Number Eleven

Chapter 6.

Oakley POV

The locker room is buzzing. It's our first game of the season against the Kelowna Wolves, and although I've never played against them, it's common knowledge they are our biggest rival.

This game comes with a lot of pressure. I need to show not only our team but also the opposing team that I'm a better hockey player than they already think I am. I might be missing the C, but I don't need one to show that I can lead this team.

As I finish putting on all of my gear and tie the last knot in my skates, I see coach walk in and yell for everyone's attention.

"We all know tonight is big. We need to show those guys that we're coming out hot this season. Got it? We might have lost our captain this offseason, but that doesn't mean we can act as if we don't have one. We have the #1 goal scorer in the BCHL. We know that, and they know that. Lowry and Brown, keep Oakley clear. They're going to be on him all night. Stay focused, and keep it clean. They like to bait us. We know this, so don't let them. Beat them on the scoreboard, not in the penalty box. Now go kick some Wolf ass."

The team erupts in a fit of hollers and I catch the smug grin Matt shoots at me through the crowd as we head out of the dressing room and towards the ice. 

"You good, buddy?" he asks, bumping my shoulder with his glove. 

"Good as ever. You? We need you on your A-game tonight." 

"Don't worry about me," he replies, smirking confidently as he drops to his spot behind me. 

There is nothing that can hype you more than skating out onto the ice and hearing your name and number being called out into the arena. It's one of those surreal moments where you want to take a minute to just stand and soak it all in. It's now that you realize all your hard work was worth it. 

That everything was worth it. 

As I finish my final warm-up lap, I see Ava sitting in the front row, her lips spread into a wide grin as her eyes follow my movements closely.

Having a beautiful girl smiling at you in the stands while sporting your team's jersey, that's the s**t that I live for. I send her a flashy wink and bump my shoulder against the glass as I skate by her, that damn smile branded in my mind as I head for the centreline. 

I get in position to take the first faceoff of the game and look over at the two wingers beside me, number sixteen and number three, and give them both a head nod. The ref shoots us a smirk before dropping the puck in front of me. My blood pumps heavily as I grab it with my stick and take off. 

~~~

With thirteen minutes left in the final period, we're tied with three points each. Our team is exhausted from being on the power kill the majority of the game, courtesy of our hot-headed defensemen not being able to take an ounce of smack talk from the opposing team. 

It also doesn't help that I've spent the majority of my remaining energy maneuvering around their killer blueliners while slapping pucks at their goalie whenever I have a chance; only for just two of them to slip past the f*****g brick wall of a guy. 

My helmet knocks against the boards as I'm hit by a defenseman, a low growl escaping my lips as I regain my balance, shaking off the ache in my shoulder and sending a harsh glare at my missing cover man. 

"f**k sake, Braden," I growl under my breath. 

I see Matt in front of me as he stops the puck behind his net and gets ready to pass it off. I slap my stick against the ice, sending him the signal as I do a lap around him and start skating back towards our zone. He passes it off to me swiftly before the other center reaches him, and as soon as I hear it clap against the blade of my stick, I'm pushing off my skates. 

As soon as I make it a few feet ahead, I have a Wolves defenseman heading straight in my direction. Luckily though, this time Braden decides to do his job and watch my back by throwing his body against the player, hard. 

I skate past the pair and before I run into the second defensemen, I'm spinning my body 180 degrees and moving around him.  As I continue pushing forward, I sneak a quick look behind me and see Braden lose his edge on his player. It's now or never.

I wind up and slap the puck hard, sending it five-hole.

The red lamp goes off and I'm immediately tackled by the players on the ice in a fit of hugs and punches.  After a few pats on the back, I head back to the bench, swinging my leg over the boards and sitting down beside Adam. I spot Ava and Morgan screaming and standing in their seats, each with a big white sign in hand. My face breaks out into a giant grin as I read Ava's sign.

Get That Touchdown Jeff.

~~~

Once I'm showered and dressed back in my suit, I say my goodbyes and leave the dressing room with the hopes of getting out of the arena as fast as I can.

Unfortunately, I don't make it very far. 

I'm stopped by a crowd of underdressed puck bunnies waiting by the locker room for their next victim, which apparently and unluckily, turns out to be me.

"Hey, Oakley! You did amazing tonight, are you going to the after-party?" I hear a nasally voice ask. The culprit, a pencil-thin blonde looking like she just waltzed out of a strip club. I think her name is Amanda? I'm not sure.

"Don't waste my time asking questions you already know the answer to, Amanda," I snap.

She moves out of the group and starts stalking towards me, swinging her hips side to side in a sad attempt to look sexy. On a real note, how is she not freezing to death? It's not even slightly warm in the Arena. If only Andre were here, I could have easily handed her off to him and fled.

"Oh baby, I knew you remembered me." The flirty remark makes my skin crawl, and I'm suddenly regretting using a name at all. I'm sure bunny would have sufficed. 

I roll my eyes, ready to reply with yet another one of my sarcastic remarks when I feel a small arm wrap itself around my side.  I feel my body uncoil itself as I breathe in the intoxicating smell that I remember belongs to a very special girl.  

"Hey, babe you ready to go? Everyone's waiting," Ava asks, looking up at me with her big green doe eyes while running her fingers up and down my chest, causing a shiver to shake through me. 

My mind blanks on whether I should whisper a simple thank you or push her against the wall and thank her with my mouth when I see the Paris Hilton wannabe standing with her fists clenched tightly at her sides. 

If looks could kill, Ava would be six feet under right now.

"Yep good to go. I guess I'll see you ladies, later. Have a good night." I grab Ava's hand and drag her as far away from them as possible, not failing to notice the icy daggers being shot into her back as I do so.

It's still surprising to me how they never seem to get that my answer will be the same every single time they bombard me out here. No thanks. 

"Thank you. You have no idea how uncomfortable they make me." 

It's true, not even in my most desperate hours have I ever sought the attention of one of those girls. 

"No worries. I figured you probably got swarmed. Being the first star of the night and all." She nudges me with her arm and lets out an airy chuckle as we exit the doors of the arena.

"I had a reason to be good tonight. I loved the sign, by the way." Sending her a wink, I take notice of the adorable blush taking over her cheeks and grin to myself as we begin our trek across the parking lot.

"Hurry up, Ava, We gotta get ready!" Morgan yells from inside her Jeep.

"I'll see you in a couple of hours, Mr. Hockey God; don't miss me too much." Ava sends me a teasing smile before hopping in the passenger side as I jump in my own seat in Matt's car.

"Morgan told me to warn you not to f**k up tonight." 

Can't say I didn't see that one coming from a mile away, I would expect nothing less from her.

"She doesn't have to worry man, there's no way in hell I am f*****g up tonight." And I mean it. Ava Layton prepare to be wooed.