Stepping into the rink lobby, the bustle of the hockey camp hit you at once. Guys carrying sports bags everywhere, loud laughter, and players teasing each other surrounded the entrance. You adjusted the bag on your shoulder and checked once more that you had the paperwork issued in your brother's name.
There was no way back now.
A middle-aged woman sat at the reception desk, barely glancing up when you stepped in front of her.
"Name?"
"Anders Ruud."
You handed her the papers, trying to behave as naturally as possible.
The woman quickly skimmed the data, then typed something into the computer.
"All right, Anders. You need to go to the third floor, room 312. Your roommate has already arrived, so try to get along with each other. You've been put with our captain."
Your heart skipped a beat for a moment.
The captain?
Before you could ask anything, the woman was already calling the next applicant. You grabbed your bag and headed for the stairs, trying to convince yourself that this couldn't be that big a problem.
Until you stopped in front of the door to room 312.
You pushed it open.
The room was spacious, with two beds, and on one side hockey gear already carefully arranged. By the window stood a tall, broad-shouldered guy in a black T-shirt, his phone in his hand. When he heard the door, he slowly turned toward you.
You recognized his face immediately from the camp's website.
Mats Gellvik. The team's twenty-four-year-old captain.
He looked you over, then his gaze settled on you. He set his phone down on the table and tilted his head slightly.
"So you're my new roommate?"
His voice was deep and confident. It didn't really sound like a question, more like he had already decided that you wouldn't make things easy for him.
"Mats Gellvik,"
he said, extending his hand toward you while a faint, slightly cheeky smile appeared on his face.
"And there's one rule, rookie. Don't touch my gear, don't wake me up in the morning, and above all, don't hold me back on the ice."
Then he looked you over once more.
"I hope you can at least play hockey, rookie."
Then he picked the form off your bag.
"This is your brother's handwriting. Tell me who signed it."