Chapter 64 Amends
"And you chose a coffee with a guy who treats me like trash," he whispered.
"I made a mistake," I admitted. "I was lonely and hurt because we were fighting, and I made a bad choice. But it didn't change how I feel. I went to Julian today. I told him I’d ruin my own reputation to keep him away from you. Does that sound like someone who wants the easy life?."
Jaxson looked down at our hands. His thumb traced the edge of my palm. "Leo told me what you said to him. I didn't believe it at first."
"Believe it," I said. "I love you, Jaxson. Not 'for a hockey player.' Not 'for a scholarship kid.' I just love you. And if that means I have to fight my past every single day to be with you, then I’ll do it. But I can't do it if you're fighting me too."
Jaxson let out a long, shaky breath. He leaned his forehead against mine. I could smell the faint scent of the rink on him, the ice and the sweat.
"I'm sorry I walked away. I'm sorry I didn't trust you. It’s just... everything is so loud right now, Elena. The team, the school, the pressure... sometimes the only thing I can hear is the voice telling me I’m not good enough for you."
"Then listen to my voice instead," I whispered. "I’m the only one who gets to decide who is good enough for me."
Jaxson wrapped his arms around me, pulling me into his lap. He held me so tight I could feel his heart beating. It was fast and a little irregular, but it was there.
"Don't go back to the table," he whispered into my hair.
"There is no table," I promised. "Just us."
We sat there for a long time, watching the stars. The world below us was still full of problems. Julian was still out there. My father was still waiting. The Vipers were still divided. But for the first time in days, the air felt clear.
When Leo came back an hour later with three sandwiches and a bag of chips, he found us sitting close together, talking quietly about a movie we wanted to see.
Leo didn't say a word. He just sat down, handed us our food, and looked out at the campus. "So," he said, taking a giant bite of his sandwich. "Who's ready for the championship game next week?"
Jaxson looked at me, then at Leo, and for the first time in a long time, he laughed. "Let's just get through Monday first, Captain."
For the first time in weeks, the sun felt warm. Monday morning on campus was usually loud and busy, but today, everything felt soft.
The fight at the rink was over. The drama with Liam was behind us. Jaxson and I were sitting on a wooden bench near the lake, sharing a bag of apples and watching the ducks swim by.
Jaxson’s hand was still wrapped in a small bandage, but he looked relaxed. The dark circles under his eyes were fading. He wasn't looking over his shoulder for Julian. He was just here, with me.
"It’s weird," Jaxson said, taking a bite of an apple. "No one is screaming at me. No one is trying to take my scholarship. It’s almost too quiet."
I leaned my head on his shoulder. "Maybe you just deserve a break, Jax. You’ve fought enough for one semester."
"Leo says the team is settling down too," Jaxson told me. "He held a meeting this morning. He told everyone that the Civil War ends now. He said if anyone has a problem with me or Julian, they keep it off the ice. He really stepped up as a Captain."
"He did," I agreed. "Leo realized that he can't please everyone. He chose to be a leader instead of a follower."
We sat in silence for a while. It was the kind of silence that didn't need words. We watched a group of freshmen trying to toss a frisbee nearby.
They were laughing and tripping over their own feet. It reminded me that we were all just kids, even if our lives felt much heavier than theirs.
"What are you thinking about?" Jaxson asked, turning to look at me.
"I’m thinking about the future," I said. "Not the scary stuff. Not my dad or the money. I’m thinking about what happens after the big game next week. I want to go somewhere quiet. Just the two of us. No hockey sticks. No social galas."
Jaxson smiled, and it was a real smile, the kind that reached his eyes. "I’d like that. Maybe that cabin you told me about? The one with the woods and the fireplace?"
"My grandmother's place," I said, smiling back. "It’s still there. And I think it misses us."
Later that afternoon, I walked with Jaxson to the rink. He wasn't going there to fight today. He was going there to make peace.
Inside the locker room, the mood was different. It wasn't as tense as before. Some of the guys were joking around. When Jaxson walked in, Toby, the guy he had checked into the goalpost looked up.
I stood by the door, watching through the crack.
Jaxson walked straight over to Toby. He didn't say a word at first. He just held out his hand.
"Sorry about the hit, Toby," Jaxson said. His voice was steady. "I let my head get messy. It won't happen again."
Toby looked at Jaxson’s hand, then at the rest of the team. He sighed and shook it. "It’s hockey, Miller. I’ve had worse hits. Just make sure you’re hitting the guys in the green jerseys next week, okay?"
The room laughed, and the weight seemed to lift even more. Leo walked over and clapped Jaxson on the back, giving me a quick wink through the door.
Julian was sitting in the corner. He didn't say anything. He didn't try to start a fight. He just put on his skates and stared at the floor. He knew that for now, his games weren't working.
The team was closing ranks around their Captain and their Rookie.
After practice, Leo, Jaxson, and I went to the small diner near the edge of campus. We sat in a red booth and ordered giant plates of fries and milkshakes.
"To the Vipers," Leo said, lifting his chocolate shake. "And to a week without a single person crying or punching someone."
"I'll drink to that," Jaxson laughed, clinking his glass against Leo’s.
As we walked back to the dorms under the evening stars, Jaxson grabbed my hand and pulled me into a quiet spot under a large oak tree.
"Thank you, Elena," he whispered.
"For what?"
"For not giving up on me," he said. He leaned down and kissed me softly. It wasn't a desperate kiss like before. It was slow and sweet. "I know I make it hard sometimes. I know my pride gets in the way. But having you in my corner... it makes me feel like I can actually win."