Forbidden on Ice

ISLA'S POV “oh my God! It's blood! Kieran is bleeding” I heard someone scream from the crowd “call the medics! call the medics!” his team's coach, coach James shouted as he rushed to where Kieran was “What's going on?” Everybody was whispering among themselves The first thing I saw was blood, I couldn't move, the blood was gushing out from Kieran's nose and dripping on the ice. His movement became slower and then his hockey stick fell from his hand, at that moment nobody moved, everywhere went silent, Kieran fell on his face and collapsed. “Kieran!” I shouted from where I was sitting, I wasn't supposed to. Players rushed toward him and suddenly he was covered by the crowd and my feet became heavier as I walked toward him, each breath harder to take, my heart was beating two times faster and I could barely feel my body, just then my phone buzzed “UNKNOWN NUMBER” I stopped as I saw it and opened the message “You should have listened to me, Isla” I read with shaking hands and fell to my knees as my eyes started to blur with tears “this is what happens when you choose him” another message followed I was struggling to breathe and suddenly the medical team rushed Kieran in a stroller past me, his jersey covered in blood, his face pale and was lying unconscious. I couldn't hear anything anymore, it was as if everything had gone mute and then another message came in “it's all your fault and I'm not finished yet” 9 MONTHS EARLIER I hated Kieran Shaw even before I had met him and my father made sure of that “Ahhh! Kieran Shaw” my father said for the 100th time that day as we watched the screen playing a hockey game “ that boy is dangerous” he said “Come on dad, he plays hockey not war” I said as I picked up my phone to reply a message from Beatrice “To that boy, there's no difference between hockey and war” my father said in a cold tone “daddy, I've heard this boy's name like 100 times today and at this point it'll come off as obsession or jealousy” I said as I rolled my eyes “Me? jealous? obsessed??” He began to stutter “I'm not jealous of Kieran and..” “Daddyyy you just said his name again!” I cut in “He's arrogant” “Have you had a one on one conversation with him?” “I don't need to” I looked back at the TV and this time he was celebrating with his teammates and something about that moment intrigued me “Isla?” My father called out “Sir?” “I've been calling you, you were so focused” “Me? I…” “Don't get distracted by that boy and you know it's Forbidden” “Come on dad, you're being funny right now ..me? Kieran? Daddy I've lived with you for 17 years to know better” I knew it's forbidden to date a member of the rival team and even though I'm not a hockey player the rule still applies to me mainly because my father is a coach but I didn't know that 9 months later I'd wish I listened. “Better! And more importantly not Kieran, I hate his guts” “Hate is a strong word daddy” Just then the living room door opened and my mother came in “Hii lovelies” my mother said in her usual sweet voice as she enters into the house and taking of her shoes “Hi mom” I said as I walked towards her “Hello honey” my dad said “How are you babies?” Mom asked as she hugged me “For me, I'm fine but Dad isn't” I said sarcastically to rage bait my dad and he definitely took the bait “Let me guess? Hockey? Kieran?” My mom said jokily “You guessed right” I said as I moved back to the couch “I..I” my father tried to defend himself “I know honey and I believe you” my mom said as she moved to Dad and shut him up with a kiss “I understand you baby” she said as she kissed him again. “I missed you” my dad said to her in a soft tone “Me too” mom kissed him again “Can y'all please get a room, y'all are being gross right now” I yelled from across the room *** The next morning, the rink was already loud when I arrived. As usual, players were skating across the ice and I was already used to the smell of sweat, ice and the horrible coffee my father loved I wasn't a hockey player but the rink was like my second home, I helped with schedules, equipment lists, travel arrangements and everything my father needed and even though it wasn't my favourite thing to do, I was already used to it “Isla!” I turned and it was Beatrice, she was holding two cups of coffee “hi darling” she said as she handed one to me “yayy, some good coffee not my dad's horrible shi” I said as I drank it “Speaking of dad, he's looking for you and asking about the equipment list” she said “Not again!” I groaned “You're the only one in this building capable of reading a spreadsheet” she said as she drank the coffee and looked at me “I'm surrounded by idiots, I have to do everything myself” I grumbled as we sat down on the bench “Coach Isla” Beatrice teased me “Shut up” I said jokily Just as we were laughing about it, the entrance door opened and a group of players from the rival team entered, my smile disappeared and Beatrice followed my gaze “Oh” Beatrice said as she saw him “They aren't supposed to be here right now” I said as I stood up to text my dad But then our eyes met, me and Kieran, he was walking behind his teammates, holding his helmet under one arm and his phone in the other. I've seen him quite a few times but this was the first time i paid attention to him and he looked nothing like the name my father complained about everytime, he looked normal “He's hot” I heard Beatrice whisper “Uh?” I asked “Don't” Beatrice said as she pushed my face closer to hers “Don't what?” “look at him like that” “Like how?” I frowned “Like you're interested in him” “Girl ew! And for the record? You're sounding like my dad right now, same way he sounded yesterday” “Is this a sign?” Beatrice said as she covered her hand with her mouth . “Shut up girl! I know better” But did I really know better?