This was the big day. First game of the competition and Canada would be playing against Italy. As everyone got hyped up in the locker room Hanna sat monotonous on the bench.
Coach had finally lifted her probation from playing with the team, so that's not what she was upset about. She was unsettled that things have been awkward between Adam and her.
Yesterday Hanna asked him to come to her first game and he said yes without hesitation. But today he was the barer of bad news when he told her that Coach Bombay sprung a surprise practice on him and the rest of Team U.S.A.
However, Hanna did do some digging and talked to Charlie from Team U.S.A. who confirmed that they indeed did not have practice. Hanna was wondering why Adam was lying to her, surely she couldn't be that bad of a kisser.
"Ok sis, Coach wants us to get out on the ice in five. You ready to serve some pasta?" Stryker asked and she looked at him confused. "Get it because we are playing team Italy and they eat- you know what, never mind."
"Nice try Stryker, better luck next time." Gunner teased walking out with Hanna and Stryker following close behind.
Jett followed shortly after "nervous Han? First Varsity game and all."
"Not in the slightest." Hanna boasted but in reality every bone in her body was trembling at the thought of getting out there in front of tons of people and pulling something stupid like she did at her last game. Hint... goalpost.
The clanging still rang throughout her head along with the audiences collected ohs. All she could remember was how mad everyone was that she ruined Coach's perfect season. She shouldn't have made Varsity, she thought, she didn't deserve it.
Jett could tell she was nervous, despite her claims and false confidence, he calmed her down with one of his signature pep talks. "Mom always told me whenever I got nervous to remember what you are playing for. You're not playing for me or for Stryker or for Gunner or for Jack or even for Coach, you're playing for yourself. You are your biggest competitor Hanna, just remember to try your hardest and that's all anyone could ask."
Sometimes Hanna wished it was her dad saying this to her. That her father was the one to calm her down and tell her to do her best, but instead he was the one that worsened the nerves. Canada started chanting their slogan "don't blow it" over and over while Hanna scanned the crowd with an ounce of hope that Adam would be sitting there with a big smile and give her a thumbs up to reassure her.
For the first time in forever Jett's pep talk didn't work to calm her nerves. Hanna felt like she was going to double over and pass out and Coach noticed her pigment getting paler and paler.
It was obvious he didn't know what to do or say, for a second he regretted ever putting her on Varsity but quickly shook the thought from his head because that was his daughter and even though he never said it, he loved her. "Just stomach it Hanna, you'll do great," Owen squeezed her shoulder and she gave a small, thankful smile. She was thankful he finally said something nice.
The feeling of her skates gliding along the ice was calming like waves on the ocean. Hanna did a lap around the rink and waved to all the crowd, just as Jett did. She figured if she could copy his confidence she would gain some of her own.
As she looked around the viewers she noticed Jesse and Charlie from the ducks. That unnoticeably increased her anger, people she barely knew - one even hated her - could show up but Adam couldn't.
