The Penalty Box

Chapter 10

Lilly insisted on coming over after school. She wanted to me pick out my outfits and stuff. That's when she discovered my eyes.

See I have two different colored eyes. One is hazel more brown than anything and the other is blue. It's been that way since I was a baby.

Though I always wear contacts, seeing as my vision is horrible. I asked for colored contacts, blue like my mom. I did what when I was ten, I didn't want anything to do with my dad anymore. He was the one with the hazel eyes.

" You wear contacts because?" Lilly asked.

" My dad, I didn't want anything to do with him," I replied, " I wanted blue eyes like my mom."

" Nope, you're wearing glasses tonight." I reluctantly pointer to the drawer next to my bed. I was the one kid that never bothered with the nerdy glasses, I went right to the cool ones.

" Yeah, you are totally wearing this tonight. Girl you even have studs on them,"

I laughed and put the glasses on to make her happy. I hated wearing my contacts in ice rinks anyway, they always dry out.

Cooter rolled up at 5 like we discussed. Lilly had to push me out the door for me to go. It's weird, I'll be the first to admit it.

The ride to the rink was silent. I mean we talked games and the Hurricanes stats. There was no way that they could win this game. But Cooter and I both love the Penguins so it should be a great game.

" So what do you want to eat? Firehouse, I think there's a CookOut near here," he looked over at me briefly before looking back at the road.

" Yeah anything is good with me," I replied, " You know me, I like food."

He laughed and pulled into a CookOut. This is why I like this kid. He knows me all too well.

" The usual?" He questioned.

I nodded and grabbed my phone, Lilly had already texted me to see how I was holding up. I laughed and told her I had CookOut.

After a while we drove to the arena. The parking lot was packed, with people tailgating, and having fun. Cooter and I had to push though the crowds to get to the gate. From there it took us fifteen minutes to get to our seats.

We were right behind the Canes goal. I smiled and watched as the teams skated on for warm ups.

I was wearing a Canes jersey, but a Penguin's shirt underneath. I couldn't be caught with a Penguin's jersey, I'd be killed or something.

" Look, there's Crosby," I said pointing to our favorite player, " and Skinner."

" You're obsessed," Cooter laughed, " But I can't blame you."

We watched the game, screaming at the players. I carefully noted the way each of them played, the way they skated, and the way they we're handling the puck. I never noticed it before, it was marvelous.

" You look like you're daydreaming over there," Cooter said waving his hand in my face.

I snapped out of it and looked over at him. I nodded and smiled. The buzzer sounded, announcing the end of the second period.

Cooter placed his hands on his knees and pushed up. He held his hand out for me to grab, "C'mon, we've got time," he smiled. I grabbed his hand and stood up, walking with him.

" So, we're we going?" I questioned.

He just smiled and kept dragging me with him. I groaned and tried to keep up with him. But he has much longer legs than me, seeing as he had a like a foot on me. Being a hockey player, and being that tall was a good thing. I was about 5'6 or 5'7, but I was fast, thanks to Mason's training.

" Cootes, slow down you idiot," I laughed starting to awkwardly trip.

" Fine grandma," he winked. I groaned and slapped his arm playfully.

We finally got were Cooter was taking me, it was the gift shop thingy. I lost Cooter in the store, but I figured who cares. The idiot can always find me.

Some one came up behind me and covered my eyes with one big hand, " Cooter, you idiot," I laughed turning around. The other hand was behind his back, hiding something.

Now if this was a horror story, he'd have a gun or something. But this isn't a horror story. He pulled his hand from behind his back, handing me what was in it.

I looked down, it was one of those stuffed Stormy things. I flipped it over and saw it was signed. But not by anyone, it was Jeff Skinner's signature. I smiled practically from cheek to cheek, " Coty Bruener! How in the world?" I questioned.

" I know a guy," he laughed, " You like it?" he inquired.

" Coty, do I like it? You idiot, how could I not? It's Jeff Skinner," I laughed hugging him," Thank you."

The game had started back up again. Cooter and I slowly made our way make to our seats. I clung to my stuffed animal, I didn't want to risk losing it.

After the game was over Cooter drove me back home. The two of us stood on the dark porch, neither of us wanting to leave, " Thanks Cooter, it was fun," I smiled.

I looked into his sparkling grey eyes. I smiled at him, for the first time. I didn't find him repulsive, barbaric, or anything like that. He was actually kinda handsome. I'd never thought I'd say that, I've always thought he was an evil spawn or something.

" Coty," I mumbled, but I wasn't able to finish my sentence. Cooters lips were on mine, I think that I would've been repulsed by that... if I didn't know what Cooter was really like. I wrapped my arms around his neck, still holding into my stuffed animal that he gave me.

" Callahan, quit sucking face." Jared and Lilly laughed from the door.

We pulled away and smiled, " Um ah, good night Cootes." I mumbled before dashing inside. I closed the door and leaned up against it. He kissed me, and I didn't hate it, I kinda liked it.

" You kissed him," Lilly laughed, " What happened to 'cant date a teammate'?" She laughed.

I shook my head and plopped down on the floor. I toyed with my stuffed animal, not really able to form a complete thought.

Was I actually falling for the same guy who had it out for me since the with grade? The same guy I've hated for years? He got me kicked off the hockey team, one maybe twice.

There were two things I was sure of. The first being, I was falling for Cooter Bruener. The second being, I'm totally screwed.