Behind Blue Eyes

Chapter Twenty-Six - Behind the Sea

If anyone would like to write a description for this story, please message me! I'm looking for a knew description, and I'm not very good at writing them!

---

Matt's POV

---

"You have to promise not to tell Reagan a thing I said to you last night," Gabe begged.

Currently, we're about fifteen minutes late for pregame skate. And we were in a slight rush, so most of what Gabe was saying was deafened by the blistering wind blowing by as we rushed towards the Pepsi Center.

"Because, I know you and Reagan are buds."

"Uh, yeah, okay," I yelled over the loud wind, pulling the collar of my jacket upwards slightly to keep the wind from going down my shirt. Considering it's only the beginning of October, it felt like December.

"I mean it..." he insisted as we entered the building and wipped off our shoes on the mats near the entrance. I nodded once and lead him towards the locker rooms.

We managed to sneak in just before Roy's walkthrough of the gameplan. Gabe and I nodded along, as did the other guys. I quickly undressed from my jacket, then my suit, then quickly threw on my gear, skates and jersey, and finally tapped my stick. I was ready in a mere twenty minutes... The fastest time I think I've ever gotten ready.

"Matt, let's go," Gabe called, tapping his stick lightly against the carpeted floor of the dressing room.

"Yeah, yeah," I nodded, sending one last text to Katy, then sliding my phone into my coat pocket promptly.

I followed Gabe onto the ice quickly, gliding on the slippery surface.

Left, right... Left, right...

An adrenaline rush came over my body suddenly, plunging me forward at an alarming pace. A speed that I normally never even used in-game. A speed that I never even believed I could conquer.

Though, I eventually managed to slow down... There's no way I wanted to spend another few months out with an injury. I came to a complete stop as Patrick called is in with a mere blow on his whistle.

"Alright, so here it is..."

He continued to babble on about our routine. A talk that I normally zoned out in, anyways.

"Okay, let's do it!"

For the rest of the practice, I just did what I was told. I stayed away from others, giving myself time alone. Time to think. I was going through a rough patch in my game; only scoring two goals in the last fifteen games. And with my wedding coming up, I had even more on my plate. My wedding... Katy and I had decided to have a winter wedding, sometime in January or February. We'd have it here in Denver, inviting family and friends, and of course the rest of the team.

The practice came to an end quickly, the players from each team piling in one-by-one. I watched around the room as each guy did their thing before the game. On my right, Gabe was whispering something to himself, resting his elbows on his knees and hanging his head. Then, on my left, Tyson was listening to some music. Music with the base loud enough to vibrate my chest. And as for me, I was a mess. I had everything on my mind, and I couldn't keep my mind on the game at hand.

"Are you coming?"

Gabe's voice had brought me back to reality quickly. I looked up from my daydream, only to see the twenty-some guys lined up by the entrance to the ice, resting their sticks upon their bent knees, or gently hopping in place.

"Oh, uh..." my voice trailed off slowly, "Yeah, of course."

I stood up slowly, placing my helmet on my head and grabbing my stick.