Galen

We all showered in the locker rooms at the arena, comparing bruises and chirping each other for being weaklings.

I think I might've found myself a box of frogs I fit into perfectly.

Playing with them was like nothing I've experienced before. It was seriously challenging. I had to fight hard for every puck control and every shot. Playing for the club in Thunder Ridge hadn't been a challenge for a very long time. It's a mediocre club playing other mediocre clubs. For most of my teammates, it was all about drinking and hanging out afterwards. Few of them actually cared about the game itself.

I enjoyed having pick-up games with Dex, Tanner, Devan (our MMA coach) and a couple of other friends way more. Dex has some class skills, and Tanner is a savage who makes up for his lack of real hockey skills and knowledge by being a tenacious bastard. Coach Dev is a barbarian... there's no other word to describe him.

Playing with them was fun, but I wanted more. I got desperate for a chance at getting noticed by scouts or having enough money to leave home and join a better club in a city like Grey Mount. Living in Briar Cove and playing for the Thunder Ridge club felt like a dead-end. I did a lot of stupid things in my life, many of them for money... or affection.

I'm not proud of any of it, but here I am now.

The bedroom feels barren without Jax lying on his bed talking shite; even the pieces of his clothing and other junk that found their way into my area don't make the room feel less empty of his presence. I really like the yoke. We click so well that it barely makes sense. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I'm good friends with his cousin, and they share many traits. Mostly the annoying ones.

He went with Naresh and Kame to clear the main road to Snowglen. They didn't take the quad Hank used to clear the shortcut to the arena. Apparently, there are bigger ones for the longer roads. Earlier, they'd done the road to Shivermore. Jax said it was so that Robbie could get home after his practice with Hunter.

Apparently, the guy was annoying everyone, and they didn't want him to be stuck here for another night. I wouldn't know because I'd been sleeping through all of it.

Usually, I'm a much lighter sleeper.

Tomorrow, Jeroen, Denny and I will be salting the roads again, and plough them if necessary. They are going to show me what to do. I'm oddly excited to learn how to do it. We had snow in Ireland, where I lived until I was almost 13 years old, but I don't remember it being anything like the snow here. My memory might just be sketchy and polluted - like my accent and Irish slang - through the five-plus years I've lived in Briar Cove.

I heard that Cristalcrest has snow almost all year round. Their spring and summer flow together and barely last three months. I'm not sure how I feel about that. So far, I've been freezing my arse off, and I always thought of myself as a pretty warm-blooded guy who is constantly feeling hot.

Not anymore.

I want to unpack. Almost all my things are still in my bags, but Hunter told me to hurry, when she saw me going upstairs. She's making hot chocolate, and letting it get cold or not drinking any would be sheer blasphemy. Those were her actual words.

Grinning like a plonker, I take the book I'd been trying to read last night, and after flinging Jax's stuff out of my area and onto his bed, I leave the room and head back to the living area. There is something seriously wrong with me because I'm looking forward to seeing the bossy little feek with her mischievous eyes again.

I need to get a grip or I'm going to lose everything I want before I've even had it in my hands.

It's warm and cosy in the living area when I reach it. The fire is roaring, and yes, there are mugs of hot chocolate on the coffee table. I grab one, grinning at Hunter when she looks up at me in that strange, direct way that makes me forget my name and half the alphabet every time our eyes meet.

"Thanks a million," I tell her, lifting the mug in a salute.

"You're welcome," she smiles. She is sitting on the floor, carefully wrapping Tucker's knee in some kind of special bandage. The man is sitting on a recliner with his legs raised. One leg of his loose lounge pants is pushed up, and I can see a network of vicious-looking scars gradually disappearing under Hunter's work. Seeing them makes me wince inwardly.

"Good game, Galen!" he grins when he sees me. He's been saying that on and off since we left the ice and I lift my mug to him, grinning too.

"Good game, Tucker." It really was a blast.

Hank is sitting on a different chair now, still reading the same book, intermittently sipping his hot chocolate, so I take the rocking chair he'd used earlier. I know I'd slept most of the day, but the possibility that I'm going to fall asleep is huge.

I taste the hot chocolate before setting it down on the nearest small table, and I'm surprised to discover that it's not the instant kind I'm used to. It is thick and rich, slightly spicy, pure chocolate. I could get addicted. Hunter was right; letting it go cold or not drinking it would be a form of blasphemy.

Getting ready to read my book, I look around me at the others present in the cosy living area. Denny is sitting on a two-seater couch, folded over, concentrating on a notebook lying on the large coffee table pulled close to his seat. He scribbles on the pad, tapping his pen against his head every few seconds while he thinks. I think he might be working on math problems because there is a year 12 math textbook lying open beside the pad.

