The Life of a Hockey Sister: Welcome to Canada

Chapter Two

When I get back to my room, I find Katie hooked up an amazing flat screen TV with full sound system.

"Holy cow!" I say walking in hearing the bass pounding.

"Like my going away gift?" Katie asks.

"Dude my going away gift was a one-way plane ticket, so I could get out here." I say checking everything out.

"Look at this!" she says changing the channel to a replay of the game when Chicago won the Stanley Cup.

"Dude this picture is amazing!"

"Yep," she says as she turns down the TV. "So how was dinner with Brian?"

"It was good." I say flopping onto a bean bag chair. "Did you bring these too?" I ask.

"Yep, so it was just good?"

"What should it be?" I say grabbing the remote to turn up the volume. She yanks it back,

"Uh no I don't think so, we're talking about this!" I throw my head back,

"What's there to talk about?"

"Don't you have friends back home who you do this with?"

"No?" I ask confused not understanding what she means.

"You and your friends don’t sit around and talk about cute boys? Really?” Katie asks. I roll my eyes,

“Almost all my friends are the guys I play with, and no, we do not sit around talking about cute boys.”

"Wait, you play on a boys’ team? What in the world,” Katie says looking at me like I’m crazy.

“Katie, hockey isn’t popular in the States, we don’t have separate teams just for girls.” I explain.

"You poor thing, well the good news is you’re in Canada now, so your teammates will talk to you about the important things, like the cute boys.” Katie assures me.

"I don’t want to talk about cute boys.” I say rolling my eyes.

"Too bad, now spill the details of your dinner with Brian."

"Katie," I whine.

"You got the whining part down perfectly." she compliments. "Spilllllll," she begs.

"There's nothing to spill." I say. She rolls her eyes,

"Can I watch the game now?" I ask.

"Are you kidding? It's a rerun, we both know Chicago wins." she says turning off the TV. "Grab your skates, I wanna hit the ice."

~~~

Katie and I grab our skates and she lead us across campus apparently to where the Ice Arena is. I try to pay attention realizing that I need to learn my way around campus and that I’m not always going to have Katie here to help me.

"Are we allowed to do this?" I ask as we get to the rink.

"Sure, why not?" We go in and the lights are dimmed. "Come on," she says going to the bench.

"Katie, we're going to get in trouble," I say but I still join her on the bench anyways.

"If they didn't want us in here it would have been locked." she reasons.

"I don't think that will get us off the hook."

"If you were that worried you wouldn't be lacing up your skates." she says grinning. We quickly tie our skates and jump over the boards onto the ice.

"Wow it's nice and smooth." I say gliding across.

"Yeah, I thought someone else would have came and skated today." Katie says. We start to skate around,

"Why didn't we bring sticks?" I ask.

"I don't know," Katie says.

"I got an idea." I say going to the bench and grabbing my phone.

~~~

Before we know it the door of the rink opens,

"Miller what are you thinking?" Brian asks as him, Jared, and Derek come in carrying sticks and pucks.

"Just a little 3 on 2." I say mischievously.

"We stopped what we we're doing for this?" Jared asks, "Sweet," he says putting on his skates.

"Are we going to get in trouble?" Derek asks.

"What's up with you guys and being scared about getting in trouble?" Katie asks skating around the corner.

"Whoa hello! Who are you?" Derek asks Katie.

"Katie," she answers with a smile.

"I'm Derek and that's Jared." Derek says pointing to Jared.

"You met me already." Brian adds.

"Yeah," Katie says glancing at me.

"Why did we have to bring extra sticks?" Brian asks me.

"We weren't smart enough to bring ours." I answer meekly.

"Well genius I'm right handed and you’re a lefty." Brian says.

"But I'm a lefty." Derek says handing me a stick.

"See no issue," I say grabbing it.

Okay well maybe one issue, I'll admit it I'm a shorty. I'm about 5'2 without skates on where Derek's probably 5'10. That's an 8-inch gap so his stick is a lot longer than the one I'm used to playing with.

"Ang I never realized how short you are." Brian teases.

"I'm 5'2, that's not short! You guys are just huge." I complain.

"Angie what about me? We're the same age and I'm 5'7." Katie teases.

"So, I'm shorter, who cares!" I object.

"No one, it's cute." Brian says. I shoot him a glare, and surprisingly he drops it. After we mess around for a couple hours, we remember we have to be in our dorms by 11:00.

"Come on! It's only 10:00!" I object.

"Ang we've been playing since 7:30 let's call it a night." Brian says.

"But I don't wanna!" I whine.

"Grow up, you sound like you’re 5." Katie says skating to the bench. I continue to speed skate around the rink.

"Dude you’re like a little ball of energy!" Jared says.

"Pretty much," I say, just then my skate catches on a rough spot on the ice and I fall. I just start laughing as Katie shakes her head.

"I brought you here to wear you out not make you hyper." she says.

"Are you okay?" Brian asks.

"Yeah, it's just going to leave a huge bruise." I say laying on the ice.

"If you’re okay get up." Derek says. I get up realizing how stupid I'm being. I go to the bench and take off my skates. I grab my phone, I have missed calls from Jon, Grant, and Dad. I sigh,

"Missing you already?" Brian asks glancing over my shoulder.

"Creep! Don't read over my shoulder!" I say laughing.

"Why, do you have something I shouldn't see?" Brian asks.

"Yep, totally!" I say sarcastically. Just like that he grabs my phone and jumps over the boards onto the ice. "Brian give it!" I yell putting on my shoes.

