"Who are you fucking texting so early in the morning Ryder? No way Francesca is up at 6am, only a fucking asshole would be up this early."

"The twins," I tell Bray as we all get into the car.

"As in Francesca's brothers? Those twins?" Stan asks from the back seat. Most people fight for the front seat but Stan is rightfully scared of Bray so he just gives him the front seat without a fight. In reality Bray is the biggest goof you will ever meet but he has stupid strength and forgets how big and strong he is often.

"Yeah I told them yesterday I was going today and so they texted me to say have a safe drive and tell Francesca they said good luck."

"Told them yesterday, how often do you talk to them?" Bray asks, turning in his seat so he is fully facing me while Stan leans forward to also look at me.

"Like everyday? They're cool, what's the big deal?"

"Nothing," the two guys say in unison leaning back into their seats.

"Have you thought anymore about New York," Stan asks. Besides Josh, Stan and Bray are the only two I told about the Islanders offer for this summer. I want so badly to tell Francesca but I just don't know what I want yet and I am worried if she thinks I might be in New York for the summer she might get her hopes up only for me to disappoint her if I decide not to go.

"The NHL has always been your dream," Bray reminds me.

"Has it? Or has it always been their dream and I just never realized it!"

"Ryder, if you never played hockey again how would you feel? I know emotions and shit aren't your thing but seriously think about it. If you never put on your skates again how would you feel?"

I begin to drive and take a moment to really think about the question. I am anxious just thinking about it. The ice has always been my escape, my happy place and never stepping on the ice again sounds like an actual nightmare. "I would be miserable. I love hockey."

"Ok then, the NHL is your dream dude not theirs. Sure they want it too but if you didn't want to make it you wouldn't work as hard as you do. You love the game and playing it and playing in the NHL is a way to continue playing the game you love."

"Bray is right for once Ryder. You love hockey, don't stop playing to spite them. It will only hurt you."

"Can we change the subject," I quietly beg. It is way too early in the morning to be thinking about my parents, especially because they called me yesterday when I was dropping Francesca off and I know I am going to have to call them back eventually.

"Yeah let's talk about Stan and Maya! She was all up on you dude!"

"She was only trying to get Pman's attention, she still barely knows I exist."

"So, make her know dude? It isn't that hard. I don't know how but you are a legend with the ladies, one kiss and they're obsessed with you. Besides you always shy away when she is around or run off, give the damn girl a fighting chance."

"You'd be a legend too if you spent as much time flirting with girls as you did taping your stick and watching game tapes."

"Girls scare me," Bray whispers.

"Remember that girl Bray hooked up with freshman year and he basically came back to the dorm crying because he couldn't get it up and couldn't understand why."

"Guys my dick is broken! I don't get why it did nothing! She put it in her mouth and still limp as fuck," Stan mocks Bray.

"Psh, glad we finally figured out why," I laugh as Bray flips us both off. This wasn't funny when it happened 2 years ago but now that Bray is more comfortable with his sexuality it is hysterical.

"You two fucking suck."

"And swallow," we yell before the whole car breaks out into fits of laughter. I don't spend enough time with the guys anymore, all of us seem to be so busy lately.

"Bray, do you think you'll prefer to be a top or a bottom when you finally stop being scared to talk to cute boys?"

"Dude look at him," I say to Stan before Bray can answer. We both look over at Bray coming in at 6' 2" and over 200 pounds, the dude is massive. "Clearly a bottom."

"Oh fuck you Ryder, why don't you come here and I will show you how much of a bottom I am."

"Yeah I am so scared, dude you can't even talk to a guy let alone kiss him. I am more worried you're going to die a sad little virgin at this point! Like do you need a wingman?"

"Who would you even set him up with oh wise Ryder? Since you seem to already be using your wingman skills on me and let me tell you, they suck ass."

"Parker," I say like it is obvious. The whole car gets quiet for a moment.

