“Fuck you. Fuck you all.” Then he turned back and walked out of the ice rink, the sharp echo of his skates cutting through the silence of the rink.
Players and students watched him leave, stunned by his outburst.
Luciano entered the locker room, removed his helmet and set it down with a loud sound.
His hands were trembling with rage.
He walked to the nearest locker and punched the door until his knuckles hurt.
The walls of the empty locker room echoing the metallic sound.
His face was flushed a violent, dark crimson, his veins pulsing visibly along his temples and jawline.
“I won’t accept this.” He growled loudly.
With a large strides he walked into the restroom.
The space was a luxurious expanse of white marble and sparkling mirror.
He walked to the row of silver faucets and turned one of them.
White foaming stream of water gushed out with speed hitting the silver sink with a force, large droplets spraying across the mirrors.
Without hesitation, Luciano bent forward and shoved his head beneath it.
The water hit his hair turning his wild blonde hair into a soft, silky mesh.
He groaned under the tap as the effect of the cold from the water seeped through his thick skin.
His racing thoughts began to calm a little.
He remained there for several seconds, allowing the icy water to wash away some of his frustration.
Then there was a loud rumbling from the locker room as if someone was searching for something frantically.
Luciano turned off the faucet.
Luciano straightened immediately.
His eyes narrowed.
A second later, the restroom door opened and someone walked in.
Luciano looked towards the door.
It was Joshua, his friend.
He wore a worried look on his face.
He approached Luciano,
“Man. What is wrong with you? Why did you crash out—out there?” Joshua knew his friend could be hot-tempered but crashing out and punching a new member of their team on his first day it’s a new shock for him.
Luciano did not reply to him ; his eyes were fixed on his reflection in the mirror.
His damp hair now clung to his skull.
Some tendrils went over his face blocking his eyesight while dripping some moisture on him.
“The coach is disappointed in you.”
“I don’t care.” Luciano spat out, grabbing a paper towel and aggressively wiping the moisture from his neck.
“Your conduct is not that of a captain.” Joshua said.
Luciano turned around sharply.
The movement sent droplets flying through the air.
“Whose side are you on Josh? Are you not supposed to be a friend to me.”
Joshua crossed his arms.
“I am your friend, which is exactly why I’m telling you the truth. Your actions today didn’t look good, it screams to jealousy and that is unlike you.”
The accusation hit harder than any punch.
“Why would I be jealous of a nobody Josh.”
He moved closer to Joshua.
His chest heaved under his heavy gear.
“You know me,” he said.
“I don’t tolerate disrespect. Anyone who disrespects me gets what they deserve.”
“How could the new boy disrespect you? He just arrived.” Joshua said after some time.
Luciano clenched his fists.
“You were not there. You should have been there Josh. Right there in the Gold hall in front of everyone, that bastard looked me in the face and told me to go to hell.”
“What? He told you that.” Joshua has a puzzled look in his expression.
“He doesn’t look like the rogue type. Could you have done or said something that could have warranted that from him?”
“What could I have said or done to that rogue bastard? I don’t even cross ways with people like him.”
Joshua nodded slowly.
He has always been the reasonable one among his group of elite kids, always thoughtful never the one to use his privilege rashly.
“You should be careful, friend. The tournament is close and the tension is high. Moves like this could be interpreted as jealousy and envy, It’s going to affect the morale of the entire team.”
Luciano chuckled bitterly.
He placed his hands on his friend’s shoulder firmly.
“We are going to win this tournament with or without that peasant. We don’t need him.”
Joshua looked at him for a long, silent moment before gently removing Luciano’s hands from his shoulders.
“Be careful Luciano, pride always goes before a fall.”
“Go tell that to that new boy.” Luciano muttered, turning back to the sink.
*****
Roman was walking back to his dormitory with a smirk in his lips, a slight limp on his gait.
He has been punched by the green eyed beauty yet he didn’t feel mad or angry instead he felt amusement and fascination.
He should have been angry.
His pride should have been wounded.
Yet he couldn’t stop smiling.
Most people would have been angry and demanded an apology.
Roman wasn’t most people.
He touched the sore spot on his face.
A warm feeling spread through his chest.
“What a beautiful punch,” he muttered.
His smile grew.
At least Luciano had touched him.
That had to count for something.
Negative attention was still attention.
It is better than total indifference.
He felt that the punch would be a good way to start a friendship conversation.
What a way to begin his friendship with his hot Captain.
After meeting Coach Harrison and seeing Luciano again, the rest of the school day had become a blur.
His mind was filled with different complicated thoughts.
Immediately the next bell rang.
He slung his bag around his shoulder and left the class without waiting for Clinton
Roman felt light.
It felt as if he was stepping on strings.
His heart hummed a new song.
He can’t wait for tomorrow.
The Coach said he can start training tomorrow.
He can’t wait to start training alongside Luciano, even though he might lose all his teeths in the course of the training he doesn’t care.
Seeing his beautiful face everyday is worth it.
As he was waking, people were looking at him like crazy.
The New boy with a bruise on his face, disheveled uniform and a smirk on his face walking nonchalantly with a smug smile on his face.
Some said he is crazy, Some said he deserved the beating from whoever gave it to him.
It seemed that Roman’s string of bad experiences and his plunging reputation in the school is not ending anytime soon and he doesn’t seem to care.
When he entered his room he saw his roommate Johnny sitting on his bed with a sullen expression on his face.
He was sitting with his legs folded and crossed around his waist like a yoga master.
He was looking out of the window into the sunlight without blinking.
His fingers were making random rhythmic movements as if he was drawing a rune or an invisible shape.
Roman sighed, he had to get used to this weird roommate of his unless he wanted to run mad.
“Hi roomie.” Roman chipped in without waiting for him to answer he entered the bathroom.
Johnny did not answer him nor did he move from his position.
He took a long shower, whistling on a high note.
He then came out dressed in a loose faded white t-shirt with a frayed neckline and a red shorts.
When he came out, Johnny have not shifted from his position at all.
Roman sat on his bed facing him directly.
“Hey where did you sleep last night?”
Silence.
“I was really worried about you, you know we are roommates, we are supposed to care for each other right.”
Deeper silence.
“Anyway I met with my coach today and I also saw Luciano, my captain.” Roman closed his eyes as if he was reminiscing about something.
“He is so handsome and so intensely passionate” Roman bit his lips and inhaled deeply.
Johnny’s eyelashes twitched slightly.
“Johnny I think I have fallen in love….I am in love with Luciano.”
Johnny’s hand movement stopped, then he blinked twice.
Then his head turned around and bobbed towards Roman’s direction.
“Whattt!” He shrieked loudly.