Chapter 1
The roar of the crowd resonated through the walls of the rink. It came crashing down like thunder on Sydney. The game was at its peak, the tension was indisputable as the final three minutes were ticking away.
The crowd’s focus was on Alistair and Carlin.
They were the stars of the Arctic Bears. The best team in the state.
Their chemistry on the ice was undeniable, it could be their years of working together or just how their individual talents wove together like strands of destiny.
They were close to scoring, Alistair’s face glowed through the helmet with sheer determination as he skated up the ice, hungry for some more points to declare their victory.
The crowd lost their minds anytime he touched the puck. They chanted his name like a mantra. “Alistair! Alistair!”
Carlin was right beside him, he matched Alistair in speed and precision. He skated with ease and talent past the defenders, showcasing effortless finesse.
As the left winger of Arctic Bears, his stick-work was the standard other left wingers aspired to be, and on this glorious night, he gave the crowd what they were hungry for.
The puck danced around the blade in a rhythm the crowd could not keep up with. His moves exposed his calculative personality, showing the spectators why he was the best winger in his generation as he gracefully broke through their opponents’ defense.
Sydney was unable to stand in place, her heart raced as the seconds passed. Her focus, just like the crowd’s, rested on Alistair, her darling team captain, and Carlin, her arrogant player. He was good, and he, unfortunately, knew it.
“Keep it tight, boys!” Sydney shouted, her voice broke through the roar of the crowd, reaching the ears of her players. “Carlin, make sure you’re driving to the net, don’t give them time to react. Alistair, keep pushing the pace. They won’t be able to keep up if you keep the pressure on.”
With lightning speed, Alistair skated down the ice towards the blue line. He met the defensemen head-on, but never could they guess his next moves.
Carlin, with an understanding of Alistair’s play, skated to his left. Without checking to confirm Carlin’s position, Alistair flicked his wrist and the puck flew across the ice and stopped by Carlin’s hockey stick.
This move was like gasoline to the crowd’s already raging fire of excitement.
“Fucker.” Carlin chuckled under his breath.
He continued on his way, guiding the puck with his hockey stick, shifting it from his forehand to his backhand. He moved with speed and agility, taking the goalie by surprise when the puck went between his legs and into the net.
The cheers from the crowd were deafening, to the extent that the walls vibrated like they were about to fall apart.
“Yes!” Sydney pumped her fist in the air, her heart soaring with pride. She stayed focused on the ice, watching her players intently as they proceeded without even acknowledging their goal just now.
This was what she had taught them. They had all night to celebrate their victory, never on the ice.
“Stay sharp, stay focused!” Sydney yelled. “One more minute, and we’re done. Finish strong, finish clean.”
Alistair delivered a look of recognition to her before he turned back to the game. He was in his zone, he could not afford his focus to dwindle even for a second.
The puck dropped for the next faceoff, and Alistair was quick to win it, sending it back to Carlin. The clock was ticking down, and Sydney could barely hold on to her heart. They already secured a win, giving the opponent a good amount of difference. However, the tension that followed the final seconds of the game was impossible to shake off.
With a final push, Carlin broke through the defense once more, thereby throwing the goalie out of position.
With a quick flick of his wrist, he passed the puck to Alistair, who had been trailing behind him the whole time. And Alistair, immediately, in a smooth move, sent the puck into the net.
The buzzer went off immediately, signaling the end of the game. The crowd was going wild, chanting the team’s name, proud that they had not been ridiculed by their team in their own city.
Sydney was already making her way to the ice to meet her players who were already gathered, talking to themselves, cheering themselves on.
“Great job, all of you,” Sydney said, and the players yelled in response. Her face shone with pride as laughter erupted from her, her voice tinged with pride. She gave Alistair a firm pat on the back before turning to Carlin. “You two were perfect. You have the synchronicity many players would pay to have. You executed that last play flawlessly.”
Alistair grinned proudly, his gaze turning to his best friend on his side. “It’s all thanks to him.” Carlin smiled back at him.
Sydney shook her head. “The two of you did good jobs. All of you did!” She patted the backs of some, ruffled the heads of others, and then they all returned to the locker room.
The boys were still in the spirit of celebration. Sydney had long since made her way back to her office seeing as there was no reason to address her players anymore. They had done a great job, a clean victory. They needed a night away from her lectures.
