#nj devils lb

it could be anybody, really.

it could be that old man sitting seven rows away from the glass.

it could be that boy that’s your age in the very top row, hidden in the nosebleed section.

or, the impossible, it could be a player.

but that would never happen, right?

it’s definitely not possible.

or so you thought.

-

the first period goes by smoothly and it’s time for your first ever player interview, live on television.

the cameras are ready and rolling, but your hand rests over your heart, trying to calm that feeling.

but it doesn’t go away, it only grows.

the room seems to spin, head pounding and hands shaking, sweating profusely.

and then he steps in, gorgeous curls that are damp with sweat and water from his water bottle. tall and handsome.

your eyes widen and something snaps,

it’s him.

your soulmate is standing right in front of you, eyes wide with shock.

it’s obvious he was hurting too, his hand falling from his heart.

he steps forward, looking down at you. your eyes meet, wide and filled with surprise. his hand gently reaches forward, taking your hand in his.

the world around you two seems to fade away, a warm feeling filling both of you in the best way. the pain is now gone, replaced with the intense feeling of happiness.

“hi…” you speak softly, smiling gently. “you’re my soulmate…” you say in disbelief.

he smiles back and nods, “i guess i am…my names luke. you’re beautiful…” his words are gentle and sweet, filled with genuine affection.

the camera man clears his throat, snapping you two out of your daze. “right, uhm…the interview.” you stand up straight, ready to ask luke questions with a smile on your face like nothing happened.

-

after the game, you wait for luke in the hallway, heart pounding as you figure out what to say to him.

is he nice? what if he’s not?

what if he hates you? what if you hate him? what if you two hate each other? do you just…get over it?

you’re cut out of your thoughts by luke tapping your shoulder, making you snap your head up. “oh, sorry…”

“lost in thought?” he asks softly, smiling with a little chuckle. “are you okay?”

“yeah, i’m just…caught off guard by all this. no offense.” you laugh awkwardly, fixing your outfit. “so…are you ready to go?”

luke nods, gently taking your hand. “yeah, wanna get dinner?”

“won’t people see?” your brows furrow.

“who cares? we’re soulmates, it’s not like we’re gonna go out with other people after just meeting each other.” luke says, slinging his bag over his shoulder as he leads you out of the arena, to his car.

“true…” you smile, hand in hand with him, following him to the car. “what kind of food do you like?”

“well, i love pizza. it’s simple and delicious. there’s a great place near here.” he unlocks his car, opening the door for you. he shuts the door and rushes around to his side, throwing his bag in the back and getting in the drivers seat. “do you like pizza? please say you do.” he practically pleads, eyes filled with worry.

you laugh, “i do! i love it, actually. but…here’s the kicker. pineapple on pizza or no?”

luke scoffs, “absolutely not!”

that one question sparks up a whole conversation about pizza, then favorite foods, to habits and preferences of what to watch or do while you eat.

-

after a long dinner, luke drives you back to your house, then walks with you to your apartment on the fifth floor of the building.

you unlock the door, but your heart is begging you to invite him in, to talk to him all night if possible.

you stand there for a second, before speaking carefully. “do you…want to come in?” luke raises a brow at your words and you quickly reassure, “not like that! just…i don’t want to stop talking to you…”

luke laughs when he hears your desperate explanation. “i was just messing with you! sure, i’ll come in…” luke steps in, taking his shoes off at the door where all of your shoes sit on a rack, then watches you do the same.

“uhm…sorry it’s a little messy. i wasn’t expecting my anyone to come over…” you laugh awkwardly, “we can sit over here…” you lead him to the couch, comfortable and covered in blankets and pillows.

luke settles across from you, looking around. he notices the photos on your walls of who he assumes is your friends and family, noticing how you share resemblance to some of them.

he immediately sparks up conversation about them, asking what they’re like, if they live nearby, and some other questions.

you answer truthfully, eyes lighting up as you speak of them. you tell him about their jobs and what it’s like having them in your life.

you piece together that you’ve actually been to the same places and done a lot of the same things as him when you two were kids since you both pretty much grew up in the same town.

the two of you eventually shift closer, his arm around your shoulder, thumb gently rubbing.

you’ve turned on soft music that plays quietly in the background, a mix of all genres.

you two go quiet, just enjoying each others company when invisible string by taylor swift plays, making you hum along softly.

luke rests his chin on top of your head, “this song is kind of like us…”

you look up at him, “how so?”

