Rougher and Tougher

The fact that every draftee was giving me death glares all the way to the locker room wasn't out of normal, but no matter how long I'd gotten used to it- it was still unsettling, and threw me off my game a little. Ever since breakfast I'd been the focus of every player, and their parents as I sat alone in the corner of the small restaurant in the lobby of the hotel. I heard the whispering, I saw the pointed fingers but, I tried to look like I didn't notice.

I paused as I got to the doorway of the locker room. I needed a second to psych myself up, I could already feel the glares and murmuring. I let out a shaky breath, and walked through the doorway, and took a sharp right. I came into a large circulaire room, with many of the east and west players already pooling around their lockers. As I predicted, most of the eyes in the room fell on me, but I brushed it off and moved to my locker. My number was 19, so it was one of the first to find in the semi circle of lockers. I rolled my eyes as one of the players whispered something to his friend loud enough for me to make out 'paid off' and 'cheat'.

I laid my bag on the bench, and begun, self-consciously peeling my shirt off as fast as I could so I could get my under armor on and just get out to the ice. I pulled on my under armor pants, and t-shirt on, then my pants, shoulders pads, shin guards, elbow guards. I made sure to tape my shin guards, I hated using tape- but it was worth the sacrifice. My routine was all the same, ever since timbits- left skate first, then right; skate guards, jersey, mouth guard, helmet, gloves, then finally stick. I had promised my parents the day I started bantam that I'd never play without a cage, even though it makes me look like a total idiot- I still wear it. I sighed, as I snapped the metal cage into place. Half of the guys that had been in the locker room when I had came in were already out on the ice so, I followed them out there.

I didn't have a plan, but I assumed my strategy was to stay quiet, and make it seem like I didn't exist. But as I pushed out onto the ice, the looks both players and trainers gave me were next to welcoming or friendly. At that moment, I came to terms with the fact that I was an easy target for anyone. I had no friends, as of this morning, I had no family here, as of two days, and it seemed as if the only person that acted like they wanted me here was the scout. I was so fucked.

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My uneven breath came out in small white puffs as I was passed the puck by some other forward, and took a backhanded shot on net which, the goalie couldn't seem to stop. It wasn't the most productive practice ever, we were just reviewing what I already knew. The plays were ones I learned from my Midget coach last year. I had been mastering these plays for a full year. Couldn't I get something that was a little bit harder? I mean, I was in the NHL training camp- this was just a normal practice for me, only I had less friends and way more people who wanted to send a puck in my face. I missed the Drakkar players already, with their stupid dirty jokes and pranks, played on each other throughout the season.

A trainer, who was approaching and helping some of the presumed defencemen, glided over to me, giving me a surprisingly happy smile. I hadn't seen anyone that happy to see me since Randy, the scout.

"I have a feeling you've done these drills, and plays before," He said, his voice matching his happy demeanor to a tee. He must be lying, I thought, no one is happy to see the girl player.

I nodded, "My Midget coach, in the Drakkar taught me these because I'd mastered all of the less skilled plays for forwards. I got most of my goals with these drills." I explained, eyeing him as if he'd burst out laughing and skate away as if I'd given him the laugh of a lifetime. I was expecting him to be more condescending about me being obviously better than most of these defencemen.

"Well, I'm glad to see at least one of the forwards taking interest, even if you have done everything." He said, and I gave a dry chuckle.

"I'm a defencemen." I sighed, and he gave me an odd look, that resembled surprise but had a little bit of disbelief mixed in.

"Really?" He sounded very intrigued, and I could see why. I mean, it's not every day a (if I may say so myself) talented young player who could be a forward or a defencemen walks into a draft and is also a girl. I sounded conceited, and self-centered but I was a good player, I mean, that's what landed me here. But by popular belief, I paid someone high up off and got myself a spot.

I nodded, and he opened his mouth, but quickly shut it again. I wondered what he was about to say but, didn't have time to ask as a he spoke, "Half of them think you paid someone off," He paused while I rolled my eyes, predictable, "The other half- just thinks you're an amazing player who deserves to be given a chance."

As he begun to skate away, he turned back, "Don't think everyone is against you, because they're not." And with that he skate back to the mass crowd of players waiting for something more interesting to do.

Notes

I know, I know- short chapter (again), but it's late and you guessed it, I'm tired. So good night...... or morning, or afternoon. Whateves.