(Hockey Bxb) Whistle In The Wind -𝐗𝐕-

╔══《”Thunder only happens》══╗
when it’s raining.

       “Those are from skating…” Váli flinched.

       “Hun, you can’t expect me to believe that,” the nurse responded. “I’m a trained nurse, remember. I know you don’t get cuts from falling on flat, smooth ice.”

       “The bruises, I mean,” Vál tried to clarify, his heartbeat quickening. Not only did scratches cover the entirety of his legs, but bruises did too. “I got the scratches falling on gravel a couple days ago,” he lied effortlessly despite his pulse quickening.

       “Okay… I can’t really force you to say anything,” the nurse obliged, turning her attention back to Váli’s ankle. The area was noticeably swollen, already turning black and blue.

       “This looks pretty rough,” the nurse prodded at it, causing Váli to wince in reaction. “Pretty tender too…” the nurse furrowed her brows, thinking. “Take your shoe off, I’ll wrap it up before sending you off with ice.”

       Váli complied, sliding the sneaker off his food in one motion. “It doesn’t look broken,” the nurse stated, rolling his ankle around. “Still, no strenuous activities for a week,” she threatened. Standing up to grab an ankle brace, Váli panicked. That means no skating… I can’t not skate! He worried. I’ll fall behind. Hell, I’m already falling behind! 

       Fidgeting with his fingers on his lap, he was forced to sit still while the nurse fetched her supplies. Returning a minute later with the compression wrap, the nurse sat down between his legs once more. Strategically, she tightly swathed the throbbing area, the pain subsiding slightly as a result.

       “Here,” she handed him a bag of ice, “You can return to class with the gentleman who brought you here. Just take it easy and go see a doctor if it gets worse,” she instructed, standing up and walking to her desk. Grabbing a pen, she began scribbling on a slip of paper.

       Váli stood up and wobbled back to the front room where Lucien sat patiently. “What’re your names?” the nurse asked, writing the students a pass back to their classes.

       “Lucien and Váli,” Luc answered. Váli nodded, his throat being so dry he was unable to talk. He swallowed hard, trying to suppress sobs from slipping past his throat. Váli’s whole world was turned upside down, and he was forced to return to class and act unbothered.

       Tearing the bright yellow pass off her passbook, the nurse handed it to them before sitting down in her desk chair. Lucien wished her ‘goodbye’ before guiding Váli out of the office. By now, the hallways were completely clear–except for stray kids wandering around.

       As Váli and Lucien walked to their class, they heard snippets from teachers’ lessons. Some had videos or movies blaring on their classes front boards. Others had teachers giving lectures, or games being played. Each classroom was in their own world, with students who each lived their own lives.

       Váli’s brain whizzed. “You’re awfully quiet,” Lucien’s gentle voice interrupted, breaking Váli’s trance. Glancing up at him, the blond relaxed.

       “Yeah, sorry.”

       “Nothing to be sorry about. I like the quiet, too. I don’t get much around Aksel,” he joked, his words holding some level of truth. 

       “Tell me about it,” Váli humored. As they neared their classroom, Váli slowed his already snail-like pace. In order to match his tempo, Luc had to walk in slow motion. Arriving at the closed door, Váli sighed, not wanting to return to class.

       In the hallway, he and Luc were in their own bubble–where no one’s opinions mattered. Not Aksel’s, or his mothers, or even his own. He was allowed to dissociate next to someone he felt comfortable with.

       Noticing his hesitance, Luc grabbed his arm before walking them past their classroom’s door. “The teacher won’t mind if we take one more lap. We’re already late, what’s five minutes more?” he smiled, strolling ahead.

       Váli staggered faster, catching up. “What did the nurse say about your ankle? Not broken, I assume?”

       “No, not broken,” Váli confirmed. “She just told me to stay off it for a week.”

       “Gosh, that sucks. No skating for a week, then?”

       “Nope,” Váli replied, popping the ‘p’. His gaze fell to the floor, watching his feet stumble with each stride. He did notice that with every new step, the pain in his ankle slowly decreased until it reached a manageable level of pain.

