Thomas Bordeleau - Tumblr Posts

you can catch me in Vegas, catch me in Tokyo

the 3 plans [thomas bordeleau]

Thomas Bordeleau x Fem!Reader

summary: thomas needs some help asking you out

w/c: 3.7k+

a/n: aaa! enjoy xo

–

Thomas was about to leave. He sat on the couch in Luke Hughes’ dorm and waited for him to return from his management class, cursing himself over and over for asking the younger hockey player to help him with his issue. 

To be fair, you weren’t the worst issue Thomas could have, but his situation, or lack of situation, with you was…an issue. Thomas would consider himself a confident guy until it came to you. He had barely spoken to you, becoming speechless whenever you were within his vicinity. He was certain he wouldn’t know what to tell you if he bumped into you on the street, despite having class together. So, yeah, it was a sizeable issue, considering he was harbouring the world’s biggest crush on you. 

Toying with the frayed knee of his jeans and chewing on his bottom lip, Thomas sat in silence. He was well aware of the invitation Luke had given him to play NHL 22 on the PS5, but he was too nervous to even think about taking up the offer. He’d rather sit, wallowing in his anxiety, than play a video game. So, yeah, maybe this issue was larger than he thought. 

“Ok, what do you want?” Luke’s voice and the slamming of the dorm door simultaneously cut through the quiet, making Thomas jump in his spot. 

Thomas, upon realising what he was about to tell Luke, turned red. He opened his mouth to say ‘never mind’ or ‘forget it’ or even your name, anything, but nothing came out. 

“Woah, bro, you good?” Luke threw his backpack onto his desk chair and tilted his head. Thomas nodded, and then shook his head, before nodding again. Luke scoffed out a laugh and held his hands out. “Okay, let’s start off with making sure that you’re breathing. You’re breathing, right?” 

Thomas put his hand on his chest, feeling the rapid rise and fall of his chest before letting out a ‘yes’. 

Luke’s eyebrows furrowed, he’d never seen Thomas like this before. “Bordy, calm down. Wait, you’re not dying, are you?” Luke’s sudden panic caused the older boy to shoot up from the couch. 

“No! No, Luke, I’m not. But I’m the most embarrassed I’ve ever been right now, so can you just stop asking me questions, please, and I’ll tell you what’s up.” 

The smirk on Luke’s face dropped when he realised how much this was affecting Thomas. Luke didn’t speak as he nodded and sat on the couch Thomas previously sat on, urging him to continue. 

Thomas glared at him.“If I hear one word out of your mouth–” 

“Yeah, I got it.”

Thomas sighed as he ran his hands over his face. “I like this girl, and–.” 

Luke’s eyes widened. “No way! You’re like this over a girl?” He exclaimed. 

Thomas clenched his jaw and tilted his head when the 6’2” boy jumped up and began shaking his shoulders. “Bro!” 

Luke’s hysterical laughter could be heard down the hallway, piquing the interest of Mark and Ethan, who smiled knowingly before they left their dorm. 

“Forget I ever told you, Hughes,” Thomas said lowly, shoving Luke’s hands off his shoulders. But before he could leave, the dorm door swung open. 

“Hughesy, what’s going on?” Mark’s voice was twinged with mischief, Ethan following close behind. Thomas wished the floor would swallow him whole. 

Luke sported a cheeky grin and, before Thomas could make his great escape, hooked his arm around the shorter boy’s neck, pulling him into a loose headlock. “Bordy likes a girl and he’s so shy about it.” 

“Y/n?” Ethan said. The other three boys in the room pause their movements; Thomas trying to escape Luke’s death grip, and Mark moving forwards to tickle him. 

“How–?” Thomas started before Ethan cut him off. 

“Don't think I don’t notice the way you practically stare at her in Finance and search for her at Yost. You’re the most un-subtle person ever, Bords.” 

Ethan knew he hit the nail on the head when Thomas turned a deep shade of pink, making the other boys whoop in laughter. 

