Aaron and Kat (Wattys 2017)

Chapter 4

AARON Tuesday January 12th

'What do you think of that new Michael guy?' David asks me when we're on our way home after school and hockey practice.

'He's really good.' I say, carefully manoeuvring my bike over the icy road. 'And I think he's nice as well.' Michael has already befriended half the school with his open personality and general niceness, even though he has only been here for a week. I guess it's hard to dislike the guy.

David nods. 'Yeah, he is. Both good and nice, I mean. I get why coach let him join the team in the middle of the season.' When we got home last week after our first practice, the first thing David did was google Michael. We found out that he was crazy good in his last team, and what he has showed us in training in the past week has been impressive.

'That team makes us look like a bunch of scrambling amateurs.' David had said when we had seen several videos of Michael's old hockey team in Vancouver. And I had to admit: he was right. I had always thought the Ice Lakers were pretty good, we had even won the Lake District Star Cup last year, but Michael's old team seemed to be pretty next level.

'I heard his sister is on the volleyball team.' I say. I have also seen her around at school a few times, but I don't know what she's like because apparently she's a sophomore, so I don't have classes with her.

'Yeah, and according to Stacy she's really nice.' David says casually.

'Wait, when have you been talking to Stacy?' I ask him curiously.

David shrugs, 'Saturday, at Tyler's party. We talked a little after I asked her if she needed help with Marie. Which she didn't, although she was all over one of the friends Tyler's cousin had brought. Marie, I mean, not Stacy.' He adds. 'But we talked a little about the fact that Michael and Sheila were new and stuff. It was like three minutes and kinda awkward and then Marie tripped over something so Stacy had to go over to help her. And that was it. Nothing exciting, if that's what you're looking for.'

'Well, at least you talked to her.' I grin.

'Shut up about it, Reynolds.' David rolls his eyes at me and suddenly he sprints away, 'race you!'

KAT Tuesday January 12th

I'm sprawled on the couch, watching some Netflix after dinner, when Rich suddenly bursts in. 'Move it, sister.' He tells me and he snatches the remote control from the armrest.

'I was here first.' I protest, trying to get the remote back. Rich doesn't yield and turns my show off instead.

'I was here second.' He just says, eyes fixed on the television. He flips channels and I see TLC flash by. 'Hey, wait, that was Breaking Amish.' I say and I try to grab the remote again. Rich doesn't say anything and settles on a channel: hockey. Of course, I should have known.

'Dad!' Rich calls and of course my dad rushes right in. 'Has it already started?' He asks, looking at the television.

'No, but it will start any minute.' Rich says and my father settles in his favourite armchair. 'Okay, Kat, so today we're watching the-' he starts, but I hold up my hand to stop him. Every time I'm within a five-meter radius of a hockey game, my dad starts explaining what's going on, even though he knows that I'm not watching.

'I'm not here to watch hockey.' I tell him, just like I do every time. 'I just got robbed of my television rights.' I continue dramatically.

'You're being a television dictator, you are the one robbing everyone's 'television rights'.' Rich mutters and I whack him on the head before I go up to my room.