       “Yikes,” Lucien grimaced. “You’re gonna have a lot more free time after school now,” he commented. He’s right…Váli considered, not having thought about that. I don’t want to spend more time at home since mother’s there. He immediately realized, shivering at the thought.

       “Yeah… I’ll get tired of my house by next week,” Váli puffed, half-laughing. Lucien smiled at the joke, showing off his straight teeth. He has long canine teeth. Váli observed, staring at the pointy enamel. Like a vampire.

       “My doors always open,” Lucien suggested hesitantly. “You know, if you ever wanna hang out at mine! Not that you have to! You can stay home too, if you want,” he panicked, sputtering out in embarrassment.

       Váli didn’t question the shyness, too focused on Luc’s question. He wants to hang out? You’re friends, of course you’re gonna hang out eventually, dummy. He huffed to himself. We are friends… right? 

       “Might just have to take you up on that offer,” Váli nodded. “I don’t know how Aksel will feel about me hanging out with you without him,” Váli trailed off. “You are his friend, not mine.”

       Lucien stopped dead in his tracks. “Hey, I’m your friend, too,” he stated matter-of-factly. “Just because I’m ‘best friends’ with your brother doesn’t mean I can’t be friends with you too. We can just say we’re studying for pre-calc, or something,” Luc shrugged, continuing to walk again.

       Váli stayed still for a couple more seconds, watching Lucien’s back as he walked ahead. His mouth was slightly agape, astonished at the brunette’s words. He considers us… friends. Váli smiled. Not a small smile, where the corners of his mouth turned upward every so slightly. Not a fake one either, where he had to hold his mouth in an uncomfortably wide position until his jaw ached.

       He didn’t beam, but he did smile nonetheless. His pink lips separated ever-so-slightly; a straight smile which he only achieved after years of braces being forced onto him as a child from his mother.

       Realizing he was walking alone, Lucien turned to look behind himself, curious as to where Vál had gone. Surprised, Lucien stared at Váli, taking in the unfamiliar sight. Vál’s hair was tousled in a perfect ‘messy’ way that looked almost intentional. His clothes were simple, but they suited the younger teen. Lucien couldn’t help being mesmerized.

       Oh no. Lucien gulped. He mapped every plane on Váli’s face. The way his eyebrows were tensed. The way his eyes scrunched up, causing his cheeks to puff out. The way his plump button lip protruded out, his top lip slimming against his teeth.

       Lucien couldn’t tell if he was seeing a mirage, but he swore that in that moment, a twinkle entered Váli’s eyes.

       Oh no. Lucien repeated in his mind. In fact, the two word phrase replayed in his mind on a continuous loop. Was my heart always beating this fast? Is this heart-burn? The rapid thumping echoed around his mind. His body suddenly felt hot. Maybe I do have heart-burn… Heat stroke maybe? The oblivious boy pondered over explanations.

       Throughout his internal crisis, he memorized the image in front of him. Is this what Vál looks like smiling? Truly smiling…I’ve never seen him look this relaxed. Have I never seen him truly smile before? Lucien contemplated. Furrowing his brow, he cogitated this question.

       His conclusion: this was the only time he’d ever seen him smile this way. Shaken up, Luc didn’t know how to feel. Happy that he saw Vál smile in such a way? Sad that he had never seen this before? Confused over why Váli never smiled like this?

       Instead, he was interrupted by a hand waving in front of his face. Breaking out of his daze, Lucien blinked rapidly. “Earth to Lucien,” Váli chuckled.

       “Oh! Sorry about that,” Lucien sheepishly responded. Warmth spread across his face, turning even the tips of his ears a shade of deep pink. His entire face was painted with rose, blending in with his clusters of freckles. He’s still smiling. Luc observed, now staring at Váli’s face up close.

        “We should probably get to class,” Váli commented, beginning to lead the way back to their classroom. His hair bounced with every step, the heap of waves addicting to look at. Lucien soaked up the picture, unable to draw his eyes away from his brother’s best friend.

