Astrid
My music drowned out the conversations happening around me while I started gearing up.
Socks, cup, leg pads, big socks, breezers, skates, chest pads, elbow pads, then finally jersey.
Like usual, I made to stand up and go to the training room so I could have my usual PB&J before the game, only to chicken out.
I can't face Luka yet. Can't explain to him why he found me sobbing on the floor of our hotel room. Not yet.
It felt weird not eating my pregame ritual PB&J. I found myself anxiously tapping my skate.
I haven't not eaten a PB&J before games in years. The ritual started in middle school and I've done it since then.
Nerves and anxiety started to stir as I thought more and more about not doing my ritual.
The door to the locker room opening caught my attention and I immediately ripped out my earbuds.
Coach, Ryan, Alex, the equipment manager, and Luka walked in.
Blue eyes crashed into mine and many emotions ran through me at the pain in Luka's eyes.
My attention must've been too focused on his face because I barely registered as he tossed something at me.
Why he is throwing-
I stared down at a PB&J sandwich sitting on my lap. I felt my heart crack at the entire gesture.
"Listen up ladies!" Coach's voice rang around the locker room. "No offense." He gestured at me for the millionth time.
"None taken." I cracked a slight smile at what has become a joke between us. I picked up the sandwich in my lap, unwrapped it, and started eating.
"Ryder, what is in less than a month?" Coach turned and asked the captain.
"Playoffs," Ryder said, I felt his ice blue eyes burning into me.
"And what do we need to do to make playoffs?" Coach asked him again.
"Win."
"That's right. Win." Coach nodded his approval. "We need to win at least this first game to make playoffs, and we need to win tomorrow's game if we want a good place going into playoffs."
Coach droned on and on about playoffs. I half-listened to him, half avoided eye contact with the six males in the locker room that kept trying to catch my eyes.
"I want to see smart hockey out there. Smart plays, smart passes, smart shots. None of that penalty bullshit either." Coach clapped his hands. "Now, who are we?"
"Wolves!" Everyone in the locker room responded.
"What do we want?"
"To win!"
"And how do we do that?"
"Together!" Everyone hollered and stood up.
"Excellent. Now go out there and get me a dub!" Coach and the rest of the staff turned and left.
"You heard the man!" Tucker put his helmet on and started high-fiving people as they left the locker room.
I fell in line with my teammates, all of us shuffling out the door.
"Careful Grapes." Ryder's voice caught my attention as I passed his cubby. "You keep ignoring me and you might find yourself a bit... held up.." His deep voice leaned into me as he walked past. "Consider this your warning."
Don't shiver. Don't shiver. Don't sh-
Damn it.
Now is not the time you stupid girl for this.
It's hockey time. Not warm and cuddly feelings time.
Shaking my head, I cleared my unclean thoughts and focused on the game up ahead.
"Have fun out there Shortie." Tucker punched my arm as I walked by.
Fun. Fun.
I can do this.
After warm-ups and team huddle, we all skated to the bench where Coach repeated the lineup for us again.
Ryder, Ozzy, and me on the first line.
With the twins as our defensemen.
The refs were still all standing around the announcer trying to get some last-minute things figured out. We all still skated to the face-off.
"Hey there bud." Ryder's opponent immediately started chirping at him. "Couldn't help but notice the figure skater y'all got on the ice."
The center turned his head towards me. "Hey princess, I think you took a wrong turn, skating lessons are next door."
I rolled my eyes as I squared up at the face-off.
"Ooo a bit sassy today are we, is it shark week already?" The center kept chirping
"Watch it there two twos," Ozzy said to the center.
The center ignored the good advice though, as he kept on running his mouth.
"Don't worry princess, I'll still fuck you even though Aunt Flow's visiting. A little blood never hurt anybody." The center sneered at me as I shivered slightly.
"I suggest you shut the fuck up," Ryder said, more than annoyed and clearly enraged by the center's comments.
"Or what captain?" The center turned his attention away from me and to Ryder.
"Or you'll be the one bleeding on the ice." Ryder snarled at the center.
"Is that a threat?"
"Fuck ye-,"
Abandoning my positioning at the face-off, I skated to Ryder.
"No fights." I glared up into icy blue eyes. "Remember what Coach said. All you need to do is win the face-off and pass me the puck."
Ryder nodded his head, making sense of what I said.
He even smirked down at me. "Glad you're no longer ignoring me."
I turned and faced Ryder's opponent.
"Hey, two twos?" I dropped my voice a little bit in a way that I knew drove my six men crazy.
The center had the same reaction. He even dropped his voice a bit in response. "Yes beautiful?"
Dumb fuck thinks he's going to get laid.
"Fuck you," I smirked at him and skated off, returning to my positioning.
The refs finally finished whatever they were doing, and one came over to the face-off.
"Alright ladies, let's have some fun." The ref shot a glance in my direction. "No offense."
"None taken." I couldn't help but roll my eyes again.
Finally, the ref dropped the puck.
Ryder won the face-off and passed me the puck, almost perfectly.
With the puck on my stick, I let my legs do the work.