On the other side of the low table, Jeroen is lounging on a bean bag, reading what appears to be a physics textbook. He mentioned exams earlier and I wonder what exams he would be writing this time of the year.

I watch Hunter close the first aid kit she had open beside her. She leans over to put it on an empty edge of the table where Denny is working and stands up. Earlier, she'd offered to patch me up, but there wasn't anything for her to patch up. My nose had stopped bleeding even before I hit the showers, and the sugar she gave me completely staunched my lip's bleeding. I don't have a black eye, it's just slightly red. I regretted not needing any medical treatment from her, and she seemed a bit depressed about it too.

She affectionately runs her fingers through Tucker's hair, scrambling it while he grins up at her adoringly, like a big puppy. After handing him the mug on the small table beside his chair, she turns towards the couch Denny is sitting on. I chuckle softly when I see her unceremoniously climb over the boy's back to reach the other end of the couch. He doesn't even seem to notice, only groaning when she makes sure to poke him in the ribs in passing.

Reaching the corner of the couch, she makes herself comfortable by curling up in that loose-limbed way some girls manage so effortlessly. I would probably pop my legs right out of my hip sockets if I were to try it.

Seeing me watch her, she doesn't blush, look away shyly or do any of the things I would've expected her to do. Instead, she smiles at me in a warm way that causes me to blush and look away shyly.

Nope... apparently, the last part didn't happen. I am blushing - which is not normal for me - but I'm still looking at her. I'm grinning as if she's a yummy biscuit I discovered in the hot chocolate I've picked up again, and she is going to get eaten.

Shite! Mc Kenna, read yer effing book!

I lower my eyes, concentrating on drinking the sweet, hot, velvety sin-in-a-cup, and when I finally feel brave enough to look up again, Hunter is reading on her phone. She has a half-smile on her lips as if she's amused by what she's reading. I'm pretty sure she's reading one of Dex's books, and I'm startled by how jealous I am that she's having fun with my brother without even being in the bastard's presence. It feels obscene that he can make her look like that when he hasn't even met her yet.

Aye, I should go back to sleep, I'm off me noodle.

I put my empty cup down and open my book, finding the section I unsuccessfully tried to read last night, but I don't make it more than a paragraph into the story before I'm distracted again.

"It's not working out," Denny grumbles, drawing my attention to the pair on either side of the coffee table. Jeroen sits up, puts the textbook down and pulls the notepad towards himself to study what Denny wrote.

"It's because you had to divide this number by that number before multiplying the answer by 3," he says, turning the pad so Denny can see what he's pointing at. "You have to complete the expression inside the brackets first."

"That's just rude," Denny huffs.

"Really?" Jeroen gives a surprised laugh. "It's rude to do the calculation inside the brackets first, or it's rude for this number to be divided by that one?"

"Yes," Denny assures him, not clarifying what he's saying yes to. He looks at Jeroen with a sober expression I haven't seen on his face since I met him. I thought the guy was perpetually grinning, a bit like my friend Ronan. "It's very divisive; they should all just get along with each other. Maths is obnoxious."

I agree with the dude. I have, on occasion, found maths to be a bit obnoxious, especially in class on a Monday when I have a hangover. On other days Math and I get along with each other pretty well. Sometimes, I even think it is fun.

Hearing Hunter laugh at the boys' exchange, I look at her again, enjoying the way she sparkles in the warm light filling the living area. She reminds me of everybody I have ever loved, and at the same time, I don't think I've met anybody like her before. She seems so comfortable in her own skin and her world. Light and unburdened but not without depth.

Oh, bugger!

I clear my throat, shifting awkwardly and turn my attention back to my book when I notice her aul fella watching me watch his daughter. Aye, I am now definitely blushing and looking away shyly.

Nothing to see here; move along.

With Jeroen in the background trying and failing to explain to Denny why maths cannot possibly be obnoxious, I jump into the disk world created by Terry Pratchett. It's much safer for me in there.

I look up sometime later when Jeroen declares that Denny has successfully solved all his math exercises and now probably understands the type of problem he was practising.

"You won't be behind anymore when school starts," Jeroen says, grabbing his physics book from the table and rising to his feet.

"Thanks, Jeroen," Denny grins, sitting back on the couch.

"You're welcome," Jeroen assures him and hurries to the staircase and up it to the floor where our rooms are located. Watching Denny scoot his butt into the side of the couch and lie down, making himself comfortable with his head on Hunter's thigh, I once again wonder what exactly their relationship is.

They're not particularly lovey-dovey, but they are clearly close. Hunter demonstrates that fact by uncurling one of her legs and dropping her foot to the floor to make room for Denny's head. She even uses one hand to play with his thick blond hair. It isn't long before the guy is asleep.

