The Perfect Shot

Chapter 6: Practice Day

Jack's POV
 It was just another day at the rink, with the team gearing up for practice. I walked into the arena with Nico, who was cracking jokes as usual, lightening the mood. As we entered, the sound of skates against the ice echoed faintly in the background. The smell of fresh ice filled the air, and I could feel the energy in the building.

 As we made our way down the corridor, I spotted Stevie near the entrance, camera in hand, snapping shots of the guys as they arrived. She was focused, her eyes darting between the lens and the players, capturing those candid moments that always seemed to elude the rest of us. It was impressive, the way she could blend into the background yet still be in the thick of everything.

 "Hey, Snapshot!" Nico called out, giving her a playful grin as he struck a dramatic pose for her camera.Stevie laughed, lowering her camera for a moment. 

 "Always ready for the spotlight, huh?"

 "Only when you're behind the lens," Nico replied with a wink before heading towards the locker room.

 I hung back for a second, watching her as she returned her attention to the camera. There was something about the way she worked—completely absorbed in what she was doing, yet still aware of everything around her. It was intriguing. Before I knew it, I found myself walking over to her.

 "Need any tips on catching my good side?" I asked, teasing her as she looked up from her camera.

 Stevie smirked, raising an eyebrow. "I think I've got it covered, but thanks for the offer, Jack."

 I couldn't help but chuckle. "Just making sure you're getting the best shots of the star player.""Modest as ever," she quipped, snapping another photo of me before I could react.

 But instead of lowering her camera, she suddenly leaned in closer, pointing the lens right at my face. I blinked in surprise as she clicked the shutter, capturing a close-up shot that was anything but flattering. My eyes were wide, and I could tell my expression was caught somewhere between confusion and amusement.

 "Gotcha," she said with a playful grin, showing me the picture on her screen.

 I laughed, shaking my head. "You're really going to keep that one, huh?"

 "Oh, definitely," she replied, still smiling. "It's going in the 'Jack's blooper reel' folder."

 "Well, I'm honored to be featured," I said, rolling my eyes but secretly enjoying the playful exchange.

 As the rest of the guys filtered in, I lingered for a moment longer, reluctant to leave the easy banter behind. But practice called, and soon enough, I was out on the ice with the rest of the team.

 Practice was intense, as always. We ran drills, worked on plays, and pushed each other to be better. But every now and then, I'd catch a glimpse of Stevie on the sidelines, camera in hand, snapping away. It was weird how aware I'd become of her presence, even in the middle of a drill. Like a part of me was always tuned into where she was, what she was doing.

 At one point, Nico skated up beside me, smirking. "You're really working hard out here, huh?"

 I shot him a look. "Always."

 "Sure," Nico said with a knowing grin before skating off to rejoin the drill.

 The rest of practice flew by in a blur of ice, sweat, and focused intensity. By the time we were done, I was exhausted but feeling good about the work we'd put in. As we headed off the ice, I spotted Stevie again, packing up her gear as the players started to clear out.

 I walked over, trying to play it cool. "Hey, Stevie. Got any plans after this?"

 She looked up, surprised but smiling. "Not really. Just editing some photos, I guess."

 I leaned against the wall, giving her my best casual grin. "Well, s-since you're new to the area, I was thinking... maybe I could show you around? There are some hidden gems you've probably never seen."

 Her eyes lit up with curiosity. "Really? That sounds fun."

 "Yeah," I said, trying to keep it light. "You know, places only the locals know about. Could be a good way to unwind after all the action shots."

 Stevie tilted her head, a playful smile tugging at her lips. "You offering to be my tour guide?"

 "Absolutely," I replied, my tone a mix of confidence and warmth. "I'm your guy for all things New Jersey."

 She laughed, shaking her head. "Alright, Jack. I'm in."

 "Great," I said, feeling a genuine thrill at the prospect. "I'll pick you up after you're done here and I change?"

 "Sounds good," she agreed, packing up the last of her things. When I'm finally done showering and changing into fresh clothes, I head back to her.

 "Hey Stevie, all ready to go?"

 She looks up smiling at me "yup let's go"

 As we walked out of the arena together, I couldn't help but feel that this was the start of something more than just a simple hangout. There was something about Stevie that made me want to know more, and I was pretty sure I'd be finding plenty of excuses to spend time with her in the days to come.