I was getting those stares again.

Except for this time, they weren't followed by harsh whispers and pointing.

I was greeted with smiles and head nods.

A couple of people even called out a few, "Hi Cam! Hey Cameron, what's up?"

It was refreshing in a way. But I had to admit that I may or may not be bitter about the treatment they've all been giving me. Then again, I couldn't blame them. The situation couldn't be explained, and I was made out to be the bad guy.

I guessed I should be happy that I had earned everyone's forgiveness, but there was only one person whose opinion mattered over them all. And she was waiting for me at my locker with that gorgeous smile that had captivated my dreams last night.

"Hey, sunshine." I was no longer concerned about how my reputation would affect her. I felt free to show off how much this beautiful girl meant to me.

Tugging on her wrist, I pulled her to me, angling her chin up for a quick kiss.

Summer sighed, wrapping her arms around me. When we pulled apart, she said, "I want you to greet me exactly like this every morning for the rest of the year."

I sputtered with laughter, and she joined.

"I can do that." I nodded, then cupped her cheeks before giving her forehead a kiss. "I missed you," I told her, smoothing down her flyaways.

"Same," Summer replied with a grin. "Now, hurry up and grab your things. I don't want us to be late."

"Yes, ma'am." I winked.

I felt like I was in a different universe throughout the day.

The teachers greeted me with smiles, and a couple of them patted me on the back. It was strange but almost heart-warming.

At lunch, Vance joined the table, sitting across from Summer, me, and his future girlfriend, Kenny.

Ha. Future girlfriend. If I had said that out loud, I would have to run for my life.

Suho was seated across from Rosie, but he couldn't talk to anyone with his new manga in front of his face.

"Yo, Vance," I started.

"Hmmm..." He snatched up one of Kenny's fries, and she glared at his side profile. "What's up?"

"I owe you an apology."

His became blank.

"I had way more going on than anyone could have guessed, and I felt like I needed to handle it all alone. I didn't want anyone else to get dragged down with me. So I pushed everyone away. That wasn't cool, and I'm sorry. I knew you were chill about it and gave me time to come around, and I appreciated that too. I think I needed that to clear my head and focus on what really mattered." I bumped my leg into Summer's as if to say hint, hint.

Vance broke my gaze and started sniffling, wiping his dry eyes. "I'm so touched." A hand went to his heart. "I forgive you. I love you, man."

I sighed, throwing a piece of bread at him. "Stop being weird. Can we just move past all this and never bring it up again."

"Alright, fine. But admit it. You missed me."

"HA! How badly could I have missed you if I replaced you," I replied.

Vance's ego needed to come down a few pegs.

Suho snorted, and the girls couldn't stop laughing.

Vance nodded slowly. "It's like that, huh? That's fine. I'll let you have this one."

I'd only say this internally. I missed Vance's stupid face and overly cocky attitude.

After school, the coach caught me leaving class and asked me to step into his office.

Stepping through the door, I was taken back. Half the team filled the room, with Vance standing in the middle. He had his usual smirk firmly in place, and his hands were chilling in his pockets, looking like the cool guy he wished he was.

"We called a meeting. This is long overdue," Vance told me.

The coach ushered me in, and someone closed the door behind me. "The guys have something to say." He gestured to my teammates.

Vance stepped aside, taking a seat.

"We're all very sorry for how we treated you, Cam," one person said.

"It was immature and disrespectful," another person added.

"It won't happen again," someone else said.

I looked around at my teammates. "It's fine, guys. I would have done...." I paused, changing the direction of that statement. "Actually, no. I wouldn't have treated me the way you guys had. In the future, I hope you guys can make better choices."

They felt guilty enough to bow their heads. I got a chorus of yeses and will dos.

"I think there's a part of the apology that y'all forgot," Vance spoke to them.

"We are also responsible for the locker thing." Two of the guys raised their hands and then stepped forward. "It was mostly Jason's idea to prank you, but we shouldn't have gone along with it. We were wrong. We're sorry again."

I just realized out of the small group, Jason had been missing. He didn't remember seeing him at school either.

"That was completely unacceptable, and on the first day of practice...." Coach thought about his next words carefully. "I'll come up with a very special punishment for you two."

They turned to coach with their head still bowed. "Yes, coach. We're sorry."

"You better." Coach sighed, scratching his beard. "Cam, I can understand why you couldn't explain the situation. You must have had a lot on your plate, so I can't imagine the stress you've had on your shoulders. You didn't deserve that. No kid does. And from now on, if anything like that were to repeat itself, you better come to me." Coach pointed to himself. "Don't think I don't look at you as a son. You started a fundraiser for my mom's funeral freshman year, and when my sister was depressed, you asked your mom to give her a make-over free of charge. Kindness like that is rare and unique. I don't know how I could pay it back. But I want to try."

I shook my head rapidly. "I didn't do it for something in return, sir."

"Don't give me that crap, St. James. It just makes me want to help you more." He chuckled to himself. "But moving on for that." Coach leaned back in his chair. "The guys and I talked, and we still want you as the captain this year. We're not taking no for an answer. You have no choice in the matter. I will suit you up myself and throw you on the ice if I have to."

"And I," Vance raised his hand in my peripheral. "I will gladly help him."

"Of course, you would," I muttered.

"I only have your best interest at heart, bro."

"Whatever."

Vance came to wrap his arm. "I think this calls for a team hug."

I stepped back, waving my hands. This wasn't necessary. "I'm good, guys. Totally not needed."

"GRAB HIM!" One of them said, and Vance launched himself at me.

"GROUP HUG!" Vance announced as everyone huddled around me.

"Okay, okay." I laughed. "I got it, guys!"

We pulled apart after about ten seconds.

Vance squeezed my shoulder. "It's good to see you, Cam."

I looked at him strangely. "Um... I've been here the whole time."

"Maybe so. But not like how you are now. I see the old you, and it's good to have him back. And don't try that making distance crap again. We are in a committed brotherhood, and I...."

I covered my ears, wanting to tune him out. "PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF GOD. Haven't you talked my ear off enough today?" Vance was the chatterbox in this relationship.

"I have a lot to say. We need to catch up," Vance replied. If he hadn't spent lunch nagging the life out of Kenny, we could have done it then, but okay.

I shook my head.

"I think we could all use a catch-up. Pizza on me Friday night. My place. Let's do some preseason bonding. It'll be good for us, right captain?" Coach said.

All eyes fell on me.

Varsity hockey captain Cameron St. James. That had a nice ring to it.

"Right!" I nodded, and the guys all cheered.