“well, we’ve kinda been around each other our whole lives without knowing…same movie theater but a different movie, same restaurants but a different day, same town but almost never close by, same schools but different grades…we were always just all a little bit apart. it’s an invisible string.”

“wow, luke…” you laugh softly, “that was deep.”

“i know, right? i don’t think i’ve ever thought so hard in my life.” he jokes, chuckling.

you rest your head back on his chest, “i have a good feeling about us…”

jack gets up to store his leftovers in the fridge, deciding to do what luke suggested, and go see whats going on next door. he slides on his sneakers, grabbing his keys and walking out of the door without a word.

the door to the neighbors apartment is open and he frowns, knocking on the open door. his heart pounds as he waits for a response, looking at all the empty boxes that are scattered across the apartment. the sound of rushing feet coming down the hallway catches his attention, and he looks to the left.

there she is, a girl in shorts and a tshirt, looking messy but somehow, still beautiful. shes breathing a little heavy, but walks over with a smile. "can i help you?" she asks, her voice kind and welcoming.

he stays in awed silent for so long that she raises her eyebrows, waving her hand infront of his face. he snaps out of it eventually, "oh uh, im jack. i live next door."

she smiles softly, her eyes warm with a hint of amusement as she sticks out her hand and tells him her name. "im just moving in. sorry for all the clatter, some of this stuff is not as easy to put up as they make it look on youtube..." she laughs akwardly.

"no, its alright. uh...do you need any help?" jack asks, his voice shaky.

"oh, no no. i couldnt bother you." she waves her hands dismissively, "im sure youre busy with something."

"no!" jack answers, almost too quickly. "ah, sorry. i mean, no, im not busy at all. unless you just don't want help?"

"well, i guess if youre not busy..." she steps aside, gesturing for him to come inside. "i was just in my bedroom trying to put together this bedframe. its decently easy, so if you want to start putting together my dresser, that would be such a big help."

he follows her to her bedroom, looking around the messy apartment. "yeah, i can do that. also, my brother isn't busy so if you want an extra set of hands, i can make him help us."

"actually...that would probably be great. i have an entertainment center in my living room that also needs to be put together." she smiles, sitting back down on the floor.

jack pulls out his phone to text luke, telling him to come over. in the meantime, he sits down on the floor and opens up the box of parts for the dresser. he hears the sound of footsteps a few minutes later, then lukes voice calling out his name.

he walks into the bedroom after a little direction, stopping in his tracks when he sees our new neighbor. "uh, hey. im luke." he says, shoving his hands in his pockets, "my brother said you needed my help?"

she nods, getting up and leading him back to the living room, the sound of laughter fills the hallway as she walks back a few minutes later. she sits back down, picking up the instruction manual for the bedframe shes almost done with.

jack tries to focus on the dresser, but his eyes cant help but wander over to her often. he breaks the silence, "so, where are you from?" his voice fills the quiet room.

"a small town in georgia, atlanta area. got a job here, so i kinda had to move..." she answers, screwing in some screws to the frame. "long drive, but i think it'll be worth it."

"what kind of job?" his tone is full of interest, "are you in college?

she laughs softly, "im in online school. but i got a job as a sports photographer for a hockey team. the...devils? i don't know much about hockey so this will surely be interesting."

jacks heart skips a beat at the mention of his team, his head lifting to look at her. "the new jersey devils? the nhl team?" he asks, voice full of disbelief.

"yeah, you a fan? maybe you can tell me about them. i was gonna start researching tonight but maybe you can tell me all i need to know!" she smiles, looking back up at jack. she stands, walking over and sitting down beside him. "i finished the bedframe. need some help with this?"

"yeah, sure." he scoots the instruction manual towards her. "well, the devils are...an interesting team. they've got an amazing captain, his name is nico. they also great goaltending and coaching." he begins, wondering how to tell her he plays for them. "when do you start?"

