𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑪𝑯𝑨𝑴𝑷𝑰𝑶𝑵𝑺 .

NYI at NJD 10/25: Mathew Barzal

"interesting." it's all he can formulate right now as he thinks of his next move. while he was comfortable enough with his sexuality and didn't care what the public saw, he couldn't assume the same for lance. it would be wrong of him. so instead of doing what he wanted, he throws money on the bar top to pay for their tab before slipping his coat back on, pulling his beanie over his head and nodding towards the exit. "come on. i've had enough to drink."

…      the  bold  approach  was  prompted  by  feelings  of  jealousy.     lance  most  certainly  isn’t  the  type  to wear  his  heart  on  his  sleeve.    otherwise,     they  might  find  themselves  in  a  more  positive  predicament.     or  without  one,    at  all.     confidence  began  to  bleed  away,    uncertainty  as  to  how  his  teammate  would  actually  react.    his  one  word  answer  hadn’t  done  him  any  favors  either,    carefully  slipping  on  his  wool  lined  jacket.     hoping  that  his  warmth  might  shield  from  rigid  embarrassment  hotly  invading  his  veins.    once  they  stepped  outside  of  the  bar,    he  huffed  out  a  sigh.     ❝  look,  i  know  that  i  probably  came  off  real  fucking  aggressive  and   ⸻   ❞     an  apology  sat  at  the  tip  of  his  tongue,    muffled  instead  into  the  corner  of  his  gums.     an  apology  would  be  fabricated  at  this  point.     ❝   i  meant  what  i  said.  i’m  not  drunk.   ❞     eliminating  any  chance  of  that  excuse  immediately.

the  loss  of  his  mother  had  not  only  devastated  his  best  friend  but  his  mom  too.  elodie  beauvillier  had  been  a  shell  of  herself  ever  since  she  had  passed.  not  sure  it  is  possible,  despite  how  much  they  may  want  it  -  skylars  unlikely  to  welcome  him  home  after  signing  with  the  whalers,  and  under  no  circumstances  would  he  encourage  asher  to  leave  the  skylars.       ❝ you'd  want  to  go  on  a  double  date?  ❞        he  is  a  lot  more  hesitant,  might  be  awkward  when  two  were  already  in  love.  though  he  too  craves  love,  seeing  how  happy  it  makes  asher.  would  love  nothing  more  than  to  bring  someone  home  for  christmas,       ❝ will  you  bring  her  for  christmas?  i'm  sure  my  maman  would  love  to  meet  her,  ❞        viewing  asher  as  her  own,  taking  on  motherly  duties  since  his  had  passed.

…      he  certainly  didn’t  see  why  not,     more  than  anything  asher  saw  it  as  his  responsibility  to  get  jeremiah  out  of  his  shell.    wanted  to  see  him  with  a  girl  of  his  own,     more  than  anything.     ❝   i  mean,  if  she’ll  come,  yeah,  absolutely.   ❞     it  wasn’t  a  priority  of  his  to  force  her  into  any  uncomfortable  situations,    and  christmas  wasn’t  exactly  a  memorable  holiday  for  the  ballerina.     ❝   why  don’t  we  focus  on  getting  you  someone  to  bring  home  for  your  maman,  instead?   ❞     nudged  him  with  his  elbow,    knowing  that  would  make  the  both  of  them  happier  than  anything  else.     ❝   nobody  you  have  your  eyes  on,  nobody  at  all?   ❞  

NOAH BECK Sidelined: The QB and Me (2024)

download | check pinned post for rules. 𓆝༄⋆

connor mcbully | bts: all-stars | 02.16.2024

emma rolls her eyes lightly at his question , gaze locking onto his momentarily . she really should have seen this coming , she thinks . why wouldn't he pull the do you know who i am card ? she lets out a soft sigh , fingertips tapping against the bar top . " oh , honey , of course i know who you are . " hockey was in her blood , thanks to her uncle danny and her grandmother . the bartender is well versed in hockey ; every team , player , and game — even if she has to catch them on the dvr , after work as she's laying in bed . it's not something she ever really mentions to anyone , however , that doesn't stop her from pointing at the television screen overhead that has a game on . " i know a thing or two . " doesn't explain to what extent , only shrugs . " and alright , maybe you have a chance . but i don't come easy . "

