~Pucker face~ Charlie Conway

Chapter ten: Rumor Said it Will Happen

School was back in swing and everyone was exhausted. The semester was about to finish, and teachers were bombarding us with every test they could. English, math, history, chemistry. All giving me over fifty questions (or reasons) to hate myself. I did pretty well on most, but chemistry was my weakest subject. Math and science together was just painful.

It was finally the 18th of January. We had two sleeps until the day arrived where the ducks would be watching the puck drop as the clock began to count down.

"Sloane!" Connie said, catching up to me in the hall.

"Hey Con, you headed to get ready for practice?" I greeted.

"Yeah! But Julie and I are having a sleepover in my dorm tonight, and well, you should come!"

"Of course!" I responded.

I had finished the last of any tests I had, and it was time to relax for at least a day. The hockey game was Saturday in the afternoon, it was Thursday.

"Okay! Pack your stuff before practice and we'll go right after we leave the rink!" She said before waving goodbye.

About an hour later, I arrived at the rink with two bags in hand. In the locker room, I managed to shove both in my locker despite all the contents. When on the ice, the girls and I were taking about what we wanted to do that night.

"Heyyy ladies. Heard your having a little soirée tonight...can we come?" Averman said in a sarcastic teasing voice."

"Shove off guys!" Julie said, addressing all the boys standing with Averman.

"Cmon seriously? We just want to have some fun." Luis added.

"Have fun on your own." Connie said in response.

"Right..." Fulton said as Guy tried to get them to stop bothering us girls.

All of this interaction was being followed by an extra pair of eyes in the stands. Linda. When I spotted her halfway through our drills, she gave me a menacing look. Taken aback, I missed my turn to shoot.

I felt like the last few weeks, she had been everywhere. Anytime Charlie and I were in a slight vicinity of each other, she was watching. Eyes shifting quickly like the reflexes of a small mouse. It was a bit off-putting.

Charlie's POV

Complaining is normal for any teenager, boy or girl. We spread rumors, get on each other's nerves, make friends and enemies. It's all just how we get through life.

I had complained about Sloane an awful bunch to Linda, but she didn't mind. That was actually the beginning. Now, it's like she was asking questions, trying to pick out information on the girl. Every time I was out, she was with me. It has become a bit much, a little obsessive.

Today was weirder than anything before. She came to hockey practice with me. Just sat and watched. Although anytime I looked to her, she was looking at the brown haired girl concentrating on the puck.

Finally, we stopped our drills and took a water break. Coincidentally, my stuff was next to Sloane's. I could tell there was a small stare down happening.

"She needs to stop staring at me." She said, continuing to look back across to the stands.

Although this was weird, it's not like she didn't deserve it.