"Parker would rather cut his dick off than go anywhere near me? Wingman skills like that I really will die a lonely fucking virgin Ryder. Shit, are you even trying?"

"Yo alright chill, I don't know many guys that swing that way but I will do some research and get back to you."

"If Ryder is wingman for us, Stan we should wingman for him."

"Does he even need us? Him and Francesca are already inseparable. I mean shit Ryder hates mornings. He's spent the last 3 year crying about every single 6am practice we've ever had but now he is up at 6am driving 4 hours to watch her skate for a 3 whole minutes."

"I fear he does. Shit I kissed his girl before he did."

"She isn't my girl. We are friends."

"A friend? Dude, get real we were both present last night for your fucking meltdown when you realize the only two people left in assassins were you and her."

"I still can't believe you refused to kill me," I mumble. Bray had me from the start but refused to even attempt to kill me. That is why the other day Francesca was so upset when she killed Bray, it wasn't over killing him, it was over the thought of killing me. So instead of telling me she purposely tried to get herself killed, but my team was too scared of me to try anything. Now the only two people left are me and her and I refuse to let her lose.

"Romantic ain't it," he winks but Bray can't wink so it more just looks like he has something in his eye.

The rest of the 4 hour trip is spent laughing our asses off and me remembering why I never give either of them radio privileges. Their music taste is fucking terrible and by the time we get to Ohio for the competition I am crawling out of the car like I just escaped a hostage situation.

"I survived," I cheer as we wait against my car for the rest of the team to join us.

"Is he good," Spits asks as he pulls up. Bray and Stan just shrug and ignore me, they're used to me by now. The rest of the team slowly arrives and we decide to get a team breakfast down the road before the competition starts

When we all head inside and go to find seats I begin scanning the arena for Francesca or anyone else on the team. They don't know that our entire team drove to their competition to watch them. They came to our away game and we wanted to support them the same way. I am nervous but excited to watch Francesca perform, I have seen her practice tons of times but this is different.

"Found Maya," Dunk says and we all head toward her. I sit on one side of her while Stan sits on the other, the two of us sandwiching her in the middle to keep Pman away. In all honesty, I think he only came today to try to get back into everyone's good graces but it's not really working for him. What he did was sleazy and no one in the house can figure out how we never caught on to what he was doing. All those nights he spent out we assumed he was with Maya, now I get the whole ass out of you and me saying.

The figure skating team quickly realizes we are here and before each of them skate they give us a small wave. They always say how calm crowds are at their competition compared to our games so we make sure to be as loud and obnoxious as possible for them. Tons of people at the small competition seem pissed off by our behavior but we've never been a group to care about that shit.

Francesca's event is one of the last of the day and of course she is the last of our friends to go. Just before her event starts I text her hoping to remind her that I have faith in her.

Me: You got this Beck! These girls look like bambi on ice, they got nothing on you.

Beck: I can't believe you came, you're insane

Me: You think I would miss this? Not in a million years Beck. I feel like a proud dad right now.

Beck: Your jokes are about as lame as a dads too.

Me: Dad jokes are the best jokes, hater.

Beck: Promise this hat works Ry?

I close my eyes for a second before I get up right now and hunt her down and shake her until she realizes she doesn't need a stupid hat or anything else. She is Francesca Beckett, the hardest worker I fucking know. No one here is anywhere near as talented as she is and I just wish she saw what I saw.

Me: I promise. Good luck butt.

When her name is announced I am literally hanging off the edge of my seat. I just want her to skate to the best of her ability because I know that she is capable of easily winning if she does.

The first note of So Good by Dove Cameron plays and she begins. I can tell you her routine by memory with my eyes closed and each jump or move she hits I have to bite my lip to keep from cheering in the dead silent arena. Her routine is so different than anyone else's and she is completely captivating as she skates. It is clear as soon as she started skating that she tuned out the rest of the world. The ice is as much her happy place as it is mine. On the ice nothing can touch us, the reality of the world around us doesn't exist. For a short period of time, we are in our own world.

