Between the Teeth

***Between the Teeth*** is a completed work by Taylor Fitzpatrick in the You Could Make a Life universe. It features David Chapman and Jake Lourdes.

In a 2013 post with the future stories Taylor Fitzpatrick had planned then, it was referred to as "rivals."

It was originally finished on 18 May 2014, before being continued on 3 February 2015.

## Plot

David Chapman is used to being underestimated, used to working harder than everyone else for what he is. Too small for the OHL, he was passed over in the draft, eventually snapped up by the Quebec Remparts. He breaks half their records in his rookie year, saves the rest for his sophomore. Captains a U18 Team Canada to Gold. He walks into his draft as the consensus first pick, and he's earned it.

It just so happens Jake Lourdes is standing in the way.

## Narrative style and point of view

Following the usual style of the series, the story is told in third person from a single point of view, David's. However, after the story was first concluded in 2014, several short chapters from different points of views were added, gathered together in a longer part titled "and then".

## Timeline

It covers from June 2010 to January 2018.

## Coming in First Place

### Status

Published

For its publication, it was decided to turn the series into a triology.

### Coming in First Place

A Kickstarter was launched on 15 January 2019 to publish the first book under the name *Coming in First Place*. It was published on April 17, 2020.

It spans from 2010 to 2012.

#### CIFP Extras

As a Kickstarter reward for the 35 CA$ or more tiers, snippets showing different points of view to the story were written.

## Link to other stories

### you could make a life

* Dan Riley is outed and Marc Lapointe comes out during the events of ***Between the Teeth****.*
* David plays with Marc Lapointe at the Olympics.

### in taking it apart/Thrown Off the Ice

* David plays with Mike Brouwer in the Islanders, who is one of his favourite teammates.

### throw up your fists, throw out your wits

* Andreas Krause helps David find a house in Washington.

### no expectation of returns

* Jake Lourdes and Gabe Markson played together in Juniors for the London Knights and had a sexual relationship. They remain friends afterwards.
* Gabe Markson, Stephen Petersen, David Chapman and Jake Lourdes played together in the Rookie Game of the ASG in the 2010/2011 season. They also appear together in short stories set during the summer 2012.
* Oleg Kurmazov's brother, Dmitry Kurmazov, plays with Gabe Markson.
* Kiro Volkov played in a line with Stephen Petersen.

### if all is enough

* David plays with Adam Rousseau at the Olympics.
* Jake plays with Ulf Larsson for the Florida Panthers.
* Eric Rutledge, the first to call David "pretty boy", is Carson Rutledge's brother.

### Vinny gets a life

* Thomas Vincent attends the same summer camp as Jake and David in 2011.

### still always in tandem

* David signs a contract with the Washington Capitals and plays with Robbie Lombardi and Georgie Dineen.
* Jake had a thing with Georgie Dineen during development camp.

### duelling banjos

* Alexei Konstantinovich was David Chapman's idol growing up. David had a crush on him.

### Impaired Judgment (and other excuses)

* Jared Matheson has a crush on David Chapman.
* Dave Summers is the agent of Jake, David and Bryce Marcus.

### It's a setup

* Jake Lourdes played with Tate Williams in the 2018 Olympics and they are friendly, will go for drinks after games.

## References

1. ↑ *http://youcouldmakealife.tumblr.com/post/58032727172/what-made-you-start-the-whole-verse-what-other*
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/354624113/coming-in-first-place/description
3. ↑ https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1016169
4. ↑ https://archiveofourown.org/works/1168294
5. ↑ http://youcouldmakealife.tumblr.com/post/97104842921/if-there-werent-a-huge-age-gap-do-you-think
6. ↑ http://youcouldmakealife.tumblr.com/post/158798487511/jakegabe-endorphins
7. ↑ http://archiveofourown.org/works/1087071
8. ↑ http://youcouldmakealife.tumblr.com/post/122917625017/sotw-gabejake-have-dumb-ideas
9. ↑ http://youcouldmakealife.tumblr.com/post/126779251101/im-a-pens-fan-so-i-notice-when-you-mention-them
10. ↑ http://youcouldmakealife.tumblr.com/post/160179311091/retreading-ulf-and-i-cant-remember-do-we-have
11. ↑ http://youcouldmakealife.tumblr.com/post/158802043351/im-assuming-david-doesnt-know-about-gabe-and
12. ↑ http://youcouldmakealife.tumblr.com/post/153506235776/davidjake-alexei-meeting-your-idol
13. ↑ https://archiveofourown.org/works/14110122
14. ↑ https://youcouldmakealife.tumblr.com/post/637351026768445440/so-did-willy-play-on-the-same-line-as-jake-in-the