Escaping RiverCreek

Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Who's Right?

Cory says nothing to Vanessa about traveling to Northern City Central College. He spends his free time chatting back and forth, trying to rekindle their old flame, buying into everything she tells him.

"She can't be fooling around. She's always on here." Cory's convinced himself until he tries to webchat with Vanessa and she continuously clicks "Deny Request." Beyond mad, he can't understand why she's refusing to let him see her.

Why won't you click connect? He waits a couple minutes for the most significant thing that makes him begin to doubt her so-called commitment.

"They charge us for using webcams. It's a private school, so they charge for every little thing, baby. I'm sorry."

She sends a frowny face right after that, but all that does is infuriate Cory.

"Yeah, sure. Whatever. Gotta go. Love ya. Later." He logs off and begins packing his bag.

Marching out of the house, Cory is met by his patiently waiting mother, wearing her game gear.

"Ready to play?" she asks, getting out of her chair walking to the door with her son.

"Yeah, I'm ready to win!"

Able to conceal his fuming anticipation, Cory marches out to his car, tossing in his bag, and follows his mom to the rink where he begins getting ready to face the Plymouth Penguins.

Cory laces up his skates, sitting beside Frankie, who's refusing to talk to him.

"Hey, Frank, listen. What we do outside of here is one thing, but let's work together like we used to in middle school. You know together we can't be stopped."

Twisting to face Cory, Frank quickly thinks it over. "You're right. Here we're teammates, but don't get me wrong. I don't like you, and I'm not doing this for you. College scouts are going to be watching you this season, and I want a chance too. After all, I am team captain, and you're still beneath me."

Cory uses his hands in a cool-down motion.

"I get that, okay? Just chillax, man. I just wanna win. I wanna get the state title this year. Last year we made it to the semis. Well, this year, I wanna get it all."

Nodding in agreement, Frank extends his hand, taking Cory's offer on a pact to start their old double team maneuvers.

Out on the ice, Cory and Frank dominate with time of possession as they speed around the ice. They keep a defensive position out in front as the other speeds to catch up with a fake or quick pass. It provides them with a pair of goals for a two-to-nothing lead through the first two periods.

At intermission, the coach goes over things he's observed and praises the duo for their effort with the goals against a strong defensive team.

"All right, here's what needs to happen. Cory, they know you're going for the assist with Frankie. So now let's add in an enforcer."

The coach begins drawing a diagram on the dry-erase board.

"Wayne, when you're playing protector for either one of them. Just stop. Cory and Frankie, take turns passing it. Then, Wayne, skate up and slap that damn puck in for a goal. It won't work too many times; let's just expose that huge hole to the left of the net. That's your best chance, boys." The team gets fired up as they march back out to the ice.

The coach's plan is placed into action quickly, and the boys make it a three-to-nothing game. The Penguins players quickly decide to take out one of the three players controlling the tempo of the game.