I met up with Coach Tremblay and I showed her the skills that I could do. I tried to show her my triple axel but I couldn't do it. I used to be so good at that. That's what I was known for.
1 out of 10 chances I landed a single axel. I guess tryouts were just luck.
"First competition will be next week. I want you to report here everyday after school so we can practice your routine." Coach Tremblay explained. "Are you sure you want to do this? You will be going up against Tiffany."
I looked at my new coach and nodded. "No matter what me and Tiff will always stay friends."
We exchanged glances and I see Hans standing by the boards. Hans was like a father to my father. My father played hockey when he was younger and always got his equipment from his shop. I smiled and waved to him while skating over.
"What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at the shop?" I asked.
"Shops closed for right now. I just wanted to see you skate." The old man exclaimed. "I haven't watched you in a while. Your doing pretty good."
I sighed. "I'm actually doing worse than before, Hans."
"You look fine to me. You still have so much room for growth." He assured. "How is your father doing? I haven't spoke to him in a while, either."
My heart dropped once again at the comment. "He has a new girlfriend." I replied bluntly.
"And how do you feel about that?" He asked.
It was silent for a moment. "If he is happy, then I'm happy!" I faked a smile.
"But are you happy?"
I hate when people can look right through me. Hans was that type of person. I loved Hans, but I always felt weak when he asked questions like this.
"... Yes." I hesitated. A loud sigh left Hans' mouth.
"Don't be afraid to admit to things, Bridget." Hans said. "The longer you keep things in, the worse it will hurt."
I looked up at him on the verge of crying. I never felt ashamed for crying, however it was the reaction of other people seeing me cry that made me ashamed. Comforting someone is a sign of people knowing you have a weakness. I don't need comforting because I know I can hold my own.
"... I know." I nodded. "It's just something that i'm gonna have to get used to, that's all." I waved to Hans and skating back to my coach.
Monday, I sat in my music class. The class was filled with multiple kids from multiple grades. I sat next to Julie, who is the Goalie for the JV hockey team.
Even though I barley know Julie, we somehow gain a friendship though no words at all. She sat next to me towards the back of the class. While the teacher was talking, some strange kid that sat on the other side of the class was picking his nose. Me, being the immature child I am, slowly tried to hold in my giggle.
Julie heard me quietly giggling and looked over her shoulder to see the same kid. Both of us began to hold in our laughter. It wasn't a big deal, but let's be real. Everything is funnier when you have to be quiet.
"Ladies in the back!" The teacher called to us. "What was I just talking about?"
Julia and I froze and exchanged glances. "Umm, Wolfgang Thelonious Monk?" "Igor Amadeus Stravinsky?" We both say at the same time.
"Cowboy Dwayne? Wanna tell them?" The teacher said.
The boy in the cowboy hat that I saw earlier this year stood up and faced the back. "We will be learning about Mozart in this classroom!" He grinned widely.
"Eh, I could've said that." I crossed my arms.
Everyone laughed and switched their gazes back to the teacher. She rolled her eyes and continued to talk.
"Bridget Nixon." I quietly introduced holding my hand out to Julie."
"Julie Gaffney." We shook hands and smiled at each other.
"Isn't there more of you? Like wasn't there a Conway and another kid that is possibly on steroids?"
Julie giggled. "Fulton and Charlie. They quit hockey last night. They just walked out."
I gave her a confused look.
"They are just playing hooky right now. Who knows what they are doing?"
"They just walked out?" I said. "So, they just threw their scholarships away?"
Julie shrugged. "They'll come around. They have to."
Julie and I became very good friends throughout the class. It was safe to say that I had made a new friend.
Later than day, when I was in my dorm I got a phone call from my father. Hans just passed away.
Hans was one of my fathers best friends. You see, my dad didn't have a dad to raise him. He was just a boy who grew up with a mother who was never home. Hans was always the man that looked out for my father. My father met his best friend, Gordon Bombay, through Hans.
Loosing Hans was like looking the best thing you've ever had. As my dad informed me about the death of Hans, I could here the tears welling up in his eyes through the croaking of his voice. And if we are all being honest, seeing or hearing our own father cry is the saddest thing ever.
The Funeral was Friday after school and I had to be there by four. At least i'd get to see some of my father's friends again, I guess.
After I spoke with my dad I hung up the phone and heard loud pounding at my door. I rush over and see Rick.
"Rick? What are you doing here?"
"Why haven't you've been talking to me? You ignored my calls all weekend! You didn't even acknowledge me at lunch-."
"Rick, chill out it's not a big deal. I just been in my head lately I just needed some space."
"Space for what? Nothing goes on in your life." He retorted.
I groaned. "Why do you care so much? It's not a big deal!"
"I'm you're boyfriend. You are supposed to hang out with me."
"This is exactly why I don't like hanging out with you. You are so problematic. You make big deals out of everything!"
"Sorry I want a stable relationship!"
"Everyone is asking we're you've been. Do you know how embarrassing it is for me to never have my girlfriend hang out with me?" He argued. "We are the hottest couple in school and your jude gonna ignore me!"
I rolled my eyes. "This is why we shouldn't date! All we do is fight!"
"It's not fighting it's just disagreeing with one another." Rick fought. "Every couple does it. I just want to know why you are ignoring me. You can tell me anything."
"It's nothing, just get out." I say calmly as I push him out of my dorm and slam it. Rick continued to pound in the door.
"Bridget, this is just embarrassing for you. Your not actually gonna shut me out like this, are you?"
I laid my head against the door and said nothing.
"Great, just great. You know what, fine!" Rick hissed. "You can just screw yourself." I then hear him stomp down the hall.
The past couple days, I have been under some stress with my dad, his new girlfriend, skating, hans, and even Rick himself. However, Rick always stressed me out.
I wanted peace. 3 days was the longest Rick left me alone and I'm surprised that he didn't come sooner. All I hope for was him to just drop me. Maybe he was right that all couple disagree on things. All I needed was a real reason for him to drop me or for me to drop him. I just didn't know what the reason could be.