College, Love, and Hockey

Chapter 41

Courtney

After the practice, I waked over to my dorm to get something nice on. I want to talk to Hans and see if he can talk Charlie to coming back.

_________________________

I went to the back and looked in the window. I saw Hans sharpening skates. I went to the door and opened it.

"Hans?" I asked. I walked inside and and closed the door behind me. Hans turned around and smiled.

"Ah, Courtney. Nice to see you." Hans said. I smiled.

"Nice to see you too." I replied.

"Please, please, take a seat." Hans requested. I nodded and we walked to the sitting area. It felt like I was in a cabin. It was warm, like my old apartment. I sat down on the couch while Hans sat in his brown chair. He started to cough.

"Are you okay?" I asked. He stopped coughing.

"Yes, I'm fine." Hans replied. "Now, why are you here?"

"I want to talk about Charlie." Hans smiled.

"Has he asked you to marry him?" Hans implied. I shook my head with wide eyes.

"Oh, no... no... But, he did leave the team. The college too." I replied. Hans sighed.

"I saw it coming." Hans said to himself, then he coughed again. "He came over and started to complain about how the Lightning is nothing like the Ducks. I told him It's not going to be the same. Different Coach, different personalities.

He really didn't like the idea of that. He started to talk about how he's not Captain. How Coach Orion took that from him. Charlie thinks he hates him." Hans said. I shot him a confused look.

"Doesn't Coach Orion hate Charlie?" I asked. Hans laughed.

"Oh, no. He likes Charlie. Orion has been going through some hard times." Hans replied.

"Like what?" I asked, wanting to know more.

"He has a daughter, Christina Orion. They were both in the car going to get some ice cream, when another car smacked into them. Orion was alright, cuts and bruises, but, that one day, changed his daughters life. It paralyzed her. Couldn't move. She needs to be in a wheelchair. He loves his daughter to death.

His other daughter, Linda, killed herself because of bullying. Christina is all he has left." Hans said. He shrugged. "I don't know if that helps."

"Did a great deal, thank you." I said with a soft smile. He smiled.

"Please, visit again, oh! I want to give you something." He got up from his chair and went over to him work area. He turned around and I saw the most amazing pair of skates. It has my name carved into it on the side. "Here, take it." Hans demanded, handing me the skates. I took them, then looked up.

"You didn't-"

"Oh, but I did. I'll see you later. Please visit me tomorrow. I don't know if you'll catch me because I have to go tomorrow, but see me tomorrow." I smiled.

"I will, thank you."