"taking photos? well, tomorrow after i meet the team. the coach said they have a practice tomorrow morning so i can start then." she says, picking up some boards.

tomorrow? oh, he's done for. it's not like jack can keep his job a secret forever. he sits in silence as they work together on the dresser, trying to calm his racing nerves. her voice cuts through the silence, "what kind of job do you have?' she asks curiosly. if she told him her job, why can't she know his?

jack swears he stopped breathing, looking over at her. she's completely oblivious, screwing some boards together. "i uh...i play hockey." jack answers, hoping she wont dig any deeper.

except she does. her eyes widen and her head lifts to look at him, "really? who for?" she asks excitedly.

jack swallows, "the devils..." he answers, hoping she won't put two and two together. and yet again, she does.

a smile graces her face, "are you serious? why didn't you say anything sooner?" she shifts to sit facing his direction more, turning her attention to him. "i would've found out eventually, you know."

jack laughs awkwardly, also turning to face her. "well, i didn't know if you'd believe me." he smiles.

"why wouldn't i believe you?" she tilts her head in question, "well, i guess its common sense to not believe everything someone says, especially if you've first met them."

jack laughs a little more casually, visibly relaxing at how casual she is about all this. "well, luke plays for the devils too." he says, pulling out his phone and showing her some pictures.

"wow!" her eyes widen in excitement, "that's a lot of players. its hard to tell who is who because of the helmets, though. is that one you?" she asks, pointing to a player. jack nods, smiling.

"if you want, i can give you a basic rundown of all my teammates?" jack suggests, beginning to point out players and tell her about them after she nods. he gives her a basic rundown of positions and rules, then about different teams.

the furniture sits for a while, still in pieces. luke walks in on them talking, but doesn't say anything. he watches them discuss hockey, noticing how comfortable jack seems with her. he stays quiet, amused at how easily they get along.

-

time passes by and soon days turn into weeks, and weeks turn into months. jack and y/n haven't stopped talking once, always having something to discuss.

whether it be hockey, basketball, golf, food, work, whatever they can think of, they talk about. the words flow easily out of their mouths, and their actions are the same.

they hug, hold hands and even hold each other sometimes when the other has a rough day. nothing seemed any different, just the fact that they've both been holding back on their feelings.

jack knew from the moment y/n walked up to the open door and smiled at him. the way her eyes glistened and her cheeks chubbed from how happy she seemed to have the opportunity to make a new friend. her personality beamed with joy and pure, untamed rowdiness, like something he could definitely get along easily with.

y/n knew from the moment she walked up to the open door to she jack standing there awkwardly, his words coming out in stutters but his eyes full of kindness and warmth. the kind of warmth she had a deep longing for, the kind only one person sees.

neither of them knew it, but the flame lit right then and there, the flame of a candle untouched and left unopened. when it burns, it's unmanageable, filling the air with the scent of long awaited love.

and it stayed that way for months.

until luke had to open his stupid mouth.

jack was sent into a spiral, overthinking every action and word exchanged between the two of them.

every time she held his hand, was that a sign?

all the cuddles and late night conversations, was that a sign?

all the times they had comforted each other, was that a sign?

was it all a sign?

indeed it was.

jacks knuckles hit the wood of her apartment door, his heart beating and his mind racing with thoughts of what could possibly be happening. he's interrupted by the door swinging open, and the sweet sound of her voice.

"jack? it's 2:34 in the morning...what's the matter?" she asks, her eyes sleep ridden as she stands there awkwardly in her favorite pajamas. theres a line on her cheek from the pillow, must've been sleeping hard.

he pushes past her and into her apartment, turning around to look at her. "i don't know why i'm here. all i know is that i need you in my life. in more ways than just friends. i didn't even realize it until luke said something to me earlier, and i know it's early but y/n, i love you."

"jack, it's too late for this-" she begins, only to be cut off.

"no, it's not. because i haven't slept. and i know you were sleeping, but i need you to know this. every moment with you is one i won't ever forget. you're amazing. everything you do inspires me to be a better person and you are the person i want by side. i want to be with you, and i want to spend the rest of my life with you."

jacks words hang in the air, silent and tense. she takes a step forward, eyes wide and any traces of sleepiness gone. her words are soft,

"i love you too, jack." she says, having felt a little spark at the beginning, but having pushed it down in fear he didn't feel the same.

and the dam of jacks eyes breaks loose, tears flowing down his cheeks like they never have before. the weight of finding the one missing piece of the puzzle finally found, the complicated jigsaw puzzle of his life completed. he takes another step forward, wrapping his arms around her and holding onto her like his life depends on it.

