My knee is digging into the back of the driver seat as I fidget around and without warning Francesca's arm comes swinging back trying to swat me. "Carson, get your knee from my back, god you're so annoying back there."

"Sorry," I mutter and adjust myself in the back seat of my own fucking car, once again. Francesca is driving us to the Frozen Four Finals today and when I tried to sit in the passenger seat I got lectured by everyone about how the seat belt goes across my left ribs so I can't sit there. So after trying and failing to win against them I ended up in the back seat behind Francesca with Parker in the passenger seat and Maya to my right.

"Wait, back up, Alex has liked me since when?" Maya asks again trying to nail down the timeline. I have been bored with watching the two of them be so oblivious, which Parker found hysterical and called me a hypocrite about; so about 2 hours into our 5 hour drive I spilled everything to Maya.

"Yes, apparently you guys had a class together in the fall? I don't know what class but all I know is he liked you then but didn't think you knew he was on the hockey team."

Maya scoffs like I deeply offended her, or maybe Stan did. "Didn't know? Please I could recite the teams roster in my sleep I knew who he was especially because of his reputation with all the... well we all know what they say, we don't need to recite it."

"My boy," I nod proudly. Who knew when we became friends the first day that he would be the ladies man and not me or Bray. "But then why didn't you talk to him?"

"Firstly, this is bullshit because I didn't see him coming over and talking to me, even at the party before Pman approached me he just stood there." Alright, fair point one point team Maya. "Besides, anyone who saw me in our philosophy class knew I was extremely hungover. It was an 8am Friday class and this dude," she reaches out and slaps Parker's face, "was dragging me out every Thursday trying to get over his nasty ex."

"Hey, I will not be blamed for your hangovers," Parker bitches turning in his seat to face us while Francesca shoots him a quick dirty look. "I told you not to take that dumb class."

"Shut up. Anyways, I went to that class dressed in oversized sweaters with the hood up and sunglasses on for 15 weeks straight. No way I was approaching any guy, let alone him, looking like that. He sat next to the student body president and two sorority presidents. It was like a goddamn board meeting at their table."

I laugh because I know exactly what she means. I took a class with Stan once and I literally stopped sitting with him the second week of class because he surrounded himself with the future CEOs of the world and that was intimidating for even me. I can do chemistry all day without breaking a sweat but when you start talking about stock portfolios count me out.

"Fair, ok I get your point," I concede. Fucking Stan had the audacity to talk shit about me and Francesca when he is an even bigger idiot? Officially two points for team Maya and zero for Stan the man. "But this should honestly make you feel even better because he had a crush on you even when you were hungover, so that counts for something right?"

"True," she nods. "I mean I like Stan, I always have. He's so cute and smart and god is he strong, plus he is so polite, last weekend he paid for my coffee."

"Did Preston not pay for you when you guys would get lunch?" Francesca asks in disbelief.

"Hypocrite," I boo at her.

"Shut up there is a difference between turning down someone's offer to pay and not offering to pay at all."

"No, no one ever has," Maya admits.

"So it's settled, you and Stan like each other so you should just date. Easy."

"I am glad it is so easy when it is other people's lives," Maya laughs. "Where was that energy for yourself?"

"I have a concussion and broken ribs don't bully me," I whine as we finally pull up to the arena. I pout looking at all the fans walking in, a few wearing my jersey.

Fran opens my car door as I just sadly watch the crowd. "You ok Ry?"

"This feels weird," I admit as I get out of the car and grab her hand. "This is my first time going to a hockey game that I am not playing in."

"Really?" she asks in surprise.

I nod as we walk inside, the buzz of the fans already filling the arena. "Yeah, obviously my parents never took me to any as a kid and my grandpa, well he came to support me, but he was never that into hockey. By the time I was old enough to take myself to a game I was playing juniors and I was just too busy."

"I'm sorry this is your first game," she says sadly wrapping her arms gently around my waist for a hug.

"It's ok I always did want to know what you were screaming during games. You always looked so cute hopping around in the stands yelling until your cheeks were red but I always wished I knew what you were saying, I'm glad I get to finally find out ."

Francesca's cheeks turn a slight pink as she hides her face from me. My little lunatic girlfriend, god do I love her.

"I am going to behave today," she mumbles as we reach our seats.

"Oh will you?" I tease, putting my arm around her shoulder.

"She probably will, she is the worst when you're on the ice," Parker explains as he texts Bray. My team doesn't know I am here, it is kind of a surprise so Parker makes sure to keep it a secret for now.

The announcers start speaking their usual spiel that I could recite in my sleep. St. Cloud's team is announced first. This is their first Frozen Four finals appearance and you can see the hunger in their eyes. They want this win so badly you can almost taste it in the air. I can feel the nerves kicking in, is my team equally as hungry?

When the guys are announced I try to jump to my feet but Francesca holds me to my seat. "Carefully," she warns and I settle into my seat cheering from there. She is right, as much as I hate to admit it I need to calm down or this shit will never heal.

The guys look determined but after Thursday's game we are going to need more than that. As they pile onto the bench with the coaching staff Stan is the first to notice me sitting directly behind them. If we are being honest I think he noticed Maya first then me but I won't hold that against him. Suddenly everyone is crowding against the plexiglass trying to talk to me over the yells of the crowd. Even Coach gives me a nod, looking happier than he did a minute ago.

