RIVALS ON ICE

Chapter one: Ice in My Veins

I always hated the cold. Ironic, really, considering how much of my life had been spent inside ice rinks. What with having a renowned hockey coach as a father and a star hockey player as a senior brother

I adjusted my press badge as I stepped into Langston University’s Hockey Center—my second home and personal purgatory. The place smelled like sweat, pine-scented disinfectant and of course Ice. It was Familiar. Loud. And very Male. A few players were already warming up on the ice, pucks clattering against the boards like mini-explosions. And on the other side of the rink where a group of female ice skaters I am surprised are still there and aren't chased of by the not-so-pleasant smell of male alone to talk of the overbearing noise they made.

The cat-calls begin as I move closer to the hockey players. Something I was already used to and my female parts took pride in. I might sound smug, but, I do know what I look like and wasn't ashamed of it like some people namely Assley who I f*****g hated by the way expected for some reason that I despised my own face, my own beauty.The Orlins gene of Smoking hotness, gorgeous body and beauty and of course the confidence did not pass me by and it's a thing I carry with pride and sass.

"Will you guys shut the f**k up?! That's my sister you're all ogling." I hear my brother's irritated voice from somewhere ahead of me. Amongst the lot of them "except you are looking for a good beating." he continues

I rolled my eyes and prayed to the heavens for patience and calm as I spotted my Smirking for some reason brother first—Sam, Captain of the Langston Hawks. Golden boy. Big brother. Perpetual overachiever. And a pain on my ass.

And not far from him—of course—was Tyler.

Tyler Reed. My ex of three months now. Still skating like every blade stroke might prove something to the world. Still acting like the ice belonged to him. We hadn’t spoken in months. And yet here i was, camera slung over my shoulder, storyboards half-finished, pretending the past didn’t have sharp corners.

"Sam darling don't spoil my fun" I say loudly back at him “A beautiful art on display is to be Admired and ogled." Gesturing to myself with obvious meaning while completely ignoring Tyler.

Sam rolled his eyes "What are you doing here Cassie? Last time I checked you not the one in charge of Langston's Hawks hockey season. So, darling as much as I love your sassy ass, beat it" he said pointing towards the exit.

Making sure to flutter my eyelashes at him excessively I pouted " Aww, didn't know you loved my Ass brother dear"

I say shaking said ass for the onlookers

Sam shoots me a disgusted glare " What do you want? Spit it out." he all but growls.

"Nothing really, just wanna say hi to my most favorite men in the world"

"Most favorite man you mean?"

"Nope" I say pointing towards the general area my father's office was located " My most Favorite men. Of which you are number two." I say putting up two fingers.

"And only." he says gaving me the I-know-you-up-to-something-not-Good-and-i'm-on-to-you look and I just smiled and waved him to continue whatever he was doing. Having changed my mind from Speaking to him the second I stepped into the Ice rink

What really am I doing here? I sigh. I guess I will just discuss this with the only other person I can.

I pulled out my phone, scrolling through an email from that morning.

“Cassie,

Eastbridge’s media team reached out—they want a feature piece from someone with experience and without bias covering Langston’s team. Apparently, they’re looking to boost their visibility at this year’s Frostfire Festival. It’s a risk… but it could be a very bold and worthwhile risk. Are you in?”

It was signed by Professor Adler. My journalism advisor. The one person on campus who seemed to believe I had potential and was more than my last name.

This wasn't the first time I was hearing of this proposal though. Just the other week, four Eastbridge Ranger's team members had all but cornered me at the Schools off-campus cafeteria just to ask I journaled for them. which of course was a suspicious thing to ask for, considering I was schooling at and working for their rival team Langston. So being the sensible but badass girl I was and not believe their s**t I blew them off and didn't hear from them all week till I woke up this morning with a suspiciously familiar looking email whose content got increasingly interesting the more I thought of it. And so here I was. Trying to seek my brother's counsel and already chickening out.

My thumb hovered over the reply button as I think of all the reasons I should and shouldn't consider working for the rival team that Sam and Tyler so much hated for reasons I will never understand.

I glanced back at the ice. Sam had just scored in a scrimmage drill. He grinned as players clapped. Sticks on the boards, Puffing out his chest like he had just won the seasons number one major trophy. Tyler glanced my way. Brief. Cold. Dismissive and yet still so mocking.

My jaw tightened. f*****g Asshole.

I hit "Reply."

“I’m in.”

Just like that, the first crack formed in the ice between everything I was supposed to do—and what I actually wanted.

My boots echoed against the concrete hallway as I exit the rink, adrenaline buzzing in my chest. The “send” button still glowing faintly on my phone screen. I wondered, briefly, if I'd just wrecked my relationship with half the people in my life with a single tap of my finger.

My phone buzzed again with an incoming email.

> Subject: Confirmation — Eastbridge Assignment

> “You’ll be embedded for the week of Frostfire Festival. Expect pushback. Expect brilliance. Expect the unexpected. We’re counting on you.” —Professor Adler

“Embedded,” I mutter. “Like it’s a war zone.”

Well.....all things considered, It kind of was.

The rivalry between Langston and Eastbridge went deeper than game scores. There were bruises from brawls on and off the ice, pranks that turned into near-expulsions, and the kind of tension that hummed through every festival and face-off. I hadn’t told Sam yet. Or Tyler-not that it's any of his business-but, they’d find out soon enough anyway.

I send a short message to Elise "Hey!

you up for an early morning coffee?"

She replies almost instantly "Oh just what I needed. Race you to the Cafeteria. A smile emoji. A winking emoji."

I smile widely "Heehee. You're on."

I pulled my scarf tighter against the wind slicing across campus. My camera bumped against my hip with every step—reassuring, familiar.

At Eastbridge, things would be different.

There, I wouldn’t just be Sam Orlins's little sister. I wouldn’t be Tyler Reed’s ex.

I would just be Cassie Orlins. The journalist. The observer. The storyteller.

At least… that was the plan. That's what I told myself. To bad Life just likes to mess with me, like its favorite pastime.

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