“Bordy’s whipped!” They teased, ruffling his hair and poking him in the ribs as he attempted to leave. 

“No, don’t leave! We’ll help,” Mark called after Thomas when he walked out the door. 

Thomas stopped in the middle of the hallway. Was he really about to take girl advice from a bunch of freshmen? Did he have another choice? He knew if he told Brendan and Matty he’d get teased relentlessly and wouldn’t hear the end of it until he was 6 feet under, so who else was there? 

Groaning, Thomas spun on his heel and trudged back into Luke’s dorm. 

“Fine.” 

–

The night before, after telling the boys about his issue, Thomas was given a plan and was told to follow it. 

It was the first class of the day and Thomas held his usual black coffee in one hand and a note in his other. He rolled his eyes and shoved the scrap piece of paper Luke, Mark, and Ethan had written on in his pocket before running a hand through his hair. There’s no way he was going through with this. 

“Ready for the plan?” Ethan asked, a giggle slipping through as he shook Thomas’ arm. 

Thomas forgot he had Finance with him. “Yeah, bro. Totally.” 

Ethan smirked, adjusting his backpack strap on his shoulder. “Get ready, phase one is in motion.” 

Thomas was about to ask him what he meant but was instead rendered speechless when he spotted you disappearing through the doors to the lecture hall. 

“Come on,” Ethan pulled Thomas along, being careful not to trip them both over. Meanwhile, Thomas was running through what to say to you. His palms were sweaty and his breathing was shallow and he licked his lips nervously.  

He saw you giggling with one of your friends, someone he had yet to know the name of, but he could barely drag his eyes off you. So effortlessly gorgeous with kind eyes. Shy and reserved but he’d seen you at parties and knew that you were the opposite when you were with the right people and in the right place. He hoped he’d eventually be someone you could be yourself around. 

“Go,” Ethan’s voice brought him back to reality and before he knew it, the younger boy was shoving him in your direction. 

“Eddy–” 

“Hey, Thomas.” Your voice. 

Thomas stood straight as a board, frantically looking at Ethan behind him. Fuck, fuck, fuck. 

Thomas then focused his attention on the wall behind you, trying to remember the notes on the paper and the plan he was told to follow. The plan!

“Oh! Uh– hey, Y/n. What’s up?” He internally cringed at his attempt to talk to you.

“Not much, just freaking out over the quiz today,” You laughed, playing with your pen. Thomas’ eyes widened. 

“There’s a quiz today,” He said it more to himself as a realisation than as a question, but you nodded. 

“Yep, on topics 3-6.” 

Thomas sucked in his cheeks. How could he forget? 

“Thomas, you okay?” You asked him. Thomas exhaled and nodded, throwing his thumb over his shoulder. 

“I should probably sit.” 

You held back a laugh and nodded again, not knowing what more to say. Thomas would have slapped himself had he not been in a lecture hall with 300 other people. 

“Bye, Y/n,” He rushed, turning around and making a beeline to where Mark was sitting a few rows down. 

Mark wore a devilish smirk when Thomas plopped into the seat next to him. “So, loverboy? How did it go?” 

Thomas shook his head, flustered. “Nothing happened. We’re moving on.” 

Mark’s jaw hung open. “No, the plan says–” 

“Fuck the fucking plan, Edwards. It’s not happening. I can’t do it.” 

Ethan felt a pang of sympathy for his friend. “Bordy–” 

“Nope, I’m spending the rest of my life alone.” 

Thomas didn’t dare turn around to look back at you in fear you’d have realised his intentions and be laughing at him for his attempt at flirting with you. 

Ethan opened his mouth to try and quarrel any and all of Thomas’ anxieties, but the lecturer spoke loudly over the microphone and announced that there was, in fact, a quiz. 

Plan #1 = Fail

–

“I just don’t understand why we can’t tell the team. I feel like this is a team issue,” Mark complained. 

“This is not a team issue, Stop Sign, this is a me issue and I have come to you to help me. If I wanted their help, I would’ve asked them,” Thomas said firmly. 

