Chapter 3 3: Seeking Distractions
The door flew open, and the teammates, loud and euphoric from the win, rushed over to Baby.
However, their celebratory noise suddenly died down as they saw the person standing across from their captain.
Their sworn enemy was casually leaning against a locker, his face unbothered like he'd rather be playing golf with his grandfather.
Someone suddenly chuckled from the crowd, pushing his way through to stand in front of Baby.
"Captain! What's Kross doing in our room? Did he come to beg for mercy?" Rode, the strongest defenseman stepped forward, wearing a subtle frown.
The team members burst out laughing, expecting Baby to side with them by giving Saint an insulting remark or even a punch, but Baby had been stripped of his usual confidence as he struggled to deliver the humiliating news.
Baby gritted his teeth, taking his eyes away from Saint's unbothered face. He cleared his throat and said, "Listen up, everyone. Things have changed. This... this is Saint. He's... effective immediately, he's our co-captain."
"What?!"
"You've gotta be kidding us!"
"I'd rather quit the team! Hell to the no!"
"Over my dead body!" Rode's angry voice boomed above all else.
"I wouldn't mind that, Rode," Saint finally spoke, his eyes fierce as he stared from one teammate to the other.
"I'll wipe that stupid smirk off your face –"
"No," Baby pulled Rode back, gritting his teeth as he stared at Saint's calm pride, "Trust me, Rode, I want to punch him more than anything in this world. Unfortunately, we can't. THC has eyes on us." He informed them.
"What?!" Cam, Baby's best friend asked, stepping forward to stand between Baby and Saint, his shoulder-length red hair packed in a tight pony.
"THC? Wants you two together?" Cam questioned in disbelief.
The teammates shared shocked glances, theurveyes speaking volumes than their voices could ever speak.
"Yes. They did," Baby said and proceeded to tell them everything.
The confusion and the disbelief spread through the heated locker room like a curse.
"I've always wanted to get you back for breaking my nose on our last match, and now, you're right under my nose." Rode faced Saint, his eyes vengeful and hostile, "Watch your back, rich boy, THC laws don't apply to me, I'll break your nose at the slightest chance you pose." He roughly pushed Saint's chest and walked past him.
Slam!
"Fuck, you bastard!" Rode roared as Saint suddenly pulled him back and slammed his back against a locker.
"That's no way to speak to your captain, Rode. Do I need to teach you some manners?" Saint's lethal voice slithered through the room, his arm pressing firmly against Rode's chest.
Rode's face darkened. He was about to hit Saint's face when Baby suddenly got between them and shoved them apart, standing between them.
"Enough!" Baby's voice boomed in command, his eyes sharpening as he glanced at everyone.
"It is what it is! Anyone who has an opinion can feel free and contact THC! And until then, it is one team, two captains. Understood?!" Baby barked.
Everyone was quiet, eyes glaring daggers at Saint.
"Understood?!" Baby roared, his eyes turning angry as he pointed his eyes at Rode.
"Yes, Captain!" The teammates replied, accepting their unwanted fate.
"Good talk," Saint smirked and quietly walked away. He reached the door and paused, "Practice by six in the morning. Lateness equals punishment." He said, finally left the locker room.
"Shit!" Baby cursed and kicked the locker in front of him.
He pushed through his teammates, grabbed his bag, and left the locker room in a blur.
"Baby! Wait!" Cam was beside him in a matter of seconds, falling in step with him as they walked the long walkway.
Baby didn't slow down, furiously walking to get to his dormitory apartment.
"Oh, come on, Baby, are you really going to ignore me because of the appearance of a Sainf?" Cam asked, trying to get Baby to smile but failed.
"Alright, fine, I know this is bad, but look at the brighter side, THC has their eyes on you, bro!" He hooked his arm over Baby's shoulder, smiling widely.
Baby stopped walking and glared at Cam's hand on his shoulder.
"Too close? Right," Cam cleared his throat and wiped his hand on his shirt.
"Um, I know this new club, it's VIP, but who wouldn't let Baby Danvers in. Ready to party all night?" Cam questioned, wiggling his brows at Baby's interested face.
"Girls?" Baby asked, a smirk forming on his lips.
Cam smiled mischievously, "International and national." He winked at Baby.
"Now, you're making sense. Should have just led with that," Baby pulled Cam's wrist and resumed walking, ready to divert his attention to something else that wasn't Saint's annoying face.
Baby stumbled into his dormitory apartment with his lips locked on his new catch. He pressed her gathered wall and hooked one of her legs around his waist, groaning at the contact.
His hand frantically reached up and searched for his light switch, turning it on and immediately unbuttoning his shirt, hungry for a distraction
"Oh, my God, are we having a threesome?" The girl suddenly broke away from Baby's lips and stared over his shoulder like she'd been hypnotised.
Baby paused, confused. He lived alone, had he picked a psycho who saw ghosts?
He slowly untangled the girl's limbs from his body and turned to see what she was talking about.
His breath invisibly got punched out of his lungs as his eyes fell on the last person he expected to see in his living room.
Saint stood by the bar with a glass of wine, a black tank fitting like a second skin, and joggers low and easy. Calm. Correct. Infuriating.
"You've got to be kidding me," Baby felt a lot of things as he stared at his rival: hatred, confusion, bewilderment, and shock.
"Oh my God, it's like a dream come true. My two most favourite men, in the same room, with me!" The girl giggled, hugging Baby's arm.
"Don't let me stop you," Saint nodded once and turned to walk into the room.
"Stop right there, Saint," Baby ordered, glaring at him.