Mitts (OLD VERSION)

9. The Story

Chicago Airport was so loud and crowded and gross and hard to navigate especially when Cal wouldn't stop walking so fast. We finally got to baggage claim and grabbed our stuff then Cal hurried us all onto another Coach Bus to get to the hotel.

"Ok Coach Dave, Maggie, this is mine." Cal put her hotel keycard in her pocket, "Riv, Sonny, Davey, and Bow. Mick, Murph, and Ports. Devs, Ever, Natty and Trev. Willy, Toner, Mitts and Jammy."

We all dropped off our bags in our rooms then met back up in the lobby, "Ok Chicago Tech is expecting us for lunch in thirty, which gives us just enough time to get there, perfect." Cal grinned, "Back on the bus!"

And she ushered us back onto the bus to sit in ten minutes of traffic then pull up to Chicago Tech's arena. Then Cal ushered us back off the bus. Game days were always so busy, there was never a moment to breathe. Away games that required a ton of travel were no exception to that.

We followed a Tech coach into a meeting room. It had subs and drinks laid out for all of us along with Chicago Tech, who were already seated with food. We grabbed subs and mingled in with their team. A few people were making polite conversation.

I felt the eyes on me. The staring. I couldn't eat. Everytime I glanced up, at least two of the Tech kids were just staring at me. I caught their coaches and staff looking at me too. It was impossible to fathom the idea of eating.

They all wanted me to say something. To confirm it. To deny it. To speak even just one word so they could tell from my too high voice and girly face and girly figure that I was faking it. They were all waiting. For some proof, some shred of evidence they could use against me on the ice. They were trying to pick me apart, pull me apart at the seams so they could examine the pieces and autopsy my life.

I picked at my sub. I couldn't eat when I felt the searing eyes of half of Tech's team boring holes into my skull. They were hungry scientists, and I was an alien who had just touched down at Area 51. They wanted to tear me to shreds, open me up, and take everything they could from me.

"Thank you so much for the food, Ian. Good luck on the ice." Riv shook their captain's hand.

"Not a problem, Matt. Good luck to you guys as well." The captain grinned, Riv knew him somehow, "Happy to keep up to Husky Hoedown tradition alive."

Right. That was why we were in Chigaco. There had been a tradition from the Heyday that involved us playing Tech in a friendly rival game to see which school was the better Husky team. They were hosting this year and it was our turn to host them next year. It used to be an easy win for Tech, maybe they'd underestimate us and we'd win easily today.

They definitely underestimated me. They were all waiting for me to fail. For me to prove that I was different, that I didn't belong, to confirm that I was other. They just wanted to trap me, to pick me apart like vultures until they understood the monster I was.

"Alright, let's roll out guys." Riv grinned at us.

I followed everyone else out to the visiting team locker room. I couldn't change in front of everyone. Not today, not right now, not when I couldn't even bear the idea of looking down and...

"Jake. Deep breath." Jamie's voice said gently from behind me, he placed a hand on my shoulder.

He knew me too well. I took a deep breath and tried to center myself.

It worked a little to stop myself from spiraling. But not enough to get rid of the elephant sitting on my chest, "I know. It's scary. But you're not alone."

"Thanks. I needed that." I sighed, "You know me too well."

"Maybe." He grinned.

I took a deep breath. Everyone knew. No one cared. They all see me the same as they did. It's ok. I exhaled.