The Life of a Hockey Sister

Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

Just as I start to walk into the Rink Mom and Dad come out.

"Hey, are we just hanging out here until the game?" I ask.

"That's the plan and you’re going to do your homework." Mom tells me. I moan,

"No please don't make me do it yet!" I beg. I guess I'm good at school, but I hate it! It takes way more effort than it's worth.

"Angie you act like it's difficult for you." Mom says with a sigh.

"Mom my only good class is Math!" It's true, I'm actually advanced in Math. I'm taking Algebra in 8th grade which is advanced for my school. All my other classes it's like a miracle for me to be in the high C range.

"Honey I'm not debating, you're doing your homework."

"Fine," I say going out to the car to grab my books. Mom and Dad follow me. I grab my bookbag and sling it over my shoulder.

"I'm at least going into the Rink, so I can get something good out of this." I tell them.

"Whatever, as long as it gets done." Mom says grabbing a book. I roll my eyes and go into the rink.

I got totally hammered with homework since I'm missing a day of school and also the normal homework they give on top of that. I decide to save Math for last and get to work on Social Studies. After reading my history book for about 10 minutes I'm already lost. I sigh desperately, then I see Jon coming over in a wheelchair, wheeling himself. He comes over to me,

"Looks like you’re a damsel in distress!" he jokes. I laugh,

"Yeah, save me from this homework!"

"What are you doing?" Jon asks.

"Social Studies,"

"Ah Ms. Michaels class, yeah I used to love it." Jon says looking like he's thinking back on it.

"Yeah I hate it," I say ruining his flashbacks.

"Why Ms. Michaels is so nice!"

"Yeah but the class is a nightmare." I tell him.

"Angie you're freaky smart. You're one of the top students in Algebra.” I smile a little at his compliment.

"Thanks, but that's where the gift stops. I absolutely suck at school."

"I wouldn't go that far, I would just say that nothing else comes as easy."

"Yeah okay," I say sarcastically. "So anyways how's the ankle?" I say looking at his cast.

"A little achy but nothing unbearable." All of a sudden, my phone vibrates. I have it just sitting on the table. Jon and I exchange glances and reach for it. His arms are a little longer, so he gets it.

"Who's Brian?" he asks reading the text. Okay it's not like Jon and me have one of those clingy relationships when we're together all the time. So, it amazes me how the one time I'm with him Brian texts.

"A guy I met at shinny." I say innocently.

"Should I be concerned?" he asks.

"No," I say grabbing my phone.

"Well I am." 

"I think your pain medicine is getting to your head." I tell him.

"You're probably right." Jon says dropping it, "You should so wear my number." he says glance at my sweatshirt. I laugh nervously,

"I don't own any number 19 stuff." We sit quietly for a little bit.

"So how was shinny?" he asks. I glare at him,

"Good, they were being stupid and stuck me on defense the entire time, which I hate but it was fine."

"Defense isn't that bad." Jon disagrees.

"Chill don't get all defensive." I say laughing.

"Ha-ha real funny," Jon says smiling, "So do you need homework help? I pulled straight A's and B's." he brags. 

"Be my guest!" I say scooting my chair closer, so we can share my book. Almost an hour and a half later we accomplished Social Studies and Science. I check my watch,

"Game starts in a half hour." I say putting my stuff in my bookbag. Jon starts to wheel himself to towards the doors to the rink. I sling my bookbag over my shoulder and grab the handles on his wheelchair stopping him. He glances back at me,

"Let me help you." I tell him. He smiles a little bit,

"Just until I convince Matt that crutches will work just as good." I push him into the rink. We go over to the handicap zone. I grab a seat next to him,

"So why won't let Matt let you use crutches?" I ask as he puts the brakes on his wheel-chair.

"Because he thinks it will heal faster and stronger if it's not dangling."

"Well wouldn't you rather be out there dangling instead of over here dangling?" He laughs at my pun.

"Yeah but it's going to kill me to this immobile." He's right, as long as I've known Jon he's had that self-reliant attitude. Alex runs up and stops short,

"Am I interrupting?" he asks with a sly smile. I roll my eyes,

"Really Alex? No," I tell him. Jon laughs.

"Well then can I join you guys for stats?" Alex asks.

"Sure," Jon says grabbing a clipboard. Alex waves a clipboard in front of my face,

"You helping or not?" he asks. I grab it,

"Sure, why not?" I ask looking at what I'm doing. 

