Chapter Text
Shane Hollander was remarkable. He was the best player on his highschool hockey team. He’d captained his team towards many victories. On top of that, he was also incredibly intelligent and undeniably attractive with cropped dark hair he’d inherited from his mother Yuna, big brown eyes and olive toned skin with a dusting of freckles across his nose and cheekbones.
Most people would kill to be in his position. Two supportive parents, insane athleticism and a full scholarship for university he would start tomorrow.
So why did he feel guilty for all of the love and support?
Thats what he thought about as he sat on the floor of his childhood bedroom surrounded by the last of the boxes.
That if people knew the real him they would quickly change their minds.
Shane had a secret. Something he would never tell anyone. Never say aloud. It would go away soon. He just had to ignore that twisted feeling in his stomach for a while longer.
University was his chance to make new friends and maybe even reinvent himself.
He had to define who he wanted be for the next few years of his life.
He’d been stressing about the dorm situation but his anxiety had eased when he found out the guy he would be bunking with - Hayden Pike - was also a hockey player. At least Shane wouldn’t have to worry about what to talk about.
《《 The Next Day 》》
Shane was riddled with nerves as he stepped out of his parent’s car. He took his bags out of the back and turned to face his mom, her eyes misty.
“Oh, I love you sweetie,” Yuna says.
Shane flushes, “I know, Mom. I love you too.”
“If you need anything or just want to talk, you call me or your Dad, ok?” She puts her hand on her son’s shoulder, “We’ll always pick up. Day or night.”
Shane nods knowing its easier to just go along with it.
His Dad, David rounds the side of the car. “You all set bud?” he claps Shane on the back.
He nods again and opens his mouth to reply when his phone chimes.
Hayden Pike Roommate
Let me know when you’re here roomie, doors open :)
Shane looks up at his parents and gestures with his phone.
“Haydens here.” He smiles nervously.
David immediately takes the hint and settles his hand on Yunas back. “We better get going, if we want to beat the traffic.”
A wave of panic washes over his mothers face as she’s led back towards the car. “You’re coming home this weekend, right?”
Shane lets out a chuckle and calls back, “Yes, Mom. Love you.”
Shane pulls out his phone to check the email he got a few weeks ago about his accommodation and arrives at Block B.
He stops for a moment to take in his surroundings.
The big, red brick building infront of him, where he would be living for the next while. It had smooth, stone steps leading up to a set of double doors. They were green, Shane thought it was a little ugly.
He’s pulled from his train of thought when he spots a girl with reddish-brown hair doing her best to pull an oversized suitcase up the steps. She was wearing a floral, knee length sundress and had posh looking sunglasses on.
“Hey, uh, would you like some help with that?” Shane offers nervously as he approaches her.
He awkwardly goes to shove his hands in his pockets and then realises that's dumb, he would need his hands to help her with the bag.
He's such an idiot sometimes.
She lifts her sunglasses to reveal piercing, light blue kind eyes.
“Oh my God, yes, that would be great. Thank you so much,” she gushes.
“No problem,” he replies and offers her a smile. And it really wasn't, Shane had spent most of his summer in the gym so although he could admit this girls suitcase was rather heavy he had no issue lifting it up the steps.
When he’s placed it back down she extends her hand, “I’m Rose, by the way. Rose Landry.”
Shane shakes her hand and finds himself amused by her confidant demeanour.
“I’m Shane. Hollander.”
“Well,” she grins, “it was lovely to meet you Shane Hollander.”
The way she says his name causes him to look down to hide the flush on his cheeks. He awkwardly scratches the back of his neck.
She looks up at the building and then to the bag on his back and the duffel by his feet. “I guess I’ll be seeing you around.”
“Yeah, I guess you will,” he meets here eyes and smiles.
He holds open the door for her leading into the building. He takes the elevator alone after Rose went the other direction.
He feels pride blooming in his chest and finds himself breaking into a small smile.
Had he just made his first new friend?
He gets off on the second floor and heads to room 267.
He passes a few others in the process of carrying the last 18 years of their life in just a few boxes.
