Chapter Text
College sports are undeniable episcenters for school pride. No matter how uninterested a person may be in watching and/or participating in their day to day, the irresistible pull of watching your school's team thrash your ‘rival’ is a power of which it would be foolish to fight against. It is perfectly typical for any of these usually non-sport centered individuals to find themselves with a peculiar giddiness in the days before a game. The fuzzy sensation in their stomach can only be attributed to the communal excitement felt by the whole student body. It could not in any way be linked back to any particularly attractive players.
Absolutely not. This is normal. You are normal.
“You excited to see anyone at the game?” Dina snaps you back to reality, raising her eyebrows at you through the vanity mirror.
“What do you mean?” You answer back plainly, not taking your eyes off your hair as you carefully brush through the ends.
Dina doesn’t answer you, instead continuing to look at you intently. After a beat she sighs, rolls her eyes and returns her focus on her hand held mirror.
You see Dina shift around in your peripheral, beginning to lace up her boots.
“Are you almost done?” She asks, not bothering to look up from her shoes, “We should probably get going soon.”
“Shit, yeah,” You curse as you look down to your watch, “we’re gonna be late.”
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞
You and Dina, luckily, make it to the rink with little time to spare and are able to find decent seats near the benches. The bustling arena quietens down momentarily as the players make their way onto the ice. Dina unabashedly blushes as Ellie proudly salutes up at her, blowing her a kiss from under her bulky helmet. Another player playfully nudges Ellie and a spark runs down your spine as you see a flash of her blonde braid.
“Apparently she’s a bit of a strict captain,” Dina giggles into your ear, obviously noticing you staring. “You know, Abby.” The emphasis she puts on that name rushes the blood to your cheeks and you can feel Dina’s teasing look even as you desperately avoid her stare.
You’re saved by the bell and the game starts, quickly its intensity distracts you from your embarrassment. As the game goes on you react accordingly to the wins and misses, having picked up the gist of the rules from previous games. With the final score the crowd roars with victory, the players on the ice dogpile on each other, proudly throwing their sticks in the air as they gleefully hug one another.
“Come on, we need to get to the after party before the team does.” Dina practically pushes you out of your seat and along the isle until you join the crowd which has begun pouring out of the stadium.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞
Dina was quick to assume responsibilities as ‘hockey girlfriend’, always taking her duties incredibly seriously. So, when the team finally arrives at the party she has already been sure to arm you and several other innocent bystanders with party poppers which you all use to rain down confetti as they make their way through the door.
You are careful to give the two of them apt space as Ellie runs over to Dina, scooping her up in a wide embrace and passionately kissing her through both of their beaming smiles. You awkwardly avoid staring and glance around the busy room, your eyes making their way to those of the team captain. Abigail . The tall blonde had walked over with Ellie and was now sharing in your moment of discomfort. Your eyes fall to her exposed arms, now made visible by her black tank, mentally cursing those fuck-ass hockey uniforms for previously consealing them. You ponder how the thick jersey had covered the flexing of her freckled biceps as she manoeuvred around the rink.
Ellie fakes a cough. “So, what did you think about the game?” You tear your eyes away from Abby, your cheeks flushing out of embarrassment. What the fuck is wrong with you?!? You yell at yourself. But you just shift your gaze to stare blankly at Ellie's face, your mouth refusing to form any kind of response.
“You guys were unbelievable!” Dina covers for you and you take a mental note to thank her profusely later, “I mean they never stood a chance.” The four of you now stand in awkward silence. You look to Dina who is staring into your soul now, begging you to say anything.
“Haha, yeah. They so dumb.”
…
What the actual fuck.
“Ok! We are gonna go get a drink!” Dina curls her arm around you, quickly shuffling away from Ellie and Abby who now stand stiff, staring confused at each other. “Get it together, girl. What was that?” Dina opens two beers, shoving one into your clammy hands.
“I have no clue,” you take a long swig from your bottle. “I think I might have had an aneurysm,” you say in full ernest.
𓆝 𓆟 𓆞
Once you have downed your drink, you begin to loosen up. Dina makes her way back to Ellie and you meander around the party making small-talk. Occasionally you bump into Abby but are quick to evacuate the conversation.
Eventually you find yourself leaning against a hallway wall, chatting to the hockey team's goalie. You absently bat your eyelashes at the brunette as she lightly tugs on the hem of your shirt.
“Ya know,” you’re already slurring your words, the alcohol empowering your flirtatiousness. “I’ve always thought that the goalies are the most important players.”
“Oh really?” The girl looks down at you through her eyelashes, tilting her head to the side. You bring your hand to her waistband, hooking a finger around her belt loop. Tugging her forward, she brings her hand to snake around your neck as your lips meet. Both of you quickly fall into the kiss, lightly humming against each other.
“Oh of course this is how we’d find her,” a few minutes have gone by and a familiar voice breaks through the noise, quickly followed by another, more masculine one.
“Ah, Leah!”
You both break away from the kiss, turning your attention to the pair of voices. Your eyes take their time to adjust, finding the tall frame of Abby Anderson. Of course it has to be her. You flash your view to her buddy, Manny, quickly avoiding her gaze. Manny is fast to give you a provocative smirk, offering a wink to you and Leah (who you’re only just now realising you didn’t ask the name of). Now blushing and grinning, you direct your view to Abby but are caught off guard by her already looking right at you. Her momentary expression of confusion and shock is immediately steeled to harsh eye contact through furrowed brows.
“We’re getting a team photo,” she says, monotoned. “If we aren’t interrupting,” she aims this curtly at you. Her glaring watch now being replaced by ignorance as she pushes in between you and Leah, commanding her to follow, which she does.
The three of them disappear around the corner, leaving you to spiral over the whiplash of Abby’s reaction.
Huh…