parker told me one friday when i pulled him out of class that the kids don't want to hang out with him because he's different and not cool enough. his trembling voice and the way he fiddled with the paracord bracelet on his wrist made me bend down to his level, reassuring words leaving my mouth softly.

nina told me the previous day, a thursday, that the reason she was having a hard time staying alert and paying attention in class was because she was having a tough time at home. her parents fought, often times so loudly she couldn't sleep. she said the only reason why she seems so happy at school is because she can see her friends, and because she enjoys learning new things my class. she's always been a bright and smart young girl, and seeing her struggle so much made my heart throb with sadness.

i announced to my class the following monday that two students who do well for the whole month in my class, not only by grades, but also by the way they treat others, will get a special surprise of their choosing. (within reason, of course.)

at the end of the month, which wasn't far away from when i told them the idea, i announced the students were parker and nina. the way the gasp left parker's mouth, soon replaced by a toothy grin almost made me cry on the spot. nina was so excited, a grin on her face as her friends congratulate her for winning.

all children should be treated with kindness and respect, and since i didn't have very many students this year and there was just enough time in the school year for everyone to be chosen, i decided the idea was a great way for some kids to maybe make new friends, while treating all of them equally with things they love. almost like a reward system.

it made me excited to find out that parker and nina both have at least one thing in common. they both love hockey. since timo and i are engaged, i have connections to take them and meet the players before the game. when i offered to this to them, their excitement and the way their heads nodded made me buy tickets on the spot. i let them pick out who they wanted to see the devils play and of course, they picked the devils vs. rangers.

and now we're here, two kids on my right and timo's parents on my left, our seats right up on the glass. the kids received jerseys from the players, covered in signatures. they also received hats and a puck each. timo's mom, claudia, taps my shoulder, leaning in.

"it's so sweet that you brought some students to see the game with you. timo told me about what you're doing for your kids." she smiles wide, a hint of proudness in her eyes. "it's an amazing idea. i'm sure those two will end up good friends, i can already tell."

i nod with a smile, looking over at nina and parker. they're laughing, jumping up and down while watching the players warm up. "it's crazy how two completely different kids can get along so well."

she leans back in her seat, "when timo told me what you do for work, he sounded so incredibly proud of you. at first, i couldn't understand why. but now, i absolutely do."

i smile gratefully. "thank you, mrs. meier. my job is so important to me. these kids bring me so much joy, it's incredible. makes me so happy to see them getting along."

a nod comes from her, and we continue to talk throughout the game. since about halfway through the first period, there's was something unusual about timo. like something in him flipped, a side of him i've never seen. his parents see it too, i know they do. they're just keeping quiet.

my heart pounds as the third period begins, something's wrong. i can tell. and sure enough, three minutes and seventeen seconds in, it all comes crashing down. timo's on the opposing player in an instant, punches thrown. it's not like a normal fight where they hold on to each others jerseys and kinda throw each other around a bit. no, this was a fight.

everything around me seems to stop and i feel a hand on my left take mine, presumably timo's mom. i watch them fight, blood all over each others faces and jerseys. timo's helmet is long gone, his jaw clenched. i can see him yelling as he fights, eventually taking down the ranger player.

i release a breath i didn't know i was holding as the refs pull him off, pulling him to the tunnel while he continues to yell. he walks off, a little wobble in his step from his skates. he disappears down the hallway for the rest of the game, i look over at his mom, she's already looking at me.

her face is full of worry, brows furrowed and lips parted. i already know what she's gonna ask, and i shake my head. i don't know what that was about. i look over at the kids, their eyes full of awe and wonder. they're fired up from the fight, i know they are by their expressions.

my knee bounces up and down until the end of the game. i walk the kids to their parents and they all thank for me for the experience. i muster my best smile i can manage at the moment, giving them hugs and telling them i'll see them at school tomorrow.

timo's parents have already left, needing to get on their flight to go home in a few hours. i walk back to the hallway, where nico and jesper are pacing the corridor. they rush to me as soon as i come into their view, their words rushed and nervous. i tell them to slow down, and prepare to hear what they have to say.