He was suddenly thankful that his Dad had come up here with him last week to drop off the bulk of his stuff before everyone else arrived.
When he reaches the room the door is opened a crack but he knocks anyway.
“Shane Hollander!” Hayden cheers as he opens the door fully, “What’s up, man?”
”Nothing much” Shane replies, taking in the room, he notices the small brunette girl sitting on the edge of Haydens bed.
Hayden follows his gaze and grins, “Shane, this is Jackie. She’s my girlfriend from back home but she’s in the University outside the city.
The way he look’s at her makes Shane slightly jealous that he didn’t have anyone from high school worth bringing up.
“Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Shane.”
She just smiles in greeting and stands up, dusting off her thighs, “I might get going now and let you guys settle in,” she goes to peck Hayden on the cheek, “I’ll call you later, okay?”
His cheeks flush a light shade of pink and he wraps his arms around her, “I’ll be waiting.”
When he eventually lets her go she turns to Shane, “We were going to go out for dinner later if you want to join us?”
Shane is slightly taken aback. He doesn't really like the idea of going for dinner with two people he doesn’t know. Especially when they’re a couple.
He isn’t a very sociable guy.
He takes a deep breath, “Sure, I’d love to. Thanks.”
Jackie smiles and nods, “Perfect! Love you, Hayd!" She turns her eyes to Shane, "See you later Shane."
“Love you more!” Hayden calls back as she disappears down the hallway.
Shane began to unpack the last of his belongings then.
He’d done the most of it when he’d brought the boxes last week but he still had to tidy away all his clothes in the closet and organise his shoes neatly, toes touching the end of his bed.
On his desk, he placed a frame containing a photo of him and his parents after he’d won his first game, a trophy he got for winning the hockey finals last year and then a few books he decided to bring from home - about hockey.
“You really like hockey, huh?” Shane turns around to see Hayden smirking.
“Well, yeah. I’m hoping to go pro after I finish school.”
He didn’t usually offer up so much information about himself so soon after meeting someone but if there was one thing Shane knew, it was that he was really fucking good at hockey.
He also quite liked Hayden, they were able to potter around the room in silence without Shane feeling a knot form in his stomach or having his brain race for things to say.
《《 》》
Later that evening, the two boys ventured onto campus.
They had a stroll around and discussed their lives with each-other.
Shane learned that Hayden had played junior hockey in Drummondville and lived with his Mom, Dad and grandmother up until now. Him and Jackie had been together since their junior year of high school after she’d written an article about hockey in the school newspaper.
Shane opened up a bit in telling Hayden about how close he was with his parents, about the importance hockey holds in his life and how he was looking at University as a new fresh start.
When Hayden brought up girlfriends, Shane briefly mentioned a girl he’d kissed once at an after party. He hadn’t enjoyed it all that much but he did take her to prom afterwards. So that was something.
They make their way to the dining hall where they decided to try the food for lunch.
Shane didn't usually enjoy trying to make conversation with new people but Hayden was easy to talk to.
They had only been sitting down for maybe 10 minutes when Shane heard a small gasp.
“Shane Hollander! Hey,” it was Rose, she walked over to their table.
She had changed into grey sweatpants and a hoodie with the name of their university on it.
Her gorgeous, copper hair was pulled back with some sort of claw-shaped hair accessory Shane had never seen before. It gave him a clearer look at her rounded, pink tinged cheeks and the dimple on her left cheek as she smiled.
Rose Landry was undeniably gorgeous.
“Oh, hey. Rose, right?” he felt Hayden kick him under the table.
“Uhuh, how are you settling in? I’ve been unpacking stuff all day,” she rolls her eyes and lets out a dramatic sigh.
“Great- actually, yeah. Pretty good.” He clears his throat and gestures to the sandy-haired man sitting across from him, “This is my roommate, Hayden.”
Rose beams, “Hi, I’m Rose. Shane helped me with my bags earlier. I got stuck trying to pull it up the stairs like an idiot.” She rolls her eyes.
Hayden nodded, shooting Shane a smirk.
