The Ties that Binds Us

Manon POV : From the big city to the small ruins of Atlas town, my family and I began the journey. It all started after my dad thought he was getting a big promotion but was sent a branch no one had ever heard of. A little town in the middle of nowhere, I sat in the car as I stared out the window to what would be my new home. My hockey stick in hand. Moving to a new town meant I will be starting school again. I had high hopes for this place compared to the city, especially because I heard that it had a hockey team. Dad was once a hockey player, he had a bright future and would have been known as a star, until an incident caused him the spot he had always wanted. Me. I was born out a love blossomed from two high school student who thought that life would be easy as it goes until they had a baby. My dad dropped out of school to take care of me and my mom, they were practically thrown out by their parents. Life became hard for them coupled with a new baby, Dad did all he could to make us happy and he has been doing that ever since. “You’re gonna love this place” he says as he looks over at me. I smiled back. I had already made up my mind on the first thing I wanted to do here, I was gonna join the hockey team. For years Dad has been training me the best way he could, and I believe I was up to my best. We arrived at our new home and I stepped in, it was different from where we used to live before, even smaller, but I liked it nonetheless. “So what do you think?” Dad asked as he dropped the boxes. “I like the place” Mom answered. I shrugged my shoulders, “I could work with it” I said. That alone brought a smile to his face. I retreated to my new room where I kept a few of my things, everything I needed was already here, the movers had arrived before us and arranged the place. According to Dad’s boss, he says we won’t lack a thing here, he made sure to keep his promise. Especially the king size bed I requested for. *** The weekends were over and schools had begun. I arrived at my new school, Fallon Academy, and I made my way to my first class. I found a seat in the middle, just by the window where I could have the view of the open field outside. “Hi, my name is Xyla” a voice said to me, I turned to my right and I saw a beautiful girl with two ponytails, and braces on her teeth. Not every girl can pull braces on and still look beautiful, she did. “Hi, I’m Manon” I said and shook her hand. “Well, my name is Adele” the girl seated in front of me turned. “Hi” I responded with a smile. A small introduction had turned into a full gossip as they began introducing every single person in class and the backstory they all had. Three minutes left until the teacher walks in, two boys stepped in at the same time, one of them taller than the other. The tall one had blonde hair, brown eyes, a bag over his shoulders and daring look while the other had blue hair with blue eyes, his face was cute, like a fallen angel. “That’s Emory and Marsh, Emory is the captain of the hockey team” Xyla whispered in my eyes, it felt like talking about them openly would inquire consequences. I looked over at them, their seat were aligned. Emory sat behind Marsh. A part of the hockey team, I thought about it, seeing them made me excited, I couldn’t wait to apply for the hockey team. “Marsh is the right defenseman” Adele added. I nodded, then she leaned closer. “If you wanna have a good stay here, you should avoid every member of the hockey team?” Xyla advised. Well that immediately caught my attention, “Why is that?” “Because they are trouble, every last one of them, trust me on this. You are better off not knowing about the hockey team” she said and Adele agreed. I smiled at them, how do I tell them that the hockey team is part of the reason why I am here. “Noted” I said instead. After several hours of classes, the day was finally over. I waved Adele and Xyla goodbye as I began walking to the administrative block. On getting there, I was told that the coach wasn’t in his seat, but rather in the ice rink. So I went there instead, once I opened the door, I was met with half naked boys on the court. I could hear whistles and catcalling as I passed. Just by the edge of my right eye, I found Emory and Marsh seated together on the court, they really are that close. “Fresh meat” “Hey, baby, want me do anything for you” the other boys said as I walked by. I ignored them and made my way to the office where I found Coach already seated, “Hello Manon, how can I help you?” Coach Jude asked. I wanted to be bothered by the fact that he knew my name but I ignored it instead. That certainly would be a topic for another time if I was that curious. “I want to join the hockey team” I said as I took my seat in front of him. “You want to do what?” He repeated, like he hadn’t heard me. “I said I want to join the hockey team” I said boldly this time.