On Thin Ice
Part 1 - Word Count 1822
Part 2
Best Friends Brother/Forced Proximity
The pulsing bass of the music reverberated through the dimly lit club, bodies moved in rhythm on the crowded dance floor, bathed in the kaleidoscope of lights that flashed overhead.
At the center of it all stood Y/n, perched behind the sleek bar, expertly mixing drinks with a practiced hand.
Her eyes scanned the room with a cool detachment, taking in the eclectic mix of patrons who frequented the club night after night. Some were regulars, seeking refuge from the monotony of their daily lives, while others were newcomers drawn in by the promise of excitement and escape.
Among the throng of revelers, one figure stood out from the rest. Tall and confident, with a mischievous glint in his eye, was Jack Hughes, the famous hockey player whose presence seemed to command attention wherever he went. He was surrounded by his teammates, their laughter mingling with the music as they enjoyed the music.
Y/n watched them from afar, unimpressed by the spectacle they created. To her, they were just another group of entitled athletes looking for a good time.
But little did she know, Jack had already set his sights on her, intrigued by the challenge of winning over the one person in the club who seemed immune to his charms.
With a confident stride, she reaches their table and addresses the group with a professional smile. "Good evening, gentlemen. What can I get for you tonight?" she asks, her voice steady despite the loud music.
The other players eagerly place their orders, but Jack remains silent, his gaze fixed elsewhere as if she doesn't even exist. Y/n clears her throat, determined not to let his dismissive attitude get to her. Locking eyes with Jack, she holds his gaze, silently challenging him to acknowledge her presence.
After a moment, Jack finally meets her gaze, his expression guarded. Y/n holds his stare, refusing to back down. She leans in slightly, her voice dropping to a low murmur.
"Is there something I can help you with or are you just here to ignore me?" she says, her tone laced with a hint of sarcasm.
The other players begin cracking up amongst themselves, sensing the tension between Y/n and Jack. Jack's lips twitch with the hint of a smirk, intrigued by Y/n's defiance, not expecting her to address him so boldly.
"Surprise me," he finally replies, his voice low and husky.
Y/n raises an eyebrow, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. "Alright then, consider it done," she says, before turning on her heel and heading back to the bar to prepare their drinks without a second glance. Y/n could hear them laughing even from behind the bar.
She steps behind the bar, the familiar rhythm of the club pulses through the wooden counter beneath her hands. She leans in, her movements fluid and practiced as she retrieves the necessary bottles from the shelves. The scent of alcohol and sweat mingles in the air, a constant backdrop to the cacophony of sound that fills the room.
With a steady hand, Y/n pours Jack's drink, the liquid flowing smoothly into the glass as she measures out the perfect amount.
Despite the chaos of the club around her, Y/n's movements are precise and deliberate, a testament to her few years of experience behind the bar. She knows this environment like the back of her hand, and she thrives in its fast-paced energy.
As she finishes pouring the drink, she takes a moment to savor the sense of calm that washes over her. Y/n approaches the table once again, carrying the tray of drinks, she can feel the weight of Jack's gaze on her.
She sets down the shots for the other players, exchanging friendly nods and smiles with them before finally reaching Jack.
With deliberate care, Y/n places Jack's drink in front of him, her fingers brushing against his hand for the briefest of moments. She meets his eyes, holding his gaze steadily as she waits for his reaction. Jack's expression softens slightly, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features before he takes the shot glass in hand.
Their fingers brush again, this time lingering for a fraction of a second longer, sending a jolt of electricity through Y/n's veins.
"Thanks," Jack murmurs, his voice surprisingly gentle. With a simple nod, she returns to her duties behind the bar. She takes note of the two blondes leaning in close to each other, their heads bent together in whispered conversation.
They shoot furtive glances in the direction of the players' table, their giggles growing louder with each passing moment. Curiosity getting the better of her, Y/n approaches them with a quizzical smile.
"Everything alright, ladies? Need anything else?" she asks, her tone light but tinged with a hint of suspicion.
The blondes exchange a quick glance before one of them, a petite girl with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, speaks up. "Oh, we're just admiring the view," she says with a playful wink.
Y/n raises an eyebrow, her lips quirking into a half-smile. "Is that so? Well, I hear he has a thing for blondes," she replies, her voice tinged with amusement.
The girls look over at Jack, obviously trying to get his attention. This catches Jacks eye, and he quickly looks over at the two. Jack smiles a bit and then whispers something to his teammates. After he pulled away, they all began to laugh, he looked back at the drunk girls and smiles.
