Little disclaimer before I start the One Shot. In this one shot they'll be playing a game called Shinny. I don't know if shinny is a thing in America or the rest of the world but it's a great part of Canadian culture. Enjoy folks :) (its pretty much just street hockey.)
I jogged down the snowy hill, careful not to slip on ice patches. My skates bumped against my thigh, the cool metal pressing against my skin.
My stick was clutched in my hand tightly, while falling snowflakes from above clung to my finger tips.
I let out a long breath, savouring the view as it turned to misty wisps.
My helmet was pulled over my face. My long golden curls were tucked into the back of it, the foggy visor covered my features, so it was impossible to tell that I was a girl.
"Toss your stick in, dude!" Someone shouted from inside the rink, "We'll add you to the pool while you get your skates on."
There must've been 30 people there, all of them boys. Their sticks lay in the middle of the rink, ready to be separated for play.
I threw my stick over the boards.
A guy that looked around my age caught it easily in his gloved hand.
His cage was flipped open and he caught my eye. Bright green irises met my own through the heavily falling snow.
I popped my visor open and tugged off my helmet, letting my hair fall carelessly down to my shoulders.
Initial shock spread over the faces of the guys standing in the rink.
I smiled.
The guy with green eyes smirked mischievously.
"Well, are we gonna play or not? I don't have all day," I shouted to them.
The kid threw my stick into the middle of the rink. It landed in the middle of the others.
"Dude! Are you seriously gonna let her play?" shouted one guy.
Percy spun to him fast, "Why shouldn't we?"
The guy lowered his voice but I still heard him as he spoke, "Dude. She's a girl."
Percy opened his mouth to say something but I cut him off. "Don't think that means I won't be playing rough. I could kick your ass in a second and I wouldn't even break a sweat."
"Get your skates on," said the boy with green eyes, he gave me an intoxicating stare of utter respect before turning back to his friends, "Looks like we're gonna have an extra tough game today, fellows."
I rolled my eyes at his back.
He swung his head around and crossed his arms, "Something tells me this girl has played her fair share of shinny."
"You've got that right," I snorted.
Percy skated with ease towards the boards and propped himself up on his elbows, his eyes scanned my uniform until they found the piece of duck tape on my helmet that read "Chase." "Is that so, Chase?"
I glanced at his jersey and made out the stitching of "Jackson." I made my way over to the boards and mimicked his position.
"You bet, Jackson."
He pushed off gently, nodding his head in respect, "Alright, alright. Why don't you hop on the ice and show us what you've got."
//
I laced up my skates, tightening them angrily.
"Stupid boys," I muttered to myself.
"I hope I'm not included in that category," said a voice from behind me.
I jumped.
It was that kid from outside, the one with green eyes. I tried to be mad at him, I wanted to yell, but instead I found myself giving him a small smile.
"Unfortunately, you are," I said, pretending to pout.
He sighed and sat down on the bench across from me.
"I'm sorry about what those guys were saying out there. Most of them are complete dick heads," he picked at his jersey.
"Yet you still play with them?" I asked cautiously, lacing up my other skate.
He hesitated. "You know they're only making fun of you because they're scared."
I felt a slow grin spread across my face, "Scared? What could they possibly be scared of."
The guy scrunched up his nose, "Cool it on the sarcasm, Chase. And we both know they're scared to get their ass whooped by a girl."
I pulled my helmet over my face, obscuring my features. "Then just think of me as one of the guys."
He smirked up at me, "Will do."
"I'll see you on the ice, Jackson," I said, slipping out of the changing room.
//
"Jesus!" cried out a voice.
I leaned on my stick, staring at the doofus who had been talking shit earlier lying on the ice, breathing heavily.
"Well, I did tell you I could whoop your ass in a second," I smirked.
Someone laughed. And then someone else did. And soon the rink was full of chatter and chuckling.
I stuck my hand out to the guy on the ice, he gratefully accepted it.
We stood face to face.
"Next time I wouldn't judge someone based on wether they're a girl or not," I whispered to him, shoving his chest gently away.
"Got it," he muttered.
I glanced up and saw the kid with green eyes staring at me. A mildly impressed expression covered his face, his eye brows were raised.
"Damn, Chase," he mouthed across the rink.
"Fuck off," I mouthed back, unable to keep the giggle from slipping out of my mouth.
//
I was standing off of the ice. Getting a drink of water in the changing room.
I heard footsteps from behind me and turned slowly around.
It was him, again. He was leaning against the wall, sweat glistening on his forehead, his arms crossed gently, his helmet tuck beneath one of them.
"That was a pretty brutal body check," he mused.
"I did warn him," I muttered.
Percy broke out laughing, the sound made me smile.
We stood there for a second, neither one of us talking, just looking at each other, smirks spread across our lips.
Percy bit his lip and opened his mouth to speak, hesitating before he did so. "Would you like to go on a date with me? Or could I at least get your number?"
He stammered out the question.
God, he was cute when he was nervous.
"Beat me at this next game," I said, shrugging my shoulders, I walked past him towards the rink, bumping his shoulder as I did. I paused, my lips inches away from his ear. I whispered, "Then we'll see about that date."
//
Percys team lost, duh.
But even though he didn't win, I still indulged in that date with him.
What? He's funny, he's sweet, and he's such a dumbass. Exactly my qualifications. Plus, he looks ten times better not dressed up in hockey pads and with sweat dripping down his face.
I even managed to forget about that dick at the rink.
Needless to say, it was easily the best game of shinny I had ever played.
Ahhhhh. I really liked writing this one. Shinny hits home for me, and this one shot is inspired by some fun times with me and my cousins down at the local rink. Canadian things am I right? Anyways, I wanted to add some female empowerment in here too, so we have Annabeth being a badass like usual! This one shot is dedicated to my fellow Canadian and insane hockey fan, @tylercorreia4 , love ya ty ty. Don't forget to comment and vote! Thanks everyone!!!
-Annie