Shooting to score

shielded

Waking up early on a Monday due to having a lecture at nine, I kind of wished they were a little later, maybe at noon. Rolling out of bed I head for a shower before throwing on a pair of ripped jeans and crop top and a cap. I never really cared what I looked like as I'm not there to impress anyone just to get an education and play hockey. Reaching my first lecture off the year I take a seat at the back, I'm currently in my fourth year of sports coaching. I already have my badges I just want some education with it but I'm currently overlapping my classes and doing physiotherapy. I didn't notice how hard it was to study for two majors but I have a couple of hockey girls in them, so having study groups when we have spare time is something we set up not wanting any of us to fall behind. As the first class goes on i pull my laptop out taking notes, I have Josie next to me who doesn't seem as bothered, I'm pretty sure she copy my notes later or make me send my over via email which i don't mind doing for anyone as long as they don't copy word or word. Finishing my first lecture and my only for the day I let out a smile, for taking two majors I do have short days like today with one lecture, however tomorrow I have about three, walking across the campus I head home before hockey training in a couple of hours.

Reaching the ice rink I park my car and head to the cafe with my laptop in hand, I have a hour to waste till everyone turns up for practice and what better way to do that then get ahead on the college coursework. Everything is online which is great so i can start writing everything up and edit it as the professor talks more about it, at least then I am up to date or just in front. Walking though the cafe I take my normal booth in the corner, I know the owner Betty would bring me my normal order as I get started. Placing my laptop on the table with my books but as soon as I start I hear someone take a sit opposite me, i hate it when people do that knowing I'm not there to talk

"For someone who says there not a hockey fan they sure like to be close to the arena" I know that voice, looking up from my laptop, I see the ocean blue eyes from last night, the lad that bumped into me, no one could forget the blue eyes he has or how attractive he is, i bet he has one massive... ego. 

"I come for the food, I can't help it if it's next to the arena" I say with a smirk typing in my password for my email to only see Josie wanting my notes, and a email from our teacher wanting a six week physiotherapy session on someone, probably my brothers could help with that assignment as they are always hurting themselves when they slam into someone 

"I have to agree with you on that, What you working on?" Narrowing my eyes I close my laptop a little to look him in the eyes, I don't know if he's being nice or wanting something, I'm not looking for anything serious i hope he gets that 

"College work" is all I say as we both sit and eat in silent as I also work on setting a programme up for my brother, I'm sure they don't mind me being there physio for six weeks, it be fun and like old times. 

As I look up from my laptop I notice the man isn't sat in front of me anymore which I'm thankful for but when did he leave. I didn't even notice him go, however i wont lie and say i minded him sitting there as i actually didn't mind the company this time which is shocking as we didn't even talk much at all. Packing up my laptop and books I head to the till wanting to pay for my lunch before walking over to the arena ready for practice, pulling out my pulse Betty looks at me 

"The gentleman you was sat with paid for it, he left you his number and name on a napkin" Betty says placing it over, as I look at the napkin I found out she wasn't lying 'Jayden' not a bad name, suits him. Putting the napkin in my bag I head over the arena for practice hoping I'm not as late as I think I am. Walking inside the arena to the changing rooms everyone is getting change thank god for that, me being late for the first practice wouldn't look good. Having enough time to text Jayden I pull my phone out and the napkin 

Me: thank you for lunch but you didn't have to

Jayden: your welcome, now you know my name can I get yours? 

Me: Olivia 

Not waiting for him to reply back I throw my phone in my bag and follow everyone onto the ice hoping for a peaceful practice but it's doubtful with a game Friday evening, everyone wants to be a starter so proving to the coach your one to play is going to be fun as everyone goes full out. My parents can't make it or my brothers but i know it's harder to make my games for them all as the brothers have training and game themselves however I have Betty turning up. Skating round the ice we start doing lines, I never had a problem with them as I enjoy them apart from when your feet hurt and you just want to fall flat on your stomach and cry. Even though I love practice it kills your legs more then you would like. 

It's been a hour since we started the practice and I can definitely feel that burger I eat at the cafe, that probably wasn't a good choice on my behalf I guess but it was worth it to be honest as it was lovely as usual but I feel it coming back up slowly. As the training carries on i can see the coaches watching everyone as who's starting Friday, i just try to enjoy each practice with it being my last year.  As we spilt in two teams for a friendly game I have notice Jessica eyeing me up for some reason, I don't know what I do to her to piss her off but I reckon she wants captain like most freshman do. Shaking the idea out my head i let Demi take the centre hoping she wins it like Always, as soon as the puck drops so does Demi opponent holly, she's a little slow. Demi slides the puck to me which we start to pass along but the game starts to get a little intense as the body checks on everyone it getting harder and harder but I though it was a friendly. Picking the puck up from behind the net I release the puck to Josie only to get slammed into the backboards from behind, I definitely felt that one and I drop to the floor in a little pain, i don't have to look to know who hit me from behind, i have never really played dirty so i don't expect the team to either plus this is training so i don't see why that was needed, we all on the same team well I'm hoping we all are. If she wants the captain armband all she has to do is wait till next year as this is my last year but i guess she didn't think like that. 

"What the heck Jessica, that was a cheap shot and you know it" I hear Demi shout as she skates my way as well as well as coach, I'm aware I haven't moved yet I just needed to take a breather with it knocking the wind straight out of me, I hope she didn't break any of my rips with that check, it was uncalled for and wasn't needed

"You ok Olivia, I think it's best if you sit the rest of the training out" I nod to that as I feel my burger coming up and my body aches after that challenge, why she trying to take the captain out. Demi and Josie helps me to my feet as I slowly skate off I don't like cheap shots I rather have a clean game then be called a cheat but I know sometimes you have to take one for the team but not when we on the same team. 

Instead of sitting on the bench I head to the changing rooms getting changed and looked at my rips, where I felt the stick hit me like a sharp knife. I know there going to be a little bruise a little later but I don't think anything is broken, throwing on a pair of shorts and a oversized jumper I head back to the ice, watching the game continue. Even though I'm not longer playing i still stick around with a ice pack on my ribs watching the freshman prove themselves by playing dirty 

"Enforcer I reckon, definitely has the built for it" I say and he knows what I'm talking about, that hit on me by Jessica, she's a big girl and we need that against the stronger teams but her temper is another thing that needs checking. 

"She does but I prefer it if she didn't take my captain out" I can hear the anger in his voice, yes I'm pissed, I'm hoping she's just showing what she can do. Taking a seat I watch on waiting for the session to end, I hate being sidelined but coach is just protecting his captain but what captain would I be if I was always shielded.