Mark threw his hands up in defence and nodded, mouthing a ‘sorry.’

Luke shook his head. “I agree with Mark, we should tell them.”

“No! I’m not telling them and soon, I won’t be telling you about this anymore.”  

“But, Bordy, you know we love helping you! I’m sure they would love it too,” Ethan urged, sighing when the blonde shook his head. 

“Not happening.” 

The three boys groaned and began arguing their points with the older boy. 

“At least tell Briss, I think he deserves to know what’s going on,” Mark hinted, smiling widely when Thomas glared at him. Mark and Luke nodded along in agreement. 

He pondered on this for a while, even after he left Mark and Ethan’s dorm that night. Would telling Brendan be a good idea? Brendan was known for his big mouth, but Thomas was sure that if he told him to keep it under wraps, he would, right? 

Walking up the front porch steps of the house, Thomas decided he would tell Brendan. 

–

“You what?” Brendan’s yell made Thomas step forward and cover his best friend’s mouth. 

“Shut the fuck up,” Thomas whispered. Brendan’s hysterical giggles were high-pitched and cheeky and Thomas immediately questioned his past self's decisions. "You can't tell anyone."

Telling Brendan was a shit idea.

Thomas took his hand off Brendan’s face and rubbed his own eye with his knuckle. 

“You can’t talk to a girl because you’re scared?” Brendan provoked, covering his hand to muffle his childish laughter. “This hasn’t happened before.” 

“Thanks, dipshit, I know,” Thomas rolled his eyes before he started pacing the room. 

Brendan was usually the shit-stirrer of the friend group, but he could tell when his friend was in distress, and clearly, not being able to speak to you was turning out to be a bigger deal than he originally thought. 

“You really like her?” 

Thomas was shocked when he didn’t hear an ounce of humour in Brendan’s voice. “Yeah, bro.” 

“Okay, let’s devise a plan, then.” 

Thomas shook his head. “No, no more planning. I’ve already tried Mark’s plan.” 

“Wait, Mark knows?” Brendan was taken aback by this, placing his hand over his chest dramatically. Thomas laughed and nodded. 

“And Luke and Ethan.” 

“Wow, so much for being my best friend, Bordy,” Brendan joked, ruffling Thomas’ hair. 

“Get off me, and fine. If you want to make a plan, talk to them and I’ll see if your plan is good enough to use.” 

–

“This is a shit plan.” 

Brendan gawked. “You haven’t even read through all of it yet.” 

Thomas shook his head. “I don’t need to read all of it to know it’s shit.” 

Brendan rolled his eyes and scrunched up the piece of paper in his hand. He grumbled something as he did so and found the closest trash can to throw it into. 

“Ok, fine. Think about it this way. You’re Thomas fucking Bordeleau, okay? You’re hot and you’re great with girls, and if Y/n is the one you really want and she's as great as you say she is, then there's no doubt in my mind that she'll like you too. But bro, gonna be honest, this is sad to watch.” 

“Shut the hell up,” Thomas mumbled, a smile gracing his cheeks. But nonetheless, he cocked his head in contemplation and with a surge of confidence, he was off. Brendan’s words were next to hopeless, but he was right about one thing. 

Thomas really wanted you. 

You sat in the coffee shop on the edge of campus like you did every Thursday afternoon, except this time, you’d be getting a visit from Thomas. 

You hadn’t expected him to stumble towards you in class last Monday morning, but you were glad he did. You’d been wanting to talk to him since the first time you saw him and you counted your lucky stars that he initiated the first conversation before you had to. Although calling it a conversation would be an overstatement, it was a few words at best. Nonetheless, since last Monday, you’d been looking for him more than you usually did. 

But, sitting in the coffee shop like you did most weeks, you didn’t expect him to put up a chair beside you. In fact, you would've never anticipated the hard set of his jaw with the contrast of his nervous eyes, but you weren’t complaining. 

