Alaska | Adam Banks

why me, of all people?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN | WHY ME, OF ALL PEOPLE?

* * * *

Clang!

Clang!

Clang!

Bang! The puck harshly hit the pole and went flying, stopping at someone's feet. 

"What are you doing out here, Jensen?"

I looked up from my shooting to see Coach Orion, standing with an uncertain look on his face. 

"Getting out some pent up anger that has been needing to come out for a while now," I answered truthfully after a moment. All he did was sigh at my response before skating over to me, stopping a few feet away. 

"If this has anything to do with me putting you on varsity, I'll gladly explain why." He told me, still unsure what my anger was caused by. 

"No, it's not just that. Charlie's being a prick because Coach Bombay's not here, he's being a prick because he's no longer our captain, and he's being a prick because he's jealous of me and thinks the best way of dealing with all of it is by shoving it at me for me to deal with." I ranted, feeling a bit better now that I got that out of my system. Right now, Charlie was the center of all my problems. Most of them, at least. 

"Conway may be the captain of the Ducks, and he may be mad that he's not captain currently, but he needs to realize that I'm trying to make him see that he needs to prove to me that he's worthy of being captain of the JV team, and earlier is not really helping his cause."

I nodded, understanding his reasoning. Everyone knew that Charlie was hotheaded, there was no doubt about it, but he seriously needed to learn to control it. 

"I guess, and also, why'd you put me on varsity? Or first line?"

"Because you're good, Jensen. I've seen your tapes, and I knew before you even got here that you would be too good for JV." Coach Orion explained. 

"And first line? Why me, of all people? There are plenty of varsity boys who dream of being on first line." I still didn't understand why everything had to happen because I was good. 

"Like I said, you're damn good at the sport you play. If anything, I would be holding back and hurting your skill by allowing you to play anything lower."

I sighed. The look on everyone else's face when Averman blurted out that I had made first line on varsity was one of hurt. I had seen for a brief moment that Charlie had betrayal written all over his face.

"I just don't get it. Everyone's angry with me and Adam. They seem to think that us being separated from the team is ruining the point of us coming here together as a team." 

Coach Orion looked at me with a sympathetic smile. "I understand, trust me. Some of my old teammates thought the same when I left the pros to be with my daughter." 

After I heard his words, I was a little shocked. I knew he used to be a pro, but I had no idea he had a daughter, let alone kids in general. But it was reassuring to know that he knew how I felt. 

After noticing I was silent for a moment, he spoke again. 

"Look, it'll take time, but they'll come to their senses. It's part of growing up."

"I guess there's nothing I can do," I mumbled, shrugging. "So much for trying."

"Well, Jensen, I'm sure you have homework, so get out of here. And don't worry about anything. Everything will turn out all right."