LEGACY

Chapter One

Joey's usually the chill guy. He's the kind of guy that makes sure everyone has fun at practice, feels included, and totally not the kind of guy to do this. It's just a college party, which wouldn't be so nerve wracking if he actually were in college.

Tier three junior hockey in the states is nowhere near college, even if Joey's team plays just down the road from the University. Okay, maybe just down the road is a lie. It's a good forty-five minutes with Thursday traffic, but it's close enough to head over for a party on thirsty Thursday. He usually never goes to the college frat parties, it just feels like a bad idea waiting to happen, but for some entirely stupid reason, he had let his teammates, Casper and Trevor drag him out here. They're younger than Joey. Not by much, but it's enough to feel like Joey's going to die of old age soon.

He's lost track of Casper now, who's most likely out back playing pong with some sketchy kids he shouldn't be hanging out with, and Trevor's in the kitchen daring some girl to take a shot with him.

Joey remembers being like that. Excited to be at a party and not worry about early morning practice. Now he's just sort of around. Wearing the C on his jersey gives him some sort of privilege to be able to take care of the young guys, but it also makes him feel old. Like this season might be his last.

College parties are stupid. Joey doesn't do this. It's a too small house filled with cheap beer, white claws, and the all too strong smell of weed. The living room is hardly an escape, but it's quieter than the kitchen, and less rowdy than the backyard. Joey finds his peace here, on the end of one of the couches he hopes he never sees in the daylight. He promised Casper and Trevor that he'd get them back in one place, ready for morning practice.

If Joey were stupid, he might ask the guy in the corner for a light, just something to take the edge off, but he knows he'll feel it if he does, and he's not ready to fall out of it this early in the evening. It's hardly dark out yet.

Back when Joey had first joined the Bandits, he was barely out of high school, fresh to some sort of hockey where he could live a little. The thought of going to university wasn't even a worry. Now he wonders if he's some sort of behind, worrying about how difficult it will be to find a groove once he's done with junior hockey. He doesn't even know what kind of job he'd have outside of hockey. He's lucky his dad still pays for his things.

"This seat taken?" There's a voice that startles him out of his thoughts, and a wide smile to go with it. He looks familiar in the same way most hockey players do, a half-assed mullet and shitty mustache combination they think is hot until some girl makes them shave it. His hair is dark, or so it appears to be in the dim lighting, and he looks, well, drunk. Joey's heart does a funny one-two thump in his chest, and he swallows before speaking.

"Uh, no. My friends abandoned me." Joey feels weird calling Casper and Trevor his friends. He's pretty sure he's more like an older brother to them.

"You came here with friends?" The guy asks, sitting down on the opposite end of the couch. He doesn't look like he's worried about sitting awkwardly or taking up too much space. His knee is almost touching Joey's, and the red plastic cup of what's likely some horrific mixed drink from a jug dangles loosely from his left hand. "Who invited you guys?"

Truthfully, Joey doesn't know. Trevor was the one who had told him there was a party, but he delicately left out the details of who had invited him. "I don't know," Joey admits, shrugging, "my friend Trev said I'd just need to drive him here."

"Sober cab." The guy shudders, leaning forward to place his drink on the cluttered coffee table in front of the couch. Joey can tell that he's been drinking before this, the guy's deep blue eyes shining in the dim light. He looks sweaty and happy in only a way too much alcohol will do. His cheeks are flushed when he grins at Joey. "That's the worst. Don't you wanna party a little? You can try what I've got."