The Hitting Zone

His dad agreed that we would try the ice bath treatment after dinner. Noah told his brothers and they all agreed that it was a good idea because I'll feel way better tomorrow. Maybe even well enough to try and do some plays with Noah. But at the sight of the twins exchanging smirks, I started to feel anxious. With good reason apparently.

After dinner, Noah's dad filled the hallway bath with cold water, then dumped two buckets of ice. Noah gave me a bathing suit to change into, which I found weird since it's a bath. I kept my T-shirt on as well, just in case.

When I walked back towards the bathroom, Noah was sitting on the sink counter so the twins could squeeze in, making me more suspicious. I put my hand in first and shivered. Soooo cold.

"No wimping out now, Jakey." Dave taunted. "Dad put so much effort in bringing up the ice, so you can't waste it."

I glanced back at them and frowned. Dave was teasing, Kyle had a phone out and pointed at me, and Noah was just swinging his legs, nonchalant about it all.

I poked Noah's leg, and then pointed at Kyle.

"He's filming your first ice bath experience." Noah grinned at me. "It's a right of passage. They filmed mine too. Dad also has recordings of theirs so it's all fair. Just grin and bear with it."

I didn't grin. I kept my frown firmly in place and even made sure the camera saw it. I went back to the tub and stepped inside, letting the water go up almost to my knees.

"Start with getting your lower body in. Then once you adjust, you can slide down to allow your upper body to soak as well." I heard Zeke say from the hallway. Great. Even he showed up for the show.

I braced myself, then quickly sat down so my whole lower body would be in the ice bath. I wasn't feeling very tight and sore in my lower half now; in fact I was hardly feeling anything.

"Jakeeee! Smile!" Kyle squatted and got close.

I took a page out of Noah's playbook and rolled my eyes. I don't think it had the same effect with all my shivering.

"Now submerge." Zeke instructed, still in the hallway. "You only have to stay in between six and eight minutes."

I nodded, not so much to him, but to encourage myself. This will help my pain. I scooted down and lowered everything but my head in the bath.

"That's about two songs." Dave laughed. "I don't know if he'll be able to last."

Noah looked at me. Then back at Dave. "I bet he lasts the whole eight minutes. On Sunday you pay for The Cages."

Dave's face twitched. "For everyone? Or just you?"

"Just for me and Jake." Noah winked at me. "It's okay if you don't want to take the bet. You did lose last time. In fact, you still owe ten laps."

"Fine. I'll bet he won't last four minutes. But you have to take the ten laps back AND pay for my cage play."

"Sure." Noah shrugged. He looked at Kyle. "You want in?"

Kyle kept his phone focused on me, still recording. "No way. This week without dessert has been the worst. Also, I feel like Jake has great odds. He's only shivering. Not crying aloud like you losers."

"Bro, you didn't even last thirty seconds." Dave shot back. He looked as I soaked in the ice bath. "It's weird that he isn't even whimpering though. Maybe he really is a robot."

"Dad told him this technique would make the pain go away. And Jake hates pain." Noah gave me a thumbs up. "He'll stick with it as long as he has to, to make the pain go away."

I nodded.

"What?!" Dave glared at Noah. "That basically means that you hustled me!"

Noah shrugged. "Prove it."

Their bickering went on the whole time as I shivered in the ice cold water. Finally, Kyle said it's been over eight minutes and I slowly stood up and stepped out of the tub.

Dave grumbled before stomping away. Noah tossed me a towel and I started to dry off.

Kyle stopped recording and started to watch the playback. "This isn't as entertaining as ours. You sure did that like a pro. Have you really never done this before?"

I snorted. Who would ever do this multiple times? I better feel back to normal tomorrow or I'm going to be severely upset with Noah.