IAN KADE.
The music thrummed through the walls, bass shaking the floor of the off-campus dorm like a warning Ian chose to ignore. For once, it wasn't filled with sweaty hockey jocks throwing each other around like he used to see them, that really didn't do for him that's what he hated about those parties. But today no jerseys, no rink talk, just a bunch of half dressed college students too drunk to care who anyone was.
It was perfect.
In his gray sweatpants and hoodie he slipped in unnoticed, he could say this place was cramped, hot and smelled beer and bad decisions, but at least here no one knew him. Here he could just be Ian.
The alcohol table was a mess of cheap vodka, mixers and someone's half-eaten burger. He grabbed a drink from the small cooler, taking the first sip, it burned like hell but didn't stop him. He took a seat away from the chaos enjoying his drink, he came a little late and so looking around everyone seemed buzzed up, that was good, no unnecessary questions asked. Furthermore, he told himself he was here only and only for the drinks and after that he would be out of here.
"didn't peg you for the party type" a voice sang behind him. When Ian turned, he was only mildly surprised to find Sabby grinning like a fox, dressed in silk and eyeliner. He looked too expensive for this chaos. "hmm, not usually" Ian muttered. "And yet here you are, brave or desperate" Sabby leaned on the wall beside him sipping his own concoction which was pink and Ian wondered what it was. "But don't worry, baby, no one here knows you're a hockey boy. Your secret is safe with me" Ian didn't know if he should be happy or not because regardless he would play and everyone would eventually know he's a hockey player, what can he say, Hockey players attracted everyone like a magnet. "Thanks" he almost smiled. They clinked cups in silent understanding. Ian knew he didn't belong here, but for one night in the crowd of strangers and noise, he felt like maybe that wasn't such a bad thing.
But just then another voice called out to him, too chipper for Ian's comfort "there you are! I was starting to think you wouldn't make it" it was the girl from his class. What was her name Mish, Nisha....
She practically bounced over sloshing her drink and wrapping her arms around Ian like they were best friends. He stiffened but didn't pull away.
"I am really glad you came" she excitedly spoke and leaned towards Ian whispering "handsome guys don't usually come by you know" Ian raised a brow but Nisha only smirked, was she flirting or, he didn't know. "way to go...." Sabby on the other hand was congratulating him on making new friends or was it really friendship?. But Ian is dumb so he decided to ask what Nisha meant which she gladly was about to give him a ton of nonsense stories now that that alcohol was hitting but before any of that could happen someone behind Nisha snorted loud enough to catch attention.
"well well.. didn't think I'd see you here", a familiar voice sliced through the crowd, loud and biting, the one Ian recognized immediately.
Dominic.
He leaned against the wall like he owned the damn place, red cup in hand and a smirk too smug to ignore. Everyone literally started drooling over him and ready to pull their pants down, made Ian roll his eyes but Dominic was enjoying the attention way too much.
"surprised you're brave enough to party, Ian the cheater" the music didn't stop but the mood did, a few heads turned and everyone started whispering, some even gasped like they were watching a scandal unfold. Nisha was already eye fucking Dominic and Sabby was biting his lips looking him up and down. Well Ian expected that.
Dominic raised his cup in a mock toast "hope your new fan club knows the kind of player they're drinking with"
"wait he's part of the hockey team?"
"wow what is he doing here?"
"Wait did he say a cheater?" the whispering continued as they looked at Ian with judgemental eyes. Ian didn't flinch. He just stared back, jaw tense, expression unreadable.
"oh look there is our cheater" Theo said walking in with the rest of the team and now everyone was surprised. What was the hockey team doing here, all of them. Sabby though wasn't having it, he was already pushing past Ian but Ian held him back with a shake of his head. He knew what the hockey team was here for, to embarrass and mock him in front of everyone, Dominic knew exactly what he was doing poking the bee hive.
"uh..Dominic though what are you doing here?" Nisha asked as Dominic looked around trying to find an answer to that. "you aren't here to ruin my party are you?" Dominic looked caught red-handed, of course he was ruining it but for Ian.
Dominic didn't even try to hide it. He just leaned against the wall swirling his drink, smug as ever. "didn't know cheaters were welcome guests now" Nisha rolled her eyes "and I didn't know hockey boys made great party crashers, we have a rule Dominic" and that was staying out of others business. A few people snickered at that and before Dominic could respond Sabby burst out because he couldn't hold it in "oh great" he said voice rising over the music "and why the hell is your whole team here Dom?" Dominic just shrugged but Sabby wasn't done "you couldn't handle him showing up without turning this into a testosterone parade? God, the fragile egos in this school" that was directed particularly to one of the team mates but no one pointed it out not even Ian.
Ian still held his calm, he didn't say anything because Ian was known to speak through actions. So he watched, drink in hand, heart still hammering while the chaos unfolded, for a second he thought he'd made a mistake coming. But when Nisha looped an arm through his and Sabby doing the same thing and gave him a nod like 'we got you', Ian realized something else, he wasn't alone in this.
Dominic saw this and the anger was visible on his handsome face while he crushed the plastic cup in his hand and throwing it away, with a huff he left and the other teammates followed, the party?, was in a full swing again.
Ian:1 Dominic:0.
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