AAOOOSC! Wheatie Bits!

E. 2. "Meeting Reid" (1/4)

October 2014
Over a year later...

Laughter echoes through the Keystone Arena's backstage hallways. Ambling through one of the dim hallways gaily are Kale Clague and Nolan Patrick.

"See?" Kale remarks with raised eyebrows, pointing a playful finger at him. "I can make a good captain!" He is referring to the Under-16 Western Canada Challenge Cup Tournament, where he captained Team Alberta against Nolan and Team Manitoba.

Nolan adjusts the collar of his cream-coloured trench coat with a tug. "You were lucky!"

"Lucky as green as my name!" He holds his proud smile.

Nolan narrows his eyes and wags a teasing finger at him. "Ooo, I'm getting a taste my own medicine now!"

Kale lets out a chortle as he stuffs his hands into his pants' pockets. "You rubbed off of me, Pat. I've been hanging around you too long."

"You learn from the best." He winks with a smirk.

Kale leans his head near his. "Maybe you should've learned from me to win that tournament."

He pulls away from him, shooting him a mocking, offended expression with his mouth agape and eyebrows knitted. "Okay, and how was I supposed to know you had that in you?" He crosses his arms, scanning him from head to toe. "You're just a defenceman."

Kale rolls his eyes. "Wow, okay, defencemen can't do anything, sounds legit." He lands his eyes on him with a flat face.

Nolan holds a hand out at him with a sincere expression. "That came out wrong: I underestimated you."

They breeze through the bright doorway, entering the amiable, welcoming locker room.

"That's better." Kale holds his open smile at him. "Remember—" He lifts his pointer finger at him. "—I set you up to soak up the glory."

"True." Nolan flicks his head to face him. "Couldn't have done it without you." He playfully punches his shoulder before settling on his stall by the edge.

Kale steps past him, approaching the only stall next to Nolan, which is to his left. He reaches up to the shelf above the bench to the skates when something peculiar catches his eye.

He lowers his eyes, having them land on the placard. His eyebrows scrunch up with bewilderment as he reads the name it bears:

"'Reid...Duke.'"

"Excuse me?" Nolan is heard asking.

Kale whirls to his left to look at his friend. He points to the placard. "My stall's taken."

"What?" With a gape, Nolan shoots up to his feet and leans toward it, scrutinizing it. "Who is this 'Reid Duke' and why is he taking your place?!"

He scratches his head, maintaining a perplexed expression on the strange placard. "He sounds awfully familiar... I think he's on the Hurricanes..."

Nolan straightens up and rolls his eyes. "What is he doing here?"

He turns to him, softening his expression. "Most likely got traded." He shrugs. "We did just go through a big trade."

"So where are you gonna sit at now?" Nolan shoots him a look of concern.

Kale spins to his right, quickly spotting an empty stall. He flicks his eyes up to the placard, instantly recognizing his name. "Oh, found my stall!" He slips onto the section of the bench underneath it.

"Good." Nolan seats himself back on his stall's bench. "At least you didn't get kicked to the curb."

Kale twists his body to reach for his skates and shin guards above him. "No, I'm still on this team for sure." He straightens his posture, dropping his equipment on the ground. "Not planning to leave anytime soon."