#m. warren

[goalcaufield]

their first time playing against each other.

[goalcaufield]

Hi um could you maybe write something where it’s like the night before the draft and all the ntdp boys are hanging out and they’re all having a good time until they realize that’s the last time they’ll all be together and they all hug it out and there are tears and they just love each other so much. Someone is definitely sobbing in the corner while the others are trying to make them feel better without crying themselves. Idk man boys crying and showing emotions is just so wholesome

“you remember that one time we all snuck out of the hotel to grab ice cream?” jack asks, his eyes lifting from the fire to look at his former teammates. a smile creeps up onto the first overall’s face.

“oh god,” cole laughs. “which time? we’ve done it at least five times!” the boys around the fire all chorus back with ‘yeahs’ and a few fits of laughter and the memory.

“i dunno man, we got caught pretty much every time,” trevor leans back in his chair, eyes sparkling with amusement. he was always the one with the mischievous plans, wanting to do crazy things while they were away.

“but it was totally worth it,” matthew pipes up, and the boys all agree with him. “hey knighter, you can’t agree with me. you never got ice cream with us!”

the goalie lets out a bellowing laugh, knowing his teammate is right. “but it was always funny accompanying you all. linds would always be paranoid coach would find out.”

“and he always did,” owen grumbles, poking his marshmallow stick into the fire to move some of the logs. “and we always had to do extra laps because of it. so can you blame me?”

“but it was worth it!” jack laughs. “there’s nothing better than a midnight ice cream run when no one can sleep.”

“and all the times we stayed up playing fortnite,” marshall says, causing a few of the boys to roll their eyes and groan.

“god, so many days running on only two hours of sleep,” trevor shakes his head, but he still smiles at the awful memory.

that’s what most of the night is. all the boys reliving their memories from the past two seasons, because it was all finally coming to a close. they might not be brothers by blood, but they sure as hell are all brothers by heart. and that’s what truly makes a family; the bond you have.

“fuck, i’m gonna miss you guys,” alex’s voice cracks as he speaks, his eyes roaming around the group of boys that had grown to become his brothers. because this time tomorrow they would all be in their hometowns prepping for their upcoming draft.

“it’s been a hell of a year with you, turcs,” jack says, smiling sadly at his former roommate. “i can’t believe we’re all leaving.” the tears begin to well up in jack’s eyes, but he’s quick to blink them away.

“and the next time most of us play together it’ll be against one another,” spencer speaks up from his lawn chair.

“yeah, and i’ll be sniping on you from the blue line,” trevor jokes with his long-time best friend, and he slaps spencer’s arm. spencer rolls his eyes, a grin on his face, pushing trevor away.

“okay, okay, i think this calls for a group hug,” cole says, and all the boys oblige and group together for a huge hug. “one last time, boys. usa on three?”

the boys all huddle up, shouting a “one, two, three, usa!” and that’s when it all hits. it’s a brick to the face, really, the fact they’re never playing another game together. and they never won a gold medal together.

“‘m gonna miss you guys,” cole says, his eyes full of tears that are just threatening to fall. “i never thought we could’ve all had such an amazing bond, and now here i am about to bawl like a baby.”

“it’s okay,” jack says, but in reality he’s close to tears as well. “we’re all feeling the same way, i’m sure. no one expected us all to get this close.”

“i guess the next time we all see each other after the draft is the battle field,” trevor jokes.

“just remember one thing: usa hockey is do or die, boys. do or die.”