It's Pucking Complicated

Rivalry and Sabotage

KNOX

My focus for the next few days is solely on lectures and assignments. Though hockey has always been my main priority, I make sure to always do my best and get good grades.

I don't know if I'll pursue hockey as a career later on, which is why I'm doing a BA.

There's always the family businesses to manage later on. My dad's close to retirement age, and my older sister just isn't cut out for that kind of thing. The future of the Mohrelian name depends on me. My parents have never made me feel that way, though. They've always supported all my decisions. If I'm happy, then they're happy.

Either way, it would suck to watch my father's life work go down the drain. In any case, a hockey career doesn't last forever, so I need to have a plan for when I retire. I'll still be young in my mid-thirties, and that's not even considering the fact that I might retire earlier because of an injury.

I need to have a backup plan, so business administration it is.

I haven't seen or heard from Isadora since the afternoon of the barbecue. We don't have the same courses, so we rarely come across each other on campus. If it weren't for the fact that I'd actively looked for her earlier on, before I made her the proposition, she would've been one of those people I never came across.

Is it strange that I find myself thinking about her occasionally? The thought will hit me out of nowhere and linger for a few seconds before I force it out of my mind.

Josh taps my shoulder and sits beside me on the bench. We're moments away from getting on the ice and Coach is already yelling about delays.

"Haven't seen you in days, man. Where've you been?"

A smile curves my lips. My elbows are on my knees as I tighten my laces. "Where I always am. In my room."

He scratches the back of his head. "Really? I thought you might be busy elsewhere."

"Like where?"

"You know. With your girlfriend. Putting on a show."

I meet his gaze. He changes the subject. "You're still coming on the camping trip, right?"

"I said I would. I still have to get my gear, though."

Josh clears his throat. "And is she...you know...coming with?"

I shift my attention to the other skate. "That's the plan."

"Oh."

I narrow my eyes at him. "Why do you keep bringing this up, man? Is there something on your mind? I'm starting to think I shouldn't have told you anything."

His face reddens. "Come on, man. It's got nothing to do with that. It's just...fuck. Never mind."

"Josh."

He looks around before inching closer to me and lowering his voice. "People have started talking, you know? News about you and the Halvick girl is spreading like wildfire all over campus."

"That was the intention, wasn't it?"

"Yeah, but are you sure you wanna see this through?"

"We're not gonna talk about this, Josh."

He scoots closer to me on the wooden bench. Some of the guys are starting to file out of the locker room. I don't see Halvick, so that can only mean he's on the ice already. "All I'm trying to say is that this could get ugly fast, Knox. To be honest, I'm kinda surprised that you're even doing this. I didn't think Justin got on your nerves so bad. If people find out..."

"They won't, not unless you tell someone. I won't, and Isadora sure as hell won't."

"You have my word. I won't say a thing. I'm just really worried about you."

"Don't be," I say, standing up. "I know what I'm doing."

Josh looks at me again and I have the impression that he wants to say something. It's just two of us now, and I've lost my patience already. "Just say what you wanna say."

He stands up, too, so we're eye to eye. "Just be careful, alright? Justin...he rubs me off the wrong way, you know what I mean? What if he tries to mess with you, too?"

I shrug. "I'll be looking forward to it. Come on, let's get out there."

Coach gives me a stern look as I step onto the ice. The cold air hits me hard like it always does. I glide out, stick in hand, and join my teammates. We’re taking laps around the rink to warm up. Josh is right behind me and lets out a curse.

“It’s as cold as a motherfucker,” he complains.

Several feet away, I see Halvick, already going at full speed. f**k, even the sight of him is enough to ruin my mood. His eyes, of course, are right on Coach, searching for approval.

I accelerate into the corner, pushing hard against the ice, and try to push him out of my mind. My body’s starting to warm up and my limbs feel a lot looser. But he and I make eye contact as we pass each other, and I see something flicker in his gaze.

Something that looks a lot like hate.

Good.

Now, we’re even.

Coach blows the whistle. “Puck control drills, ladies. Pair up!”

We inch closer to the center of the rink and split fast, setting up everything. Screwing up means we have to stay on the ice for longer and no one wants that, especially on a damn Friday.

I always pair up with Josh, but this time, someone else is standing in front of me. Hell, he practically cut in just to partner up with me.

He’s never done this before.

Coach says loudly, “Mohrelian, Halvick. You’re first. Let’s go, let’s go!”

Halvick taps his stick against mine at the cone line. His sharp gaze never leaves mine. A bad feeling stirs in my chest, but I ignore it.

“You look a little nervous there, Mohrelian.”

I ignore him.

The whistle blows and we’re off.

The coach watches us closely for mistakes as we skate, stickhandling through the cones. The turns are tight and I can feel the pressure because I can feel Halvick right beside me, catching up. My legs are f*****g burning and sweat beads on my forehead under my helmet. I push even harder, though, because I’d rather die than let him catch up to me. The puck is glued to my stick. I don’t hesitate once.

“Faster!” Coach snaps from center ice. “What the f**k do you think this is? A dance? Move, Halvick!”

We round the final cone and I hear his sharp voice beside me. “That title’s already mine, Mohrelian. You’re the only one who hasn’t accepted it yet.”

A cold smile touches my lips. “Good luck with that, Halvick.”

My response seems to enrage him even more, but I’m not looking at him anymore. I finish the drill faster than him, naturally, and make eye contact with Josh who just shakes his head at me.

“Again,” Coach barks. “And this time, no chit-chatting.”

My lungs are burning by the time the whistle blows for the final drill. Halvick is more flustered than he was earlier, but that’s only because he’s slower than everyone and overall, he’s dead weight. Sure, he’s gotten a little better at handling the puck, but he’s nowhere near captain material.

“Time for suicides. End of the goal line, everyone. Get started.”

Our sticks are all along the side of the boards now. My legs are heavy and I’m sweating like crazy. f**k, I’m relieved that this is the last drill.

Halvick is right beside me again. I try not to look at him, but I can feel his eyes on me. He positions himself and slams his shoulder into me. Coach doesn’t notice.

I roll my shoulders and settle my skates, waiting for the whistle. Ignoring him is the best thing I can do in this scenario.

It’s even worse than going back and forth with him.

The whistle blows and we explode off the line. We reach the first blue line, then skate right back to the red line as quickly as we can. Then, we skate all the way to the second blue line, and I’m so focused on what I’m doing that I don’t keep my eye on Halvick.

The edge of his skate taps mine, intentionally I should add, and it’s all it takes.

I stumble and he does the same, but he ends up crashing on the ice hard and I regain my footing. Coach blows his whistle angrily. “Mohrelian, what was that about?”

“I didn’t do anything, Coach.”

“Yeah?” he asks, skating toward me. “So, why’s he down and you’re not?”

“How am I supposed to know?”

Behind him, Halvick gets on his feet again and our eyes meet for a fraction of a second. I see a smile of satisfaction curling his lips, but it’s gone in a second.

Fucking bastard.

He did that on purpose.

“You’ll do suicides until I say otherwise.”

“Coach—”

“End of discussion, Mohrelian.”

Everyone ends up leaving before me. Coach watches me with a merciless expression as I cut through the ice so hard my legs start to shake. Usually, I don’t let this kind of thing get to me, but I’m pissed off. I didn’t see it coming.

“You need to stay calm, Mohrelian. It’s clear to see that you have something against him, but you’ve gotta remember we’re a team. You’re our captain, so act accordingly or we'll put someone more responsible in your place. Got that?”

I don’t say a word. I don’t trust myself to speak.