The Slap Shots

Chapter 9

My heart stops beating at the sentence that Isaac has spoken. My blood stops flowing through my veins, and my body stiffens next to Matt. I can feel my eyes growing wide and my brain shutting off.

I can feel every single pair of eyes turning towards me.

Our secret is out. Someone knows that I exist. Someone knows that The Slap Shots have broken a rule.

And it's because of me.

Suddenly, I feel Matt's body being pushed away from mine and I feel Freddie sitting next to me.

"Listen." He grabs my hand and that's what loosen my muscles, and lets my heart pump my blood again. I turn to look at him, but tears blur his perfect face.

"It's okay. The End of the Summer tournament isn't as important to us as you are." He whispers. I spot Matt shifting in his seat.

This tournament seems to be pretty important to him.

Except that, either way we won't be playing in the tournament.

"Don't you tell me that it isn't important, Freddie. I can tell in your eyes and in Matt's eyes that this tournament is the one thing that you care about the most." I stand up and start to walk down the aisle, leaving the church.

I know that Freddie is chasing me as I hear all of the boys expressing a few "awes" . That puts a smile on my face.

I push the door open and I hear it close, then seconds later I hear it open and close again.

"Em, will you please wait!" I hear him getting closer and closer so I slow my pace as I stand in the middle of the parking lot, the red  nets on either side of me.

I turn to face him and the look on his face is one of a kind.

His eyes are full of sadness and concern. His hands are slowly moving towards me as he gets closer.

Soon enough, his big palms rest on my tiny waist I wipe my tears with the back of my hand.

"No, sweetie. Don't cry." He uses one of his fingers to dry all of the tears on my cheeks and then places a long and gentle cheek kiss on both cheeks.

He rests his forehead on mine and I can't help but smile.

"I'm sorry. I should have never joined the team Freddie. This wouldn't be happening if I did." I say my voice shaky.

"No. Don't say that. We pressured you into doing it. This is our fault. I should have never asked you to join."  He runs his fingers through my hair pushing some of my hair behind my ear.

"Em listen. It doesn't matter anymore. If we don't tell them, we won't get to play in the tournament. If we do tell them, we won't get to play in the tournament. So it doesn't matter anymore. I don't care about it anymore. I care about you." He says. This brings fresh new tears to my eyes and my hands shoot up to his face.

I can't stop crying and I don't know why.

"What if I quit and then you tell them that I left. Would they still let you play ?" I ask him.

"Maybe. It all depends-" "Depends on what Freddie ? If me quitting will let you guys play in the tournament, then that's what I'm doing." I step back, but not far enough that his hands come off my hips.