       What’s wrong with me? He racked his brain in confusion. The feeling Lucien was experiencing was so unfamiliar and unusual. I’ve never felt like this before… I need to stop being awkward! It’s Váli for god’s sake. I’ve known him for forever. He’s like a little brother to me… He assured himself, smiling before following after him.

       The dusting of pink receded from his face, but the clamminess of his hands remained, and the pounding of his heart didn’t slow. He followed in a haze, his mind in a state of befuddlement. When they reached their classroom, after what felt like only seconds of walking, the two boys paused at the door.

       “You wanna come to mine after school…?” Lucien questioned timidly. “If you were joking, that’s okay too!” he rushed. Váli simply smiled, nodding his head.

       “I’ll see you after school, then,” Váli confirmed, reaching to open the door. Going ahead, Váli entered the classroom. Lucien hurried after him, a grin on his face. Handing the pass ticket to his teacher, Lucien sat down at his assigned seat. 

       His heart hadn’t slowed, even as he laid his head down on his desk. Despite being in the most boring class, he couldn’t sleep, adrenaline continuing to pump through his veins. He remained like this for the entire school day, dazed and confused…

…

       “Hey, Ma!” Lucien yelled out. The thumping of steady steps approached, before the face of his mom popped out from around the corner. Her chocolate brown hair was tied up in a low bun, effortlessly messy.

       “You alright?” she concerned, walking over to the couch that Lucien sat on.

       “How do you know if you have heatstroke?” Lucien asked, seriousness etched on his features.

       “Luc, honey, I don’t think you have heatstroke,” the kind woman replied, running a hand across her son’s face and through his hair.

       “But-“

       “The highest temperature today was like, 40 degrees,” she reassured.

       “Okay but, hear me out!” he huffed. “Today I was showing all the symptoms!” 

       “Like what?” she pestered, scooting closer.

       “The fast heartbeat, the clammy hands, the hot face!” he whined, throwing his hands back in exasperation.

       “Sweety, you’re sure that wasn’t anxiety?”

       “No! Why would I have been feeling anxious, I wasn’t in a situation where I would be…” he disclosed.

       “I mean, the only other thing I can think of is admiration. Maybe a small crush…” she crooned, teasing her son.

       “Stop teasing me, Ma,” he grumbled, leaning back against the soft cushions. Silence followed for a couple seconds, Luc’s mother choosing not to respond. “Vál’s coming over later, is that alright?” he queried, already knowing the answer was yes.

       “Sure, sweety. Why not Aksel?”

       “He’s busy today,” Lucien informed, standing up from the couch. Picking up his bag that he previously threw down on the carpet, he lugged the heavy sack up a flight of stairs and to his open room. Tossing it down on the floor, he reached into his pocket and fetched out his phone.

       The screen lit up bright, the default moon wallpaper greeting him. Looking at it made him recall the conversation he had with Aksel about it. Aksel asked why I don’t have it set as something sentimental, and I said I didn’t have anyone to set it as.

       The conversation with his mom he had a minute ago resurfaced in his mind. She was just teasing and joking around. He knew, because his lack of a love life was a common joke in his household. But still…

       Lucien shivered, the thought of an intimate connection with somebody else sat like stones in his stomach: heavy and uncomfortable. Before he knew it, he was standing over his bathroom sink scrubbing at his hands.

       The skin felt dirty, itchy, and tight. Like no amount of scrubbing would get rid of the filth on them. By the time Lucien was interrupted by a notification on his phone, his hands had gone red and raw. The water in the sink had turned cold, so he shut it off before drying his painful hands on the towel hung on the wall next to him.

       Piqued by the text, he glanced over at his phone, Váli’s name popping up.

       Váli: Heading over now

       Lucien forgot about his dirty skin, or his mothers words, or even Aksel’s. Instead, he reached for his phone, and went to respond.

Question of the chapter: have you ever gotten a crush?

╚══《Word count-2,196》══╝

══https://open.spotify.com/track/5TDZyWDfbQFQJabbPwImVY══

This chapter is for you @ilovepies_11 😛