…      it’s  just  a  bar,  therefore,     he  doesn’t  anticipate  her  having  any  outlying  knowledge  about  the  sport  being  played  on  said  television.    though,     forestry  hues  drift  upwards.     instead,    finding  interest  in  her  countenance.     ❝   you  do?   ❞     he  didn’t  sound  surprised,    carter  more  expected  people  to  know  who  he  was.     the  man  was  a  phenomenal  hockey  player,    and  didn’t  shy  away  from  that  feat.     ❝   you  don’t  come  easy?  that’s  okay,  i  like  a  little  bit  of  chase.   ❞     thumb  rubbed  gently  around  the  ring  of  his  waiting  glass,    could’ve  cared  less  about  drinking.     had  to  travel  in  the  morning,    and  couldn’t  stand  a  hangover.     it’s  more  of  a  ploy,    something  to  fiddle  with.     ❝   it  makes  the  reward  so  much  more   …   appealing,   ❞     he  smirked.

Matthew   was   driving   him   crazy   and   Nick   welcomed   the   confusion   of   emotions   with   open   arms.   His   brain   went   blank   for   a   moment   as   that   damn   handsome   smile   appeared   onto   Matthew's   face   as   their   hands   touched.   Damn   it.   What   had   they   been   talking   about?   Nick   had   almost   forgotten   about   everything.   He   lowered   his   arms,   but   made   no   effort   to   pull   his   hand   away   from   Matthew's.   It   was   almost   as   if   his   grip   tightened   a   little.   "Oh   no?   Why   not?   Are   you   worried   that   I'm   paying   more   attention   to   you   and   your   body   instead   of   sleeping?"   Nick   finally   asked   back   teasingly   as   a   grin   crept   across   his   lips.   At   the   same   time   he   moved   closer   to   Matthew.   With   his   free   hand   he   traced   over   Matthew's   shoulder.   "Why   I   want   to   share   a   bed   with   you!   What   do   you   think?!"   Damn,   how   he   hated   that.   Nick   hated   to   drop   his   aloof   facade.   "This   horror   motel   is   a   good   excuse   to   share   a   bed   with   you,   isn't   it?   Who   wouldn't   want   to   share   a   bed   with   a   handsome   guy?"

…      if  an  excuse  was  necessary,     then  a  horror  hotel  most  certainly  meant  they’d  be  making  the  best  of  an  otherwise  concerning  atmosphere.    walked  backwards  with  careful  steps  towards  the  edge  of  the  bed,     stopped  only  by  his  calves  making  contact  with  the  food  of  the  mattress.     ❝   you  think  i’m  worried?   ❞     a  hotness  pursed  through  his  body  at  the  mere  prospect  of  doing  anything  more  than  simply  sharing  a  bed.    that  was  only  the  tip  of  the  iceberg,     of  possibilities  that  circled  around  in  his  mind.     ❝   oh  no,  not  me.  if  anything,  i’m  looking  forwards  to  it.   ❞     lowered  himself  down  onto  the  bed,  those  deep  pools  bore  upwards  at  nick.     ❝   are  you  not?   ❞     his  question,    rhetorical  in  itself.

grace was certain she would be able to keep her cool if she ever saw him again. when her dearest friend asked if it was okay for him to be at the engagement party, she could never protest. "it's been years, i'm over it," she told them. but now that he was only meters away, her chest suddenly felt tight. fetching a glass of champagne from a waiter, she quickly downed it and adjusted her dress. grace needed all the liquid courage she could get. a tight smile as she finally, after two years, addressed him. "hey, stranger. how've you been?"

