Chapter 2

The ice was fresh and smooth the best kind. As Jasper said, all the guys were already practicing. The coach was standing behind the bench. I know that he's not happy about having me on the team he told reporters the night of the draft I think he said something like " letting a girl play with boys is absurd she could get hurt and then the boys will be painted out as mean men who don't know how the power of there force." I couldn't wait to prove him wrong.

I walked over to him and extended my hand.

"Hi I'm ready to start practicing what are we doing?"

"Your going to be doing laps and then some drill the boys are going to work on checking they need to know how to do it if they are going to be protecting you all game."

I could already tell we weren't going to get along. I couldn't believe he didn't want me to practice with the rest of the team. How was I going to prove how good I was if I couldn't play with the team.

"I'm going to get checked while I'm playing a game why don't you let me practice checking with the team I think you'll find I can protect myself pretty well."

"I don't know if that's a good idea you'll probably get hurt right away and then I'll get in trouble for letting you play with the boys"

"I think you should let me show you what I've got"

I wanted to play but I didn't want my coach to think that I didn't listen so I thought I would appease him eventually he'll let me play with the team right?

"Well I guess I should get started on those laps. How many do you want me to do?"

"Why don't you do 10 and then you'll run through some drills with the team. If I think you're up to it I might let you work on some checking with the team. Go warm up and stretch so we can get started on drills"

To say I was excited to start skating is an understatement I couldn't wait to get on that ice so as soon as he let me go I was on the ice.

It felt smooth just like I thought it would I loved how it felt to skate on fresh ice and I was in the mood to show them all how fast I was. So I started around the rink at full speed in a minute and a half I had completed my laps I loved going that fast. Last year I had one of my coaches time me I did ten laps and my coach timed it. I was at an average of 18 seconds a lap but I've gotten better since then now I was doing laps at 16 seconds each.

After I finished my laps, I skated to the bench to start stretch. Jim the coach came up to me.

"Did you do all your laps Bella?" he seemed skeptical.

"Yeah of course I did last year I held the record for fastest skater on the team I could do a lap in 18 seconds but between you and me I think I've gotten faster."

"you sure have now get ready for some drills"

I started stretching. I noticed a couple of the guys had gotten together in groups and were talking to each other and looking at me. I figured they were talking about the laps I had just done I knew I was fast but nothing that would be considered fast in the NHL I was just a rookie after all. Soon Jim called us all together.

"Okay I know that I told you guys that we weren't going to be working on checking with Bella but she just proved to me that she deserves a chance so lets start with working on how to take a check. There is a correct way and an incorrect way like there is to everything. I know that most of you have taken and given checks your whole life but have you been doing it right? To take a check correctly It is important to keep your head up. Shoulders and shoulder pads should absorb the impact of landing on the ice or colliding with the glass or boards. You should always try to cushion the blow its never a good idea to take the full blow. I'm going to dived you guys into pairs one person is going to deliver the hit while the other practices taking the check then we'll switch. Now to deliver an effective hit you need to tuck your elbows in you never want to hurt somebody by having your elbow stick out like a chicken wing. Make sure you keep your stick on the ice so you don't high stick people, focus on the player you checking not on the puck. Try not to hurt anyone it is our first practice now everyone pair up with someone"

After everyone paired up with someone, it was just Jacob Black and I left so we paired up. Jacob seemed a little apprehensive about checking me so I told him I would check him first. He wasn't prepared for the first hit. He fell pretty hard onto the ice and defiantly didn't try to cushion the blow. He looked up at me from the ice he had a very bewildered look on his face as he said, "I don't think I'm ever going to underestimate you again" I laughed at him and reached down to help him up. He was pretty cute but I couldn't think about it to long because before I knew it he was standing up. He was just inches from me I looked up and turned my head away.

"Well do you want to try checking me since I proved that I'm not as fragile as you thought I was?"

"Yeah I guess. You're defiantly not a china doll."

We did a couple of rounds he checked me and I checked him by the end of the drill he realized that I could be one of the guys.

After the drill coach Jim had us split into teams and play a period of hockey. The boys checked me as if I was one of them. They even passed to me. I was making more progress with them on the first day then I had with any of the teams I played with before. I got a goal and an assist in the 20 minutes we played. Coach Jim was impressed. The first practice of the year went great.

After practice, I got back in my street clothes I started packing up.

I heard a cough from behind me. I turned around and saw Jacob leaning against the door.

"Hey that was a good practice today. You sure sowed us that a girl can play." Jacob said as he took a step into the locker room.

"That wasn't totally what I was going for. Don't get me wrong I wanted to prove that a girl can play hockey but mostly I just want some respect."

I started to lift my bag onto my shoulder but Jacob ran up to me while saying, "Oh here let me take that" he pulled the bag out of my hands and pulled it onto his shoulder "geez what do you have in here? You know the guys on the team respect you especially after you got that goal it's just hard for us to play with a girl. We've always been told that girls are fragile and her you come proving that wrong."

"I guess I understand that its just that I've always been one of the guys its weird to be treated like a lady and I defiantly don't like it when people think I'm fragile because I'm far from it"

"I get that I'm not sure that everyone does but I think that you're really going to be valuable on the team. I mean I've never seen someone do ten laps as quickly as you did today except for when I'm watching the all star game"

"Well I don't think you'll be seeing me in an all star game anytime soon" I joked

We started to walk out into the parking lot talking about hockey it was fun I really like talking to Jacob

I lead him to my car and went to grab my bag from him "well this is my stop I guess I'll talk to you tomorrow"

I put my hand down on the strap of my bag and he grabbed it with his other hand. He looked me at me in the eyes and said, "What do you think about going out to dinner tonight"

"I don't usually go out on dates with team mates you're going to have to prove to me that you're worth me breaking this rule over. Ask me again later."

He handed me the bag and I threw it in the trunk.

"I'll see you tomorrow Jacob have a good day"

"Bye Bella" he said as he took a few steps back

I got into my car and drove away. As I was leaving the parking lot I looked in the review mirror to see Jacob standing there looking at my car.

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