Chapter 17
I keep staring at him, so he continues.
“I mean, I’m pretty sure I’m gonna fuck up on stage a few times. Maybe it’ll cover if you freeze up a bit? I dunno, but I won’t leave you hanging up there We’ll be a team, after all. Besides”
His smile turns sheepish.
“I really do want to see you act. If I must be on the same stage as you to see that happen, then let’s do it. I’m pretty sure I’m going to fuck up a few laves though, hah
The warmth in my chest and face boils red.
-No wonder so many girls fall for him.
When I return to the club the next day, I quietly tell Jonathan that I do it
He still announces in to the others immediately after. Hailey grabs onto my arm and squeals with delight
“Ah. I’m so happy you’ll do it! It’s gonna be gread” She balls her fist excitedly. “Don’t worry, I’ll help you with your lines!TM
“A–Ah–yeah sure.”
Im really not having fun.
are how a stutterer like me will be able to get through it. At least when I stuttered during performances as a little kid, I was still
sure
Still, despite the club knowing that 1 stutter, they don’t seem to mind my choice.
I think maybe I can start having fun with this again
So, I manage to smile at Hailey, who immediately drags me away to practice. She pulls out the script, sitting in front of me on the stage as she says Alex’s lines. He’s training for an upcoming game, so he can’t rehearse our script with me yet:
11
As Halley and I work, it feels like there’s a knot in my chest that’s finally started to loosen. The ease helps me relax.
Though, I startle when my phone goes off. I got too into the zone, I guess.
It’s a message from Alex.
“comin to game!”
“Oooh, that your boy!” Hailey leans in. “I heard they’re having a game tomorrow night. Want to go together?”
“Ah_“Well it would beat sitting there alone. “Yeah. W–What time do y–you want to
“Eh, I can get there pretty early. I’ll save you a seat!”
“Y–Yeah. Thank you.”
With that in mind, I text Alex back
to meet
“nice, see u there”
The next night is full of activity before the game even starts. Though, I understand why people are hyped up about it. The playoffs are just around
The comCr
It’s the game Alex and I started this whole relationship thing for the Redmond Chillers vs the Bernard Saints
It’s a very popular game, so the place is crowded. However, there’s people here to help keep entering and exiting the rink area and bleachers easy
sade. I don’t get crushed by others as I look for Hailey.
1/3
Chapter 17
Many girls on both sides have signs with them. Should I have brought one! Agh, why didn’t I think about in earlier
Eventually, I’m able to see Hailey, the girl waying her arms in the air. I quickly make my way up the stairs and scoot past others to get to the
tch our team ks
“Tambut. My eyes keep stopping on different girls holding up signs. “Ith–ink I’m u–underprepared”
“Underprepped” _Ooch, no sign! I mean, I have one.” Hailey picks hers up and looks at it. She starts biting at her lip a bit before shaking her head “Gomme a sec, 1 can put Alex’s name instead”
she laughs nervously, her mouth twitching. “You’re the one with a boyfriend, right? At least he’ll notice in
After a moment. I smile again. “T–Thanks”
“No prob Let me just.” She pulls a marker out of her bag and changes something on the sign. “There! Good as new?
It’s a sizable thing and hard to namn around with the people around us. Hailey ends up smacking someone with it as she gives it to me, apologizing profusely to them as they grumble. I don’t want to hit anyone by accident, so when Hailey hands it to me. I hold in mill.
The cheering brietly gets louder as referees call the teams to their sides and have them choose their starters. Alex stays on the Seld, covered head to toe in protective gear. He skites over to the center of the rink, facing head–to–head against the other team as he crouches low.
There’s a bear of silence.
The ref blows the whistle and drops the puck, and Alex immediately takes control.
With a
tha wipe, he sends the puck back toward a teammate, and they start an offensive push, shoving forward into the other team’s side. Alex acts as defense, sliding across the ice with ease and keeping the other team away,
Another few swipes and sides, the puck returns to Alex. And he hits it home, bypassing the goaltender with ease
Loutright invigorating! I’ve seen him in practice, but who knew he’d be so powerful in an actual game!
Our side starts cheering, and though I can’t bring myself to yell. I still hold up and shake the sign Hailey gave me.
of God that the Saints pull back from the cavernous gap
By hallume, we already know the Chillers are going to win. It would have to be by some act of in their scores. The other team seems to know it too, seeming frustrated
We all cheer again as the announcers call out the scores. This time, since it’s on break, the players can look up at us and wave back or something Alex, wearing his #19 jersey, looks around until he sees me waving the sign again.
Though, for some reason, he freezes and just stares. A few of the other team members also stare, though I’m not sure why.
Alex asked me to be herr, so what is he getting surprised fort
There’s no way for me to ask yet, though, and the game starts up again.
As our side expected, the Chillers win by a landslide.
The team starts getting off the ice, finally able to take off their helmets safely. Some of the girls nash over, happily hugging and kissing their
should, uhm, take a cue from them. I suppose
iding onto the sign tightly, and with Hailey pushing me forward. I head down to stand in front of him.
myself to do
an extra curl from the sweat, his cheeks ruddy from adrenaline and excitement. My lips press tightly together, unable to get
stare up at him. With the area lights shining behind him, he looks like a warrior.
na so get that I’m not going to move, leaning down and kissing my cheek. I do my best in not accidentally smack him on reflex. Fo
wr just stand there, silent and full of nein
bis brows raised. “You love a bet!”
2:18 PM –
Chapter 17
“Huh!”
“I mean your sign. It’s, ah, pretty fun
“My sign!”
He blinks at me, then looks back toward Hailey. Whatever he sees from her makes
akes him sort. He then takes the sign from me and turns it so I can
l ́s a red sign with thick black lettering on the front. Hailey managed to cover the other name with Alex’s very naturally.
“Alex! Can I hold your stick?” it says, the last two words bolded.
All the heat leaves my body immediately, my cars starting to ring.
“I hate you.”
“I’m so sorry!! I panicked!”
My hands squeeze the steering wheel as I try very, very hard to stay at the speed limit. I want to just speed back home and leave Hailey behind. Screw practicing lines–I’m going to go die of a stroke in my bedroom and be found dead the next morning
“Wh–What is that even-
“I got cold feet, okay?” Hailey pleads through the phone sitting in the car cradle. “Len’s really hot, but he doesn’t know I exist! I was going to that sign to get his attention, but
“Ah. You guinea pigged me. Okay, I hate you.”
“Cynthiaaaa“!”
I grumble as 1 pull up to my house, knowing Hailey’s following after me. But as I do, I realize there’s a familiar car parked in my driveway and someone standing at the door.
Right. It was a school hockey game.
Of course, Oliver was there.
AD