I have plus-minus for line 2. Plus-minus is pretty simple, whenever your line is on the ice and they score a goal they get a point and whenever they’re on the ice and the other team scores they lose a point.

"How's your ankle Jon?" Alex asks pulling a chair up right next to mine. By the look on Jon's face he's a little too close.

"A little-"

"Angie?" I turn around and find Brian coming up and interrupting Jon.

"Hey what's up?" I ask.

"Um nothing much, my cousin's playing so I'm here to watch him." Brian says. Jon raises his eyebrows obviously confused. I ignore him,

"Oh, cool so we'll be playing you today." I say.

"Yeah, I didn't realize you were from the States." Brian says. Jon finally interrupts,

"Angie are you going to introduce us or leave us out in the cold?" he asks with a nervous laugh.

"Of course," I say blushing a little, "Brian these are my brothers’ teammates. My friend Alex and my boyfriend Jon. Alex, Jon this is Brian I met him at shinny." Brian shakes their hands,

"Nice to meet you," he says politely.

"Same here," Alex says. Jon just sits there quietly.

"So, you’re from the States?" Brian asks.

"Yeah," I say.

"I never would have guessed for as skilled you are on the ice eh?" he says smiling, "I mean no offense to you guys."

"We get what you meant," Alex assures him.

"You coming to drop-in tomorrow?" Brian asks.

"Um I don't know, I didn't even know they had it." I say.

"Yeah early actually, from 8-10:30." Brian says.

"I'll look into it." I tell him.

"Sweet," he says grinning. He looks over at Jon,

"What happened?" he asks addressing his cast.

"Oh, in our game against Villanova today my ankle got slammed up against the boards and it shattered." Jon says now forced into the conversation which he’s been quietly observing.

"Yikes, how long you in the cast?" Brian asks.

"8 weeks, I'll have to miss the first chance to play with Miss Miller here." Jon adds with a smile. Brian glances at me,

"I thought you said you only play drop-in?" Brian asks confused.

"I do for now, but I'm looking into playing on a real team." I tell him.

"Awesome," he says, "Well the game's about to start so I better run. Nice meeting you Alex, you too Jon. See ya later Ang,"

"Bye Brian," We all call. As soon as Brian's out of earshot Alex starts in,

"Ooo looks like Jon has some competition eh?" I laugh at his attempt at a Canadian accent, it's actually pretty good.

"Alex no," I tell him, "You’re being ridiculous." 

"Oh yeah cuz it wasn't like he was giving you endless compliments and checking you out." Alex says.

"Like I said you’re being ridiculous. Right Jon?" I ask looking for back up.

"Angie, Alex is right, if I didn't know better I would say he has a thing for you." Jon says. Now I feel bad like I should probably tell him Brian asked me out. He must be able to tell because his face falls,

"He asked you, out didn't he?" Jon asks.

"Um well technically um, yeah." I say. Alex starts smirking, "Shut it!" I tell Alex before he comments.

"What did he say?" Jon asks coolly.

"Chill he just asked me if I would want to catch a movie or something." I say calmly.

"And you said?" he pries.

"That I would love to!" I say sarcastically, "Really Jon? I told him I was seeing someone!" Jon sighs, "Please don't make this more difficult than it needs to be. I said no, we've only been seeing each other since yesterday. No need to get overprotective." After it came out I kind of wish I hadn't been so harsh. "I'm sorry," I say quietly, "I'm just kind of annoyed you don't trust me."

"Angie, I trust you, please don't think I don't." Jon begs.

"Let's just drop it," I say, "Besides when we get back to the States he won't be around. Why let him have any bearing?"

"Deal," Jon agrees.

"Whoa, I didn't know it was ever that simple." Alex jokes.

It isn't I start to think, I'm still way worried about how possessive Jon was acting. 

Time for thinking is over though as our team takes the ice. I sit rather quietly during the game just observing play by play. No offense to our boys but today they look rather well, sluggish. And it totally shows in the score. We lost 6-1 and it was UGLY! I hand Jon my score sheet,

"Mind turning that in for me?" I ask.

"Of course not," he says taking off his brakes. Alex is right there assisting Jon.

"I'll make sure he makes it to the hotel in one piece." Alex assures me.

"Um I'm pretty sure you're too late for that." I say laughing. Alex smiles,

"Well anyhow see ya later." Alex says. "Bye guys," I say leaving quickly.