looked stronger, more mature, and honestly a lot hotter than before. Halfway through, he glanced up at the stands and our eyes met.
Jax tapped his stick twice on the ice, our quiet little signal, and I smiled. He gave me a small nod before skating back to the bench.
The game was brutal from the first whistle.
Westbridge came out aggressive, trying to overpower Ravenwings with heavy hits and fast transitions. But Jax and his team held their ground. The pressure mounted with every shift.
The crowd was loud. They’re chanting, screaming, and banging on the glass every time a big hit landed.
“LET’S GOOO!”
“HARLAN! HARLAN! HARLAN!”
By the end of the second period, the score was tied 2-2, and everything felt intensified.
In the third period, all changed.
With under two minutes left, Westbridge’s top scorer broke through on a breakaway. The crowd held its breath. But Jax came flying from behind and delivered a clean, powerful hit that knocked the player off the puck.
The arena exploded.
“LET’S GO RAVENWINGS!”
With ten seconds remaining, Jax carried the puck into the offensive zone. The crowd was on their feet, screaming at the top of their lungs.
“HARLAN! HARLAN! HARLAN!”
He faked a shot, pulled the puck back between his skates, and fired a quick, precise wrist shot that slipped past the goalie’s pad.
The red light flashed.
The buzzer sounded.
3-2, Ravenwings.
The entire arena erupted into chaos. Confetti rained down as the players piled on top of each other in celebration.
“That’s Jax! Oh My God!!!” Jax! Jax!” I was jumping and screaming with Sophie, tears stinging my eyes.
After the trophy presentation, the jumbotron lit up.
Jax stood in the middle of the ice, still breathing hard with his helmet off. The crowd slowly quieted as his voice came through the speakers.
“I know a lot of people here remember where I came from,” he said. “I know what I did back then. I let my old team down. I let myself down. And I’m sorry.”
He looked toward the section where some former Northpoint fans were sitting.
“I can’t take back what happened. But I’ve spent every day since trying to become someone better. Someone who deserves to be here.”
Then his eyes found mine.
“And… Lila… You’ve been with me through all of it. Even when I didn’t deserve it. I love you. I’ve loved you for a long time. And I’m done being scared of saying it out loud!”
The crowd erupted into loud cheers and whistles. My face burned as Sophie screamed beside me.
After the ceremony, I waited near the players’ tunnel like Jax had asked.
The hallway was still loud with celebration. Players laughing, staff cheering, and music blasting from somewhere nearby.
When Jax finally walked out, his eyes immediately found mine. He’s still in his gear with his hair messy and damp,
Without saying a word, he pulled me into his arms and lifted me off the ground in a tight hug. I wrapped my arms around his neck and buried my face in his shoulder, breathing him in.
“You came,” he murmured against my hair.
“Of course I did,” I whispered back.
“I missed you so much,”
“I missed you too.”
He smiled and leaned down to press a soft kiss on my forehead, then another on the tip of my nose, before finally kissing my lips.
It was slow and sweet, like he was trying to make up for all the time we’d spent apart.
“I’m proud of you,” I whispered against his mouth.
Jax pulled me closer, holding me like he never wanted to let go.
“Stay with me tonight?” His voice was soft and full of something I hadn’t dared hope for in a long time.
I closed my eyes and melted into him. “Okay,” I whispered.
We stayed in each other’s arms until the rest of the world vanished.
At that exact moment, I realized something I had always known but never dared to say aloud:
No matter where life’s winds would take us, no matter how wild the stormy weather, we found our home in each other’s hearts.
And that was enough.
~ The End~
- Writer
