my side of the ice [mlm]

t h r e e

Cool morning air hit me as I strode out to my car, emblazoned with blue stripes. I greeted the cloudy, grey sky with a grimace, ducking into my car as quickly as I could.

The metal blades of my skates twanged as they collided with the metal door. Dammit. Another scratch to add to my already beat-up car.

I dumped my kit bag on the seat behind me, slamming the damaged door shut with a huff.

My hand reached out to turn the keys, music blasting out of the speakers immediately. I winced. I pressed the volume button, the noise unwelcoming so early in the morning.

Impatiently, I pressed it again. And again. Nothing happened.

"Oh, lordy." I sighed.

Giving up on the violent music blasting through the speakers, I grasped the clutch and pressed my foot into the accelerator. I groaned as my car clunked and spluttered.

My eyes scanned the clock. 5 minutes past. Great.

Eventually, my car spluttered to life and I am speeding down the back roads to the ice rink, its outline looming in the distance. I swallowed, the familiar sight sending coach's angry face raging through my mind.

To make my morning even worse, parking is awful. Like finding a needle in a haystack. I pulled the car into a parking space, stopping as quickly as possible.

My bag is yanked onto my shoulder, my skates colliding painfully with my hip. I grunted as I closed the door and began to speed-walk.

Signing in at the reception didn't take long; they know me by now, because even though people on this team shift around a lot, Scotty and I had been playing for a few seasons now.

Getting changed didn't take long either, despite the clothes littered across the room.

I rushed into the arena, clanging the door. Everyone turned to look at me.

"Dean!!" Coach roared, his voice echoing off the ice.

I barely had time to register the fact that Jay and his teammates were also staring at my late arrival with shock before coach was in my face.

"What do you think you are doing?" His spit sprays across my skin. My facial expression doesn't change. "Did you even READ my text?!"

"No." I shook my head.

He laughed, but there was no mirth in it. His hand raised to scratch his chin and suddenly there was fire in his eyes.

"The Knights asked to join our practice." He paused. "They wanted to meet an hour earlier." Shoot. That meant I was an hour--

"--and 20 minutes late!? I don't expect that from one of my best players!" He shook his head, his voice returning to a quieter volume. "Get on the ice."

I swallowed, kneeling to lace my boots as he stormed out of the arena.

When I looked up, my eyes met Jay's. Concern filled his eyes but I brushed him off, turning my attention to my team as I stepped sheepishly onto the ice.

The hubbub and noise slowly returned as Scotty skated to greet me.

"Where were you, man?" The usually teasing tone gone from his voice.

"I'm sorry, I let you down--"

"No, you're okay. We were just worried about you." He frowned. "You're usually reliable, Dee."

"I just slept in." I rubbed the heel of my hand over my eyes. "You know how life gets." How the nightmares get.

He nodded, understanding the meaning behind my words, and slapped his hand on my shoulder.