Chapter 7 The Hockey Ritual

ALEXA POV

The party were still going even though I don't have interest in it anymore, I was already dreaming about my room. Suddenly, Ryder stood up from the couch. He picked up an empty bottle and hit it with a spoon. The loud clinking sound cut through the music and got everyone’s attention.

“Now it’s time for the ritual!” he shouted.

The whole room cheered loudly. People clapped and whistled. I turned to Freddie, confused.

“What does that mean?” I asked.

Before he could answer, some senior boys appeared and grabbed us. They lifted me and Freddie, carrying us to the front with the other three rookies. My heart beat fast as they put us down in the middle of the room. Everyone was staring at us.

“To welcome you into the hockey world, we have a ritual,” Ryder said with a smirk. “It’s called taking the bomb.”

I wondered what a bomb was. Then glasses were placed in front of each of us. The liquid inside looked dark and strong different kinds of alcohol mixed together.

“You will drink this within ten seconds,” Ryder said, looking straight at me.

My eyes almost popped out. “Are you crazy? That isn’t possible!” I yelled angrily.

Ryder laughed. “Says who? Just say you are weak and a coward puck boy.”

Everyone started laughing at the name “puck boy.” My face burned with anger. I folded my fists tightly and glared at Ryder. He glared back, daring me.

“I am not a coward,” I said through my teeth. “And I will prove it to you.”

When they said “drink,” I quickly grabbed the glass and started gulping it down. The mixture burned my throat like fire. It tasted terrible. I almost vomited it right there, but I pushed it back down and forced myself to finish the whole glass. My eyes watered. My stomach felt like it was on fire.

I looked over and saw Blake still in the corner with that girl. She was sitting on his lap now, laughing and touching his face. Something twisted inside my chest. I asked for another glass and drank it too. Then another.

The room started spinning slowly. My head felt light. I kept drinking more, trying to forget the sight of Blake kissing that girl. Everything became blurry. My legs felt weak.

I couldn’t hold it anymore. I almost vomited on the floor. Freddie quickly grabbed my arm and helped me to the bathroom. I bent over the toilet and threw up everything. Freddie held my hair back and waited quietly until I finished. He gave me water to wash my face.

After a few minutes, I felt a little better. We went back to the party.

The alcohol had fully hit me now. I started screaming like crazy and dancing wildly in the middle of the room. I jumped around, waving my hands in the air and shouting. Everyone turned to look at me. Some people started laughing. Others took out their phones and began making videos.

Freddie tried to pull me away. “Alex, come on, let’s go outside.”

But I pushed his hand away. “No! I want to dance more!” I screamed and kept moving. My body felt light and free. I didn’t care that people were watching. I didn’t care about anything anymore. I just kept dancing and screaming, spinning around like the world was spinning with me.

Freddie looked worried, but I ignored him. For the first time since I came to Blackwood, I felt like I could forget everything the lies, the fear, Ryder’s meanness, and the pain of seeing Blake with another girl.

I just wanted to dance.

RYDER POV

I leaned back on the couch, watching my new roommate make a fool of himself. Alex was on the small stage now, dancing like a mad person. He pushed the other guy away when the guy tried to pull him down. His movements were wild and uncoordinated, arms swinging everywhere. A smirk spread across my face.

He had bragged he could handle alcohol. Look at him now.

The more I watched him, the weirder he seemed. Something about the rookie just didn’t add up. The way he moved, the way he talked back to me, even the way he smelled sometimes… it was off. I couldn’t figure it out and it was starting to piss me off.

My phone rang again. I pulled it out and saw my father’s name on the screen. My jaw tightened. I switched the phone off without answering and tossed it on the table. I reached for another cigarette, but someone snatched it from my fingers.

I looked up.

Lila Harrington stood there with a big, bright smile on her face. She twirled the cigarette between her fingers.

“Smoking isn’t good for you, Ryder,” she said sweetly.

“Give it back,” I muttered.

She hesitated for a second before handing it over and sitting down right beside me, too close. Her leg pressed against mine.

“Can we go outside and have some fun?” she asked, leaning in. “We can do whatever you want tonight.”

“Not interested,” I said flatly. I stood up and started walking away.

She quickly grabbed my arm. “Ryder, why are you doing this to me? You hang around with all those other girls but never me.”

I looked down at her hand on my arm, then at her face. “It’s simple. Because I don’t want you.”

Her smile dropped. Hurt flashed across her eyes, but I didn’t care. I pulled my arm free and walked out of the club without looking back. The cool night air hit my face as I headed toward my bike.

I was about to swing my leg over when someone called out.

“Evening, Captain!”

A boy was half-dragging Alex toward me. The rookie could barely stand. His eyes were glassy and he swayed from side to side.

“He’s really drunk and can’t go home by himself,” the boy said. “He stays in your dorm, right? Please take him home.” He bowed quickly and disappeared before I could say anything.

I stared at Alex. He stood there staggering, blinking slowly like he didn’t know where he was. The more I looked at him, the stranger he seemed. Why the hell did I feel this weird pull every time I saw the kid?

I scoffed and got on my bike. I started the engine and sped off a few meters, but something made me stop. Even I didn’t understand why. I turned the bike around and went back.

Alex had already passed out on the ground.

I parked the bike, walked over, and kicked his leg lightly with my boot. “Hey. Get up.”

He didn’t move.

I groaned angrily and bent down. I grabbed him with one hand and pulled him up. He was surprisingly light for a guy. I threw his arm over my shoulder and half-carried him to the bike. I sat him in front of me and climbed on behind him. To keep him from falling, I had to wrap one arm around his waist.

This was fucking annoying.

I rode back to the dorm, holding him steady the whole way. His body felt too small against mine. His head kept falling back on my shoulder. I cursed under my breath the entire ride.

When we reached the dorm, I parked the bike and dragged him inside. I was about to drop him on the couch when he suddenly grabbed my shirt with both hands. His face turned pale.

Before I could push him away, he vomited all over my shirt.

My eyes widened in shock. The warm liquid soaked through the fabric. The smell hit me hard.

“What the fuck?!” I shouted.

Alex didn’t even seem to notice. His eyes were closed and he was mumbling something I couldn’t understand. I stood there frozen for a second, staring down at the mess on my chest.

This rookie was going to be the death of me.

I groaned loudly and dragged him toward his room. His body was completely limp now. I pushed open his door and dropped him on the bed. He curled up immediately, still wearing his shoes and cap.

I looked down at my ruined shirt, then at the small figure on the bed.

“Pain in the ass,” I muttered.

But I didn’t leave right away. I stood there for a moment, watching him breathe. Something about him still didn’t make sense. And for some reason I couldn’t explain, I wasn’t as angry as I should have been.

I shook my head and walked out, closing the door behind me.