Chapter 97 97: Forced Interactions
The locker room was chatty as usual, and everyone was getting ready for the practice.
Everything was normal... almost.
Except for their captains.
They stood silently at opposite corners of the room, busying themselves with their gear in front of their lockers.
"Morning, Captains," Miller greeted as he walked in with Ricky.
No reply.
Miller simply shrugged and headed to his locker.
Baby's head was banging, he barely slept last night and now, standing in the noisy locker room, he felt like his ears were shredding.
He just wanted to sit under the tent of his sheets on his bed, ignoring the world and its problems.
Saint was right behind him, he knew, but he couldn't look at him.
He'd hurt all over again.
"Morning, everyone! Hey man!" Cam suddenly burst through the door, heading straight for Saint.
"Howdy, Captain?" He winked at him as he pulled him toward Baby.
Saint stiffened, his pulse racing as he tried to tell Cam to stop whatever he was trying to do.
"Cam –"
"Danvers! Ready to go to the ice with your favourite partner?" Cam had already crossed the room, squishing Saint's and Baby's arms together and smiling.
Baby flinched, his heart skipping a few beats before hammering rapidly in his chest.
Saint's warmth seeped right into his bones, tears threatening to fall from his eyes as he refused to absorb the comfort that came with Saint's warmth.
"Yeah, I mean, the netizens are eager to capture another moment... us, too," Wong said, smirking.
"Stop," Baby suddenly pulled away from Saint, who seemed to have frozen, or was simply being polite by not leaving first.
"Everyone, on the ice," Baby ordered and walked away.
"On the ice," Saint muttered.
"Not so fast, Kross," Cam blicjed Saint's path, his arms folded on his chest.
Saint sighed, glancing behind Cam to make sure everyone had left, "What?" He asked, even though he already knew what Cam was about to ask.
"You need to ask? What the fuck have you done to Baby? I warned you not to hurt him, right?" Cam asked with narrowed eyes, stepping closer to Saint in slow strides.
Saint inhaled deeply, "It wasn't me... he called us off, Cam. He broke up with me," he smgkabced at the door as if Baby would walk back and say that everything had been a silly prank, "I'm the one who was wronged, not the other way around."
Can was speechless.
He knew Baby used to be a player, but he also knew that Saint was the first person if not the only person who Baby would ever take seriously.
Or, might he be wrong?
Was Baby being his usual 'use and dump' self?
"Relax, Cameron. I'm fine. I believe hid reasons are tangible, so, I'm cool with it," Saint said, acting cool.
Cam scoffed, "You can't be serious. You both can't be serious. I'm already so invested in this relationship, and if you both are getting cold feet now... yeah, it's a little too late for that. So..." he stepped backwards, eyes determined, "Just hang in there, boy. I don't take returns." He huffed and left the locker room.
Cam walked out just in time to find Baby preparing to skate onto the ice. He quickly grabbed his arm and pulled him away.
"Cam? What's going on?" Baby asked, frowning as he struggled to keep up.
"Quiet. Do not speak until you're spoken to," Cam snapped and pulled Baby right back into the locker room.
Saint was leaning against the locker when he heard them enter, he sighed, not believing that Cam really went to drag Baby in.
"Just in case, I never asked him to do this," Saint murmured, folding his arms.
Cam finally released Baby as he brought him right in front of Saint.
Baby moved away immediately, lowering himself thr bench to stay father away from Saint.
"Whatever you're thinking, it's not going to work," Baby started.
"See? I told you we were cool with this. I am very much unbothered," Saint stated, his voice flat.
Cam looked from one man to the other and felt a migraine building in his brain.
"You two just..." He took a deep breath to calm his nerves.
"Baby, why?" Cam asked quietly.
"I hate him," Baby blurted, his fingers digging into his ialms ad he lowered his head.
"Oh, that's new," Saint said, "I thought it was our parents, Sloane and the world. I never knew I was the problem. But, hey, it's ducky noted," he clenched his jaw, staring at the lockers in front of him.
Cam sighed and lowered himself beside Baby, "You do realise you're making things worse, right?" He whispered.
Baby didn't speak, only shaking his legs anxiously.
"Can you tell me why you broke up with –"
"No need. I don't want to stand here and listen to how much I'm not loved. Meet you out," Saint interjected and quietly left.
Baby's sound died out as he heard Saint's words, he stole a glance at Saint's retreating figure and felt his heart break all over again.
"Done lying? Can you tell me why now?" Cam asked gently.
"I don't want to talk about it, Cam. Just let it be," Baby murmured but instead of leaving, he turned and hugged Cam, burying his face in his best friend's neck as he sobbed.
The echoes of Saint’s retreating footsteps were replaced by the ragged, muffled sounds of Baby’s sobbing. The locker room, usually a place of adrenaline and camaraderie, now felt like a confessional booth for a sin Baby hadn't meant to commit.
Cam didn’t say a word. He just held Baby, his hand resting on the back of the blonde boy's head, shielding him from the empty room as if the lockers themselves had eyes. He knew this wasn't about "hate." You don't cry like your soul is being torn out over someone you hate.
After a few minutes, Baby pulled back, wiping his eyes with the heel of his palms. His face was blotchy, his golden boy polish completely stripped away.
"I’m a coward, Cam," Baby rasped, his voice cracking. "I told him I hated him because if I told him I loved him, he wouldn't let me go. And if he doesn't let me go, they’ll destroy him."
Cam looked at him with a mixture of pity and frustration. "You’re not a coward, Baby. You’re a martyr. But the problem with martyrs is that they usually end up dead, and they take everyone they love down with them. You think you’re saving Saint’s career? Look at him out there. He’s skating like a ghost."
"You aren't protecting him from the fall, Baby. You're just making sure he hits the ground alone." — Cam