The center was immediately on me, but it took me barely seconds to outskate him.
I felt the urge to chirp at him but bit my tongue.
The defense closed in on me, well they tried too.
I slipped right between them and then the play became a shoot-out with me and the goalie.
I watched as the goalie squared up, noting his low blocker and wide-open five-hole.
It was way too easy as I skated to the goalie and with a simple slapshot through the five-hole, buried the puck in the net.
I cheered as my linemates skated to me.
"Thatta girl Astrid!" "Great Job" "Fucking Beauty Babe"
We all turned to go to the bench, conveniently skating by the other teams flabbergasted center.
"The fuc-" He gapped as I smirked at him.
"Hey, two twos." I poked his chest. "Try to keep up will ya?"
Curses followed me as I skated away.
The rest of the game went well. Our team winning the "dub" 5-2. Although there was a slight incident where Henrik took a puck to the chin.
He had calmly skated off the ice and he and Luka disappeared for maybe five minutes before Henrik appeared on the bench again. Eight stitches holding together his chin and him grinning like a mad man had me smiling.
My Henrik, always so tough.
The game ended all too soon though, as I found myself leaving the locker room. Dressed in leggings and an old hockey sweatshirt, I was ready to get back to the hotel where I could shower.
The bus ride took forever as sweat clung to my skin and I felt icky. When we finally got back to the hotel, I quickly got off the bus, thanked the bus driver, and made to bolt for the hotel.
Sadly, Coach and Ryan had other plans.
"Hey, Astrid!"
I had to hold back my groan as Coach called me over.
"Hey, coach." I threw on my best smile and approached him and Ryan. "What's up?"
Ryan cleared his throat. "Well, we wanted to start off by congratulating you on a great game. That center was so dumbfounded when you blasted past him." Ryan chuckled as he pictured it.
"Thanks." I chuckled too. It was fun chirping at the center. He did deserve it too.
"We also wanted to make sure everything's okay." Coach said.
"Sir?" I asked, confused.
"Well, you seemed distant before the game. We wanted to make sure that you're okay with your room assignment and everything." Coach said.
For like the trillionth time today, my heart cracked a bit. Aww, they wanted to check on me.
"Yeah no, everything's great. In fact, I'm hoping to get up there before my roommate stinks up the bathroom because I need to shower." I lied, Luka would never be so inconsiderate.
"Oh right. Yeah, you best get going." Coach waved me off. "Go get some rest, we're going to need you to have another good game tomorrow."
I waved goodbye and quickly made my way through the hotel. To either my luck or despair, the lobby was empty and only a few of my teammates were seen roaming the hotel.
I made my way to the second floor and got to my room.
Aaaaaannnddd the door is unlocked...
Taking a few calming breathes, I steadied myself as I opened the door.
Please be empty. Please be empty. Please-
I went in with my eyes shut hoping that the sound of shuffling was just my imagination.
"Cutie?" Colten's voice questioned.
Definitely not empty. I kept my eyes shut as my shoulders sagged. Maybe I can will them away?
Hot boys go away. Come again another day. Hot boys go away. Come again another day. Hot boys-
"Is she muttering to herself?" Ryder asked, he sounded offended.
"It would seem so," Corey answered him.
"Why are her eyes shut?" Bentley asked.
"Fuck knows," Henrik replied dryly.
"Why are your eyes closed, Ash?" Luka asked from somewhere close by.
I threw my arms, but kept my eyes shut, as I said, "Oh great, you're all here. Please make yourselves a home." Sarcasm rolled through my every atom.
Remembering the layout of the room, I found the nearest wall, and lightly bounced my head off of it.
"Hot boys go away. Come again another day. Hot boys go away-" The manta became quite catchy.
"Aaaaand now she's hurting herself," Henrik exclaimed.
Footsteps neared me and a warm hand replaced the cold wall I had previously been hitting my head against.
"Open your eyes." Ryder's minty breath was toooo close.
"No." I tilted my head and attempted to hit a more empty wall. Sadly a hand cushioned the blow once again.
"Grapes." Ryder's voice dropped. "Open your eyes."
I could feel how close he was to me.
"Nooo." I feel like a toddler having a meltdown. Maybe that's what this is. A meltdown. Fina-fucking-ly.
"One last chance Grapes." His lips ghosted my ear. "Open.Your.Eyes."
Just do it. Open your- "No." You stupid girl...
Ryder growled. Like actually growled.
I could feel as Ryder's burning gaze left my face. Only for seconds.
I don't know why, but he must've gotten the permission he needed.
"Time for a shower." He grinned. Well, I think he grinned, I can't actually know BECAUSE MY FUCKING EYES ARE SHUT. stupid girl.
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Thank you for reading Chapter 27. I hope you enjoyed this extra-long chapter. I'm sorry for leaving it where I did, trust me I really wanted to keep it going, but I felt like the chapter was getting just a little too long. I would also like to apologize for my despicable uploading schedule. I've been really sick and I've been really busy with hockey, so I'm really sorry. Let me know what you thought about this chapter, comments and feedback makes me really happy!!
~Until Next Chapter