Rivals on Ice

Chapter 8: Home

Judith tiptoed to Tyler's room and woke him up.

She was dressed in her uniform.

"What is it ?" Tyler asked with drowsy eyes.

"Umm, can you lend me some cash?" She asked.

"How much?" Tyler asked as he took his jacket.

"Five thousand,but you can add it ." She uttered and pretended to look at the wall."

" When did you become this mischievous?"Tyler asked and gave her seven thousand.

" You are the best ,love you."She gave him a flying kiss and tiptoed slowly out of the room.

Tyler smiled.

He lied down and stared at the ceiling .

After some minutes he took his phone.Three missed calls from James .

Two messages,one from James,the other for Zane.

He checked them but did not answer.After scrolling for some time,he placed it on the table .

He tried to close his eyes hoping to go back to sleep.

Six years earlier,,,

His father stood in the living room , arms crossed.

"You'll never become a real hockey player. "

Tyler lowered his head , gripping his hockey stick.

The memory faded as his phone rung.

James,,," Where on earth did you disappear to. "

Tyler," Home ."

James ," You couldn't tell me."

Tyler ,"Sorry,it was urgent I forgot."

James," Everything okay."

Tyler," Yeah,

James," Mmmh okay, when are you coming back."

Tyler," Saturday,"

James,"Okay, stay safe.

And answer my texts and calls next time."

Tyler,"Yes sir."

*****

Marcus Tyler's dad sat on the table drinking coffee meanwhile reading an article.

"Good morning." His wife asked.

"Good morning." He answered.

She sat next to him and stared at him.

"What is it ?" He asked.

She did not answer.

"Is anything wrong?"He asked.

She still did not answer.

After some minutes of silence she uttered.

"Dear,I know none of you is wrong,just let it pass."

He placed his coffee on the table.

Looked into her eyes.

Before he could talk,Tyler walked in."

" Good morning son."Her mom called out .

Tyler responded looking at both of them.

They ate breakfast .

Later ,Tyler took his mum for a walk around the house.

They joked.

Laughed.

Teased and shared stories .

Judith arrived and joined them after school.

"Do you know how to play football?"She asked.

" I can play all games."Tyler said.

Their mom sat on a chair.

They brought two house helps to be the goal keeper and two more to play .

Judith placed the ball down and looked at him.

"Ready ." She said.

A maid whistled and the game begun.

Judith was good,she ended up scoring a goal.

" Wow !"That's my girl." Her mom shouted .

" Sir ,you are bad at this."The house help who was Tyler's teammate said.

Tyler looked at him .

" Really !"He said.

The second round begun.

Judith laughed at Tyler.

" Wait and see."He said.

Judith hit the ball and it landed at his father's feet .

" Can join?" He asked.

He entered the game together with the house chef.

The father teamed up with his son and the chef with the other team.

" Don't think I'm fat , I'm really great at this ."The chef said in french .

They all laughed.

The game continued.

Tyler's father was better than Judith he, scored two goals.

" If it wasn't for father,you would have lost ."Judith said.

Their father picked up the ball and kicked it to the goal.

"Le football est meilleur que le hockey."He yelled.

"Football is better than hockey."He yelled.

Tyler looked at him as he walked away .

"J'adore aussi le hockey." Judith shouted.

"I also love hockey." Judith shouted.

Tyler turned to her .

He gave her a high five.

****

Zane was just done working out.

He took a sip of water and sat down .

" You seem do be lost in your all world lately." Leo said.

"So I'm not the only one who has noticed it." John said.

They sat closer to him and looked at him mysteriously.

Zane looked back at them.

" What !"He scoffed.

"Mind sharing?" Leo asked.

Zane sighed.

"It's nothing." He said.

They both stood up when Zane asked.

" Have you guys heard anything about Wolves captain lately ?"

They looked deep in his eyes.

"No ,what of you John?"Leo asked looking straight into Zane's eyes.

"Heard he travelled home." John said.

