Chapter Two
Casey tapped her thumbs against the steering wheel as she hummed along to whatever song was playing on the radio. Derek was slumped in the passenger seat, his forehead cradled in his hand. She felt bad for him, she really did. She had woken up that morning at six as usual and had gone downstairs to fix her usual scrambled egg whites and berry smoothie breakfast. No one had said anything and the house had been eerily quiet. The tension felt like a heavy and humid fog clinging to them. When Derek came downstairs, the tension had worsened.
"Derek," George folded and set the newspaper he had been reading on the counter, "Good morning."
"Good morning, Dad."
Their voices had been calm and level but there was a hint of anger still clinging to them as they spoke to each other. Casey had kept her head down and stirred the eggs in the skillet and Nora had made up some story about having to go and take the sheets off the bed so she could start some laundry. At six fifteen in the morning.
"Casey," upon hearing George say her name, Casey had practically dropped the spatula into the skillet. She wanted to just stay out of whatever was going on between George and Derek.
"Mmhmm?" She'd responded nervously, hoping she wouldn't be dragged into anything.
"Since Derek is grounded for the next couple of weeks, you will be the sole driver of The Prince. I know he has to be at the school soon, but if you drive him to and from practice today, I will be more than fine with taking over your chores for today."
Casey turned to her stepdad. He had been looking at her hopefully and she didn't know how to possibly say no to him. Derek on the other hand had been glaring daggers at her as he poured himself a bowl of cereal. If looks could kill…Casey had mused.
"Um…sure. No problem."
"Thank you so much, Casey," George sighed, relieved, "Nora and I are going to the grocery store this afternoon. Is there anything you two want us to pick up for you?"
"I'm fine," Casey turned back to her eggs.
"Derek?" George had asked, his voice sounded as though it was treading water.
Derek hadn't said anything. Instead, he grabbed his bowl of cereal and headed to the living room. He plopped down in his recliner and began shoveling the chocolaty cereal into his mouth. George sighed and had ran a hand though his hair in a way that reminded Casey very much of Derek.
They had eaten their breakfast in silence. Even after breakfast and halfway through the ride to the school, there was still silence between them except for the radio and Casey's humming. She knew she needed to tread carefully around Derek. Normally she would say something to get under his skin. When they fought, things were just easy. But she knew better than to provoke him right now.
"What time do I have to pick you up?" She asked carefully.
"Probably five," Derek grumbled. He knew none of this was Casey's fault, but he couldn't help but feel slightly irked at her. Not only had his dad taken his car, but he had given it to Casey instead. Sure, the car was theirs to share, but it was still a low blow to Derek, "Do you have to do that?" he snapped.
"Do what?"
"Hum."
"No," Casey said, stopping. The fact that she had stopped surprised Derek. Normally she would have kept it up just to spite him. He was taken back for a second before regaining his sour composure and saying –
"And do you have to listen to this station?"
"No," Casey said, turning off the radio.
The car was completely silent. Derek hated silence. After a few moments, he couldn't take it anymore, "Fine! Turn your damn music back on!"
"You don't have to shout," Casey pointed out quietly.
It wasn't long before The Prince turned into the gymnasium parking lot. Casey swung her door open and hopped out of the car. Derek wasn't far behind.
"What the hell are you doing?"
"I'm going to ask Coach how late it will be."
"I told you."
"You don't know for sure," Casey protested.
She followed Derek into the gym. Coach was in his office. She knocked softly on the door. Upon seeing her, he put down his clipboard and waved her in.
"Casey, come in," Coach Samuels said warmly, "How are you?"
"I'm doing well, Coach," Casey smiled, "I was wondering what time practice will be over today? Derek's grounded and I have to drop him off and pick him up."
"And what are you being punished for, having to drive him around?"
"Well, Derek's dad said if I drove him to practice he'd take care of my chores for the day so it isn't all bad. I like getting to drive for a change."
"Oh, well I still apologize for your inconvenience."
"It's okay, I'll live," Casey smiled, "But I do need to know what time drills will be over."
"About three. I decided I'll let him off easy this time. I don't want to wear them out before next Friday."
"Three?" Casey's eyes widened and her face paled.
"Is that a problem?"
"I can't pick him up then. I have dance lessons. I thought maybe…I just assumed he would get out after three."
"Oh, well I am sure your teacher would understand if you were a few minutes late…"
"Coach, I am the teacher. I teach the beginners class on Saturday afternoons for some extra money."
"You teach?" Coach Samuels raised an eyebrow.
"Yes," Casey beamed. She seemed to blossom at the mention of dance, "I love it. The little girls are all so sweet. Personally, I think every little girl should take ballet. It teaches them teamwork, poise, grace, self-confidence – every valuable skill a girl needs to know."
"Teamwork? Poise? Grace? Self-confidence?"
"Yeah," Casey nodded, "I just can't be late for my class."
"What time does your class start again?"
"Three."
