A Hockey Player's Guide To Deception

Chapter Four

Kayla could taste the excitement on the tip of her tongue, the familiar sensation of adrenaline pumping through her veins made her eyes flutter briefly in bliss, her heart was beating so fast, she almost felt breathless. Tensions were high and the arena was brimming with the sounds of skates gliding over ice and the crank of sticks clashing against each other as the puck slid on the ice. Kayla was dizzy with this enticing thrill; this was it. This was her chance to prove to the team that she was made for hockey, she was born to be on the ring. As ridiculous as it sounded to her own ears, she truly believed it and she was resolute on showing that she belonged here as much as everbody else.

Kayla tightened her trembling hands around her stick and positioned herself for defense. Her gaze traveled over to Louis, who was getting into position. Louis had a size and height advantage over her, but she wasn't threatened by that. She was efficient, fast, strategic and well-paced. She knew when to zoom and slow down, she was well aware of her strength, and she was planning on using it to gain an upper hand.

Kayla eyes locked with Louis as he was coming straight for her, the puck gliding effortlessly in front of him. His eyes, sharp and challenging, bored into hers. This was his test. And she knew it. He picked up speed, weaving around the other players as if they weren't even there. His control was almost effortless, each movement calculated. Kayla crouched lower, her stick angled and ready. 

He closed the distance between them, his eyes narrowing. "You think you can stop me?"

Her grip tightened on the stick. "Try me."

Without hesitation, he cut to the left, then faked right, a blur of speed and precision. But Kayla was ready. She mirrored his movements, matching his pace, her skates cutting into the ice with determination. The puck was right there, inches from her reach. She lunged, her stick slashing out to intercept it. The tip of her blade caught it, sending the puck off-course just enough to disrupt his flow.

For a split second, his expression cracked, a flicker of surprise. But he recovered quickly, turning sharply to regain control. Kayla didn't give him the chance. She pressed forward, using her body to block him from advancing. 

"You're not getting past me," she muttered under her breath, her voice low but filled with defiance.

Louis smirked, his eyes flashing with something dark, almost like amusement. "We'll see about that."

He tried to slip past her again, using his speed to catch her off-guard, but she anticipated it, pivoting her body just in time to block him once more. Frustration flickered in his gaze as the puck slid loose from his control. Kayla seized the opportunity, sweeping it away and sending it down the ice. 

"Nice try," she said, her voice steady but tinged with satisfaction.

He skated toward her, stopping just inches away. The rink fell into a tense silence as their teammates watched the confrontation. His blue eyes bore into hers, a mix of anger and something else....something like respect, though he'd never admit it.

"You've got guts," he muttered, voice low and dangerous. "But don't think this means you've won."

Kayla's pulse raced, but she kept her expression cool. "I'm not here to win. I'm here to play."

"You're proving a real challenge, aren't you?" Louis mumbled under his breath.

Kayla smirked, "Too bad you can't keep up."

"I don't think you know how things work around here," Louis said, his tone flat as he leaned casually against his stick.

"What?" Kayla's brows furrowed in confusion.

Louis raised a dark brow, a taunting smile playing on his lips. "I thought you'd be smart enough to catch on to how we do things at St. Thomas Academy by now?"

The undercurrents of tension were obvious, but she hadn't encountered anything overtly hostile, until now.  Kayla's eyes narrowed, her head tilting slightly. "I've been smart enough to figure out that you're just an idiotic swine."

She heard the member burst out laughing at her snide, she smirked. Louis's jaw clenched, a flicker of anger flashing in his eyes. "You're treading on dangerous territory."

Kayla scoffed, a low chuckle escaping her lips. 

"Oh, I'm terrified," she replied, voice dripping with sarcasm, returning his cold, unflinching stare.

Without warning, Louis slammed into her. Kayla gritted her teeth, absorbing the impact. It wasn't hard enough to send her sprawling across the ice, but the message was clear, a silent threat disguised as a legal hit.

Rage surged through her veins as her lip twitched. Kayla hated being undermined, and she would be damned if she let a prick like Louis walk all over her.

Her eyes flickered toward the coach, silently hoping for some acknowledgment of the foul play. But he avoided her gaze, clearing his throat as if the scene hadn't unfolded right in front of him. It was clear....he wasn't going to help her. 

He'd let Louis get away with his bullying on the ice.

Kayla rolled her eyes in frustration, and Louis, noticing, let a smirk creep across his lips. It was the kind of smug look that made her want to wipe it right off his face. Her pulse quickened, the fire in her chest igniting further. This wasn't just about the game anymore.

 It was about standing her ground, and no way was she backing down.