"Will you two stop with look ." Zane said.

"I just wanted to know if he will still play after the last incident."Zane said and stood up.

" Okay ,John said.

They all went to their homes after the gym.Zane looked at his fridge.

Empty.

There was nothing in the house to eat.

He took a shower and left.

He walked to the nearby hotel .

The road was noisy.

He loved it.

It prevented him from thinking too much.

He arrived at Nobel restaurant.

It was a small , classic and the closest restaurant in the area.

He ordered pasta ,beef steak and milk shake.

He ate while scrolling through his phone.

After watching some reels he opened

his w******p and answered some messages.

He then stared at Tyler's chat ,Tyler read but didn't answer.

He switched off the phone and continued eating.

****

Coach Harry blew his whistle.

"Again!"

The players groaned.

"You heard me " ,he said,pointing toward the other end of the rink ."Again!"

James pushed himself upright."Coach , we've done this drill seventeen times."

"I need eighteen."

The players looked at him .

Coach Harry folded his arms.

"Move !"

They moved.

The first player took off ,skating around the cones with impressive speed.The second followed.The third lost his balance, grabbed the nearest player for support and took them both.

The coach didn't even blink .

"Excellent teamwork."

The players burst out laughing.

The coach blew his whistle again

" Get up.This time nobody falls .

A player raised his hand.

Coach Harry sighed.

" What!"

" Can we have water break?"

" You've been skating for six minutes.

I've been emotionally skating for six hours." Couch said.

The entire team erupted.

Coach looked at the stopwatch.

He paused.

" Fine ,one minute break."

" One minute!"He shouted." Not sixty one."

Immediately one minute was over the coach called them back.

The whistle blew.

James hit the puck.The puck flew off his stick like a bullet.

Thud.

It struck the goalie's shoulder just as it crossed the line.

The whistle blew.

Goal.

The goalie dropped to one knee, clutching his shoulder.

"Are you serious?" He shouted.

" You saw me !"

" I didn't mean to hurt you.I saw the net.Tylet said.

The goalie went to Tyler and pushed him.

"You did that in purpose."

The players went silent.

The coach's whistle shrieked from across the rink.

" Enough !"

" Both of you.On the floor."

The player and goalie exchanged a look.

" For what ?"The goalie asked.

" For making me watch you two almost kill each other."The coach replied.

" We didn't kill each other,"James said.

" You are right,you nearly killed me."Coach uttered.

A few players snickered.

Coach Harry pointed at them.

"Thirty minute plank."

They both stared at him.

"Thirty minutes?"

"Yes."

"That's not humanly possible." Tyler said.

"Excellent observation."

The goalie groaned.

"When you are done,fifty burpees,twenty suicide sprints ,three hundred wrist shots and extra skating.

"That's insane." The goalie protested.

" Actually no , Fabian. I'm not done."

Both players looked horrified.

"You'll clean every puck in equipment room.

"Clean the pucks?"Tyler blinked.

" Yes."

" We'll be tired."

" No, apparently you two have too much energy."

"Look what you have caused," Fabian exclaimed.

"I didn't hit you on purpose.You started the fight." Tyler said.

" Should I add more." Coach warned.

They both went silent.

"Oh ,I almost forgot. You'll do it together

?"

They both looked at each other.

" Can I request a trade?"Tyler asked.

" No !"

" What about a new coach."

"Also no."

" And what of death?"

The coach blew his whistle.

"Plank position."

The two dropped to the floor.

"Timer starts,,,,now."

****

Zane cleaned his house everywhere.

It was dusty and untidy .

He then arranged groceries and other house necessities he had just bought from the supermarket.

He sat down breathing heavily.

He looked around.

The house looked warm and lively.

His stomach rumbled .

He was too tired to cook so he ordered food .

As he was waiting.

A message popped.

Tyler,"Hi ."

He smirked.

He looked at it but did not answer.

Another message popped.

Tyler," I didn't mean to ignore you."

He looked at it but still didn't answer.