Chapter 1
‘Ice Ice Baby’
When I got home that evening, I could not stop thinking about her. Her hair. Her smile when I blocked a goal. Her face. Her jersey. That mysterious look in her eyes. The look of disdain when I messed up. The way her beautiful eyes lit up, even if it was only for a moment, when I removed my helmet.
I swear that that girl was going to be the death of me. I haven’t even met her, I don’t even know her, and I already had feelings for a girl that I would probably never see again... that was enough to bring down my mood as I sat down on my plush and ever so soft bed.
I was so deep in thought that I barely heard the familiar tone of Chelsea Dagger when my phone rang about an hour later.
“Crow! Aren’t you coming to the party at Tazer’s?” I heard the voice that sounded like Sharp’s ask me from the other end of the line.
“I don’t understand why the fuck we are having a party, we fucking lost. Shouldn’t we be, oh I dunno, practicing? Strategizing perhaps?” I said, harshly. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to party, but I knew that that damned loss was my fault. Had I not gotten distracted by that damned jersey...?
“Corey, we made it so far in the season, and besides, in a few days there’s game 7, and you know that we can win that. At least if Mystery isn’t there.” He said, using the nick name that he had given to the girl that I saw.
“Look, it just doesn’t matter, I don’t know if I will be there or not. Most likely not.” I said. I really just wanted to be left alone at that point in time.
“Okay, well if you change your mind, shoot me a text and either Hjalmarasson or I will come and get you.”
“Yeah whatever, thanks Sharpie, just…. Save me a Swedish meatball okay?” I asked him light heartedly.
“Yeah, if Hammer doesn’t eat them all. Ahah!”
“See you Sharpie,” I said and then I hung up, deciding to go for a walk just to clear my head...
* * *
I later found myself just a block from the United Center, where we had taken that ugly loss earlier that evening. I knew that the roads were busy and people were still hanging around the Madhouse, so I pulled up my hood to prevent being seen. I soon realized that my plan was short lived, as I noticed that I could not see ahead of myself. That could be an issue later.
“Humph!” I said, hearing a thud.
I removed my hood and looked ahead of myself, seeing what I thought was a familiar face, one that I should I really hate but couldn’t. I helped the young looking blue and green eyed girl up, and apologized, and then I quickly made my way away from there.
And of course I noticed her Jersey; it was a crisp new looking red jersey, marked with the number 50 on the back of it, which also had a name that was very familiar to me, Crawford.
I sighed and turned back around; I knew I at least owed it to the poor girl to sign something for her or to take a picture with her. “Miss?” I said, hoping she and her friend would turn around.
“Chelsea! He’s talking to you!” her brown haired friend said to her.
“Maisey shut up. He just knocked me down, and now I can’t get up, metaphorically of course.” The Chelsea girl said.
“Chelsea?” I asked, surprising my own self by using her name, and then I was even more surprised when she turned around.
“It’s Chevelle to you. Now please, leave me alone.” She said defensive at first.
I walked up to her, and said, “Hey, there’s a party at one of my team mates houses, Chevelle, and he’d like if I had a date. Would you like to go with me?”
