"JACE!" I yell when I see him, dropping my stuff and running towards him. I notice that his hair has gotten longer and curlier at the ends, the way his dark brown eyes clash with his darker tanned skin. He looks a lot different than I remember last summer. Hotter, but I can't say that to his face because I'm only his best friend.
He turns just in time as I jump into his arms. "Woah there Eve!" He spins me around before setting me down.
"You have no idea how much I missed you!" I exclaim. "There's so much to tell."
"Oh, well I can't wait to hear all about it, but right now, Dad is about to give his welcoming speech, so..."
"No worries, I'll see you after. I should go help Mom anyway," I say, walking away.
"Have fun with that!" Jace calls after me, smiling.
We run off in separate directions.
I've known Jace since we were ten, when my mom started working at EPIC. I never came to play hockey, because I don't play anymore, but I always watch the practices and afterwards Jace and I hang out. I've known how to skate since before I could walk and I played hockey from the time I was five until nine, when my dad passed away. My dad was the one who taught me to skate and play and I guess after he passed, I just didn't find any happiness in the game anymore. And then the next year my mom married Greg, who's worked at EPIC since it opened. My mom got a job here too and there was nothing to do with me except to bring me along. Mom tried to get me to join in the hockey practices but I refused and ended up becoming friends with Jace instead. We skate sometimes but mostly we spend time away from the ice because that's where Jace spends most of his time. I was there last year at the summer showcase when he scored on his own goal and I've heard that he's been having a hard time with his shots since then. I'm glad to be back at EPIC with him anyway.
Though I'm not supposed to, I'm sitting in the stands during the icebreaker. I keep having to stifle laughs because of Coach Cole's speech. I always find his seriousness hilarious and often laugh when I'm watching his practices. Which has caused him to dislike me and kick me out of practice before. I'm surprised I'm not banned from them at this point. But then I realize that the goal of the icebreaker is to not be the last one to make a shot and I'm not laughing anymore. I can tell from the look on Jace's face that he's not happy either. When he's left on the ice with that kid Nick from that weird Mighty Ducks team, I can tell neither Jace nor his dad are happy about it.
"C'mon Jace," I whisper as he gets ready to shoot. But I can tell from the moment he draws his hockey stick back that he's not making it. He misses, and then the Nick kid makes it and all his friends are really happy.
Coach Cole stops Jace before he leaves and I can't tell what they're saying, but I know by the look on Jace's face as he skates away it wasn't anything good.
"So, your glitch is still here?" I ask, even though I know the answer. It's later now and everyone's off the ice and going back to their dorms. This is the perfect time for Jace and I to get out on the ice together, and we're just skating around.
"Uh, yeah, I guess it is," Jace says, hands in pocket, looking at his feet.
"And your dad's not too happy about it?" I ask, spinning around in a circle.
Jace scoffs. "My dad's never happy about anything."
"Well I think it'll all come back to you when you need it," I say.
"I don't know about that Eve. I've been practicing since the summer showcase last year and my shots haven't gotten any better."
I frown. "Oh. Well then, I don't know."
"Same. I don't even know if hockey's my thing anymore. It hasn't been the same for a while."
"Like since before the showcase?"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Oh. Maybe it's time for you to take a break, like I did."
"C'mon Eve, your break has been going on for almost four years now, and you've sworn that you're never going back. I mean, if I told my dad I was never playing hockey again, I bet he'd have a heart attack," Jace says, laughing.
I laugh along. "Yeah, you're probably right. I guess my advice for you is to not push it. If you don't want to do something, you shouldn't have to. No matter what your dad says."
Jace smiles at me. "You know what, I'm glad you're back, Evelyn."
I smile back. "Me too."
