Disclaimer: this is a fictional story. Some events may not line up with real life events. Ex. How Alex Johnson does not exist in the NHL.
!!This book also talks about eating disorders!!
Lia
"And Barkov scores! Winning this game for the Panthers!" The announcer yells.
The goal horn blares through the tv and sounds through the house. I jump up and fist pump the air. I do a little celly along with the hockey players on tv.
As soon as I plop back down on the couch my dad comes barging through the door. He's home from hockey practice.
"How was lacrosse today?" He asks walking past the living room into the kitchen.
"Could've been better."
"What happened today?"
"I kept missing shots."
"You may not have practice tomorrow but I'm bringing you to the rink so you can practice passing, catching, and shooting."
"Okay."
I pick up my lax bag and drag it up the stairs with me.
I make it to my room and throw my bag in the corner.
My room is an off white color and it has a lacrosse stick with a ball sitting in it in every corner. You know, just Incase. I have a a white and gold tapestry hanging on one wall and a tapestry with a pineapple on it hanging on another wall. My bed sits in the middle of my room and it is a constant mess. On one wall I have my desk witch sits between to door to my closet and the door to my bathroom. Another has my vanity along with a full body mirror next to it.
Typical teenage girl room. I also really like pineapples.
I face plant onto my bed, thankful it's finally winter break.
I stand up from my bed and walk over to my bathroom.
I shut the door and stand in front of my mirror. I take my wavy dyed half blond hair out of the messy ponytail it was in and rip the headband out of my hair. I shake my hair out as the pain from the previous ponytail it was in starts to relieve itself. I then brush my teeth. Once I'm done brushing my teeth I strip off my practice clothes, ew sweaty. I then take my glasses off and place them gently on the counter.
I connect my phone to my shower speakers and blast my throwback playlist.
I hop in the shower and clean off the gunk from today.
_____
I take my hand and skim over my clothes to try and find something to wear.
I feel hands wrap around my waist. My heart drops a little at the fact that the only thing I have on is a towel, and the fact that I didn't hear this person get in my room.
"Hey babe." Jake says as he brings his hand up to my shoulder and runs it down my arm.
"Hi." I squeak, "can I get dressed?"
He grabs my hand and brings it up to his mouth.
"I like you better like this."
I playfully roll my eyes. Jake kisses my hand making me shiver. I feel uncomfortable.
"Jake, seriously. I'm tired."
"Okay, okay." He says, "I'll go put on a movie."
He walks into my room leaving me with my clothes.
I pick out a pair of flannel shorts and a Brandy Melville New York top. Thankful the top covers my stomach and overlaps the top of my pants.
I walk out of my closet and walk over to my desk. I grab my hairbrush and brush my hair. I push my glasses up my nose and look at Jake through the mirror. I think about how nice looking he is. How soft his dirty blonde hair is. How his light pink lips form a pout every time he rests his face. How his green eyes always throw me off guard. He's on his phone while the movie plays on the tv.
I focus back on myself and do my skincare routine. Those yucky sweat pimples from lacrosse need to be cured.
Once I'm done I climb in bed next to Jake. He sets his phone down and wraps his arms around my bare waist. I almost freeze at the fact that his hands are under my shirt but I manage to shake it off.
"My mom wants me home in about an hour so let's cuddle as much we can." Jake says.
"I'm okay with that." I say lifting my legs up and pulling my comforter out from under me. "How was hockey?" I ask him once we're comfortable.
"Listen to this, Curt goes to hit the puck and does a slap shot, the puck ends up right inside my visor." He tells the story using his hands. "Everyone thought it was hilarious." I smile up at the green eyed boy. "I had to sit in the sinbin for high-sticking, I hit Davis in the face. In my opinion he deserved it."
"I don't understand, how can the two team captains absolutely hate each other yet manage a team?"
"You know your dad and the Davis' are close. The only reason why Davis is team captain is because of that. I bet you if your dad and his dad weren't close I would definitely be team captain."
"My dads making me go to the rink tomorrow. Maybe I'll see if I can watch you practice, I doubt I'll be able to."
"You say that everytime yet your dad never lets you. Did you do something at lax?"
"I know, I know. I just wasn't on top of it at practice today." I sigh, "You know, usually coach Davis would tell my dad if something was going terribly wrong at practice but she didn't so I wasn't completely off. And you know I can't lie so I told him the truth."
"Must suck having Davis' mom as your coach." Jake scoffs.
"No, it really doesn't. She's like a second mom to me." I shrug, "it's just kind of odd that I've known the Davis' my whole life you'd think Colton and I would be close but he never comes over when his parents are over and everytime we're at a family party he goes off with his own group of people."
"And then you and I sit in the corner." Jake adds.
"That's true." I laugh.
"You haven't come to any of my hockey games."
"I've had fall training. Weight lifting and stuff."
"You can at least come to one game."
"If you talk to my dad about it, gladly."
"I don't understand. If Coach Davis isn't up your ass about it, why is your dad?"
"Because my dad pushed my brother so much in hockey that he plays in the NHL, he thinks if he does the same for me I'll be in the WPLL. Little does he know I'm afraid I'm going to get sick and tired of lacrosse."
"But you love lacrosse."
