The Life of a Hockey Sister

Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

Later back at the hotel we start watching The New York Philly game.  It's already in the 3rd period and New York is down. I don't even feel like watching it. Chicago won tonight, and we're have an outstanding season well so far. 

My mind drifts and I start thinking about Brian's invite to shinny. I wonder how upset Jon would be if I go. Fact is Brian's an amazing player and I want to practice with him. I decide to text Brian,

hey r u still playing shinny 2morrow? I ask. He answers almost immediately,

idk no one wants 2 get up....y do u want 2? he asks.

if anyone will be there yea I respond. After I think about I decide I should ask Dad if he'll even take me,

"Hey Dad, will you take me to shinny tomorrow morning?" I ask.

"What time?" he asks.

"8:00, I'll pay my own way." I offer.

"Deal," he says turning off the TV.

"Hey Drew do-" I stop noticing he's already asleep.

"He won't want to get up that early anyways." Dad says.

"True," I feel my phone vibrate, it's Jon.

hey Angel did u see tht we won 2night? Jon is a Chicago fan too, so that must be what he's talking about. I really wish he would drop the pet name though. I was just about to respond when a text from Brian comes in.

count me in..... c u @ 8 I put an alarm on my phone and fall asleep.

At 6:30 the next my alarm goes off. I groggily got up and go shower. After I quickly shower I go downstairs for breakfast. To my surprise I find Grant sitting alone at a table. I go get some food and sit with him.

"Hey Big Brother," 

"Oh, hey Ang," I start to eat my food and we just sit quietly, "You know your relationship with Jon has hit a snag, right?" he asks. I almost choke,

"Over what?" I ask taking a drink of my chocolate milk.

"Over some Brian guy," he says raising his eyebrows questioningly, "What's going on?" he asks.

"What's going on is I went to shinny and made a friend and now Jon is overreacting." I tell him.

"From what Jon said it sounds like your friend wants to be more than a friend." he counters.

"I swear, I should kill him." I mutter.

"Excuse me?" Grant asks.

"Yeah Brian did until I told him I was seeing someone! I swear he gives me no credit!"

"He's just worried about losing you." Grant says.

"You have got to be kidding me! He obviously is not keeping the take it slow rule in mind." I say.

"Angie you should be excited to have a guy so into you." he says.

"I'm 14 I don't know if I want a guy this into me." I admit.

"So, this would be a bad time to mention he was annoyed you didn't answer his text?" Grant asks.

"Crap," I say quietly, "I saw it I just got distracted." I say hoping to avoid a reason why.

"By what?" Grant asks. I sigh,

"Trying to get some ice time for today." I say glancing at my watch, 7:10. I still got a little bit of time. Grant's eyes get wide,

"You actually accepted his invite to shinny?" he asks.

"Really, did he say every little detail of what happened?" I ask a little annoyed.

"Of course, he did but you actually accepted?" Grant pries.

"Yeah because he's a cool friend." 

"Ang, he wants to be more than your friend" Grant says.

"Even if Brian does want to be more than friends what reason does Jon have not to trust me." I ask angry.

"Ang chill," Grant says.

"Whatever I gotta go get my stuff for shinny. By the way feel free to tell Jon where I'm going because I got nothing to hide. And if he has an issue with me bettering my game that's his problem not mine." I say picking up my plate.

"Angie I'm not interested in getting in the middle. You can tell him if you want." Grant says.

"Later," I say leaving, throwing away my stuff and going upstairs. When I get to our room I go in and find Dad getting his coat on. Everyone else is still sleeping.

"Ready?" Dad whispers.

"Yeah just let me grab my stuff." I throw on my coat and grab my phone, gear, sticks, and money. "Let's go," I tell Dad heading out the door. 

When we get to the lobby I glance over at the breakfast area and gratefully see that Grant is gone. I go out to the car and Dad pops the trunk. I open it and throw my stuff in. I go over to the passenger’s side climb in and slam the door. Dad looks at me,

"What in the world happened between the time you woke up and now?" he asks. Wow could I sound any more like a girl if I said anything about Jon.

"Nothing of importance." I say trying to brush it off. Luckily, he doesn't push. He turns on the car and goes.

"I'm dropping you off and you can do your own thing. We'll be back at 11:30 for Grant's game." Dad says.

"Okay cool," I say looking out the window. We finally get to the rink. I get out and grab my gear.

"Have fun, play safe." Dad says.

"Of course, I will." I say offering a smile. I go into the rink and walk up to the desk. It's the same guy working from last night.

"Back for shinny?" he asks.

"Yeah," I say pulling out some cash.

"Why don't you just join a team eh?" he jokes.

"It would probably be beneficial to our Bantam team." I turn around and find Brian walking up. I laugh,

"Yeah like I would manage to keep up."

"You're probably as good as our best player."

"Who's that you?" I ask.

"Yeah you're looking at the captain of Villanova's Bantam team." says the cashier. I turn to Brian,

"You're Bantam? I figured you were a Freshmen." He laughs,

"Nope, I'm only 14." 