Y/n huffs out a laugh at the interaction before checking her watch, noting it was time to take her break. She headed straight to the more secluded area of the club, finding the lounge and plopping down on its couch. The soft hum of distant chatter fills the air, a soothing backdrop to her thoughts as she allows herself to unwind.
She takes the moment alone to relax in the quiet of the club before there’s a knock on the door frame. Y/n looks up to find Jack standing there, his grin wide and infectious as he meets her gaze. The sight of him catches her off guard, momentarily stealing her breath away.
With a playful twinkle in his eye, Jack saunters into the room with a casual confidence, closing the door behind him with a soft click. Y/n raises an eyebrow, her expression a mixture of amusement and skepticism as Jack enters the room. "Lost sweetheart?" she quips.
Jack chuckles, undeterred by her dismissive demeanor. "No, just looking for a moment to relax," he replies, his grin widening as he settles onto the couch beside her. Y/n rolls her eyes, her lips quirking into a half-smile despite herself.
"So, what's a girl like you doing in a place like this?" he asks, his tone playful as he tries to strike up a conversation.
Y/n scoffs, her eyes narrowing slightly as she sizes him up. "Working, if you must know," she replies, her tone clipped as she crosses her arms over her chest.
Jack's laughter fills the air, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "Ah, the glamorous life of a bartender," he says, his voice laced with mock sympathy. "I bet you see all kinds of interesting characters in here."
Y/n chuckles, her eyes dancing with amusement. "You have no idea," she replies, her tone light but tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "Let's just say, it's never boring."
But just as their banter begins to flow, the atmosphere in the room shifts. One of the blondes from earlier stumbles into the lounge, her presence immediately commanding attention.
She teeters unsteadily on her heels, her gaze fixed on Jack with single-minded determination. Y/n can feel the tension in the room shift, the easy rapport between her and Jack faltering in the face of this unexpected interruption.
The blonde sidles up to Jack, her movements clumsy and awkward as she tries to capture his attention. "Hey there, handsome," she slurs, her voice loud and grating in the quiet of the lounge. "Wanna dance?"
Jack's smile falters slightly at the intrusion, his eyes flickering with discomfort as he tries to navigate the situation. "Um, I'm sorry, I'm actually in the middle of something right now," he says, his voice strained as he tries to politely decline her offer.
But the blonde refuses to take no for an answer, her persistence bordering on desperation. She reaches out to touch Jack's arm, her voice growing louder as she tries to coax him into joining her on the dance floor.
Y/n can see the discomfort written plainly on his face. Without missing a beat, she leaps into action, determined to rescue him from the awkward situation. "Sorry, but Jack promised me the next dance," Y/n interjects smoothly.
Jack's eyes widen in surprise at the unexpected rescue, but he quickly recovers, shooting Y/n a grateful smile. "Yeah, sorry about that," he says, his tone apologetic as he stands up from the couch. "Duty calls, I guess."
With a quick nod to the bewildered blonde, Y/n and Jack make their escape, slipping out of the lounge without a backward glance. As they make their way through the club, Y/n can't help but chuckle at the absurdity of their excuse.
As they reach the crowded dance floor, Y/n suddenly becomes acutely aware of how close they are, the heat of Jack's presence sending a shiver down her spine. Clearing her throat awkwardly, Y/n takes a small step back, putting a safe distance between them.
"Well, that was... interesting," she says, her voice slightly strained as she tries to regain her composure. “I uhm need to get back to work.”
Jack's hand reaches out, gently catching her wrist and halting her in her tracks. She turns to face him, her gaze meeting his in the soft purple lights that cascade from above, casting a dreamlike glow over their exchange.
"Hey, before you go," Jack says, his voice smooth and confident. "I was wondering if I could get your number. You know, in case I need rescuing from any more blonde bombshells."
She quirks an eyebrow at his cheeky remark, a smirk playing at the corners of her lips. She tilts her head to the side, considering his request for a moment before responding.
"Well," she says, her tone teasing but tinged with a hint of approval. "I guess you're not gonna be my knight in shining armor after all." Jack chuckles, his smile widening at her playful jab. "I'll take that as a yes," he says, his voice tinged with relief as he reaches into his pocket for his phone.
But before he can enter her number, Y/n leans in close, her breath warm against his ear as she whispers, "It’s actually a no."
With a playful wink, she steps back, her heart pounding in her chest as she turns and walks away, leaving Jack standing there in the hallway, his mind reeling with the thrill of their encounter.
...
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