The thought suddenly crosses my mind to get outta Dodge and apply at other schools, but I can’t leave Boston. I worked my ass off trying out for the team, and for once, my family let me decide where I wanted to go to college. I don’t even want to think about starting back on the bottom again. Otherwise, I would’ve left a long time ago. Besides, who wouldn’t love the crisp Boston air? The Bruins is my dream team to skate for, so I’m not going anywhere.
I toss my hockey bag over my shoulder, and its weight slows my fast pace, just another reminder of how practice went today. Beast walks past me like a stampede of angry bulls before swinging around and planting himself in front of my path once again. I blow out an irritated breath and widen my stance with my arms crossed over my chest, my body language saying ‘back the fuck off or be prepared for a beating.’ He matches my scowl until he throws his hands up in the air with an ‘I give up’ look thrown my way.
“You need to go out, drink a little—or a lot until you pass out—and fuck her memory out of your system,” he grumbles out, stroking his beard with a faraway look in his eyes, but I’m already shaking my head in denial.
Can’t a man just play hockey and be left alone? I’d happily die a single old man just so I don’t make myself look like an idiot again. There’s this deep part of myself that’s always angry, and the feeling wells up until it wants to grab a hold of me and release itself. I’ve been stabbed in the back too many times. My family thinks hockey is all a dream that I’ll get over one day to join the family business at the law firm. I don’t even think my parents have been to any of my games and never plan on going—talk about support. Skating on the ice is all I have, it’s who I am. Maybe I do need a fucking drink, because I can feel my blood boiling at the thought of my father and mother, plus the reminder of Victoria and all that I’ve lost in the back of my mind.
“I don’t know, man. We need to fix the team, plus I have to study for that quiz on Monday. Economics is frying my brain with all the bullshit, and it hasn’t even started yet.” I groan at the thought of more school work. I’m going to fall behind.
Beast raises an eyebrow, and his grizzly face scrunches up at my self-pity party. He can hear the excuses coming out of my mouth. Running a hand down my face in frustration, I think maybe a drink wouldn’t be so bad. I could lose myself in oblivion for a while. It’s just one day. I watch as the fucker’s bearded face starts to spread into a smug face as he sees me change my mind.
“Party at the frat house Saturday. You’ll be there, even if I have to drag your sorry ass there. No more, bro. Get drunk and eat some pussy. Then your game will come back, both on the ice and off. I have your back, brother,” he says with a fist bump before moving past me.
He pounds on my back and heads in the opposite direction towards the college dorms. I make my way to my apartment a few blocks away. I have a little while to work out some more and get ready before class starts. Out of the corner of my eye, I swear I see a flash of pink hair dart into the popular coffee shop on campus across the street. Great, now I’m seeing her even when she’s not there. I mentally slap myself as I walk faster to escape my own thoughts. This weekend might actually help. It better, or I don’t know what the hell I’m going to do.
3
Kat
With a relieved sigh, I drop my bag of crap I need for classes and my books on the floor next to my classroom chair. My shoulders gradually start to relax as I take a sip of my coffee and thank the heavens I didn’t run into that jerk again as I saw him outside the café across the street. I ran into the coffee shop like my butt was on fire, and didn’t come out until I had my coffee and made sure he wasn’t around. I was so worried for a few minutes that I thought I would be there all day and miss class, but small miracles happen and I got out just in time to run across campus. Looking around, I notice I’m pretty early because only a few seats are filled with eager freshman students. Shaking my head, I wish someone would have told me to not appear too eager on your first day back when I first started college. The professor for this class is very passionate, loud, and she will single-handedly pick on you just to bring you down a peg if you're not paying attention. Beware, Miss Barnet—bitter and cranky, with a dash of hot mess. This is my fourth and final year, just a few more classes and I’m a free bird. Graduating with a degree in business management isn’t the most exciting thing, but making a living out of figure skating is just an Olympic-sized dream too far away to reach.
The rows of seats start to fill up and voices echo off the walls as more students file in, along with Miss Barnet. She doesn’t even wait for class to officially start before she begins the lecture. I
