Ohio is for Lovers (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter Three

"The search for fourteen year old Jamie Young has come to an end. Volunteers of a search party found Jamie in the lake Tuesday evening, his clothes hidden which has lead the town to believe foul play was involved. There is no comment from the local police on whether the case is being investigated as a homicide."

"It's definitely a homicide." Holland said as we laced up for the game. It didn't feel right playing. Jamie was dead, and life kept going for everyone else. I couldn't sleep the night we found him. Each time I closed my eyes, I could only see Jamie's cold blue body and his purple lips.

"I'm starting to believe you, Holly." Cole said as he tightened his laces. Holland jabbed Cole in his side, before grabbing his stick. He hated that nickname.

"I'm serious! It's scary to think there could be a murderer here in Pine Lake. Everyone knows everyone. It could be your neighbor, or my neighbor or my neighbors' neighbor!" Holland stressed, nearly fainting as he clung to his stick.

"What makes you think it's a homicide, Kentwood?" Hudson, a defenseman on the team, asked as he raised a thick brow.

"His clothes were hidden, duh. Why would he hide his own clothes?" Holland stressed with a sigh. I could tell by the look on his face, he was getting frustrated. When Holland wasn't playing hockey, he was watching crime documentaries.

"It could've been suicide." Hudson said with a shrug. Holland groaned loudly, shaking his head.

"And what makes you say that?" I asked, turning to him.

"Jamie was a faggot, he probably felt disgusted with himself." Hudson said, his mug turning into a scowl as if he'd smelled something sour. Kyle laughed under his breath from the opposite side of the locker room. I clenched my jaw as my eyes narrowed at the both of them. I grabbed my stick and stood up. I shoved Hudson with my shoulder as I walked out of the locker room.

❅

"Kentwood, I want you on number 69's ass, you hear me? I don't even want him to be able to move his stick, got it?" Coach ordered to Holland, chewing loudly on his spearmint gum.

"Yes, sir." Holland breathed heavily. I squeezed my water bottle, filling my mouth with water. I swished it around my mouth before spitting it out.

It was the last half of third period. If the opposing team scored, we'd had lost our first game. I skated to center ice, popping my mouth guard back in place. The ref held the puck mid air, blowing his whistle before dropping it on the ice.

I smacked the puck to Kyle, from there he was supposed to pass it to Holland. Kyle skated down the ice, stick in hand with determination. Holland shouted to Kyle from across the rink, hitting the ice with his stick.

"Greer! Pass!"

But Kyle didn't pass, he kept skating. I shifted my weight from side to side as I skated down center ice, watching Kyle dodge the opposing teams defense men. My chest drummed with adrenaline, if he screwed this up, we were done for. He slapped the puck to the net and it flew in past the goalie's glove.

The crowds' roars echoed off the walls of the arena as the team hopped over the boards, rushing to Kyle. I shook my head as I skated off the ice, heading to the locker room. I didn't feel like celebrating.

I unlaced my skates and pulled them off with difficulty before I chucked them into my bag. Kyle walked in with a smile on his face, the rest of the team followed behind.

"Greer, if you pull something like that again, I'll bench you for the rest of the season!" Coach Nev barked as soon as he walked in the locker room, his face crimson and his mouth twisted into a frown. He rested one hand on his hip and the other holding a wooden clipboard as he stood tall. Kyle's smile disappeared as he stared at his feet.