Ice

20

Isabella's POV

"MEETINGS IN 10." Someone from the locker room shouts so we stop playing keepy ups, I grab my ball, then all of us head to the locker room.

When we get to the locker room I put my football up then Waffles and I follow Ezra to the Defensive meeting room for our meeting on what to do against our opponent tonight, the New Jersey Devils.

After our 20 minute meeting, we head back to the locker room to get ready then I grab the stuff I wear under my pads and jersey then Waffles and I head into the bathroom and head into one of the stalls.

Once in the stall I take off my shorts and boxers, put on my compression shorts that have a cup in them, and I put on my sports bra then I put on my black Army long sleeve shirt that I wear under neath my pads every game.

After I'm dressed in my underwear I gather my stuff and head back to my locker.

When I get to my locker, I put the stuff I changed out of in my locker then I put on my normal socks, my shinguards, and my hockey socks.

Once my legs are dressed, I secure my hockey sock to my compression shorts with the velcro tabs then I put on my pants and my skates.

After my lower body is dressed, I tape up my knees and ankles so that my shinguards don't move around then I put on my shoulder pads and my elbow pads.

Once I have my upper body pads on I put on my blue jersey then I secure my jersey to my pants with the tie down strap.

After I secure my jersey, I put on my helmet, put on my gloves, and grab one of my sticks then I head outside to the hallway and wait for everyone to be finished getting dressed.

Once everyone is in the hallway, Waffles and I lead everyone to the ice.

When we get to the bench, Waffles hops up onto the bench and sits then I scratch her head.

"Good girl." I say with a smile making Waffles smile then I head out onto the ice and skate around our half of the ice.

As I skate around I see all of my teammates scratch Waffles' head before they step onto the ice which makes me smile.

Once everyone's on the ice I stop at the bench and do some stretches while talking with my doggy.

When our warmup time ends, Waffles and I head back to the locker room with my teammates.

Once in the locker room I sit down in my locker then I relax and listen to Coach Nash's last minute talk.

After Coach Nash finishes his talk, I put my dark brown curly hair up into a low bun then I put on my helmet, put in my black and gold mouth, and my gloves.

Once I'm ready to play, Waffles and I head out to the hallway and wait with my teammates for us to be introduced.

"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN." The Stadium PA announcer dude says. "PLEASE WELCOME YOUR NEW YORK RANGERS."

After we are announced the crowd cheer then we head out onto the ice.

Once on the ice I skate around my half once then I head to the boards by our bench and scratch my dogs head.

After I scratch Waffles' head, I skate away from the boards, look up at the box where my friends and family are sitting, then I wave at them.

My friends and family wave back then I skate over to my spot on the blue line and stand while the anthem is sung.

When the anthem finishes Kendrick and I skate back to Ezra and do our handshake then Kendrick and I skate to our spots for the face off while Ezra stays in his crease.

"Have you seen who's sitting next to the owners box?" Kendrick asks.

"No." I say then I look up at the box next to where my friends and family are. "Holy shit."

My friends from my platoon in the 10th Mountain Division, 2nd Battalion,14th Infantry Regiment from the Army are sitting in the box next to where my friends and family are.

"What the fuck?" I mumble as my friends from my platoon wave at me

I quickly wave back at my friends then I focus on the game.

"Show off time?" Kendrick asks.

"Show off time my friend." I say. "It is fucking show off time."

- - - - -

"You know Waffles." I say as I pet my dog as we sit on the bench and lookout at the ice after the game.

We won 5-1 and I played my ass off.

"I'm glad I got you." I say then I look at my doggy.

Waffles smiles at me then she turns her head the opposite way so I look where Waffles is looking and see my Army friend Ralphie

"Wassup Hit stick." Ralphie says making me laugh.

Hit stick is my nickname that my Army friends call me because we played a pick up tackle football game before we shipped off and I hit hard so I became known as hit stick.

"Hey Shaggy." I say.

Ralphie looks like Shaggy which is where he got his nickname.

"Watcha doin out here?" Ralphie asks.

"Just thinking." I say as Ralphie sits next to me.

Ralphie nods then we sit in silence for a few minutes.

"You know it's not your fault?" Ralphie says. "You were just following Captain Downy's orders

"That doesn't make it any better." I say. "If I didn't..."

"If you didn't follow orders then you'd have been court martial'd." Ralphie says. "And they probably would've made an example out of you and dishonorably discharged you or put you in Leavenworth."

"I'd rather have done prison time or be dishonorably discharged than lose 22 of my friends." I say.

"Your life would have been over if either of those happened." Ralphie says. "It's a shitty situation to be in, but you had no option and you did the right thing."

"I know." I admit for the first time. "I just wish our friends were back."

"Well you have some friends here who haven't seen their favorite hit stick in over a year." Ralphie says.

"Ooh." I say then we stand up and head towards the locker room.

As we approach the locker room I see all my 10th Mountain Division friends.

"HIT STICK." A lot of them say then I get swarmed in hugs.

"Hi friends." I say with a smile.

"It seems like we gave you a very apt nickname." My friend Candice says.

"Looks that way Candy." I say. "It looks that way."