"Ooo are these texts between you and your boyfriend?" he asks.

"Brian, stop!" I say jumping over the boards heading towards him. He holds the phone over his head. "Give it now please." I say. He laughs,

"Interesting combination of words, give it now please." Derek goes up behind Brian and snatches it.

"Angie are you still seeing that one guy?" he asks.

"Yeah, why?"

"No reason." he says glancing at Brian.

"Okay well I'm leaving." Katie says leaving.

"Wait Katie! Help me get my phone back!" I beg. Katie turns back,

"Derek give her the phone." Derek hands me the phone.

"Wait Katie can I walk you back to your dorm?" Derek asks her.

"Uh sure," Katie says leaving Derek to catch up. I stuff my phone in my pocket.

"How come I can't get you guys to listen to me like that?" I ask.

"You’re more fun to tease." Jared says.

"Let's head back to the room," Brian says to Jared.

"Okay, see ya Angie."

"Bye guys!" They leave as I sling my skates over my shoulder and grab my water. I walk out of the rink and start to return all my missed calls. I call Grant first.

"Hello?" he answers

"Hey!" I say.

"Hey look who finally called back." he jokes. I honestly love my older brother, he’s like my best friend.

"Sorry I was skating." I say.

"Where?"

"Grant, Rivaux has their own private rink." I gloat.

"Ang, I'm honestly jealous."

"So, what's up? Why did you need me?"

"Just wanted to make sure you’re okay." Grant says.

"I'm fine." I assure him.

"Good,"

"So how were dry lands today? How's the team doing?" Okay so I might be playing for Rivaux now but the team in Southview will always be my boys and my team.

"Hating you for not being there today." he teases. I continued training with the boys through the summer so today was my first day to miss.

"They all knew this was coming." I say.

"We know, we just all miss you Ang." Grant says.

"I miss you too." I say.

"Good you should. Anyhow I'll let you get back to the fab life." Grant says.

"Bye Grant, love you bro."

"Love you too sis," As soon as we hang up, I call my Dad.

"Hey Angie," he says answering.

"Hey Dad,"

"Did you land fine?"

"Yeah, I'm here and settled in."

"Glad to hear it." Dad says. I can hear the smile in his voice.

"How's everything at home?" I ask.

"It's not the same without you." he says.

"Aww it can't be that bad."

"Angie, we miss you."

"I miss you guys too."

"Well I'll let you go. Love you sweetie."

"Love you too." I say hanging up.

I just arrive at the dorm, I lean up against the wall and slide down. I feel a couple tears roll down my cheeks. After talking to Grant and Dad the homesickness hits hard.

"Angie what's wrong?" I look up and find Derek. Crap, I don't want anyone to see me like this. I wipe the tears away fast,

"Nothing,"

"Then why are you out here instead of inside?"

"I um didn't want to go back into the stuffy room yet." I lie.

"That's the biggest lie I've ever heard." he says sitting by me, "Do you want me to go get Katie?" he asks.

"No!" I say grabbing his arm. He laughs,

"Then tell me what's going on?"

"Nothing,"

"Angie, I'm not leaving until you tell me."

"Well then see ya." I say getting up.

"Oh no you don't." he says grabbing my arm and pulling me back down. "You don't get to go anywhere either until you tell me."

"Then we're going to be stuck out here all night cuz I'm not talking." I say confidently. I feel my phone vibrating, I pull it out and find Jon is calling again. "Excuse me!" I say answering. "Hey!" I say picking up.

"Hey Angel, you finally answered."

"Yeah sorry I was at the rink, didn't hear my phone."

"That's cool,"

"So how was lifting today?" I ask.

"Fine, everyone was a little slow but besides that fine."

"That's cool, hey Jon hold on a sec." I turn to Derek "It's my boyfriend so-" Derek rolls his eyes,

“Fine," he interrupts. “I’ll see you later.” He says leaving so I can return to my call.

“Hey, sorry about that, you have my undivided attention now.”

“Who was that?” Jon asks curious.

“Do you remember Derek at all? From our trip to Canada and the summer tournament?” I ask.

“Yeah, were you guys all hanging out?”

“Kinda, we all went to the rink to play some pick up and then he walked my roommate back to our dorm.” I explain.

“Wow look at you,” Jon teases, “Truly living the best life, hockey whenever you want. Is their ice arena sweet?”

“For being a private ice arena? It looks huge, I can’t believe that we have our own rink, like that still blows my mind.” I say laughing.

“You sound happy,” Jon says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.

“Better now that I’m talking to you,” I admit. We’ve gotten a lot closer and a little sappier in our relationship, I think that knowing we were going to be long distance contributed to that. “I don’t think it has fully clicked that I’m here to live now.”

“I kinda figured,” Jon admits, “Give it a few days and it’ll become real.”

“I hope not, I’m already homesick, I don’t need it to get worse.”

“Angel, if anyone can do this it’s you. It’s okay to be homesick, but just remember, we’re all here whenever you need us and we’re all cheering you on.” I smile,

“Thanks Jon, I’m so lucky to have you.”

“Nah, I’m blessed to have you. I miss you Ang,”

“I miss you too,” I say, and we just continue to talk for a while until I look at the clock. It’s 10:55, “Jon, I gotta go, room check is in 5 minutes and I don’t wanna get in trouble on my first day here.” I tell him.

“No, you don’t,” he says laughing, “Goodnight Angel, I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Goodnight Jon,”