Hating To Score

Chapter 2.5

Josh's POV

It's game day.

Woke up with a smile on my face. Game days are my favorite days of the week. Plus after looking at the other team's stats and lineup, I do not doubt that we are gonna win. I make my way to the kitchen to start my game day ritual. Dark chocolate protein smoothie with strawberries and bananas in it. Also includes my favorite breakfast item, a ham and cheese omelet with a side of salsa. I've mastered making this meal, only taking me around 10 minutes to make. As I am eating it, Drew walks into the kitchen with one eye open. He isn't a morning person at all is what I have learned from living with him.

"I hate that we have to go to the rink earlier on game Friday. The world hates me and I am tired!" Drew exclaims while opening the fridge, to grab a carton of milk.

"Are you not ready? It's the first game of the season!" I respond while taking my final bites of my breakfast.

"I am but I went too hard at yesterday's weightlifting practice. I thought I could bench 170 but I was proven wrong." He says while pouring his cereal into a bowl and then adding the milk, "I don't know how you wake up early and make this feast before the game!"

"It's my game day ritual. My mom always made it for me on game days growing up" I explained while reminiscing on a good memory of my mom

"Oh shit sorry dude, I completely forgot", Drew apologized then quickly finished up his lame attempt at breakfast.

"At least I am putting in all the nutrients and needed bullshit to stay ready in a game!" I teased back while putting my dishes in the sink.

"Fuck you dude. Oh by the way, my car is back so no more Ubering me around", Drew states while going back into his room to get ready for the game.

Thank god, honestly. Drew is one of my best friends but driving sound with him was becoming a challenge. He was always touching the AC buttons, playing wack country music as well as keeping all his shit in the back seats. I head into my room, to get dressed and ready to leave to go to the rink. Drew yells out as he's on his way out, something about stopping by a coffee shop. I've had a feeling Drew is seeing someone cause he's not the biggest fan but I'm not gonna pry.

I soon look at the time, and it's a quarter until we are required to be at the rink. Shit. I am always late. I don't know how but even if I wake up early, I turn up later. I should have already left, especially if I wanted to play today. I make my way to the car and throw my shit in then back, and head out to the rink. I pull into the parking lot and see a bunch of my teammates entering the rink. Well, I am not that late I still quickly get my shit out the back and head to the door. On my way to the door, I ran into the happiest person in the world.

"What's up buttercup? It's nice seeing you still working here. To be honest I am shocked you can keep up with being Coach's assistant", I state with much sarcasm in my voice.

"First of all, don't call me buttercup. Second, you're late so I'd happily love to report that to Coach and finally, go to hell." She speaks back to me and then enters the rink.

"Damn, I was just joking. Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed. Jesus" I respond to her but still in awe of her hostility towards me. She soon turns around and flips me off for the second time since being here. I laugh thinking to myself of how it's the second time that's happened while making my way to the locker room. I see Coach Bower coming towards the locker room.

Fuck. I'm screwed

"Miller. Do you wanna be benched today?", Bower questions with much sarcasm that one can have.

"I would never Coach. I just had to help a cat come down from a tree in front of my apartment!", I try to recover from getting yelled at.

"Hm, I don't think I'm gonna believe you, 'cause guess who made it here on time still. Yeah, that's right, your roommate Drew", Bower yells at me, "Get your ass in there, you are this close to being benched." I smile gleefully because I know he isn't going to do anything, I am the glue to this team. I walk into the locker room and head straight for mine, while Drew is staring at me.

"Dude how are you late! I left before you and made a pit stop!" Drew says in shock.

"I lost track of time. Also, how was your little coffee date?" I responded quickly to shut him up. Which it did, Drew finishes his under-armor uniform and heads for the lecture room but mumbles something about me being a dick. Oops that might have been harsh but that is what you get for being so secretive. I get my underarmor on quickly and head into the lecture room where everyone is going to their designated seats. We end up being in the room for a couple hours, going through plays, the other players state as well the previous plays they've done in other games.

After like an hour and a half, everyone has pretty much dosed off from being stuck in the same seats for too long.

Finally, after Coach Bower's final speech to pump us up, he dismissed us to go get ready for the game.

"By the way, we were invited by Nick to go out to the club with a bunch of people in the office. It turns out the girl I've been seeing, her best friend and roommate work in the office so I'm gonna go" Drew states while getting up

"What's her name?" I ask

"Willow", he quickly responds

"Do you like her?" I ask

"I've never felt these feelings before. I've only known her for like a month and she feels like home." He says honestly while finally looking at me

"Damn," I say in awe. He lets out a chuckle and smiles at me.

"You are going to have to experience these feelings. You can't sleep around forever." Drew says.

"I don't need your little therapy session right now. We have a game" I say, getting up and trying to dismiss these conversations.

"Okay okay. I get it, dude," he says while walking with me to the room before we walk out.

"Is she hot?" I ask

"Who?" He responds

"Willow roommate?" I ask

"She's never shown me a picture " He responds, while putting on his helmet.

"Oh, god dude. You are gone" I state while putting my helmet on. Drew laughed and shrugged, not disagreeing with me. The announcer soon begins calling each guy out. Drew and I are always announced last, which makes going on the ice less stressful. Right before Drew's name is called, I yell out."

I'll be there," I yell out with a nod. Drew's name is called and he hits me with excitement and walks out. Maybe I need this. Maybe I don't.

"Finally, we have one of the newest recruits who is becoming a big name in the NHL. Number 25, JOSH MILLER!!" The announcer screams out, I take that as my cue to walk out and wave to the fans screaming all around me. This will never not be overwhelming but once I take that deep breath and step on the ice.

I'm free.

It's the middle of the last period and number four is trying to piss me off. It is working.

"Yo Miller, how's your mom doing?", he asks with each word dripping sarcastically.

Rage.

It's all I feel, hear, and taste. My glove comes off and I start throwing multiple punches his way. Both our helmets and sticks are on the ice. I land a perfect punch on the temple which distracts him but in my glory, he gets me right in the nose. The pain helps fuel me which gets me to go straight towards his mouth. The refs soon separate us and all I can hear is the heavy breaths from the fight. I take a final look at him, and a smirk soon shows on my face. He was bleeding badly and possibly missing a tooth. I soon get sent to my team's penalty box, ready for the yelling from the coach.

"Are you a fucking idiot Miller. Ego issues have to go. My office Monday morning, 7 am sharp", he yells while I pass him to get to the penalty box. I sit down and take a breath. Gleaming with much joy for teaching player four a lesson about talking shit.

About thirty minutes later, the buzzer goes off.

We won, 3-2.

The crowd is going wild and all the guys are hyped because we won the first game of the season. Giving all of us the confidence to win many more games this season. I soon get up and enter the ice to celebrate with my team.