"𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗰𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿." || 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗺 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀

02 | the game.

i was waiting for a lecture about that car on the ice, but mom kept silent. we walked all the way home in awkward silence, and as soon as we got home we all just went to our bedrooms. i decided to call Connie, because i was bored and there's nothing better to do. she said that she asked coach if he was going to be at the game that we have tomorrow, and he said yeah. so that's great, actually having a coach and not having to forfeit.

~the game~

we watch the Hawks train and practice on the ice, in terror. we're going to loose, we always do, even when we did have a coach. we've never won a single game. Larson and McGill come up to us, "hi, girls!" Larson says to me and Connie and our faces turn to disgust. Guy and Charlie try to get out on the ice to do who knows what to them, but the other guys stop them, the bullies giggling and skating away. coach Bombay comes down to the benches, and we watch the Hawks chant. "win! win! win! win! win! win!" they chant. "alright guys, gather around. win! win! win! win!" Bombay tries to chant with us but none of the team follows along with him.

the game's about to start and the Hawks tap the goalie with their stick before getting into positions. we do the same, Goldberg saying "ouch!" after every one of us. Charlie's the last one, and he hits him a little to hard because he falls over onto the ice. "oh! sorry, i didn't mean to do that." Charlie apologizes after turning around to help Goldberg up. "oh, yeah, 'i didn't mean to completely knock you over with my stick'!" Goldberg mocks. the boys chatter at each other, arguing. Charlie hits Greg's helmet and pads with the stick, "oh, sorry Goldberg, i didn't mean to! oops!" Charlie says sarcastically. "would you get off me before i clock you?!" Goldberg threatens my brother.

the game is getting ready to start, and the ref brings the people in. Terry, Jesse, and Guy from our team go in, and McGill from the Hawks. "what's this? the Oreo line?" McGill teases. "BOY I OUTTA-" i start, skating over to McGill. that's straight up racism, even if he's not trying to be. Charlie and Connie stop me and put me back in my place. "but that was fucking racism!" i complain. "i know, but let's play hockey. you can kill him after the game, alright?" my brother replies. i nod and they skate back into their positions too. "hum, batter batter, hum, batter batter, hey, batter batter, hey, batter batter, swing, batter batter, hum batter batter, hey batter batter-" i hear Averman chanting/mumbling. "AVERMAN! it's hockey, there's no batter. idiot." coach lectures.

"hum, goalie goalie, hum goalie goalie, hey, goalie goalie, hey, goalie goalie, save, goalie goalie, hey, goalie goalie, hum, goalie goalie!"

Larson pushes Guy down, and the others try to get the puck but all slip and fall. i face palm at my dumb teammates.

~

it's halfway through the game, and we're getting crushed. i'm coming to the bench, cause the coach of the Hawks called a line change. "good show, sloppy pass." the coach says to his players. "way to stuff it, Banks!" he continues as a player comes in. he sits on the bench next to the glass, and i sit on the bench next to the glass thats separating the two team's benches on my side. i take my helmet off and place it next to me, my braid falling down that Connie had done earlier this morning. 'Banks' takes his helmet off too and sits it next to him as well. i look at him, and he looks at me. we make eye contact and i look him up and down with a dirty look plastered across my face. i then glare at him harshly, and he just smirks and turns to talk to one of his teammates.

after a few minutes,

"alright, line change, let's go." coach demands and i hop over the wall thats separating the ice and the benches. the boy from earlier has the puck and goes straight at Goldberg with it. "Banks! Banks! Banks! Banks!" the crowd cheers and i roll my eyes. he circles around the goal, "hey, come back here!" Goldberg demands, like he's going to listen. Goldberg's distracted and Banks puts it in, the whistle blowing and his team hugging and giving him high fives. it's half-time, so we are all drinking water and resting until we get crushed again.

"how lazy can you be?! they're killing us out there!" coach says, snatching Goldberg's water bottle. "how many times do i have to tell you, to get those rebounds, get your heads up, get those loose pucks, get-" he gets cut off by the whistle. "get- just get the hell out of here." he says with defeat.

Charlie gets the puck and starts skating to the Hawks' goal. coach stands up, "alright!" he mutters. "this is Spazway. he'll screw up!" Karp says with negativity. he's so close and i cross my fingers that he'll make it. nope. the swing misses and hits air, the puck stopping and Charlie going right into the wall. he stands up, and McGill runs right into him, making him grunt and fall again. "THATS IT!" i scream, throwing my gloves off onto the ice and skating full speed towards the Hawk. "OLIVE NO!!" i hear my team shout. i get to the two boys and grab the back of McGill's jersey, and throw him to the ground. i get on top of him and start punching him in the face, him starting to scream and cry. blood trickles down his nose before someone grabs me. i spin my head around and it's the ref. "let me go! i'm not done!" i scream, trying to wiggle out of his grip. some of the Hawks and medics come and take the boy away on a stretcher, out of the rink. "THAT'LL TEACH YOU TO MESS WITH MY BROTHER!" i scream at the door before it's closed and McGill is gone.

i finally realize where i am and look around me at the entire crowd, all of the Hawks, and my entire team staring at me in silence. this is the quietest a hockey rink has ever been. i pull off of the ref and skate out of the ice, into the locker room. i sit there with my head in my palms, feeling regret but also not at the same time. i couldn't handle it anymore, those Hawks are bullies and when you mess with one Conway, you've gotta mess with the other. i snap out of my thoughts when my team walks into the locker room in silence. Connie and Charlie sit on either side of me and i take Connie's hand and squeeze it. "i'm sorry, guys. i just couldn't take it anymore. they messed with my twin and i-" i start. "Liv, don't be sorry. we get it." Guy stops me. "yeah. that was really brave and badass of you." Connie compliments. "yeah. thank you, by the way. you went completely ballistic after he touched me, and i thank you for that. you stood up for me." Charlie thanks. "of corse. what are siblings for? only i'm aloud to beat you up." i joke and elbow him slightly in the rib, getting laughs from the team. Bombay walks in, "the game's over because they're down a player. we lost." he says with defeat. he starts walking towards me and i get scared, thinking he's going to lecture me or something. he stops and crouches down to my level, since i'm sitting on a bench.

and to my surprise, he holds out his hand, showing his palm. i give him a confused look before a smile and i high-five him back, the whole team cheering with happiness.