nico speaks, "timo won't talk. he won't talk to anyone. he's still sitting in there in his gear, looking down at the ground. he wouldn't even let the trainers touch him to clean his cut." his brows are laced together, his signature look of haunted worry. "we thought made you could talk to him?"

i nod, "yeah, i can try."

i slowly make my way into the locker room, looking around and seeing timo in his seat, still in his gear like nico said. i approach him slowly, the door clicking shut behind me. i hear a shaky breath come from his direction as i get closer, he's probably smelled my perfume. "baby...?" i whisper, kneeling down in front of him.

his eyes are focused on his skates, even though i'm right there. i place my hand on his knee, my other reaching up to cup his cheek. he tenses up at my touch, finally meeting my gaze. his eyes are red, puffy and swollen, wet with unshed tears he's been holding back.

"i just wanted to protect you..." he whispers, his voice cracking. it's clear he hasn't drank anything since he got in here, so i hand him his water bottle and make him drink.

"what are you talking about? you already protect me everyday." i say, moving to sit beside him after moving nico's stuff. "what happened out there?" i move his hair out of his face.

he looks over at me, "trocheck, he was chirping me about you. talking about the kids you brought with you and how you...would look so good with his kids. he kept talking about how he was gonna take you from me and...i just couldn't take it, i'm sorry. i'm so sorry..." he looks down, a sniffle leaving his nose.

"oh no, my love. don't be sorry. you did what you thought was right. and don't worry, i would never leave you. never ever ever. you're the only one for me, the only one who can protect me and care for me, i promise." i say, taking his hand in mine and rubbing his knuckles with my thumb.

he sniffs again, "i know you wouldn't, but the way he was talking about you...i would never want to hear those things about anyone, the things he said i would never repeat." his words make me frown, but i won't push him to tell me.

"you don't have to repeat them. now, how about you change into your regular clothes, get your nose fixed up and meet me outside, yeah? i'll give you some time." i smile softly, kissing his cheek before i stand up. he nods his head, slowly taking off his gear as i walk out.

nico and jesper are still there, now joined by stefan. it's clear they're worried about their friend, and i couldn't be more grateful for them. they've done so much for timo, always so kind to him.

"is he okay?" jesper asks, his normal worried face still there. "where is he?"

"he's changing, i just left to give him some time."

"what happened? did he tell you?" stefan asks, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed.

"yeah, he told me. he said trocheck was chirping him about me and how he was gonna take me from him or something. but timo told me, that he said stuff he wouldn't want to hear about anybody, or even repeat. he's really upset." i sigh, leaning on the opposite wall.

jesper leans beside me as stefan speaks, "yeah, i figured that's what it was. if i'm gonna be honest, i heard some of what he said. i was hoping it wasn't about you, sad to hear it was."

i nod, my lips pursing together. the guys eventually say their goodbyes and timo comes out a few minutes later. he still looks upset, his face puffy and his head hung low. i cup his cheeks, picking his head up to look at me.

"hey, don't be upset. i appreciate you sticking up for me, i really do..." i smile softly, rubbing his cheekbone with my thumb. "how about...some ice cream?"

it may sound silly, but timo loves ice cream. he eats it when he's sick, happy, sad, angry. it's like his comfort food, something he knows he can depend on to make him feel better. he nods, and i lead him out to the car, his hand in mine.

i drive to his favorite ice cream shop, going through the drive thru and ordering his favorite ice cream and mine. i thank the lady behind the window, and pay her. i wait for my card to come back, and hand timo the ice cream.

i drive to the nearby park, pulling into a parking spot and getting out. we sit on a bench in front of the huge fountain, the sound of the flowing water and the moon shining down on us is comforting. we sit in a comfortable silence, eating our ice cream.

i sigh, setting down my empty container and lean into his side, his arm coming up to rest on my shoulder as he finishes his ice cream. he sets his trash with mine, and leans in to kiss my cheek.

"thank you, my love." he says, a small smile now on his face. "you always know how to make me feel better."

i laugh softly, moving my head to kiss his hand that rests on my shoulder. "i'll always take care of you, baby."

we watch the water flow through the fountain, the water glimmering under the moon. it's peaceful, just what we need after such a long and stressful day.

"we should get going, you have a rowdy group of kids to teach tomorrow and i have morning skate." timo says, standing up and holding out his hand to help me stand.