
What Kind of Job
Recovery
James' POV.
It's been a four of weeks since my injury now, some days I feel great, others I feel like crap. I've been working out and jogging daily, and I've been spending most of my time with April and my brother Mark. Mark and I used to play hockey together when we were younger, but ever since I started playing professional hockey we've stopped. Today Mark, April and I are gonna play some ball hockey in a room I rented. I haven't played hockey since my injury, although I do have my first practice tomorrow. I don't know if I'll go in net or not. I want to but it might be to easy.
April's POV.
James has convinced me to play hockey with him and his brother. He said I could invite somebody, but the only person I would invite is Natalie and she would probably be all over James because she's a huge fan. Natalie doesn't even know I know James, it would probably be like the best surprise ever!
I ended up inviting her but she was very confused as to why I wanted to play hockey. I told her I wouldn't be completely Canadian if I never tried the sport. She got a good chuckle out of that.
James' POV.
April told me she's inviting a friend that's a hockey nut. Apparently she absolutely loves the leafs, and I'm her favorite goalie. Apparently this girl doesn't know I'm April's neighbor and this is how she's gonna find out.
When the girls show up me and Mark already have the nets set up. A few more friends are coming because you really need at least 8 people to make it interesting. When April's friend sees me her jaw drops, I laugh a little to myself then greet her. "Hello, I'm James Reimer, this is my Brother Mark. You must be my neighbor April's friend." I put my hand out for her to shake.
"Hello I'm Natalie it's nice to meet you." She shakes my hand but she's in shock. I'm seriously trying so hard not to laugh.
The other guys show up, now we can really start. "So." I say to our group of friends. "Who are the goalies gonna be?"
April and Natalie look confused. "Aren't you gonna be a goalie?" April asks.
"No, I'm in the NHL and not only would it be unfair for the opposite team but it'd be very boring for me."
Mark laughs. "Ever since he's played his first AHL game he's been like this."
April's POV.
Mark and one of his friends were the goalies. We played for an hour and it was lots of fun. Even though James is a goalie he was probably the best scorer in the group. He told me because he's a goalie he knows how to get around a goalie. Me and Mark are going with him to the rink tomorrow. He is gonna have his first practice since the injury, but it's just gonna be him and a trainer. I've never actually seen him play, I saw the injury and the save before it but that's it.
Mark took the three of us to the rink, James told us where to go then left us and went to change. It's not the rink they play at, it's just the practice rink so there are very few places to sit. The second James steps on the ice he begins skating around and round as fast as he possibly can with tons of goalie gear on. After maybe two minutes of straight skating he gets a drink and starts stretching. He's pretty flexible, but I guess all hockey goalies are. After a while of stretching he goes over to the net and faces shot after shot from the trainer. He practices for 45 minutes, then we go out for a meal. The second we get home he goes to bed.
James' POV.
Practice was harder then I remember. My head is pounding and all I want to do is sleep but I've been sleeping for a while already so I force myself to get up. It's 4pm now, I've had a 4 hour nap on top of a good nights sleep and I'm still exhausted. It's been two weeks and I still can't play.
After two week and a few more practices with the trainer I'm ready to travel and practice with the guys, I won't be dressing for games but it's a start. Ron informed me but didn't tell the guys, he told me to come late so I could surprise the guys. When I stepped on the ice I got mobbed by my teammates, I'd never been so happy to be with them. For now there would be three goalies at all practices, and at this point I was the worst! I hadn't practiced in so long that I was having so much trouble keeping up with the guys, I pushed through it knowing the faster I caught up the faster I could play.
Notes
Things keep coming to mind and I don't really know where to stop. I have a random joke for those who bother reading these notes, I know I never do!
Why did they tomato blush?
I'll write the answer at the end of the next chapter.