Lies On The Ice

Chapter 4

Alex

Dale dove into the pool without a moment of hesitation. My heart hammered wildly against my ribs, and fear sharpened in my mind. What if he sees my body now and could tell right away that I was a girl?

As his head broke the surface right in front of me, I reacted instantly. I spun my back to him to shield the shape of my chest from his gaze.

"Are you hurt, Alex? Did Bea hurt you?" His voice was thick with panic. He reached out, trying to turn me to face him, but I slipped away quickly. "Why are you hiding from me?" There was a frustrated edge to his worry now.

"I'm okay, Dale. Thank you for caring for me," I whispered, my voice trembling slightly. "But how did you even know I was here? How did you find out what Bea did?"

"I overheard Bea and her friends talking about you," he explained quickly. "As soon as I heard what they planned, I ran straight here to make sure you were safe."

A soft warmth spread through my chest. "You were worried about me?" It felt like his walls were finally coming down. Maybe he really did see me as someone precious, not just a teammate.

For a second, joy blinded me. I forgot everything and almost turned to face him. But alarm bells rang in my head just in time, and I kept my back firmly turned toward him.

"Of course I'm worried," Dale said, his tone practical once more. "What if you couldn't swim? You might have drowned right there. We would lose a player, and we wouldn't be able to compete in the national game."

The warmth inside me died instantly, replaced by a cold, heavy ache. He wasn't worried because he cared about me as a person. He was worried because I was useful to the team.

It felt as if a frozen puck had struck me right over the heart. I had been foolish to imagine there was anything deeper behind his actions.

"Don't worry," I said, forcing a calmness I didn't feel into my voice. "I won't be the reason our team misses the national game."

"That isn't what I meant—"

"Alex! Oh my God!"

Dale’s explanation was cut short when Jessa’s voice rang out as she walked in through the open doors and sprinted toward the pool edge.

I pulled away from Dale without a word and walked toward my best friend. She reached out to my hands and helped me climb onto the slippery tiles. Ahe quickly wrapped a thick, dry towel around my shivering body to cover my chest.

"Get me out of here," I whispered weakly, clinging to her. "I'll tell you everything later."

Jessa didn't press me with questions, even though she looked confused about seeing me in the water with Dale. She simply supported my weight and guided me out of the swimming complex.

I was forced to take another hot shower to chase away the chill. This time, I made sure to strap my chest binder tight before stepping out of the changing room. But my breath caught when it wasn't Jessa waiting for me outside. It was Dale.

He walked toward me slowly and pressed a small packet of medicine into my palm.

"Take this right away so you don't catch a fever," he instructed seriously. "The water was freezing. You can't afford to get sick. We have a friendly match against the Frost Vipers tomorrow." With that, he turned on his heel and walked away without a goodbye.

Jessa walked in moments later, lifting an eyebrow. "Why did your 'sweetheart' look at me like he wants to kick me when we passed each other?"

I quickly covered a hand over her mouth, terrified someone might overhear her teasing.

"Stop using that term. What if someone hears you say that?" I said, then I removed my hand from her mouth. "He just came to give me medicine for a cold."

She nudged me gently in the side, her eyes sparkling. "Dale is really worried about you. You must be happy now."

"Yeah. He's worried," I sighed, shaking my head. "He's worried I'll get sick and mess up the team's chances of joining the National Hockey Competition."

"Jessa tilted her head. "I saw his face, Alex. He's worried because he cares for you." I just shrugged, unable to believe it. "By the way, what exactly happened earlier? Why were both of you in the pool?"

I told her every detail of what Bea and her friends did to me. "I think it’s a woman’s intuition. She hates me because deep down, she knows I stand in her way with Dale."

"That evil witch!" Jessa fumed, her eyes blazing. "You have to be careful around her next time. She is obsessed with Dale. She might be the one to expose your secret to everyone."

I nodded solemnly and gestured for us to leave.

The next day, the whole team was excused from classes. We had a

friendly match against one of the strong teams from the upcoming National Hockey Competition. A short while later, I already stood in the locker room inside the massive, roaring arena.

The Frostbite Knights' locker room air smelled of leather, sweat, and sharp anticipation. I pulled my heavy hockey jersey over my head, adjusting every strap and pad, making sure my disguise was flawless. No one could know.

"It is time, Alex."

I looked up to find Dale standing behind me. He hadn't spoken to me all day. "I am ready," I replied, keeping my voice low and steady.

He studied my face for a long, intense moment. "Keep your head up. The Frost Vipers are ruthless. They will try to catch you off guard."

"I am not afraid," I said, tightening the laces on my skates. He nodded at me, and we headed out together to join the rest of the team.

Our team marched out onto the ice, and the crowd roared like thunder. Bright stadium lights glared off the white surface. I forced a confident smile and waved, feeling the energy surge through me. Even though this was just a friendly match, the arena was packed with fans. I couldn't help but smile and waved to our fans and supporters.

"Focus," Dale murmured as he glided past me. I nodded sharply and fell into step behind him.

The game began at a blistering pace. Within minutes, I felt a heavy body slam me hard against the boards. My teeth rattled, but I kept my footing. I spotted Dale open and slapped the puck perfectly toward him. He struck it with a thunderous crack, sending it flying into the net. The red light flashed, and the crowd exploded. We drew our first blood.

But the Frost Vipers were brutal. Their biggest player, Miller, skated close to me with a snarl. "You're finished, Little Prince."

Minutes later, the puck slid loose into the neutral zone. I lunged to chase it. From the corner of my eye, I saw a massive shadow barreling toward me. It was Miller.

He lowered his shoulder and crashed into me at full speed. The impact knocked every breath from my lungs. I flew through the air and slammed against the glass with bone-jarring force before sliding down to the ice.

My helmet clattered away. I lay there, gasping and my vision swimming. Through the blur, I saw Miller raise his stick to strike again. Suddenly, a blur of blue and black crashed into him. It was Dale. With a roar of pure fury, Dale tackled Miller to the ice. The referees scrambled in to separate them immediately.

Dale ripped off his gloves and dropped to his knees beside me, his eyes wide with terror. "Alex! Can you hear me? Are you hurt? Can you breathe?"

His large hands gripped my shoulders to help me stand. But as he lifted me, his hands brushed against my chest, and he froze. His grip faltered. A look of utter confusion swept over his face, quickly replaced by shock. He stared deep into my eyes, realizing something he could not explain. I just realized that I forgot to bind my chest.

The medical team rushed forward, gently pulling Dale away to help me onto the stretcher. As they wheeled me toward the clinic area, I looked back at him one last time. I saw him standing motionless in the middle of the ice, staring at his own hands with a look of total disbelief, as if he had discovered something unbelievable.