PART EIGHTY-ONE: REUNION GAME

About a week after Halloween, Tess called me with some interesting news. Apparently, our ex teammates wanted to get together and have a hockey game, despite the fact that we weren’t on a team with regular practices anymore. It had been decided that if we were to participate in the game, we would be playing against one of our biggest rivals - the Panthers. They were fighters, and they didn’t hold back at all. I wasn’t exactly pleased to hear that we would have to play them.
“I don’t know if I’m ready to play them of all teams. When is this game supposed to happen?” I asked Tess, hopeful that we would have plenty of time to prepare.
“Next week.”
“Next week?! Do you know how long it’s been since I’ve played a hockey game?!” I complained.
“I know, I know, but next weekend apparently was the date that worked best for everyone. Do you have time to get out and practice?” Tess wondered.
“A little. But I guess a little is better than nothing.”
“Well, we’ve been playing our whole lives. We don’t need much time to get ready for it anyways. We can take them. They may be meaner and stronger but we’re smarter and faster,” Tess decided.
“Yeah, you’re right. It’ll probably be fine.”
After I told Patrick about the hockey game, we decided to stay after practices when we could so I could get back into the groove of playing. I honestly was excited for the game. I hadn’t even skated in what felt like forever, and I couldn’t wait to play the sport I loved the most once again, even if it was only for one game.
“Do you have all your gear?” Pat asked after practice the next day. I met him in the locker room after his teammates were done changing. He was already suited up for hockey, but I definitely wasn’t. Once everyone had left, I decided to use the locker room to change.
“Yep.” I emptied my hockey bag and began to change.
“Well, this is a nice view,” he smirked as I stripped out of my work clothes and into bulky padding and my jersey from the year before.
“Oh, shut up,” I scolded him, tossing my shirt at his face. A couple minutes later, I was dressed and ready to go. It actually felt really normal to walk out to the ice in my skates. Once we got on the ice, it just felt like my season had started again. Skating was something a person never forgot how to do once they had mastered it, much like riding a bike. It was also something that I never took for granted. I didn’t realize how bad my withdrawals had been. I glided over the slick surface so easily, and the scrapes of my blades on it made me smile. I had always loved that sound.
“You should do this more often,” Patrick grinned as he watched me skate around with a smile on my face. “How come you’ve never stayed after to skate or play? I know you miss it.”
“I never had a valid excuse to waste my free time with it,” I told him as I did laps.
“Well, now you do, so make the most of it,” he advised me. “Let me know when you’re ready for a puck and your stick.”
I adjusted to skating for a few more minutes before I grabbed my gloves, stick, and a puck to get some practice in. I stick-handled the puck for a while, almost embarrassed with my skills after Patrick had practically become a stick-handling legend. We passed it back and forth to each other and I took some shots, and then we started combining everything and making it more game-like. Before I knew it, almost two hours had passed. The only reason I even looked at the time was because my stomach was growling. It was past lunch time, so we changed and headed home to eat.
Patrick and I had another practice together the next day and Tess joined me for a practice as well. I even practiced by myself once while the Hawks were at dinner together. I put in as much time as I could, and it definitely helped. It took a bit of time, but I got back into the swing of things, and I honestly felt like I had potential to do well during the game. All that was left was a team practice the day of, followed by the match up later.

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Patrick’s POV

“Do you feel ready?” I asked. The hockey game between Lena’s team and the Panthers was about to start, and she had a bit of time beforehand to talk.
“Yeah, I’m ready,” she decided. “I think we all are.” They did seem to have a really good practice, being that they hadn’t all played together in a very long time. I wasn’t sure about their opponents yet, but I knew Lena and her teammates were looking good on the ice.
“You guys will do fine. Just remember: don’t change your game because of them. Just because they’re being rough, doesn’t mean you have to suddenly become more aggressive than normal to match up with them. Stick to your strengths and what you know. That’s what’s going to get you a win,” Brian, Lena’s brother, said. He hadn’t been around much due to the fact that he was an elementary school teacher and school was in session. However, it was a weekend and he was able to make arrangements for the game. He never missed Lena’s games if he didn’t have to, and this one was a special one.
“Alright, coach,” Lena chuckled.
“Hey, I think your captain wants you. You better go,” Brian noticed. “Good luck, sis.”
“Thanks, Bri.”
“Good luck, Lean,” I said, pressing my lips against hers. She pulled away and went over to her captain and team, and I went to my seat next to Brian and Jonathan, who had come to support Tess. I saw some girls on the other team looking and whispering, and I prayed that my coming wouldn’t affect the game in a negative way.
The game started off alright. It was a good, clean game of hockey for the most part, without many unfair hits. But, of course, it got heated. Lena was the first one to score, and apparently her goal pissed the others off. They couldn’t get back at her during the first period, but they did during the second. I saw a rather muscular player chirping at Lena, probably trying to get into her head. Lena responded, but I couldn’t hear anything they were saying. They kept at it for a few minutes until finally the girl got a chance for a hit. She slammed Lena hard into the boards and scored right afterwards. Her team celebrated, but Lena’s head had collided with the boards, more so than any other part of her body. She hadn’t gotten up yet. In fact, she wasn’t really even moving…
I immediately stood up and got out of my seat. I made my way through the people who were standing up and trying to get a good look at Lena
“Excuse me, excuse me, not to be rude, but can you PLEASE move? That’s my fiancé out there!”

After that, people didn’t have any trouble listening, and when Brian assured them that he was her brother, they let him through without hesitation too. When we reached the ice, things weren’t looking good. Lena was completely unconscious. She wouldn’t respond or move or anything. I had a feeling I knew what was going on, but there was no way to be sure until she got to the hospital. We called an ambulance and I decided I needed to talk to number nine, the girl who had hit Lena. But, it looked like that was already being taken care of. Tess had beat me to it. She was visibly upset, but all she was doing for the time being was arguing with the girl. The game would continue on without Lena, so I was sure Tess would do more about it when she got the chance. As for me, I just wanted to make sure my girlfriend was okay.

Notes