Chapter 2
When Scorpius got home, his heart was rushing. He really wanted to call Albus as soon as he could. It wasn’t even two am yet, the party was quite early so the team could have good night sleeps this week, since the Finals were close, and Scorpius thought Al might look like a night owl. He tried to remember if he had said so, but really, his mind was too foggy with excitement to remember. Still, he didn’t lose anything trying.
He brought his phone out of his pocket only to realize, he did not in fact, have Albus’ number.
How did this slip? How? Maybe Albus was just playing him. Maybe he didn’t give him the number purposefully, so he left very in clear how pathetic he thought the blonde boy was. He was just playing him. And James was involved. And he just went out there and exposed himself.
He took a deep breath and sat in his bed, repeating himself those were just ridiculous thoughts his mind liked to have and that everything was gonna be fine. Maybe Al just forgot to give him the number. They were pretty busy with other stuff, maybe he just thought he did but he didn’t. Okay, he calmed down.
But now he had to get the number. He enjoyed the other boy’s company a lot, and he wasn’t gonna just put everything down the waste because he was ashamed to ask for a phone number, right? Right?
He needed to ask James for the number. Great. So James was gonna be involved. Oh goddamnit.
He was seeing James tomorrow. It would be a good chance. Just. Casually ask him for his brother’s number because he got too carried away snogging him to do it himself. Casually.
Scorpius changed into his sleepwear, brushed his teeth and went to sleep. It wasn’t any use being up all night thinking about the matter. He wanted to be as reasonable as possible with this.
Practice the next day was… well, it was sort of hell. James and him didn’t really get to talk much other than in game and hockey related stuff, but Scorpius could feel James’ burning stare and his stupid eyebrow-wobbly-thingy he did whenever their eyes met and it was annoying him very much, especially considering he was then going to have to enter the fire with no shoes on, by asking James Albus’ number, confiming his suspicions. Well, long live short introverted boys, right?
For some stupid fucking reason, they were the last two in the changing room. Well, it had sort of been Scorpius’ fault. He couldn’t help but be nervous about talking to James which flunked his game a little, and the coach wanted to give him a little talk about it, which was even more embarrassing. So by the time he got to the changing room, James was carefully folding his clothes. He blushed a little bit but decided to get over the whole thing as soon as he could.
“Hey…” Scorpius said, and James smiled widely and teasingly at him.
“Hey pal. Did you have fun at the party yesterday? I didn’t see you much. Shame, since I didn’t get to tell you Albus never came down to the party in the end. Maybe those two were related? Or do you believe in coincidences?” Scorpius blushed against himself and turned around so the other boy couldn’t notice.
“Cut the crap, Potter. You are smarter than that…” James walked towards him, and placed his hand against the other boy’s pale naked shoulder.
“Hey, uhm,” he suddenly switched tones, which worried Scorpius. James was usually so bright that any subtle seriousness in his voice made the whole team aware. Maybe that was why he was such a good leader. “My brother wanted to make sure you knew he just forgot to give you his number, it wasn’t on purpose.” Scorpius suddenly felt a big relief. Even if he had learnt how to handle his mind better lately, it still felt nice to get verbal confirmation he was not in fact very lame.
“Oh that’s… That’s good. I was actually going to ask you...ask you for his number.” They both chuckled.
“I’ll send you his contact over WhatsApp. Glad you two… got along'' James said, back to his normal tone, as he wobbled his eyebrows. Scorpius chuckled soundly.
“Fuck you... But I have to admit that he was in fact quite nice to be around”
“See? Fucking told you so. Fucking told you so both. I knew you would like each other. And Albus thought I was just being ‘obnoxiously straight’ or whatever. See, I’m not only good at planning hockey techniques, I am also very good at planning Setting Ups” he winked and Scorpius laughed as he put his arm around the other boy’s shoulders.
Playing big matches always had Scorpius’ heart fluttering. But later that week, during the National Finals, he thought the fluttering might have to do with the dark haired guy with a green sweater sitting in the stands.
The trophy reminded proudly exhibited in their living room, even ten years later, making Albus and Scorpius laugh at the memory of their young love.