Skating On Thin Ice

The Friendly Bean

Thursday morning, Nathan was driving to work after almost a week of practice and yelling; he was starting to realize that this job wasn't as easy as he first thought it was. As he drove through Doncaster, he decided to turn on 350 AM to hear what everyone was saying today.

"Like I was saying," Layla chatted up, "post-game party will be announced by the Delta Psi Alpha frat come Friday night, Saturday morning so everyone keep your eyes open for that."

"Alrighty," Daniel sighed, "if you're still listening after Layla's long gossiping, I'll nicely remind everyone about tomorrow night's grand opening of Helen Lopez's coffee shop in town called 'The Friendly Bean'. After she does the ribbon-cutting, there will be a party across the street at the bowling alley and the park. The Doncaster Kings and their coaches Jamie and Nathan will be making a special appearance at the frozen lake before they open it to skating."

Robert scoffed. "I wanna hear what coach Nathan has to say. This is the first time he'll show his face to the public. What's up with that? What is he? Scared?" He hit his hand against the tabletop. "He's been saving face, but now it's time to come out of the shadows. The cameras and lights will be on him. He can't hide forever."

"Maybe he isn't." Layla's sweet voice peaked out. "Maybe he's waiting for the right moment to prove himself."

Nathan turned the radio off just as he passed the campus where students, including his daughter, were going from class to class. The captain of the hockey team was walking alongside her best friend inside the halls of the English building.

"What're you wearing to the grand opening tomorrow?" Dallas asked, walking up the railing that looked over the lower floor and started people-watching.

"We have to wear our team shirts." She answered, standing in front of him and checking her phone. "Probably just throw on a pair of jeans and call it a day. Why?"

Dallas shook his head, glancing at the stairwell to the left of them. "Just wondering." He muttered. "Heads up. Damian's coming up here." He warned.

Kameron didn't turn around, opting just to continue swiping on her phone. It didn't take long when her books were taken out of her other arm.

"Let me carry this for you." A raspy voice spoke.

Kameron looked to her right and saw Damian Mendez. The president Stephanie's son. The campus badass kid from the day he was born. He was taller than her, but he was also taller than most people. His height paired nicely with his slender frame disguising the hidden muscles he actually did have. His brown eyes were staring right back into hers. His black hair was short, cut down low in a buzz cut like he liked it. It was covered by the hood of his black jacket that was zipped up. His stubble along his jawline, almost his cheeks, and top lip were on display from how little skin was showing.

"Give me my stuff back." Kameron requested, trying to grab it, but he put it behind his back.

Damian chuckled, his Adam's apple moving as he did. "I will when you tell me you're coming to my race tonight. You can even ride shotgun."

Kameron looked back at Dallas, who was just silently flirting with a girl over the railing. She looked over at Damian and shook her head.

"I can't. I'm hanging out with Lo after practice." She rejected. "We're getting dinner."

Damian nodded his head slowly, looking her up and down. "Right, right." He handed her the book. "Fair enough. Tell me when you're done playing house. I'm not letting you go, Kameron Rose."

Kameron smirked as she walked around him. "To let something go, you'd had to have it in the first place."

She walked off to class with Dallas not too far behind. Dallas took her books for her since they were going to the same class. She walked more confidently than she usually did, just because Damian was eyeing her like a hawk.