Panic Attack

Chapter 7 : Hockey Accident

Chapter 7

The next day...
   
Riker POV

"Riker, I had an idea for something that might help your anxiety," mom said, as I sat down for lunch.

"What?"

"I think maybe you should go out and play hockey with your brothers. You've been working so hard lately. I think maybe you just need to relax and have some fun."

"I guess..."

"So how about you go with them after dinner for a few hours?"

"I was going to hang out with Nicole though."

"Hang out with her before dinner."

"Fine..."

"And I made a doctor's appointment for you for tomorrow."

"Does this mean I don't have to go to school?"

"Yes. You can stay home."

I finished my lunch and then went to the treehouse to knock on Nicole's window. She was organizing her bedroom. She opened her window and climbed into the treehouse.

"So how are you feeling today?" She asked.

"Not much better. My mom made me a doctor's appointment for tomorrow, so I don't have to go to school. And she suggested I go play hockey tonight with my brothers and dad. She thought maybe it'll make me feel better, but I kind of don't feel like it."

"Do you like playing hockey?"

"Yeah, but I just don't feel like playing tonight."

"Aw... Did you tell your mom that?"

"No. I figured it'd be easier to just go. And who knows? Maybe it'll work."

"Well I hope it does."

"Do you want to come tonight? And watch me play?"

"Sure. Just let me know what time."

"Ok. I'll text you when I'm eating dinner. We leave after dinner."

"Ok, sounds good. Are you good at hockey?"

"I feel like I am. It just takes a lot of energy. You're like constantly going back and forth across the ice."

"So you just play with your brothers and dad?"

"Yeah."

"That's cool."

"Maybe some of my cousins will come, but I don't know."

I laid down on the treehouse floor. Nicole laid down beside me, so I put my arm around her.

"I'm really scared for the doctor's," I mumbled.

"Why?"

"I don't know what they're going to do to me."

"They'll probably just ask you a bunch of questions and make sure you have anxiety and not something else weird. And they'll probably tell you what to do about it."

"I just don't want to go."

Later...

Riker POV

I was finally on the ice. And to be honest, it did feel kind of good. I'm glad mom suggested that I come tonight.

I was on a team with my dad and Ross. We were against Rocky, Ryland, and my uncle.

Nicole was here to watch. And I kind of wanted to impress her. I feel like right now she just thinks I'm this boy who has a ton of issues.

Ross passed me the puck, so I took off towards the other side of the ice. I could hear someone behind me. It was Rocky. And I know he has some sneaky moves to steal the puck, so I kept my eyes on it, making sure not to let him get it.

But he made a move to try to get it. I don't know what happened exactly. But I think his stick got caught under my skate, and I landed hard on the ice, hitting my head.

I sat up and tasted blood in my mouth. And my nose also hurt really bad. I was actually kind of worried I knocked some of my teeth out or something. My mouth hurt all over.

Dad showed up by my side and knelt down beside me. I could tell by his expression that he was concerned.

"Come on. Let's get you to the bathroom."

He took one of my arms and helped me up. I left my stick on the ice for someone else to pick up. Dad helped me walk to the bathroom. I held my hands under my mouth to prevent any blood from getting on my clothes. And I could feel blood dripping from my nose.

Once we were at the bathroom, dad told me to stand at the sink while he got me some water. I spit out a bunch of blood while I was waiting for him to get back, and I tried to rinse off my nose, but it hurt super bad to touch it.

"Here. Rinse your mouth out," dad said, handing me a water bottle.

I rinsed my mouth and spit out some more blood. I smiled in the mirror to make sure I still had all my teeth, and I did. I realized I was bleeding from the inside of my lips, probably from smashing my mouth into the ice, and hitting my teeth pretty hard.

Dad went to touch my nose.

"No, don't! It hurts!"

"Riker, we have to see if it's broken or not."

I spit out some more blood.

"Be gentle," I said, getting nervous.

Dad touched my nose in a bunch of places. It was becoming really bruised now.

"I don't think it's broken," dad said.

"Are we going to go home now?"

"Well, we just got here a little while ago. So how about you just sit and watch for a little while?"

"Fine..."

Dad and I left the bathroom. Dad went back out to play. I sat down on a bench to take off my skates.

"Hey, are you ok?"

I looked up and saw Nicole.

"Not really," I mumbled.

She sat down beside me.

"What happened?" She asked.

"My brother Rocky is really competitive. And while he was trying to get the puck, his stick got under my skate. My dad said he doesn't think my nose is broken. But it hurts a lot. And so does my mouth."

"Everything looks swollen."

I sighed.

"So are you going home?" Nicole asked.

"I asked my dad, and he said we're staying since we just got here a little while ago."

"Couldn't you ask your mom to drive you?"

"She's busy running errands. Let's go sit on the bleachers for a little while."

Nicole held my hand as we walked out to the bleachers. Everyone had switched teams now to make it more fair. It was my dad and uncle against my brothers.

"I was so scared I'd knocked some of my teeth out."

"Did you?"

"No. My teeth kind of hurt though."

"Well you did fall pretty hard."

"I really wish I was home right now. I just want to lay down."

"You could lay down here if you want. Put your head in my lap."

I laid down on the bleachers with my head in Nicole's lap. It felt like my nose was throbbing.

I shut my eyes and just tried to relax. I could literally feel myself becoming anxious. I don't need to have a panic attack here.

Nicole started rubbing my back a little. I think maybe she felt me get tense.

I kept my eyes closed and just listened to everyone skating around on the ice. And I accidentally fell asleep.