“Game day ladies.” I looked around my team. The last two days have been weird. Scarlett has not been at school. And Olivia has been extra clingy. “We aren’t gonna have any incidents today. We’re gonna play against Gretna and absolutely dominate them like we do every year. Warriors on three. 1! 2! 3!”
“Warriors!” Everyone’s arms went in the air.
“Alright.” I looked at Coach and he gave me a nod, “We’re switching it up. Billie on goalie for the first period. If you need to be called out at any time let me or Coach W know.”
She nodded once, clearly nervous.
“Kitty, left defense.” I read down the list in front of me, “V, right defense. Izzie, right winger. And Allie,” I looked at the freshman, “Left winger. You did good last time, do you think you can start?”
“Yes, Captain.”
I nodded, “Good.” I looked around, “Are we ready?”
They nodded and cheered.
We are ready.
The announcer’s voice came through the arena while we ran drills, “Welcome back hockey fans! Tonight we have a wonderful face off with the Tigers coming all the way from Gretna. Playing our home team, our very own Warriors.” The people in the stands cheered, “Starting we have our own captain, Natalie Wilson. A senior this year with 3 state championships under her belt.”
“Yes, that’s right Mike. Natalie has led her team to victory countless times.”
“Well Dan, if we had to count; She’s played 79 games in her high school career and only lost 6 times.”
“6 times, Mike.”
“She started off figure skating, Dan.”
“That’s right Mike. Figure skating genius turned hockey menace.”
I’m right here. I can hear them. And I really would rather not have everyone remember my figure skating days when my mother was still alive.
“She’s having a freshman start, Dan.”
“Allison Winsmark. 0 state championships. 1 high school game.”
I skated to Allie and took my mouthguard out, “Don’t pay attention. Games about to start.”
She nodded, “I got this.”
I pat her helmet, “I know you do.”
They talked about the other team and it was quite boring. Our team is the best in southern Minnesota. They’re not even in the top 3.
The refs blew their whistles and both teams made their way to the middle of the ice.
I leaned down and stared at the Gretna girl.
These games are gonna be fun.
She’s already scared shitless.
The whistle blew and we hit each other hard. I hit the puck to Izzie and she hit it up towards the net.
Allie and I both skated there. She got the puck and hesitated before snapping right back into the game and passing to me.
I went around the goal and immediately scored a goal.
The student section jumped and hollered.
That’s my fastest goal yet.
I skated to the glass in front of the student section and Sydney, Yoda, and Mobius were standing right in the front jumping up and down cheering for me.
I held my hands up and skated to the bench.
Allie came up next to me, “I wanna be like you.”
I smiled a huge smile, “You’re on the right track, kid.”
<><><><>
Last 5 minutes of the game and we’re up 4 points.
So I’m letting Allison take charge on this.
I know my teammates can see how fucking awesome she is so they won’t disagree with my decision.
Coach called a timeout and we went to the bench.
I took my mouthguard out and acted like I was so tired. I looked at Coach, “I’ve been playing all game and I think my shoulder is messed up. I need a sub.”
He nodded, “Your pick.”
“Allison, center. O’Connor, left winger.”
Allie stared at me, “What?”
I smirked, “Center. Go make a goal.”
“But I-“
“You heard your captain! Let’s go ladies! Go score some points!” Whittaker clapped his hands and everyone rushed onto the ice.
I just get to sit back and observe.
I watched as the refs made the incorrect decision to start on Gretna’s side of the ice.
They played for the last five minutes without scoring but they did keep up the already great defense we had.
By the final whistle, Gretna had 2 points. We had 6.
The rest of the team skated onto the ice and congratulated the other team. Saying good game and trying to keep the smugness out of our voices was hard.
But we managed.
We took our skates off and went into the locker room.
I took off my sweaty pads and left my locker open so it wouldn’t completely stink.
“Surprised, Nat.” V sat back against her own locker, pads sitting on the floor. “Let the freshman play for you.”
I shrugged, “She has potential. I think I’m gonna nominate her.”
Riley’s mouth gaped open from across the walkway, “Bold. She’s only a freshman.”
Izzie kicked her as she walked past, “Shows more promise than you ever have.”
Riley glared at her, “Careful or you’ll be sleeping on your own tonight.”
“Barf.” I picked up my shower stuff, “You guys are cute but keep it out of the locker room.”
“We’ll just do it when no one else is in here.”
“Oh God.” V grabbed her stuff and followed me towards the showers, “I heard from a little birdie that a little blonde Junior has a crush on you.”
I rolled my eyes and pulled off my compression shirt and shorts, “Who’s the junior?”
“Olivia Ramsey.”
I snorted, “No kidding.”
“Too bad you’re not gay.” Then she laughed, “That’s a good one.”
“Is it that obvious?”
Three other girls answered alongside her, “Yes!”
“Whoever said that is running laps on Monday!” I closed my eyes and washed my hair.
Quickly.
Because my friends are waiting for me to grab dinner with them.
I got out of the shower and changed, letting my hair fall into its natural waves instead of throwing it up in a bun or braiding it.
As I was putting my shoes on, Allie came to grab her bag out of her locker. She must have forgotten it, “Good playing, Allison.”
“Thanks, Captain.”
I smiled at her, “You realize you can call me Natalie?”
She shrugged, “Letting you get used to how it sounds for when you take over Minnesota.”
I smiled harder, “Have a good night, Allie.”
“You too, Natalie.”
I finished tying my red converse and pulled my hoodie on. I was wearing a pair of Nike shorts but it’s just cold enough outside to need an extra layer of some kind.
“There she is!” Yoda stretched his arms out and pulled me into a hug as soon as I made it out of the locker room, “Good playing as always.”
“I appreciate it.” I rubbed his hack and sank into the embrace. This is a really really good hug. I needed one of those.
Syd pat my back, “I was surprised when you through in the freshman but she played really well. Great call.”
I nodded, “She has a lot of promise. She’s probably gonna be better than me.”
“Well, you did a great job too.” Sydney squeezed my arm.
“Yeah, great job, Captain.”
I glared at Mobius, “Do you want to continue playing football? Because I might have to break your arm.”
He rolled his eyes.
“I’m sad you didn’t punch anyone this time.” Scarlett’s amazing and wonderful voice came from behind me.
I spun on my heels to face her, hoping it wasn’t too obvious how excited I was to see her. “You came!”
She pulled me into a hug, “I won’t ever miss a game.”
I took this moment to take her in. It’s been days since we’ve been this close and part of me missed it.
Okay, all of me missed it.
“Wanna come over?” She whispered in my ear, “My parents aren’t home so we can watch TV in the living room.”
I pulled away, “I would love to.”
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