𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨 • 𝗔. 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦

𝐸𝐼𝐺𝐻𝑇

[ n a r r a t o r]

Julie Gaffney sat on her bed. Her breaths catching the loose strands of her blonde hair. Julie had always been the best, or at least that's what everyone told her. But looking at the team, and seeing how good they worked together without her made her heart ache.

It made that knot twist into a tighter in her stomach as she watched them cheer and shout for Goldberg. She came here for a reason and that reason is only yet to be fulfilled.

So as she walked along the stretched halls of the hotel she eased her steps and held her height a little taller. Julies knuckles turning pale as her grip on the strap of her bag became tighter. The anxiety filling her body with the weakened thoughts that crossed her mind on the daily.

She felt her eyes grow heavy and her breaths shakily leave her mouth as she neared Gordon's office. The Gaffney girl tapped the window lightly as her attention caught onto the phone as his voice quietens.

Gordon waves her in, dragging her feet along the floor— listening to it slightly scrape the leather made as it pulled along her body. Gordon sighs softly. "What's up?"

—"I wanna play. When am I gonna get my chance?" It was clear to everyone but her own coach that the girl was having some type of form of mental illness. Just by the thick reddening of her eyes. Or the way her cheekbones grew hollow through days, or maybe it was the way she would pick at her thighs every time she'd get caught into a conversation.

She was sick, and no one knew it or at least no one cared to notice. Her best friends Alexis and Connie knew of course. The two girls tried their best to understand what type of pain she'd been going through. Not only because of hockey but in every day life. It seems everyday gets longer as she pulls her body through it each day. Julie is through with life, she has grown tired of withholding her label and she has grown tired of pretending that she is fine because each day it's more clear that she isn't.

And everyday she reminds herself no one cares, and no one will ever care. But oh boy is she wrong.

—" Julie, Goldberg's on a hot streak. I gotta stick with him as long as we're winning."

—"I understand. But I left my team in Maine to show the world what I can do."

—"just give it time." The blonde girl thought to herself, I have been giving you all the time in the world, and yet that is still not enough. But she kept her mouth shut in fear something were to happen to her.

—"You will show the world. I promise." Yeah, but promises can be easily broken. "Okay? Alright. Now get outta here." Bombay says playfully as he directed his eyes towards the door.

That's wasn't the answer she was hoping for but it was one that she needed.

Dean and Fulton where out for the night. No longer wanting to be cooped up in their room listening through the walls to hear the girls talk about the drama they had gathered throughout the day. It was fun, but not when they got caught by Alexis who would slap them at the back of their heads and tell them to stop.

"Uh- hey, ladies. Nice night for a stroll, wouldn't you say?" The two girls just shook their heads with a giggle as they left the duo. "That was a nice one."

—" hey man no curfew's gonna keep us down." Fulton nodded in agreement at his statement. "Yeah!"

"Ice cream." Dean points to the lit up sign that shone in his eyes as they passed the streets. "Wait a minute. I thought Iceland was covered in ice."

"Iceland? No it's very green."

"I thought Greenland was green." The Iceland woman shook her head. "No Greenland is covered in ice and Iceland is very nice." She explained, taking quick licks of her ice cream as they chatted.

"I imagined it being like Minnesota, like where you're from." Gordon quirked a curious brow. "How do you know where I'm from?"

"I asked around." She shrugs her shoulders simply. "Okay." The coach chuckles as they continue on. "Look at this. She's an Iceland chick."

"What's he doin' with her?" Fulton was of course disappointed in his coach, but he was embarrassed. Knowing that he grew up to know a hero as Dean is now growing up to know the 'villain'

"Great coach we got."

—"All right are we ready for warm ups?" Coach Bombay struts into the locker rooms. His sent drenched in abnormally strong cologne and thick hairspray. Even if he didn't notice it his team did.

Because just by the mere sight of him they grimaced. Not knowing if this was in fact their coach. "Let's go!" Team U.S.A. Cheers as they bang their hands against the metal lockers.

Adam Banks wasn't quite interested in what was currently happening as his mind was too caught up on last night events. Each and every feeling he felt returning to his body every time he'd even share a single side glance with Alexis.

Love is only a stupid fucking feeling. He'd tell himself. But it wasn't a feeling. It was something way too powerful to be labeled as that. It was the way it burned him. It was the way how even if it was ash it would effectively sting him with each and every thread that was attached to his body.

It was obvious she had an effect on him. Just like he had an effect on her. Both too stubborn to ever admit it but still hopeful that the other would finally pull in. But each hour that grows the more doubtful thoughts crash into Alexis' mind. Filling it with the upmost lethal thoughts possible. It hurt her, yet she didn't mind the pain. She had dealt with it before.

—"He's stylin'!"

—" Mr. Coach!"   They'd shout as he walked past. "Yeah, alright. Alright." He hushed. "Nice jacket. Did you get two pairs of pants with that?" Averman quips.

Fulton leans his body weight against the desk, with Portman on the left side of his coach. "Good night, last night coach?" Fulton asks. "Yeah it was fine." Gordon to occupied with the papers in his hands to be fully invested into the conversation.

"What'd ya do?" Dean straps his gloves tighter on his wrists. Not breaking contact with the shorter man. "Just watched some tv. Got to bed early." He lies miserably.

"But not without a little dessert right?"

"A little ice cream maybe?" Gordon Bombay was a smart man. But he couldn't be more thickheaded in this moment. The two boys had given him multiple hints, each one giving an opening for him to own up to his little lie but he had refused each one. Giving them a perfect reason to hold this information against him.

"Nice haircut. What. Ya lose a bet?" Averman stood close to the coach as he swiped over the files that had been sitting on his desk for the past few days now.

"Oh boy." Alexis and Connie share side glances as they linked arms on their way to the ice with the rest of the team.

"He's in deep shit now isn't he?" Luis stares back Averman. His hockey stick held underneath his chin as he balances on the rim of his skates.

"Definitely."

A/N:

Hey y'all I just wanted to thank you :) it makes me so happy seeing votes and reads even if it's only a minimal of people.

i n d i g o