Obsession

Secret: Chapter 14

Hockey practice had resumed, and Duncan Boyer was worried.

He had not overheard what Heather had said to Bryant, but he could tell that whatever it was, it had significantly impacted his teammate and he'd noticed a change in Bryant's behaviour when he returned to the players' box. Bryant had remained quiet, and when Julian had come to the box as well, Duncan noticed the harsh stares that his friend was oblivious to.

And then they were recalled to the ice, and Duncan felt the noticeable tension. The team had been split in two and were colour-coded with arm bands of red and blue. Julian wore a blue arm band, and Duncan and Bryant were on the opposing team. It was a simulation exercise that mimicked an actual hockey game, and Duncan knew right away that the last lap of training that day would not end well.

It had started with a minor tackle – a shove – that leaned too much on the aggressive side. It was swept under the rug and swiftly ignored as the players got back into the game. Bryant had apologized for almost knocking Julian off balance and onto the ice, but even Julian had noticed the subtle hostility.

The latter had paid no mind to it, chalking it up to Bryant being caught up in the game's momentum.

The second time had been no accident. It was intentional had Julian had already passed the puck to another player on the blue team when he was shoved against the barricade, his head knocking against the plastic pane that protected audience members from a stray puck or hockey stick, or even a player who got shoved. His helmet subdued the shock of the attack and prevented any injury that could have befallen him.

Bryant was called out for a foul and apologized but Duncan knew the apology was anything but sincere. Julian had begun to notice and pay attention to the subtle hostility, and he wondered from where it was coming especially since Bryant had been in a good mood during the first half of their training session.

"Keep it cool, Bryant," Duncan warned.

Bryant had taken Duncan's warning into stride as Julian shook off the foul and skated to his position on the ice to begin another play. Their eyes met over the short distance and Bryant nodded his head in a manner in which one would when provoking a fight or physical altercation of some kind. It hadn't gone unnoticed to Julian, and he tilted his head in confusion.

But then, the coach blew the whistle, and the puck was in play again.

The third one had definitely been no accident. Julian had been nowhere near the puck when Bryant tackled him from the side, skating toward him with a proper speed that sent Julian flying a few feet away. Julian slid across the ice, the impact momentarily knocking the air out of his lungs.

He groaned and coughed, sucking air back into his lungs and he blinked up at the bright lights on the ceiling as if to clear his fogged mind.

That's why Gabe's friend calls him Wreck-It Ralph, Julian thought.

His irritation burst and in its place, vexation came to roost. He knew now that whatever Bryant was up to, it involved causing him bodily harm.

Julian got to his feet with the help of Duncan and another player, but instead of shaking it off even as Bryant was being reprimanded by another player on the red team, Julian had had enough. Tossing down the hockey stick, he pulled off his helmet and made headway for Bryant who was already look at his hasty approach and expecting a brawl to break out.

"What the hell's your problem, Munroe?"

In the spectators' box, the people who had come to watch the team train, whispered amongst themselves, some standing up from the buzz the drama created. Gabriel was on his feet calling to Julian to stop when the first blow landed.