The Hockey Girl

Chapter 4

“First time I’m hearing it too.” Nate spoke.

“Same here.” There was a chorus of these words with most of the team. It seemed that only Tai, Lucas and Adam knew about Elias’ courted girl.

“Well… Uh… You see…” Elias trailed off, unable to complete a coherent sentence.

There was humour filled laughter around the room at his stumble, mine included.

“What young Elias here is attempting to articulate is that he just didn’t see the appropriate time. Lucas, Tai and I only know because we caught him writing a poem for her. We stole it off him, read it aloud and teased him – …” Adam was explaining before he was interrupted.

“Viciously teased I might add…” Elias accused.

“Lay off mate, we weren’t that bad… Besides, Elias gave the poem to her and it had all of her friends shooting him longing looks. We re-thought our stances quick-smart.” Lucas continued, his voice replacing Adam’s in the explanation.

“Please,” Tai blew out the word, exaggerating it. “Speak for yourselves. I’ll never write a love poem for a girl, all I need is my charm.” He smiled.

The guys and I all laughed. “By charm you mean ego right?” Nate questioned.

“Tai, we all know that you’re a big softy. I’ve known you for how many years now? One day you’ll fall for a girl and fall hard and that girl, you’ll do anything for just as she’ll do anything for you.” I commented.

Tai sputtered, puffing his broad chest out a little, “I am not a ‘big softy’.” He defended himself.

“You’re a softy Tai, the lady has spoken.” Drew declared, grinning.

From there the discussion seemed head towards hockey, which was a subject I was more than happy to entertain.

We spoke of upcoming games, the players that we needed to look out for. Our next game was with a team from a school around half an hour away. It was the school of the two idiots who had bothered me the other day at the juice bar. The game was scheduled for this coming Friday. Most of the school would show up for the game as it was at home.

“You don’t have to play this Friday if you aren’t up to it Alara.” Tai said, the sympathy, sadness and understanding that he felt concerning my current situation were evident in his voice.

I didn’t even need to think about my answer. I lived for hockey, if anything could take my mind off my troubles; it was a game of hockey. It wasn’t until Friday anyway and we’d have training every afternoon and a few during lunchtime in the lead up to the game.

“Of course I’m playing in the game.” I responded after a few seconds of being lost in my own thoughts.

“Are you sure that’s a good idea Ari?” Elias inquired with a tangible level of concern in his voice. 

The smile that I showed him was reassuring. “It’s a good idea. I’ve loved hockey my whole life, it makes me feel alive. It will be a welcomed distraction.”

It was around nine o’clock and all of the boys except Nate, Vasic and Drew had left for the night. I was lying on the couch in the theatre room; my eyes were closing and I was absolutely wiped. The three boys had left me no longer than five minutes ago in search of food.

The air held a slight coolness that made me feel a somewhat uncomfortable but I was too tired to truly care. I was afraid to admit to myself that I was apprehensive about being alone. Nate had been with me last night and I knew that his presence had made me feel safe. I felt that if I was alone, the nightmares of mum’s death would invade my mind and I wouldn’t be able to sleep after that. I had to face being alone at one point though. My head was resting on a pillow and the large couch was comfortable, that would have to be good enough.