Lies On The Ice

Chapter 1

Alex

The puck glides across the ice. In my eyes, it moves in slow motion, so every second feels like it stretches into forever. It flies straight toward the net. The whole crowd falls dead silent. No one even breathes. Everyone waits to see what will happen. Will the puck slip past the goalie and cross the line? Or will he block it and keep us from winning?

My chest feels so tight that I can barely breathe. It is a heavy, burning kind of pressure that makes my skin tingle. This is a buzzer beater. It is the very last moment of the game. This single shot will decide our fate whether we are going to win this game or lose completely. Everything comes down to this split second.

"Yes! I did it!"

I scream the words out loud. Pure joy bursts inside me. I jump high into the air as the puck hits the back of the net. It moves too fast for the other team's goalie to even react. He dives, but his glove meets nothing but cold air. The crowd that cheers for our team stands up all at once. Their voices roar through the arena like thunder.

We have done it again. Our team has broken another record. Last year at the inter high competition, Dale, our captain, scored the winning shot. He was the hero then. But this time, it is me.

"You made it, bro!" Bryan runs over to me. His face is bright with happiness. He gives me a hard chest bump. The rest of my teammates rush to surround me. They lift me up and toss me high into the air. I feel weightless and happy. We are the champions of this year's Interhigh School Hockey Competition. And we have held this title for two years in a row now.

When they finally set me down, Dale walks toward me. My breath catches in my throat. He is the one person I notice most in this loud crowd. He reaches out his hand, and I take it for a high five. His grip is strong and warm.

"You did a great job, Alex," he says. A soft smile touches his lips.

I stare at him and I feel like I have turned to stone. I cannot look away. He is smiling at me. This might seem like a small thing to anyone else. But for me, it is everything. Ever since I joined his team one year ago, Dale has always been distant and cold. He keeps a wall around his heart. He never shows kindness to anyone easily. Seeing him smile at me makes my world spin.

My heart beats so hard that it hurts. It pounds against my ribs like a trapped bird trying to break free. I can hear the loud thumping sound in my own ears. I am terrified that he might hear it too. I quickly press one hand over my chest to hold it still. I hope my face does not show how much he affects me.

Dale is not just the team captain. He is a mystery to everyone. He prefers to be alone most of the time. When he does talk, it is usually only with Jake, who plays Right Wing on our team.

He is the real reason I am here. He is the reason I stand on this ice wearing a boy's uniform. We were best friends once. We were close from the time we were little kids until we turned ten years old. Our parents were best friends too. It felt like nothing could ever tear us apart. Then something terrible happened between our families. A dark event turned our friendship into hate. The two families that used to be inseparable became mortal enemies overnight.

Dale and his family moved away right after that tragedy. We lost all contact. I felt like I lost a part of myself. Years passed, and I was in Grade Eleven when I saw him again at an inter high sports competition. I could not believe my eyes. I learned that he was not just playing hockey, but he was a rising star.

When I found out he was the captain of the Frostbite Knights, I knew what I had to do. I transferred to this school. I cut my hair and bound my chest. I disguised myself completely as a boy. I did all of this just to be on his team. I wanted to be near him again, even if he did not know who I really was.

I often wonder if Dale remembers me at all. Even if he does, I am sure he hates my name and everything about my family. That fear is exactly why I hide my true self. If he knew I was the daughter of the man who killed his father, he would turn his back on me forever. He would look at me with anger instead of the respect I crave. I would rather be close to him as a friend who is a boy than be far away from him as the girl he hates.

"Nice shot, Alex!"

I snap out of my deep thoughts when Coach Soriano walks over. My head feels a little dizzy from all the emotions.

The coach is so happy that he slaps me hard on the back. I lose my balance from the force and stumble forward, then fall right into Dale's chest.

Dale reacts instantly. His arms wrap tight around my waist to steady me. My hands unintentionally press against his strong body. I look up, and our eyes lock.

In that quiet moment, the noise of the crowd disappears. The bright lights fade away. The other players vanish from my sight. It feels like time has stopped completely, and we are the only two people in the whole universe. He looks deep into my eyes with an intensity that burns me. It feels like we own the ice and everything in it.

"Are you okay?" Dale asks. His voice sounds gentle and concerned. It pulls me back to reality. He raises an eyebrow. "Do you plan to stay in my arms all day?"

Heat rushes to my face. I realize that I am still held firmly against him. I look around and see my teammates are watching us. They have playful grins on their faces.

"I knew Alex would finally give out his real feelings. He is falling for Dale's charm just like every girl in our school," Jake teases loudly. The whole team bursts into laughter around us.

Panic shoots through me. I push Dale away with all my strength. I bow my head low to hide my face. I know my cheeks are burning bright red. I feel so embarrassed. I am scared they will see the truth in my eyes. They will see how much I like him. Worse, they might think I am a gay boy. If that rumor spreads, Dale will stay away from me forever.

"Guys, stop teasing our little prince," the coach laughs. He steps between us. "We all know how many beautiful girls like him. It is impossible for Alex not to be a straight guy. Right, Alex?"

"O-of course, yes, Coach," I answered immediately.

I let out a long, shaky breath of relief. The team laughs and finally stops their jokes. I feel safe for now.

After that, we accept our shiny championship trophy. The gold metal glimmers under the lights. We pose for photos and cheer for our victory. But my mind is still spinning from the touch of Dale's arms.

Later, we leave the ice and walk toward the locker room. My legs feel heavy, but my mind is racing. I move slower than everyone else. I drag my feet until the room empties out. I wait until I am completely alone. I do this every time I need privacy to change without anyone noticing my secret.

The shower room is packed. The hot water runs as my teammates wash off the sweat of the game. That gives me time. I hurry to undress in the safety of the locker room. I am thankful there are no CCTV cameras here. It is the only place where I can breathe freely.

Even though the ice rink is cold, my body was still covered in sweat under the layers of gear because of the intense game. I strip off the jersey and the protective pads. I feel light and free.

I am one hundred percent sure that no one will come in. They are all busy in the showers. I stand with my back to the door, rushing to put on my regular clothes.

Suddenly, the heavy door creaks and swings open.

My heart stops beating. My eyes go wide with pure terror. I freeze in place. I slowly turn my head toward the entrance.

Dale is right there, standing in the doorway.

My mind goes blank. A cold dread washes over me. He sees me now. He sees me without my disguise.

Is this the moment my secret finally breaks? Will he find out I am a girl? Has my whole year of pretending come to an end right here in this quiet locker room?