…      it  occurred  to  him  that  she’d  be  there,    but  never  quite  in  this  way.     it’d  also  not  occurred  to  him  that  he’d  been  practically  eye  fucking  her  the  moment  she  stepped  into  the  room.    eyes  almost  averted  when  she  approached  him,    doing  his  best  to  ignore  the  way  his  blood  smolderingly  pulsed  through  his  veins.     ❝   take  it  easy,   ❞     his  greeting.     noting  the  way  she’d  dismissed  an  entire  glass  of  champagne  before  mustering  up  the  courage  to  come  and  say  hello.     ❝   you  know  i  don’t  bite,   ❞     a  handsome  grin  sported  her  way,    he’d  known  just  how  lost  she  could  get  in  it.     ❝   how  you  been?   ❞

“   your   lips   are   too   close   to   mine   for   me   to   think   straight   .   ”

…      ❝   then  don’t,   ❞     his  voice  a  low  rumble,    murmured  against  the  cavern  of  her  earlobe.     the  tip  of  his  tongue  swiped  across  the  skin  there.    before  pearly  whites  grazed  over  it,    mere  minutes  away  from  devouring  her.     ❝   you  have  no  idea  how  bad  i  want  you,   ❞     hefty  palm  engulfed  her  far  smaller  one,    letting  it  graze  over  his  impressive  bulge.     ❝   just  feel  that,  you  could  have  all  of  it   …   right  now,   ❞     chase  groaned  at  the  mere  thought  of  it.     manifesting  it  now,    and  not  shying  away  from  it.

WHENEVER camila set foot onto the ice, everything else around her faded away and she hyper-focused on the task at hand. her skates glided effortlessly across the pristine surface and she'd more or less forgotten that blake was there until he spoke up. at the sound of his voice, the brunette spun on her heel and sighed. ❛❛ we're skating, blake. what else do you do at an ice rink ? ❜❜ she smirked, already prepared for whatever response of annoyance came her way. ❛❛ god, are you always this dramatic ? ❜❜ eyes rolled and a hand fell to her hips. ❛❛ you're skating around to warm up. is that not a thing in hockey ? ❜❜

…      ❝   play  hockey,   ❞     he  scoffed.    not  exactly  accustomed,    nor  was  he  the  type  to  become  accustomed  to  figure  skating.     pairing  the  two  of  them  together  was  a  mistake,    and  he’d  known  it  from  the  beginning.     told  to  get  over  his  ego,    and  bare  the  reality  of  what  he’d  need  to  do  to  clear  his  name.     ❝   i  don’t  need  to  warm  up,   ❞     regardless,    there  were  a  few  stretches  he  should  probably  do.     ❝   i’m  a  fucking  natural.   ❞     that  signature  grin  so  many  had  come  to  love,    and  hate,    shone  brighter  than  ever.     ❝   and  if  i  can  get  through  a  fucking  hockey  game  without  working  up  a  fuss   …   i  don’t  need  it  for  this,  so  get  to  the  point.   ❞

Gabriel   grimaced   slightly   when   he   heard   the   E-word.   Even   if   the   other   was   right,   he   didn't   like   hearing   the   word.   It   always   had   a   certain   undertone   that   Gabriel   didn't   like   to   hear.   His   tongue   traced   over   his   full   lips   before   Gabriel   cleared   his   throat.   His   fingers   began   to   nervously   fiddle   with   the   hem   of   his   shirt.   "Yes,   yes,   it's   true,   I   work   as   an   escort,"   he   finally   admitted,   sighing   loudly.   "Some   people   just   need   companionship.   I   mean,   sure,   I've   been   willing   to   go   further   than   just   being   a   date   in   the   past,   but   I   haven't   done   that   in   a   while."

…      it’s  a  surprise,    put  timidly.     he  never  could’ve  guessed  that  gabriel  would  have  chosen  that  line  of  work,    and  he  doesn’t  doubt  that  there’s  sensible  reasoning  to  it,    either.     it  does  however,    leave  him  scatterbrained.     wondering  how  long  the  impossible  had  been  possible,    and  it’s  communicated  with  a  stressful  brushing  of  his  palm  through  blonde  curls.     ❝   so   …   how  long  have  you  been  doing  it,  gabe?   ❞     full  lips  parted  into  a  sigh,    shifting  on  the  bed  to  be  a  little  closer  to  the  blonde.     made  a  promise  to  himself  to  remain  present  when  things  got  dark,    rather  than  go  on  the  offensive  and  tear  the  both  of  them  down.     this  is  him  trying.     ❝   i’m  not  pissy  about  it,   ❞     atleast,    he  was  trying  not  to  be.     ❝   i  just  wanna  know  where  the  two  of  us  stand,   ❞

⸻    [    𝙴𝙳𝙸𝚃𝚂    ⸝⸝    roland  swayman,    001.    ]