“So, there’s a party at Mason’s house, right?” Zane yelled out the question.
The boys all turned to him. They had been immersed in their own conversations. Silence stretched out before the locker room was thrown into a fit of laughter.
“How can you just put my house out like that?” Mason was too excited to care. Despite his words, his tone carried ease and laughter.
Carlin walked past him and smacked his head. “You’re the only one with your own place, whose house should we host parties at if not yours?”
Mason furrowed his eyebrows. “You and Alistair live together, how come we don’t host parties at your place?”
Carlin scoffed, he leaned against his locker with a cocky smirk. “I dare you.”
The atmosphere was immediately drenched in tension. They all knew Carlin had the temper of a grenade, just a little pull, and he would lose it, so they all tread with caution.
All except Alistair.
“If you don’t want us to have the party at your place, just say it.” Alistair came in with his deep, calm voice that succeeded in easing the situation.
Mason shook his head, chuckling softly. “Nah, I was just playing. I already have the drinks ready.” The boys all roared in joy. “But I’m not gonna clean up alone.”
Alistair nodded his head. His gaze flew across the room and then settled on a couple of players. They had not been on ice, Sydney only put them in the game when she knew their opponents were children.
“Dax and Mark can help.” Alistair pushed them into the role. Their eyes flickered with shock. But they would rather eat grass than disobey their captain.
They feared him more than they did Sydney.
They both nodded their heads.
After the confirmation, Carlin clapped loudly. “If that will be all, gentlemen, I’ll be gone then. I’ll meet you guys in an hour.” As he said, he reached into his locker and grabbed his bag without taking off his jersey. “I have a date I’m bringing to the party.”
Amidst the cheers of the boys, Carlin made his way out, a mischievous smile on his lips.
Sydney pulled up in the garage of her home. The lights were still on, which meant her daughter was in and she was wide awake. It was a Friday night, so Sydney couldn’t care less.
She walked into the house and threw her keys on the coffee table. “Bella!” She walked into the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee for herself.
“Bella!” She called again, this time, louder.
“What?!” A yell came from upstairs. It was soon accompanied by the heavy stomping of footsteps.
Sydney walked out of the kitchen with her cup of coffee, coming face to face with her daughter. Sydney was taken aback by the image in front of her.
“What is this?” She gestured disapprovingly to her daughter’s outfit. A short leather skirt matched with a black bra-like top and knee-high leather boots. The makeup on her face was loud with a touch of rebellion.
Bella shrugged as if the look on her mother’s face was her imagination. “I’m going out for a party with my boyfriend.”
Sydney scoffed. “Boyfriend?”
Bella tilted her head to the right and threw her mother a look. “Don’t tell me you disapprove of that. I am eighteen and I can get a boyfriend.”
Sydney shook her head and walked past her daughter. “You’ll be eighteen in two months.” She corrected. She walked to the coffee table, placed the mug on the table, and then took a seat. “And you’re not going anywhere tonight. Not dressed like that.”
Bella was immediately filled with rage. She huffed and ran up the staircase, but Sydney was wise enough to know that the matter was anything but settled.
She groaned with unwillingness before jumping off the couch.
“You cannot tell me what to do, mom!” Bella yelled, walking down the staircase, this time, with a leather jacket covering her body.
Sydney shook her head with disapproval. “A jacket will not change anything. Aren’t you scared of getting cold?”
“That’s why I have the jacket!” She yelled out. “And also, he has a car, I don’t have to worry about the night wind.”
Sydney furrowed her eyebrows. She was well aware of the financial situation of people in her daughter’s school and year. And with that knowledge, she knew damn well none of those boys could afford a car.
“A car? Does he go to your school?” She inched closer to her daughter.
“He doesn’t.” She replied snarkily. “And I am going out with him whether you want it or not.”
At that time, she heard a car pull up in the driveway. Curious, she walked to the front door and pulled it open.
Her jaw dropped to the floor.
Bella slipped past her mother and stood next to her ‘boyfriend’. Her lips were stretched into a bright smile thinking her mother would approve of her dating someone who owned a car and who looked like he was sculpted by the Greek gods.
Her hand found his waist. “This is my boyfriend, mom. His name is Carlin.”
Carlin.
Her player, Carlin.
“What the fuck?”