It's possible that they have the close sibling-like relationship Hunter and Paisley have back home. This Hunter didn't grow up with Denny, though, and the other Hunter never begs Paisley for first aid, asking her to check out the massive medical emergency he has going on inside his skivvies.

We were on our way home when this happened. Of course, Denny, Jax and Hunter were making a weird game of the simple task of walking home, which had them falling down in the snow more than once.

Denny was standing near where Hunter was getting to her feet after another tumble. When he made that request, she carefully stood up and stepped up to him, solemnly looking up into his face. When she reached him, she suddenly pulled the waistband of his pants away from his body, dumped a snowball inside, and ran away, calling him a dirty dunderhead while he shrieked, shaking the snow out.

Yeah, none of it seems very romantic.

I need to stop wondering about them. It would be grand if they were together since it would solve my problem. There's no way I'm going to try and take the guy's girlfriend away. We're supposed to be allies at the Farm, looking out for each other - at least, that's what Jax and Hank told me - stealing a lad's mot is not how you get there.

I look up again a few minutes later when Denny starts to snore softly, his snores growing in volume until Hunter unceremoniously pinches his nose shut and covers his slightly parted lips with the palm of the same hand. A few seconds later, Denny swipes at her hand, sitting up to glare at her while she laughs at him.

"Why?!" he demands, giving her a sulky look.

"You were snoring again," she shrugs, grinning at him.

"I've told you just to nudge me to roll over."

"It's more fun to do it like that," she informs him, and Denny narrows his eyes, giving her a pretty intimidating look that makes her laugh even more.

"You're just going to have to suffer then," he smirks, poking her in the ribs with two fingers until she squirms noisily.

"Stop it," she complains, grabbing fists full of his hair, causing him to squeal.

"Dad!" he whines. "Talk to Hunter!"

"Hunter, I'm talking to you," Hank says, not even looking up from his book.

"How you doing, Dad?" she giggles, letting go of Denny's hair and pushing him off her. He sits up, trying to straighten his severe case of bed hair, and Hunter leans over to help him or hinder him - I'm not sure which -  but his hair ends up in his eyes and looks worse. They both laugh when Mr Smith appears from the folds of a blanket lying on a beanbag and after stretching and yawning luxuriously, launches himself at the boy's head to get at Hunter's busy fingers.

"Dad!" Denny whines again, struggling to rid himself of both the girl's teasing fingers and the cat's claws. "Talk to Hunter and Mr. Smith!"

"Seriously, it's like I'm raising twin toddlers!" Hank grumbles, grabbing a cushion from the floor near his chair and throwing it at the two on the couch, causing the cat to flee. He only runs a couple of feet away before he sits and defiantly washes himself, giving Hank accusing looks.

"What are you guys doing?" Jax asks, entering the living area with Kame and Naresh. He picks up the cat, rubbing against his legs, and strokes its head while he frowns at the people lounging around in warm luxury. Naresh walks past him, heading to the staircase, while Kame sits down on one of the many beanbags.

"Trying to nap," Denny says, frowning accusingly at Hunter, who tilts her head, looking at him as if it's the first time she sees him today.

"What about the social?" Jax asks, placing the cat on Kame's lap when his affection turns too painful. "Aren't we going?"

"Oh! Right!" Denny exclaims, jumping to his feet, all desire for a nap clearly gone now. "There's a welcoming social for the new recruits at the hostel in Snowglen! We're supposed to take Gan."

"That's okay," I say, really not in the mood for anything except lounging here watching the two toddlers on the couch mess with each other and maybe drinking more of the delicious hot chocolate I had.

"No, really, you should go," Jax tells me. "It will help you not feel so strange tomorrow when you officially join the program."

He has a point, but it's nice and warm here in the rocking chair where I'm sitting with my book. I'm a replica of Hank doing the same in the chair across from mine. He is a class mentor to me right now, and I don't want to spoil it by going out in that white stuff outside, trying its best to freeze off my delicates.

I reluctantly put my book down when Jax makes a nuisance of himself, dragging me to my feet.

"Come on!" Denny grins, stretching his body. "It's party time!"

"Den," Hank says, looking at him over the edge of his book and the boy turns to face him, smiling happily.

"It's okay. I promise I'll be bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and on time tomorrow," he assures Hank and turns to Hunter, still sitting on the couch when the rest of us are on our feet. "What are you doing? You're coming too."

"Why?" she snorts, and making a scoffing sound of his own, Denny pulls her to her feet. He will probably carry her to the party if she resists. "To introduce Gan to people. You're good at doing that.′

Hunter turns her eyes to look at me, and her smile finds her lips when she studies my face. "Fine," she sighs. "I'll do it for Galen."

