Raegan was not someone who wanted for much. The captain of her hockey team at the most prestigious private college in the state, favored to win the league tournament and go to nationals. Her team all adored her, and were as thick as thieves, save for one. You with your merit based scholarship, who had to miss practice from time to time in order to study and keep your enrollment. In freshman year your being a lone wolf was less noticeable as all the newbies were finding their place on the team, but now, as a senior, you were easily the black sheep amidst the flock.

As it neared graduation, your presence at practice had become scarce. That night, the moment you stepped into the locker room one of the girls let slip a loud “look who finally showed up,” which elicited a chorus of laughter. Though your expression looked unbothered, Raegan could tell you were upset. The faint pout of your lips and furrow of your brow were not lost on Raegan. She often found her gaze wandering to you during practice or games. Raegan told herself it was because she was the team captain. That she was worried that you were being left out of the team and would give the same attention to anyone else in your position. But if it were anyone else, Raegan may not have picked up on all of their subtle habits in the way she’d memorized yours.

It was a Friday night, which meant most of the girls would be in a rush to go home and get ready for their usual bar crawl after practice. As they filed out of the locker room Raegan stayed behind to clean up as part of her captain’s duties.

The room was silent besides the low hum of the rink chiller in the next room over. If Raegan didn’t know better she’d have thought she was alone. But the rip of velcro soon cut through the quiet, reaffirming your presence in the room.

“So, um- are you going out tonight?” Raegan cringed as soon as the words left her mouth. Why was she so nervous all of a sudden? The realization hit her that she actually wanted this. She wanted to be your friend. Yes, just a friend.