Artificial

Chapter 1

Carson
Friday, 8 September. My final first game. I've played hockey my entire life, but this is the last year I'll play for this school. Well that is if I don't fail science and maths.

This year I'm going to try and work harder for those courses, but I'll need some help.

I'm getting ready for the game in the changing room. My best friend Chase isn't being his normal cheery self.

"What's up dude? You seem down."

He nervously turned his head in my direction wile tying his skates. Shaking his head aggressively he responded with a simple

"Nothing."

Trust me Chase isn't the type of guy who gives one word answers when there is in fact nothing wrong. He's probably just nervous since it's also his last first game.

"Okay dude just don't let whatever you're feeling affect the way you play. We need you out there yeah?"

"Yeah, I mean it's not like anything is going on."

He's lying. I know he's lying. His top lip twitched. It always twitches when he lies. It twitched when he said he wasn't sad when his cat died. It twitched when he said he got an A when he failed the easiest test ever.

It twitches when he lies. Why is he lying now?

The final first step on the ice for my high school career. Let's just hope it's the last.

The crowd cheering and clapping their hands when we walk onto the ice.

Chase and I were the best players on the team according to coach Brown. I think the crowd thinks so as well since our names are the only ones being shouted.

The first game is against our rival school. That jerk Jackson is on that team. We used to be best friends before he moved and became friends with these assholes.

The game has started. I got the puck and passed it to Chase he shot it but missed the goal by a lot. He rarely misses and if he does it's only by a little bit, something is definitely up.

If something was up we could lose so when I got the puck again I passed it towards Jeremy even tho 3 other players were surrounding him but he was the closets besides Chase.

Jeremy passed it to me in return when I was close to the goal. I shot and scored.

The crowd jumping up and down. All of the crowd except Julia, she only ever came to the games for her brother, Josh who is the goalie in our team.

She covered her ears as the crowd began to shout even louder when I scored again.

A few seats away from Julia is Marie, my beautiful girlfriend.

She normally wears a hockey jersey with the number 29, my number. She was wearing a hockey jersey but it wasn't number 29 written on it. It was number 14. Chase's number.

Why the fuck would she wear his jersey?! I looked at Chase who was looking at me already. Guilt being the main emotion in his eyes.

I couldn't confront him since we had to start again after the crowd calmed down. It was break and coach was telling us which strategy to use now.

"Chase, I get a feeling something is up so I'm putting you on the bench. Brad can take your spot. Carson, great job out there, but we got lucky with the first goal. You have to pass the puck to somebody who's open, Jeremy wasn't open."

Coach finishes his speech and I walked up to Chase.

"You greedy motherfucker."

I whispered in his ear before I got back on the ice. He had been single for a long time and all the girls are drooling over him.