Forbidden on Ice

two worlds

ISLA’S POV

“Isla equipment list” my father shouted from across the rink

“I'm on it!” I shouted back as I searched my bag for my tablet with my eyes still fixed on the entrance door

“Now please” my father said

Suddenly my father notices the team walking in and he walks towards them, his face reads anger

“You're still staring at the door” Beatrice tapped my shoulder

“Girl get off my ass please” I responded in a defensive way “ I'm tryna see what's happening there and waiting for them to leave,I mean they're not supposed to be here in the first place” it came out tougher than I expected

“Uh huh” she responded, unconvinced but I didn't care

I observed my father and coach James talk but I was curious to know what was going on as I could only read their expressions which didn't look good

“There must have been a rescheduling error” I heard Coach James say as I moved closer “the rink’s shared this month. Tuesdays and Thursdays are ours till 6” he continued

“That's ridiculous” my father scoffed in a not so happy manner “since when?”

“Since the administration changed it last week” he said as he pulled out his phone “ didn't you get an email?” He asked

“I didn't get an email” my father said as he turned to look at me

“What's happening dad” I asked

“Can you imagine? He's saying the rink's theirs Tuesdays and Thursdays till 6 and talking about getting a stupid email” my dad said angrily

“This is none of my business Morgan, the rink's ours right now so please get your boys off the rink” James said as he walked out on us

“f**k!” My father said as he hit his hand against the door beside him “this is ridiculous”

“Dad you need to calm down” i took my father's phone and went through his sss and of course I found the message unread there “they actually sent an email” I said as I scanned through it with my eyes

“Let me see” my father said as he snatched the phone from me and read through it. He didn't say anything but instead walked towards James and I followed behind

“Fine, Tuesdays and Thursdays” my father said coldly

Coach James nodded once and quickly turned back to Kieran who was lacing up his skates who looked oblivious of the tension that happened moments ago. Our eyes met briefly as I turned to leave and this time I looked away quickly on purpose.

I knew today was going to be a long day as my father wouldn't stop whining about today to me or mom

***

By the time my classes started that afternoon, hockey felt like a different universe entirely,a chaotic one at that and that's why I love my business classes. No rinks, rivals, no father pacing up and down, no sweats and my father's coffee but instead spreadsheets, satisfying logic of numbers, case studies and peace

“Remember class, presentations on Thursday” my professor reminded the class “ market analysis, remember ‘real companies, real data’” she said

I had already picked my case study “a sport apparel brand” because no matter what I do, somehow I couldn't escape hockey

“You could do your presentation on Kieran's jawline” Beatrice who had somehow found herself despite hating math leaned over and said to me

“Bea?” I turned and gave her the “girl wtf look”

“I'm just saying, with the way you were staring at him as tho he was your case study” Beatrice teased

“Girl you crazy” I said as I held back my laugh the moment the professor turned to look at us and pretending to take notes

“Class is over” the professor said like 5 minutes time and walked off

“So” Beatrice said as we stepped out of the class

“Yeah?”

“There's a party this weekend”

“There always a party in Westbrook” I said as I rolled my eyes

“Noooo this one's different girl”

“That's what you said about the last and the one before that one”

“Yeah I agree but I'm serious man, this different”

“Hit me”

“Okay so this one everybody's going, emphasis on everyone” she stopped and gave me the look

At first I was confused then I caught on

“If you're about to say what I'm thinking”

“I didn't say anything specific” she said as she placed her hands on her waist

I was mute and looked straight into her eyes

“Fine. Rumor has it that some popular hockey players from the rival teams will be there” she looked at me carefully

“Ain't no way” I shut her immediately and continued walking

“Isla come on”

“No no and no, come on you should know better”

“Come on, you've been so caught up in school or hockey with your dad this some time to chill”

I thought about it and she was right, I either spend my time in school or playing assistant Coach to my dad

“It can't be that dangerous” I mumbled

“Now that's my girl” Bea said excitedly

I told myself it meant nothing, that I was simply agreeing to blow off some steam with my best friend, nothing more complicated than that.

I didn't know yet how wrong I was about to be.

That day I didn't go back home. Instead I went to me and Beatrice's house, I wasn't up to listen to my father whine about the earlier incident. I landed on the bed exhausted from the whole day and just when I was about to close my eyes my phone started ringing, it was my mom

“Hello mommy”

“Hi baby, come save me”

I laughed, I understood

“No ma'am, I already saw enough today and don't need dad to narrate and whine about it”

“Girl, he's been yapping non stop since he came back home”

“I mean how could the administration just do that?” I heard my father say at the background

“Ughh I'm sorry but you're dealing with that alone” I scoffed “maybe you should try to shut him up with a kiss” I burst out laughing

“Not funny not helping”

“i mean that was humiliating and now my boys couldn't do nothing today” I heard him say again

“Somebody who doesn't know would think ‘my boy’ is his son” I said

“You're both his son and daughter”

“I'm pretty sure if I was a boy, I wouldn't have escaped dad” I sat up “ he'd face trained me so bad I'd probably be sleeping with my jersey on” I said laughing

“Well guess you got lucky” mom said “you ate?”

“Damn! Now you asking, I don't remember eating anything apart from the coffee I had this morning” I said as I stood up

“We've talked about this multiple times”

“I know Mom, please not now”

“Fine, get something to eat”

“Yeah I'll”

Just then the thought of the party came again and I began to wonder if I've made a terrible decision