The First Glance
868 Words
EPISODE THREE
By Wednesday morning, the excitement from opening night had settled into routine.
Classes resumed.
Assignments piled up.
The campus had traded the roar of the arena for the steady hum of lectures and coffee machines.
For Noah Carter, however, routine was a luxury he rarely got to enjoy.
He had already answered three interview requests before nine in the morning.
One reporter wanted his opinion on the upcoming draft.
Another wanted a quote about leadership.
The third only cared about his workout routine.
By the time he left the athletic building, he felt more like a brand than a student.
He adjusted the strap of his backpack and headed toward the business school.
"Captain!"
A freshman hurried over, clutching a hockey stick.
"My little brother's your biggest fan."
Noah smiled automatically.
"What's his name?"
"Oliver."
Noah took the stick, uncapped the marker clipped to his backpack, and signed his name across the blade.
"For Oliver. Dream big. — Noah Carter."
The freshman's face lit up.
"Thank you. Seriously."
"No problem."
As the student walked away, Noah's smile lingered for a moment before fading.
Some days, he wondered if anyone wanted anything from Noah Carter.
Or only from The Captain.
---
The literature building couldn't have been more different from the athletic center.
Instead of trophy cases and framed jerseys, the walls were lined with paintings, student poetry, and shelves overflowing with books.
The scent of old paper drifted through the hallways.
Jael loved this building.
It always felt as though the world slowed down the moment she stepped inside.
She balanced three novels against her chest while climbing the stairs to Professor Morgan's office.
Halfway up, someone barreled around the corner.
"J!"
The books nearly slipped from her hands.
"Chloe!"
"I'm late."
"You always are."
"I know."
Chloe tucked a loose curl behind her ear.
"But I brought muffins."
Jael narrowed her eyes.
"Is this an apology?"
"It's emotional support in pastry form."
"I'll allow it."
Together, they laughed as they continued upstairs.
---
Professor Morgan looked up from his desk as they entered.
"Perfect timing."
"That's debatable," Chloe said, checking her watch.
"I prefer optimistic."
He shook his head with an amused smile.
"I have news."
Jael sat down.
"What happened?"
"The literacy outreach committee confirmed its volunteers this morning."
"Oh?"
"The hockey team accepted."
Chloe gasped dramatically.
"Oh, this is going to be fun."
"For you," Jael muttered.
Professor Morgan handed his daughter a folder.
"I'd like you to coordinate the reading sessions."
She opened it.
Schedules.
Volunteer names.
School visits.
Emergency contacts.
Near the top of the list—
Noah Carter
Her eyes skimmed over the name without a second thought.
"Looks manageable."
Chloe leaned over her shoulder.
"Wait..."
She tapped the page.
"The Noah Carter?"
Jael blinked.
"I assume there's only one."
"You sound disappointingly calm."
"Should I panic?"
"No."
"Then I'm fine."
Professor Morgan chuckled quietly.
"You'll meet everyone Friday afternoon."
Jael nodded.
"I'll be there."
---
Across campus, the hockey locker room echoed with complaints.
"We're reading books?"
Liam looked personally offended.
"I barely read my textbooks."
Coach Reynolds folded his arms.
"You'll survive."
"What if the kids ask hard questions?"
"They're eight."
"They're smarter than me."
"They probably are."
The room burst into laughter.
Coach's gaze settled on Noah.
"Carter."
"Yeah?"
"You're leading the volunteers."
"Of course."
"And I'd appreciate it if you remembered this isn't a publicity event."
"It won't be."
Coach held his gaze a moment longer before nodding.
"I know."
---
Friday arrived beneath gray skies and a steady autumn drizzle.
The university conference room buzzed with quiet conversation.
Volunteers trickled in carrying folders and coffee cups.
Jael stood near the front, arranging name tags into alphabetical order.
She didn't notice the door opening behind her.
She didn't notice the conversations growing quieter.
She certainly didn't notice the hockey team walking in.
Noah noticed her immediately.
Not because she was the prettiest woman in the room.
Though she was beautiful in a way that wasn't trying to be.
It was because she looked up for exactly one second...
Then looked back down at her papers.
No whisper.
No double take.
No asking for a picture.
Nothing.
He frowned.
That was...
Different.
Liam leaned closer.
"I think she ignored you."
"I noticed."
"You've been humbled."
"Relax."
"I'm framing this moment."
Noah couldn't stop himself from looking at her again.
She wore an oversized cream sweater with the sleeves pulled over her hands, dark jeans, and her chestnut hair tied into a loose braid that had already begun to come undone.
She laughed softly at something another volunteer said.
It wasn't loud.
It wasn't practiced.
It sounded... genuine.
He found himself wondering what had made her laugh.
Then she looked up.
For the first time, their eyes met.
Blue.
Hazel.
Neither of them smiled.
Neither of them looked away immediately.
The moment lasted only a heartbeat.
Long enough for curiosity to settle quietly between two strangers.
Then Jael returned to her paperwork as if nothing had happened.
Noah stood there, oddly disappointed.
Most people tried to get his attention.
She had just gone back to organizing name tags.
And for reasons he couldn't explain...
That bothered him.
---
- Writer
