Off Ice.

Chapter Thirty-One.

Finn

This game is the only thing standing in between us and Seattle, but it's an important one. We're playing Vegas and they're first in our division, but we're only trailing by a hand full of points. I've never been on a first place team before and I want it so badly. The competitor in me is not backing down with this one.

I think Avery could tell that I've been a bit more in tune with the game today and has given me some space. I really don't want to mess this up tonight, especially when we've lost the last two games. If we don't bring this one home, it's going to start a streak that we really cannot afford right now - especially not when this is our last game before the break.

I came to the rink early to ride the stationary bike and clear my head a bit while no one was around. Aves is going to stay back at my apartment for this one and I went down to the building security again to make sure they knew the situation. The people on duty today were informed from last nights guys which was a relieving surprise, since I've been dealing with the people who work at Avery's complex that just couldn't give a shit. But not for nothing, the security here is just stricter in general. I feel a lot better knowing the she's at my apartment than I did when she was at hers, if I'm being honest. I'm able to actually put that in a box and store it in the back of my mind while I get my head on straight for this game.

I rode the bike for a little over an hour, which is probably overkill but I really just wanted to get as loose as possible before we did our team warmups. Everyone on my team is in the same mindset that I am, which is good. We're all really tuned in and ready to get the job done.

So now I'm sitting on the bench in the dressing room, my eyes trained to the top of my stick where the four letters I always write in a dark black marker are. They help me focus. They help me remember why I'm doing this and who it's for. It keeps her with me on the ice and just like this bracelet that I keep on my wrist for every game - it protects me.

"Rêverie?" Daydreaming?

I look up at the sound of Seb's voice, seeing him standing at his slot next to me. He's glancing over the large pads that cover his shoulder and at me before he looks back to his bag that he's storing.

"Pas cette fois," I chuckle, running my thumb over her name as I stand up. We're going out in a couple minutes so I might as well get to the hallway. Not this time.

He slips on his glove and hits my side with the back of his hand as I slip mine on as well. I put my gloved hand on his helmet and rough him around a bit, "Let's bring this one in, eh?"

He practically howls in return as I head out into the hall, all the guys out there shouting pretty incoherent words and hitting into each other to get pumped up. Jack comes over to me and hits the logo on my chest before I bring my fist up and we do a quick handshake, "Ready to cream 'em, eh?!"

I nod before cracking my neck, jumping around on my skates a bit so that I can stay loose. Alright. Let's do this.

A couple minutes later, the announcer's exaggerated voice rings through the arena, the fans all on their feet and cheering as we step onto the ice. This is my favorite part of every game - feeling the excitement from every single person in here as my skates slice through the new ice. It really never grows old, I don't know how it could. I don't know how playing my favorite game in front of thousands of people could ever grow old.

Not to jump the gun, but I really can't even imagine what it's going to be like going on the ice for the first game in Seattle. I can imagine that it'll be all the fans of the Thunderbirds and then some, which really fucking excites me. I loved playing for those guys and I still am a little upset that I didn't get to finish up a playoff season for them. I hope they're going to be excited that Case and I are coming back.