On Thin Ice Book Two of: On The Ice

Ch. 16 Who's That Ref?

3 years later...

"Here we are, two teams, one needs to win to make it to the playoffs, Atlanta Thrashers vs. Quebec Bulldogs." The crowd went crazy, I was getting in the referee dressing room or more well the bathroom as I was the only girl I looked in the mirror I was nervous and I wasn't even the one playing.

"We got this Alessandra." I spoke quietly, suddenly a loud knocking was at the door.

"Hurry up Russo!" Yelled one of the other referees.

"Give me a minute!" I yelled back, I fixed my shirt having the number #14 on my back just like old times again.

"Okay, now I'm ready." I spoke breaking the silence in the dressing room, I walked out without another word onto the ice.

"Welcome to Hockey Night in Canada!" The crowd roared with excitement and applause, I was out warming up on the ice along with the other ref's before the players came out.

***

"C'mon boys, let's show them what we got!" I yelled into the dressing room, I walked out with the rest of the guys down the tunnel to the ice.

"Let's do this!" I yelled again, I put my arm out to knock down all the pucks onto the ice. I took a puck onto the tape of my stick, when I looked up I saw something... strange per say. It was one of the refs, it was a younger girl no older then myself at least 20, her long dark brown hair pulled into a braid the fell perfectly over her shoulder, with the number #14 on her back.

"Hey, Jase, why are you so distracted?" Asked one of my teammates, I couldn't take my eyes off of this girl, she looked so familiar yet so much like a stranger.

"No reason." I responded coldly looking over my shoulder at my teammate, I skated off with my puck over to the net. I couldn't shake off this feeling about that referee and I couldn't understand why.

"Puck drop is now!" I rushed over to the bench as I was not starting. I sat next to my teammate Tate McLean.

"Hey Tate, who's that referee?" I asked pointing to the ref with the number #14 on her back with a long dark brown braid down her back.

"Uhh," Tate started getting a good look at the ref. "No idea, hey coach you know that ref?" Tate asked Coach Mike, I shook my head and rolled my eyes can't believe this guy.

"Oh her? That's Alessandra Russo." Responded Coach Mike, I got goosebumps from hearing that name, no it can't be... I leaned over toward the ice getting a good look.

"Oh my god." I whispered to myself, it really was her, I hadn't seen her in 3 years, and yet all these years I had never forgotten about the Canadian Miracle woman and never for my love for her.

"Do you know her?" Asked Coach Mike, I didn't just know her, I was her friend, her teammate, and especially her enemy.

"Yeah we played on the same teams a few times." I answered Coach Mike's question, Coach Mike smiled in delight of my answer.

***

I was referring the game looking closely to every move made by the players till, I saw him Jase Anderson, there he was sitting there on the bench, I couldn't help but stare at him and his model like face. Did he still even remember me? Did he recognize me at all? A trillion questions flowed through my mind like a river all at once.

"Russo watch your zone!" Shouted one of the other referees at centre ice, I was immediately shaken out of my daze, I quickly turned back to the game and blew my whistle.

"#19 Quebec Bulldogs two minutes for ruffing!" I shouted putting my arm up in the air signing that it was my final call. The guy rolled his eyes and slowly made his way to the box.

***

"#19 Quebec Bulldogs two minutes of ruffing!" My head shot up to see who had yelled that, and it was none other then Alessandra Russo, perfect we were on the power play. Soon the beautiful brunette haired girl turned to look at me, I smiled at her, that perfect smile of hers.

"That's my girl." I whispered to myself, I wished I could have been out there just for a chance to be close to her even if it was for a few seconds.

***

I turned my head and saw him, Jase Anderson. He smirked at me, that stupid, perfect, smirk I knew all too well over the years. I quickly broke eye contact, god why was I so nervous around? I never used to be like this, it never used to be like this.

EUUUURRRR

The horn went off signing the end of the first period. I went off the ice with the rest of the referees.

"Hey, who were you looking at?" Asked one of the referees, I didn't know how to respond to the question without it sounding so complicated.

"Oh, just one of the players is an old friend of mine." I responded with the easiest way to put it.

"Ah okay, you guys played on Team Canada together, I'm assuming." I nodded my head in respond. When we got into the dressing room, I speed walked into the bathroom, I took off my helmet and stared into the mirror.

"Oh my god." I kept repeating into the mirror, I had these weird warm feeling in my stomach, my heart beating when I saw Jase. It's been 3 years how do I still feel like this when I see him, why do I feel like this when I see him. I had so questions but not enough answers.

"Jase has been making me feel like this for 4 years." I put my head in my hands, I washed cold water onto my face to feel something.

This lowkey literally sucks😜 but anyway, THANK YOU FOR ALL THE LOVE AND SUPPORT AGAIN LOVE YOU GUYS!!!!