“Hey, Y/n,” Thomas greeted, his hands laced together on the table. The corner of your lip drew upwards at the sudden company.

“Hi, Bordy,” You replied sweetly. You didn’t miss the way his cheeks tinted pink at the way you used his nickname. It was cute when you said it. 

“Uh– I was just wondering if you..” He trailed off and you tilted your head, urging him to continue. “If you, uh, had the notes for class last week? After the quiz?” He said in a rush. Your shoulders visibly slumped at the mention of class but nodded alas. 

“Yeah, I can email them over to you, or text, whichever is easier,” You smiled, however, Thomas noticed it didn’t reach your eyes like it normally did. 

“You can text them to me, that would be best. Here, let me give you my number,” Thomas grinned and you felt a spark in your chest. He had the prettiest smile. 

You passed him your unlocked phone and watched as he typed in his phone number. 

“There you go,” He slides your phone across the table. “Thank you.” 

You locked your phone without checking the screen beforehand and nodded. “It’s no problem, Thomas, I’ll have them to you by tonight.” 

Thomas beamed and pulled his bottom lip between his teeth to stop smiling. “See you next week at the game?” 

You drew in a sharp breath. “Yes! I’ll be there. Starts at 7 pm, right?” 

He nodded and stood from the chair. “On the dot. See you there.” 

You stared out the window with warm cheeks as he left. Scrambling to pick up your phone, you open it to see Thomas’ contact. 

Bordy :)

Your heartbeat increased when you saw the photo of his face on the contact. He must’ve taken it while you were clicking around on your laptop to locate the class notes. 

Oh yeah, this was going to be an issue.

Plan #2 = Success

–

You had texted Thomas later that night with the notes from class attached. He swore he stopped breathing for a moment when he saw the unknown number pop up on his phone screen. 

“What’s up, Bords?” Kent asked when he saw his friend in a state of shock. 

Thomas whipped his head towards him. “Oh, sorry, nothing.” 

Owen squinted at Thomas from behind his glasses, a small smirk growing on his lips. 

“You need new glasses or something, OP?” Thomas snapped. The boys around him started whooping and shaking his shoulders when they heard his attitude. “Get off me.” 

“Love troubles, Bordy?” Matty joked, complaining when Brendan pinched his bicep but then his eyebrows flew up when he realised he was right. “Who is she?” 

Luke, Mark, Ethan, and Brendan sat in silence whilst the boys prodded Thomas for answers. He was becoming more snappy than before so they knew they’d hit a soft spot. 

However, Nick noticed that the 4 most talkative weren’t talking. “You know,” He threw an accusatory finger at the boys. The team went silent as they watched the interaction. 

“We know nothing, Blanky Boo,” Brendan said, shrugging his shoulders. 

But, then he winked. 

Fucking Brendan.

The room went loud with shouting and laughter and Thomas knew he’d have to tell them eventually. 

“Fine! Calm the fuck down and listen because I’m only telling you once.” 

Matty laid back on the couch with a shit-eating grin on his face alongside Dylan, Nolan, and Johnny, while the other boys sat on the floor. Thomas stood in front of them all, wringing his fingers. 

“Today, Bordeleau,” Mackie teased when Thomas took a second too long, earning him and the other boys who snickered a glare. 

“Okay, her name is Y/n and she’s in my Finance class, okay? I’ve tried talking to her, too many fucking times, and I’m hopeless. So there, are you happy now?” 

Uproar. 

Thomas had boys shaking his shoulders with words of encouragement while others laughed and teased him for his crush. 

“You should give her your jersey for next week's game!” Kent suggested. 

The boys fell quiet, pondering the idea before they started collectively rushing around in search of a maize and blue Bordeleau jersey. Thomas was stuck in a whirlwind of things to say, things not to say, ways of giving you the jersey, how to text you, how not to. It was an overload of information, but Thomas was sure he had a method of getting the jersey to you. 