The game begins and suddenly all of Francesca's screaming makes sense. I am easily 10 times worse than she ever was and we are barely 5 minutes into the game. But, in my own defense I know they can play better and this is not the way we should be ending our season.

By the time the period ends Coach holds up a sign to me that says 'locker room' before heading to the locker room himself. I look at Francesca who just kisses me before letting go of my hand. I kiss her one more time, just to remind her how much I love her before running off to find the locker room. It takes a minute to get my bearings but I quickly walk into my team's locker room. "What the fuck guys?" is the first thing I say to them.

They all look down at the floor in shame. I motion for Coach to do his usual lecture but he shakes his head and motions for me to continue. "We are better than this. I know this shit is hard. I am not even going to pretend the last few games with all the changes to the line up haven't been hard but it isn't something we can't overcome. I have watched you all for the last 8 months, I know what every one of you is capable of and it is so much more than what you're giving. We need to bring it back to the basics."

Everyone has their full attention on me and I grab Coach's little white board to draw some stuff out for them. I wish I could throw my pads on and skate with them but if this is how I am going out at least I could contribute one last time.

"Everyone got it?" I ask as I wrap up my speech and hand everything back to Coach.

I am met with loud cheers and a new found energy as they all pile back out to the ice. I go to leave but someone grabs my arm. "There is room on the bench for one more, if you're interested."

I waste no time joining my team on the bench. I look back at Francesca expecting a disapproving look but she looks so proud my head starts to spin. I give her a smile and then get comfortable in a spot trying to listen to her words as best I can while sitting with my team.

The game flies by after that. There is a whole new team on the ice after my speech and we go from down by two goals to leading by 1 by the start of the third period. I am buzzing with everyone else as the game ties up with only 1 minutes left. Fuck, I hate overtime we need to score because I am not sure how it would go, usually that is my job.

"Finish this guys!" I yell as the next line jumps on. It is my old line except we shifted Dunk to the center and now Stan is on the outside.

I watch them all as they pass the puck around doing exactly what I said and going back to the basics. They are passing like a team and finally communicating and it shows but now someone needs to score. There are 32 seconds on the clock and time is dropping quickly. I have never before, except when Francesca is competing, but I am chewing my fingers to nubs as Dunk passes off the puck to Stan, who makes the most beautiful goal I have ever seen.

The game ends just as the puck crosses the line and my team rushes to Stan piling on him. I try to stay planted on the bench but I can't and as soon as Stan breaks free I am skidding across the ice and tackling him myself. "Dude, that was such a sexy goal! I am going jerk off to replays of it!" I scream as he laughs and tries to keep me upright on the ice.

"That one was for my best friend, he is known for scoring some gorgeous goals," Stan admits as Bray barrels into both of us and joins our celebration.

The team raises the trophy while the arena goes insane. Three straight years winning the Frozen Four Finals is unheard of. The last team to ever win three in a row was... well it was us but all the way back in the 1950s. This is a proud moment for us all and I am so glad I ultimately got to spend it with my team, even if I wasn't playing.

Eventually we get off the ice and continue celebrating in the locker room. I leave everyone so they can shower and go find Francesca. She is bouncing around outside the locker room with Parker and Maya, all three of them screaming and yelling still.

"Frozen Four Champs!" she yells as I wrap my arms around her. I really want to pick her up and spin her around but I have to admit I am in a bit of pain from celebrating on the ice.

"Did you see Stan's goal?" I say as if she wasn't 2 feet behind me watching the same game. That goal is one of the proudest moments of my life and I will never stop talking about it.

"Well, she listened," Parker states, causing both of us to let go of one another and look at whatever he is pointing to.

Maya's legs are wrapped around Stan's waist and her arms are around his neck but I think the part he is most referring to is her lips on his. Bray walks out and looks at me as his jaw drops. We are now three for three and thank god Luna has a boyfriend because I have literally run out of single friends.

"Atta boy Stanley!" someone cheers as the team begins to walk out of the locker room.

"Are they going to come up for air soon?" Francesca asks in amusement as they continue to make out.

When they do finally break apart and join us they remain glued together, always touching, with Stan looking at Maya every so often like he can't believe this is all real. I get the feeling because I do that a lot with Francesca.

After awhile the team is told that it is time to get on the bus. Coach offers for me to join them but they are staying overnight and driving home tomorrow and I want to be with Francesca even though it would only be a couple hours apart. I wouldn't sleep if I stayed, just worrying about her driving 5 hours in the dark at nearly 1am, so I might as well just leave with her

When we get to the car Parker and Maya climb into the back seat and almost instantly fall asleep. Francesca is annoyed but lets me sit upfront but with the blanket she brought tucked carefully between me and the seatbelt to protect me.

I hold her hand as she drives, the two of us talking easily for 5 hours with never a moment of silence as the conversation flows. By the time we make it back to the house Maya and Parker drag themselves into the living room and stay there, already back to sleep before I can ask if they want to go to their apartment. Francesca is barely awake as she trips through the backdoor into the house. She protests but I quickly pick her up and carry her to bed.

"That will hurt tomorrow," she scolds with her eyes closed as I climb into bed next to her.

"Worth it for you. I love you Beck." I kiss her head softly, shutting my eyes.

"I love you Ry," she replies as she snuggles against me and finally lets sleep win.