Hunting Ice Castles

Chapter 17 - Having a Harem is Pretty Good

Galen

Someone takes the mic from my limp fingers, and I still cannot find the inspiration to leave this spot half-hidden in the shadows.

The music is playing again - some vaguely familiar song - and the chatter of voices rises to be heard above it, with laughter sprinkled over it all to create an amicable atmosphere.

I am cold.

The light is no longer blinding me, but I'm seeing black blotches against the dusk surrounding me. With the spotlight off, the dais area is darker than the rest of the function hall and I like it that way, but without outside stimuli to distract me, my mind is a swirling pool of rancid thoughts trying to destroy my brain.

What is a plonker like me doing here?

Since my arrival in this snow-covered world, I've met many openly supportive and kind people. Their encouragement and goodwill lulled me into starting to believe that I had a real future in ice hockey. On the ice this afternoon, I'd felt more alive than I've felt in too many years. Now, standing here, the long list of achievements of the other recruits echoing in my mind, I realise that I've been waiting for the other shoe to drop.

It finally has.

I'm not qualified to be here. It's as simple as that. How did I even make the cut? If that is not bad enough, it seems I already have at least one enemy. That is impressive, even by my standards! I haven't even been here long enough to piss anybody off yet; I'll have a crowd of enemies by the end of next week, though. What was that yoke's story anyway? Why was he determined to humiliate me?

"Told you, you were going to do great, didn't I?"

The words, spoken in the gentle, slightly teasing voice I've come to look forward to hearing, reach me through a blurry sea of swarming people, distorted music and loud conversations to snap me out of my spiral into misery. I blink my eyes, clearing my mind to bring the world back into sharp focus and smile when I see Hunter looking at me with eyes glittering mysteriously in the low light. I didn't even notice her joining me on the dais.

"Great, ye say?" I scoff a little hoarsely.

"Definitely!" she smiles, grabbing my arm and giving it an affectionate squeeze before she lets go again and takes a step back. I immediately regret losing her fleeting warmth. "I'm sorry I didn't warn you about this part of the welcoming party. I'm so used to it being quick and boring I forgot to mention it. I hope you're not traumatized."

It is a wee bit scary how well this cailin can read me.

"Naw, 'tis all good, lass," I shrug, and looking at her concerned face, I realise that it really is better that I didn't know. "If I'd known, I probably would've been overthinking it. I'm sure I would've jumped from the car and fled into the mountains before we'd even reached the party."

"We don't want that," Hunter laughs, her features relaxing with relief. "There are bears in the mountains."

Yikes! I'm not sure I wanted to know that!

'Well, you certainly weren't boring," another female voice says with a soft laugh. I look away from Hunter to see three girls gathering behind her. Two of them are smiling, looking happy to meet me. The other one is linking her arm with Hunter's and frowning at me as if she expects me to take a bite from her friend at any moment.

Do I look that hungry?

"Cheers," I say, returning the blond girl who spoke's smile. "I was definitely aiming for not boring." She's pretty in an obvious way that has never really done much for me, but I can still appreciate the soft pink sweater hugging her lovely curves, her large eyes and her slightly flirty smile.