"Same," I say with a smile.

"Um sorry to interrupt but that's 8 dollars." the cashier says, "Oh and Brian Rivaux College dropped this off for you." I hand the cashier the money and he gives me a key.

"Rivaux College eh?" Brian asks taking the envelope.

"Impressive," I tell him picking up my gear. Rivaux is a private boarding school in Canada that even I know about. They’re a very prestigious school with an outstanding hockey program. They have like a 56,000-dollar tuition. "See ya on the ice," I say heading to my locker room. 

I go and unlock my locker room and go in. I put my gear on and quickly go out onto the ice. I go and skate a couple laps then Brian comes out. He looks awfully happy.

"Take it Rivaux gave you some good news." I say skating over.

"I got a scholarship for there. Big enough that I can probably convince my parents to pay the rest." he says smiling.

"Brian that's great!" I say giving him a fist bump.

"Yeah anyhow, let's practice." he says.

We go through and do some skating and passing. Time really flew by fast. I glanced at the clock seeing it's already 9:20. There's one more thing I notice. Jon is sitting and watching us play. 

"You go to be kidding me." I mutter.

"Everything okay Ang?" Brian asks.

"Things have been better."

"Wanna talk about it?"

"Preferably no," I say grabbing a puck and ripping a shot.

"I'd hate to be the goalie blocking your shots." he says, "You're so powerful."

"Yeah right, I couldn't do anything up here." 

"You got to stop playing yourself down. You're a really good player, you don't give yourself enough credit." he says, "Sometimes that's more dangerous than overestimating yourself." I'm shocked so I just take a slapshot,

"How so?" I ask.

"If you don't address your capabilities you won't use them." he says taking a shot. I go and get the pucks,

"I see what you mean," I say passing him a puck, "You shouldn't sell yourself short either. You're an amazing player." I tell him.

"Thanks," he says passing the puck back, "But I tend not to, considering I'm using my talents on a team and you’re not when you should be." he says. I pass it and he one times it.

"Brian, I'm not that good." 

"Again, don't underestimate yourself." he says coming over and tapping my shin guards with his stick and retrieving the puck. We pass it back and forth silently.

"You know he's watching us right?" Brian asks.

"What?"

"Your boyfriend, his eyes are like burning a hole through me." I laugh,

"Ignore him he's just being stupid. We just started seeing each other Friday and I'm about to kill him for how possessive he's being." I tell him.

"Well sounds like you’re happy." he says sarcastically.

"Well this is uncharted territory for me and I'm not exactly the girliest girl." He laughs,

"Um I kind of figured that out after seeing you shoot."

"Yeah and guys tend to like someone girly." I say.

"Some, I wouldn't mind seeing a girl who has a wicked slapshot."

"You'll probably find some girl like that who plays at Rivaux" I tell him.

"Yeah, but I'm not really in the market to manage a girlfriend right now."

"Oh yeah, that explains why you asked me out yesterday." I tease. His face reddens a little,

"Oh, um yeah..."

"Hey for all it's worth if I wasn't seeing someone I would've said yes." I say.

"That's worth a lot." We stand there awkwardly,

"Um I'm tightening up a little, I'm going to go skate a couple laps." I say looking for an excuse.

"Okay, I'm gonna shoot." he says taking a puck. I take laps until my legs feel like well jello. After I'm finished I skate up to Brian and just as he's about to shoot I go up and steal the puck. He glances at me,

"It's on!" he says.

Next thing I know I'm in a huge game of keep away. I keep faking out Brian making it impossible for him to get me. Unfortunately, we've been out here for about 2 hours without a Zamboni so my skate catches in a rough part of the ice and I fall. 

He looks at me for a split-second smiling and takes the puck and goes. I quickly get up and go. I'm a fast skater but compared to Brian I move like a glacier. Eventually I catch up and lift his stick and taking the puck. I skate as fast as I can and see the Zamboni driver coming to tell us to get off so I turn and shoot. It sails into the net and I can't resist the urge to celley. Brian comes over and sprays me when he stops,

"I think we're getting kicked off." he says motioning to the guy coming over.

"Why do you think I shot it?" I ask him skating towards the door.

"Because you have a sick slapshot!" Brian says. I smile and head into my locker room.

I quickly take off my pads and quickly shower. As soon as I'm dressed and heading out of the locker room I find Brian outside again.

"Is this like our new tradition? You stand outside my locker room whenever we play shinny?" I joke.

"I figured this would be the last time I see you, for a while at least." Brian says.

"You're probably right." I agree setting down my gear while he does the same. I finally notice how tall Brian is. He's probably like a good half a foot taller than me, grant it I'm only 5'2. I crane my neck and notice Jon left. I reach up and give him a hug and he quickly returns it. After like 3 seconds I pull away.

"Thanks for coming out." I tell him while I pick up my gear.

"I wouldn't have missed it."

"You better keep in touch." I tell him.

"Of course, I will, this could have the makings of a great friendship." he says picking his gear.

"Agreed."