“So, what room are you in?” he asks the first question that comes to mind. He met her outside the dormitory block after-all. He only notices what his question may have implied when a wave of shock crosses over her face and Hayden chokes on a bite of his burger.
“Oh- oh my God. No, no, I didn’t mean- fuck. I’m not a creep, I promise. Sorry.”
Shane feels his face heat up but Rose just laughs.
“I’m in 181,” she shares anyway. “And I know you’re not a creep Shane, you're sweet. Anyway, this food looks good and I’m starving, so, I’ll see you guys later?”
“Yeah, sure,” Shane replied automatically.
After she’s walked away Hayden shakes his head and a slow grin captures his face. “Dude. You need to hit that.”
“Don’t say ‘hit that’,” Shane scrunches his nose. He was never a fan of blunt terms like that, they made him uncomfortable.
《《 》》
The walk back to their room is quiet.
Hayden tells Shane about the parties that will inevitably be thrown tomorrow night, Sunday.
The semester starts the next morning so everyone will be celebrating their last night of “freedom” as Hayden had put it.
Shane was never huge on parties because of all the loud noises and bright lights. It made him uncomfortable.
“I’m sure Rose will be there..” Hayden continues and elbows Shanes ribs playfully.
“Cool,” he nods along, not getting what his new friend is insinuating.
Hayden gives up on beating around the bush and decides to be blunt, “Look, dude, are you a virgin?”
Shane did not see that question coming at all.
He feels a deep pit in his stomach and opens his mouth to answer.
He’d tried to have sex once, after prom with that same girl, but he’d made a complete fool of himself.
It wasn't really a story he was excited to tell. It also wasn’t something he ever looked forward to trying again.
It made him feel stupid and weak.
Hayden must have seen the sickly look on Shanes face because he just shook his head and kept going, “You gotta sleep with her tomorrow night.”
“Who, Rose? What? Why?”
“Just trust me man, you can't go home alone. It won't look good for you.”
“You sure?” he asks as they reenter the B block.
Shane hadn’t even considered relationships being a part of his university experience.
He was here to play hockey and learn. Not embarrass himself by trying to have sex.
But he also didn’t want to stand out to people.
God, it was only day one and he was already stressed out.
“I mean, she’s obviously into you. It’s not like you have to date her. It can be totally casual.” Hayden shrugs.
That was easy for him to say. He’d only ever been with Jackie.
They got out of the elevator on their floor and heard a loud, heavily accented voice coming from down the hall.
They shared a curious but cautious look as they headed back to their room.
When they turned the corner they spot someone standing outside the dorm across from theirs.
He seems to be giving out to someone on his phone in… Russian?
The guy then snaps his head up as if he felt them watching him.
He shoves his phone into his pocket and turns to them.
Shane is momentarily taken aback. The young man has a head of soft, honey brown curls and deep blue eyes.
There was a mole on his cheek and his pink lips were set in a straight line. Shane had never seen anyone so striking before.
“What are you looking at?" he scoffs in heavily accented, broken english. "Never seen someone have bad day?”
Hayden frowns, “Thats our room actually,” he points to the door opposite the Russian.
“Hmm, oke.” He shrugs, all hostility gone from his voice.
He opens his own door and leans on the doorframe with his arms folded across his chest.
Shane feels nervous when the his curious gaze drifts to him.
“Hello.” The Russian says.
“Uh, Hi.”
He looks Shane up and down, making him squirm. The weight of his focus felt heavy on Shanes shoulders.
“You play hockey?”
Shane can’t hide the confusion in his voice, “I- yeah. How did you-“
He’s cut off when a hand is offered to him.
“Ilya Rozanov,” is the gruff accomplice.
Shane reached his own hand out and wraps it around Rozanov's.
“I’m Shane Hollander.”
“Nice to meet you, Hollander. Will see you on the ice.”
With that he slowly - almost intentionally - removes his hand from Shanes, his fingers lingering just long enough to make Shane panic.
He steps back into his dorm, shutting the door. Shane turns around to see Hayden staring at him.
“You’re telling me we have to play with that guy?” Hayden groans.
Shane feels a strange sensation forming in his stomach, but unlike Hayden it isn’t dread.