Her routine is slowly wrapping up but this is the part that has me literally chewing my nails to nubs. Her end jump sequence is her hardest but if she can land it, she will be untouchable.

She takes off on her first jump of the sequence and I hold my breath. When she finally lands gracefully on one foot and performs the final moments of her routine I finally let out the breath. The music wraps up and she strikes her final pose.

I am on my feet cheering before the last note can even end but I am followed by everyone else in attendance. Francesca looks overwhelmed and I see her already frantically searching for the exit. "Stay out there, this is your moment," I whisper.

She makes eye contact with me and stops frantically searching and just smiles. She stays on the ice for a moment bowing as everyone chants her name before finally scurrying off. I am climbing the stairs to begin to search for her before her score is even announced. I don't need some old people dressed up like assholes to tell me what I already know.

I have been at this college before so I know how to get to the locker rooms. As I navigate my way through I hear her name announced as the top scorer of her event. She is probably getting her medal right now and I know it is going to go perfectly with her bright smile and green velvet dress she wore for competition.

I see a girl with flowers and I wonder if I should have brought her flowers. I saw them being sold by the entrance, maybe I should go get them now. I am about to turn around and go get her flowers when I spot her pony tail swishing as she walks with a happy bounce in her step.

"Beck," I call out and she quickly turns around and spots me. Her eyes go wide and we both begin speed walking toward each other, but as we near each other she begins to slow down and her excitement morphs into a much sadder emotion. Something inside me kicks into overdrive desperate to put that adorable smile back on her face.

"Beck what is wrong? You just won, why do you look so sad?"

Her bottom lip is jut out and she is standing about 5 feet from me. If she was just a step closer I could reach out and pull her to me. "We are the last two left Ry."

Assassins. She means we are the last to left in assassins and as much as she doesn't want to kill me I don't want to kill her, but to end the game one of us has to die. I remove the small silly string can from my pocket and she braces for me to spray her. For me to win and her to lose. But since we've met I've always won and today is her day, not mine.

I grab her hand and open it, putting the can in her hand and wrapping her fingers around it. "Fryder won already, we always will. Now finish this Beck."

"I don't want to," she sniffles. Please don't cry Francesca, it fucking kills me.

"You said you never win these things, well today is your day to win Beck. Come on kill me, win this thing like you deserve my ninja."

Francesca steps closer and then again until her arms are wrapped around me in the tightest possible hug. Even wearing her skates she is significantly shorter than me but I love that her head lays on my chest and I can watch the way her eyes flutter shut as I wrap my arms around her. When she finally lets me go she takes the can and presses down so the smallest amount possible comes out and lands on my shirt.

"Congrats butt, you're the winner," I smile as I pull my phone from my pocket.

Me: I've been killed. Beck wins. All hail the queen.

"I'm the winner," she says in awe, holding up the medal around her neck for me to see. She was so distracted by assassins she monetarily forgot she just won her competition. She scored a whole point higher than the girl in second place and according to what Maya has taught me today that is basically unheard of.

"I am so fucking proud of you Francesca, you have no idea." I pull her back into my arms, picking her up this time and spinning us around. She lets out the sweetest fucking giggle clinging to me as I spin us faster.

As I guessed, her medal compliments her green dress and bright smile perfectly. Even better it compliments my tattered worn out hat which apparently she has been wearing all day except when she was competing. I listen to her talk a mile a minute as we find a secluded little corner. My cheeks begin to hurt from smiling so hard as I listen to her, so happy and carefree for once.

In that moment I realize I have fallen hard for Francesca, harder than I have fallen for anyone or anything since I fell for hockey at age 6. Falling for Francesca was never part of the plan; fuck being her friend wasn't even part of the plan. I was supposed to share the ice with her for two hours every week and nothing else. But now my days are consumed with her. Being with her, texting her, thinking about her. For the first time in my life something other than hockey is consuming most of my time and I think I fucking love it.