It's Maggie Brooks's first year at Eden Hall Academy and she can't wait to dive into a school year full of fun. Down to earth and understanding good girl, Maggie finds herself getting into a crowd her brother and his friends don't necessarily want...
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Maggie hadn't questioned the entire Varsity take JV to dinner. It wasn't any of her business and she knew as a sister and friend, it wasn't her right to step into such a thing. She knew of the tension and pranks between the teams, it was clear during the days that passed. She'd seen Rick and Cole run after Charlie and Fulton, it was obvious those four had the most beef, especially Charlie Conway.
It was the end of the day and the JV team had a hockey practice, which wasn't going the smoothest, when was it? Charlie Conway had gone to the penalty box several times for his attitude towards the man who was trying to teach them the game of hockey. The rest of the kids were getting along well and most didn't speak back, simply listening and putting in the effort to play. Not all of them were pros when it came to the two way hockey learning curve, especially stubborn people like Charlie who attached to the past.
Maggie carefully closed the large door to the arena and wandered inside quietly. Neveah led the way quietly, eating from a bag of chips. The girl could never gain any weight and ate everything she wanted when she wanted, it annoyed Maggie and her friends sometimes. The two freshmen stopped by the bleachers, watching the people skate around the ice.
"I don't remember Orion being this loud a few years back." Neveah said.
Maggie nodded in agreement. "My brother and his friends though were already playing two way hockey, it was just a matter of perfecting it."
"Let me guess, these guys are being taught it?"
With a nod, Maggie grabbed onto the steel railing and swung herself around, walking up the few steps and sat down on the bleacher bench. Neveah followed and sat down beside, crossing a leg over the other, as they watched. Maggie didn't realize the different personalities and abilities when it came to this group of kids.
She knew they were talented because of their scholarship and victories, but she hadn't ever taken the time to get to know them. Know their ways of playing, their styles and teamwork, which was lacking quite a bit. She didn't see any practice jersey with the letter 'C', so, she wondered who was captain and who ever it was was doing a pretty bad job.
The whistle blew and both girls turned to look at each other, covering their ears from the pitched noise, before turning back to face the ice. Coach Orion skated away from center ice towards the goalie crease where Julie got off the ground. "How many times do I have to say not to pass through the middle?!" He raised his voice.
"Shoul-" Averman began, but Orion stared over to him. "I'll be quiet."
The man nods and skates around, picking up the puck. "That's a free shot to the other team." He looked around, Charlie sighing as he looked around. "You pass anywhere in this zone," He points around at the area in front of the net. "You're letting them win. You pass it out! Out! Is that clear?"
"Yes."
"Yep."
"Okay."
"Face off right corner." He demanded.
Charlie lifted his head, noticing the two girls, but looked away with a head shake. He wasn't quite mad at them, but because he was already mad at Coach Orion and his teaching skills, he wasn't too happy when he'd seen Maggie and Neveah. Neither girl had seen his stare on them, they were busy watching the few players set up for the face off.
Charlie had approached the plate with Guy in front of him. To their right stood Fulton and Russ, to their left Dwayne and Luis. The rest remained on the outer out skirts of the circle, waiting. Coach Orion watched and looked around at the kids before he dropped the puck quickly, remained still and watched the kids fight for the puck.
"Stop!" He whistled. Charlie rolled his eyes and skated in a loop, Guy glanced up with a raised brow, lifting his helmet, much like everyone else. "What the hell was that Conway?"
"I was-"
"No. There no 'was', it's 'is'. You dig for that puck. You give it all you got or else that guy in front of you will take you out. He will win." He eyed the boy.
"Whatever... Averman." He said and skated off, the redhead switched with him and Orion didn't bother to say anything, though, it was on the end of his tongue.
When the puck had dropped, Guy won the faceoff after knocking Averman back and swiped it. Dwayne skated out, passing the puck between himself before noticing Connie, who tapped her stick. When she was open, he darted Averman's lunge towards him and passed the puck across to her.
Kind about it, Fulton hit Connie into the boards before he passed the puck off to Luis. He cleared pass the blue line before setting up a play. Neveah understood the game, but didn't care for knowing rules. She cheered whenever the ref said something or a goal was scored. Maggie sighed, this was messy, not just the Coach raising his voice, but the playing too.
When the practice had finished, Coach Orion explained he wanted twenty sprints before the kids left for the showers. Coach Orion stepped off the side and placed the protective guards on the blades of his skates. He noticed the two girls getting up from their seats and stopped in his tracks, motioning for them to see him.
He was slightly skeptical on why they were there. Those two rarely went to the sporting events, which got him curious if they were there to support this team, watch them, or here for other reasons. "What brings you two here?" He asked. "You both weren't much for sports." He recalled.
The girls nodded, the skaters watching the exchange as they skated back and forth from one end of the rink to the other. Neither girl could lie and say they'd come to see Varsity because Orion knew well that they both knew of Varsity's schedule because of Maggie's brother being on the team. "We came to ask you something." Neveah began.
Maggie didn't have anything to say, but remained quiet. Orion placed his arms across his chest. "Go ahead."
"So, when playing this two way hockey, can you still like hook and stuff?" She asked.
Orion wanted to laugh at her lack of knowledge, but didn't, remaining serious. "Hooking is illegal no matter what style you play in hockey." He told her.
She nods. "So, no?"
"Yes." He nods. "Have yourselves a good night and I suggest you two get going yourselves, these guys have to hit the showers and get to their studies." He points.
"We sure will, Coach. Thanks." Maggie smiled and the man nodded before he wandered off.
Neveah and Maggie looked at each with wide eyes, wondering what just happened with that exchange, they began to laugh as they held onto one another's hands. The kids on the ice hadn't said anything, just kept watching, all but one. Guess who?