"I'm starting to feel seriously hurt that you're willing to do things for Gan but not for me," Denny grumbles.

"I put ointment on your booboo," she reminds him. "And I kissed it better."

"Yeah, but only the one above my eye, the other one you just iced."

"Be glad it was only snow," Hunter tells him. She moves past him, aiming for the foyer, but Jax hurries to intercept her, blocking her way. "What are you doing?"

"You're not going dressed like that," he informs her, crossing his arms in the same way he did when he was pretending to be pulling rank in our room last night. Looking confused, Hunter runs her hands down the front of her pretty pink sweater and over her jeans.

"What's wrong with this?"

"Nothing," Jax says. "If you want to casually hang around being companionable."

"Well, then."

"Come on!" he grunts. "Xaivier is going to be there, you want him to look."

"Like hell, I do," she scoffs and a glance at Hank tells me that he is rather confused by this exchange.

"I thought you were done with him?" he says, clearly not pleased that Jax is trying to convince his daughter to dress up for some guy.

"I am," she says firmly. "Jax is just being weird."

"I'm not being weird," Jax says, putting up his hands. "We all want him to take one look at you and regret getting out of bed this morning."

"I agree," Dennis says, crossing his arms and leaning against one of the thick sleeper pillars placed at intervals around the room for extra support. "He shouldn't get out of bed in the morning because that's when he starts being annoying. Convince him not to get up."

"I don't understand this conversation at all," Hunter grunts. "Do you want me to dress up like a polar bear?"

"Yeah," Denny chuckles. "A sexy polar bear."

"You know what I mean," Jax says, putting his hands on her shoulders. "You've been hiding from socials for too long now. You need to get out there again and give him the finger by looking good enough to eat. "

"Uh, what?!" Hank says, lowering his book and dishing out dark frowns.

"She will obviously not be eaten," Jax assures him, which seems to be good enough for Hank.

"Fine, but I really don't care whether he gets out of bed and looks at me or not," Hunter huffs, turning towards the stairs. "I'll be back in a minute."

"Don't look edible, Hunny!" Hank shouts after her, making her giggle.

"One minute!" Jax hollers when the girl disappears up the stairs. 

"Yeah, yeah!" she yells back.

"60, 59, 58..."

"74, 67, 83!" Denny shouts helpfully, earning a frown from Jax.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"Shouting random numbers, like you."

"I'm counting down!"

"Oh! Well, I just jumped a few."

"You went up... 74... 83..."

"Oh, right. I went up," Denny chuckles. "Okay, then. 25!"

"That's too far down..."

While we're waiting for Hunter, and the two plonkers are trying to count backwards from 60 in the most confusingly ineffective way ever, I gather all the empty cups and take them to the kitchen to pack them in the dishwasher. While there, I clean up the debris from Hunter's Hot Chocolate creation, washing everything I cannot put in the dishwasher.

Hunter is descending the stairs when I'm done cleaning the kitchen and returning to the living area, thinking about reading some more while we wait.

"Minus 143, minus 152..." Denny is still at it with Jax gaping at him as if he's contemplating kicking him out the door.

"You're an idiot," Jax says, and then he sees my face where I got stuck in the doorway, looking at Hunter, and spins around to look at her too. Hunter falters on the bottom step when Denny whistles at her, and Jax applauds, waking Kame, who'd fallen asleep on the bean bag.

She's the most colourful, glittery goth fairy I've ever seen. Her knee-high black boots are tied with bright neon green laces, and she's wearing black tights with a colourful short skirt over it. Her cropped sweater looks like it's made of purple fluff, rounded off with a soft black scarf and a black denim jacket. She'd tied her hair into two high ponytails, using glittery elastic bands with tiny stars dangling from them. Her make-up is subtle, enhancing all her pretty features.

The overall effect is a perfect blend of sexy, cute and funny, making my heart beat faster, and I'm grinning like a muppet. She might've been the inspiration behind a few anime characters. If not, she should be.

"Now let's go make that arsehole stay in bed!" Denny cheers, and then he stops, pulling a disgusted face. "Wait! Why the hell do we want Hunter to be in bed with Xavier?"

"Not with him!" Jax grunts, pushing Denny towards the foyer. "Just keep walking before you hurt yourself!′

I smile when Hunter passes me, looking up at me almost shyly when I take the thick jacket she always wears outside from the coat rack and hand it to her. Our fingers brush when she takes it, the softness of her skin touching me in all the places of my heart that have been slumbering for a very long time.

I don't know who Xavier is and whether or not he will regret getting out of bed when he sees Hunter. All I know is that looking into her sparkling eyes, I'm very happy that I did.

~~~