"I'm also afraid he's gonna say that if it ever comes to the point where I tell him I don't want to do it anymore." I turn my attention to what's going on on the tv, "I do love lacrosse, a lot. But if my dad trains me just to win all the time, I'm not going to enjoy it. It's not always about winning."
"Our hockey team was undefeated last season. This season it's not going so well. I feel like coach gets us so used to winning that when we lose we lose a bit of hope I guess."
"Exactly what I don't want to happen."
"We both had a rough day so let's just lay back and watch the movie." Jake says rubbing my shoulders.
_____
Jake has already left and I'm finishing the last few minutes of Home Alone.
There's a knock at my door.
"Come in!" I yell.
My dad pokes his head through the door.
"Dinner's ready." He says before shutting the door.
And that's my queue to go downstairs to get dinner.
I roll out of my comfortable bed and grab my phone on my nightstand. I walk over to my door and grab my robe. I put it on and the goosebumps on my arms disappears once the heat engulfs me.
I walk downstairs and into the kitchen. I'm greeted by Mr and Mrs Davis and to my surprise, Colton.
"Uh....hi!" I greet Mr and Mrs Davis as I quickly pull my robe around me and tie it around my waist. "I uh, wasn't expecting company. Excuse my appearance."
Coach Davis pulls me into a huge embrace. I really appreciate it, she gives the best hugs. "You did really good at practice today." She says. Her real name is Maria.
"Lia told me she wasn't doing to well." I hear my dad say as he joins us in the kitchen. "She's coming to the rink with me tomorrow."
"She was doing very well, she could probably practice on some trick shots. Do you mind if Lilly Tags along?" Maria asks both my dad and I.
Lillian Miller is my best friend. She's also plays on the same lacrosse team as me. Her family is also close with mine, we basically grew up together.
"I could use the company." I tell Maria.
"I don't see why not considering Lia has been doing well apparently." My dad says, "we're going to the rink at 8:00am, no later. Tell Lilly that and if she has to sleep over then she can."
"Colton! Get over here!" Maria says. The dads proceed to talk. Colton picks himself up from the chair he was sitting in and drags himself over, "properly introduce yourself." Maria says stepping out of the way.
Colton reaches his hand out which I take, "Colton Davis." He shakes my hand.
"Merlia Johnson." I greet. Neither of us smile. I drop his hand first. We very much know who each other are.
"Jake Reed's girlfriend." He clicks his tongue. "Whole hockey team hears about you all the time. Not to mention my mom wants you to marry me." He rolls his eyes.
I feel myself smile. A little uncomfortable since Coach Davis is watching both of us. I completely ignore the last part of that.
"Good to know. I doubt you have anyone to gloat about." I cross my arms. I try to keep myself from smirking. I just took the first bite at Colton.
"I'll uh, leave you kids to it." Coach Davis says patting us both.
"Please, different girl everyday." He narrows his eyes.
"Yeah I really don't think an STD is something to brag about."
"Lia." My das interrupts, "dinner time." He motions towards the table.
"I'm gonna go change really quick." I tell him and he nods.
I turn on my heels and run upstairs.
I walk into my closet and and a sweatshirt. I put the grey quarter zip sweatshirt. I pick up my robe that was previously laying on the ground and walk over to my door and hang it up. I feel more secure with the baggy sweatshirt covering more surface area of my body.
I run downstairs and join everyone at the table. I'm sitting across from Colton and next to Coach Davis.
"Tell me, hows the boyfriend?" Coach Davis asks.
"Honestly. He's been great and all but he's like starting to hang out with me less I guess." I shrug.
"They used to hang out all the time." My dad adds.
"Maybe he just needs a little space. Some people can get sick of hanging out all the time but at least he still makes time for you." Coach Davis says.
"I guess you're right. I get to go to the rink with my dad tomorrow so maybe I can see him then. He was excited when I told him." I smile.
"Have you been to any of his games?" Mr. Davis asks.
"No." I sigh.
"He doesn't need that kind of a distraction." My dad days.
"I personally think they're a motivation. You don't exactly want to lose in front of your boyfriend or girlfriend." Mr. Davis says. "But it's your team coach." He clears his throat.
"I don't see Merlia inviting Jake to her games." Coach Davis says.
"I do, he doesn't have time because of hockey he says."
"That's what we always say, you'd be disapp-" Colton begins to say.
"The food is really good Tom." Mr. Davis cuts off.
"Thank you!" My dad says and the adults go into a full conversation about how my dad made this delicious dinner.
I feel Coach Davis grab my hand under the table as I have dropped my utensils on the plate from our previous conversation. She gives it a reassuring squeeze and I smile in her direction. She returns the gesture.
_____
Maria is giving me another one of her best hugs.
"You know you can text or call if you're having boy problems." She says while still hugging me.
"Will do." I say truthfully.
We pull away from the hug and she kisses my forehead.
We all say our goodbyes and the Davis' walk out our front door.
"You text Lilly and I'll go text her parents." My dad says walking into his office.
He's shuts his office door meaning he does not want to be bothered for the rest of the night unless I really need something.
I shoot Lilly a text about sleeping over and trick shot practices tomorrow.
I then proceed to make my way upstairs into my room.
I plop into my bed and wait for a text back from Lilly as I binge Greys Anatomy. I hear my phone buzz so I pick it up.
Oh dear...
__________
•End•