–

Over the course of the next week, Thomas and you had been texting non-stop. A random text from you on Friday night about which diner in town was the best for ice cream sundaes had sparked a debate over what flavour ice cream sundae was the best. He then messaged you a photo of a dog he saw on his morning run on Sunday.

Despite not seeing each other until Friday due to busy schedules, Thomas felt like he had known you forever. You agreed and disagreed on the same things except for the ice cream sundae dilemma.

“Good luck buddy,” Matty clamped a hand on Thomas’ shoulder before he left for the rink. Thomas nodded and continued to when the boys stood in a single file line to tell him encouraging words as they left the house. 

“This is a big moment in the development of your relationship, okay? Don’t mess it up,” Mackie said, handing Thomas the jersey. The boys had kept it safe overnight for a reason unknown to Thomas, but regardless, it was in pristine condition and smelt like fabric softener. 

"Don't worry bro, I got it."

–

“Don’t fuck this up or all of our hard work would've been for nothing,” Brendan mumbled in Thomas’ ear 3 hours before the game. Both of them were already in their game day suits, Thomas with his black coffee and Brendan with his new pair of glasses. 

"Thanks for the words of encouragement, buddy."

Thomas had texted you half an hour prior to meet him at the coffee shop, hoping that you would be able to make it. You had responded immediately, accepting. Oh, how his skin tingled and the nauseous feeling in his stomach settled at the sight of the little ‘x’ at the end of the message. 

Maybe this plan was the best one yet. 

Brendan left Thomas alone at the coffee shop to make his way down to Yost, saluting him as he walked off. Thomas shook his head and rolled his lips between his teeth. It was now or never. 

“Thomas!” You called from across the grass, waving at him. He swore the smile on his face couldn’t get any bigger, but when it came to you, he didn’t know what was possible. 

“Hey, how are you?” He asked, a grin playing on his lips. You laughed until you stopped in front of him. 

“I’m great now. Are you excited for the game?” You questioned, lacing your fingers in front of your body. 

Thomas nodded before he realised why he asked you to meet. “I, uh, actually wanted to ask if you wanted to wear my jersey tonight, to the game? It’s totally fine if you don’t want to, but I just thought I’d ask anyway–”

“Of course, I’d love to,” You said shyly. Thomas sighed in relief as he passed you the maize material. 

You giggled as you unravelled the jersey, admiring the ‘34/Bordeleau’ on the back. Your heart leapt in your chest and your stomach was full of butterflies. You let out a little noise of happiness and peered at Thomas. 

He watched you with such adoration, it shocked you at first, but then the feeling of his eyes looking at you so intensely was something you wanted for the rest of your life. 

“I–”

“God, you don’t know what you do to me,” Thomas blurted. He’d never felt so vulnerable and embarrassed, but those lovely eyes of yours assured him that whatever he was feeling was okay. “Sorry.” 

Your eyebrows flew to your hairline. You weren’t expecting that. “Don’t be sorry, Thomas,” You said softly, your voice void of any indication you were making fun of him. “The feeling’s mutual. I was actually going to tell you that I can't stop thinking about you before you interrupted me.”

“Really?” He laughed in disbelief--never in his life did he think he'd meet someone like you who'd want him back. Brendan was right.

You nodded, playing with the collar of the Bordeleau jersey in your arms. You smiled and felt your cheeks get warm. “Now, go. I don’t want to get in trouble for keeping you from warm-ups, you’ve got a game to win.” 

Thomas brought his fist up to his ear before he pointed at you and he stepped backwards. “I’ll look for you in the stands, okay?” 

You giggled and nodded. “Score a goal for me, Bordy.”

“Absolutely. And maybe I'll buy you an ice cream sundae after the game.”

You gasped and your smile grew impossibly larger, your cheeks hurting from grinning and the cold.

"Chocolate and banana?" You call after him.

"You bet! I'll even get you extra M&Ms."

And once he was a fair distance away, you spun around, screwed your eyes shut and laughed in excitement.  

Plan #3 = The Winner