Coach Samuels sighed as if he was trying not to outwardly show he was already regretting the decision he was about to make, "I can take him home if you'd like."
"Coach, I couldn't ask that of you," Casey shook her head, "I already feel bad you have to coach him!" Coach Samuels laughed at that.
"It is a challenge," he nodded, "But I manage. Besides, I couldn't have you miss your class."
"Thank you, so much Coach Samuels," Casey smiled, "It means a lot to me."
"Just get out of here before I change my mind."
"Oh, if he causes you any problems, just make him walk home," Casey added quickly before scurrying out of his office. Coach Samuels chuckled and shook his head. He didn't know what had come over him, but he didn't want Casey McDonald to miss her dance class. Dance, eh? Coach shook his head again as he gathered his clipboard and whistle from his desk.
The hockey team was standing outside, already lined up at the track when Coach approached them. They were dead silent, none of them wanted to say anything to each other. Coach could tell they were all still sour from the night before. They looked like a mess, all beat up and bruised. At least they would be a sight for the rival team on Friday.
"Alright boys," Coach announced, "Now that everyone is here, I want you all to run five laps around the track, then get your butts into the locker room and get suited up to run drills," he blew his whistle, "Go!"
After running laps, they team jogged back into the hockey stadium and towards the locker rooms. It was still silent. The only exchanges any of them made were to glower at each other. Coach rolled his eyes as he watched their interactions from his office. It was definitely time for a change. After everyone had suited up, he led them all out onto the ice.
"I want you guys to show me how you can work as a team," Derek had been standing off to the side from the rest of the team and when Coach Samuels mentioned working together as a team, he glared at Derek. Derek rolled his eyes and skated over to the group, sweat beading around his forehead and upper lip, "Venturi, you, Thatcher, Mills, Erickson, Smith, and Fouler that side of the ice!"
"But Coach, I don't work well with any of them!" Derek protested.
"You will work well with them or you're off the team!" Coach shouted, "Everyone else, opposite side of the ice. You will work well with each other!"
Coach sat on the side and watched the teams begin to play. He couldn't help but recall what Casey had said about teamwork, poise, and grace. That was just what his boys needed if they wanted to win the championship. But that's ridiculous;he thought to himself, my boys would never take ballet. Not if I paid each one a thousand dollars. Especially Derek. That boy sure is a piece of work. Maybe ballet will bring him back down to size…
A loud "thud" interrupted his thoughts. Coach looked up to see Aaron Erickson and Derek Venturi. Derek had Aaron pinned to plastic wall the encircled the rink and was in the process of yelling at him.
"I told you to pass the puck to me!"
"Venturi!" Coach shouted, "Let him go!"
"I told you to pass the puck to me!"
"Venturi! In my office! Now!"
Derek threw Aaron to the ground and skated off the ice. Coach Samuels sighed and ran a hand through his hair. These boys are going to give me ulcers, he shook his head. After leading Derek into his office, Coach told him to shut the door.
"I will kick you off my team," Coach assured him, "You can be positive that I will unless you straighten out your attitude."
"I told him to pass me the puck."
"Derek," Coach rubbed his hands across his face in frustration, "When I made you captain of the team when you were in grade ten, I got a lot of flack for it. Underclassmen are not ever considered team captains. But I saw something in you – something I didn't see in any of my other players at the time. You've been my captain ever since. I know it wasn't easy for you. The other boys weren't too pleased with my decision, were they?"
Derek shook his head, thinking back to the time the grade twelve players had jumped him after school the day he was announced as captain. He still had a scar on his forehead from where a class ring had collided above his brow, "We all have to pay our dues," Derek shrugged nonchalantly.
"You had it tougher than most. It wasn't right what you went through, but I think it helped you grow and be a better captain. You have a good head on your shoulders, Venturi. I have never once regretted my decision to make you my team captain…until yesterday."
Derek winced.
"That stunt you pulled last night is something I am not going to be able to easily forgive. As the captain, it is your responsibility to keep the team in line but attitude reflects leadership. You got a bad attitude, Venturi. No one wants to listen to you. I think I have a solution to the problem. Get your sorry behind out on that ice and I'll make the announcement. You might not like it, you might not want to do it, but I can assure you, Venturi, that if you don't do it, you will no longer be captain."
"Yes sir," Derek stood to head out back to the ice when Coach stopped him.
"And Ventrui?"
"Sir?"
"Don't you ever make me regret my decision again."
The team was sitting on the bleachers when Derek and Coach came back into the rink. Sam was currently comforting Aaron who was still pretty shaken up after Derek's little outburst. Derek rolled his eyes. Stupid Erickson.
"Alright fellas, I have an announcement. Now, I think I know what your problem is. The thing is, you guys don't have teamwork, poise, and grace…"
"Coach, we aren't ballerinas!" Derek interrupted.
"Funny you should say that, Venturi. Now, in order to make you guys have teamwork, poise, and grace, I am enrolling you in a dance class."
"What?" The team shouted in unison. A few other grumbles and curses ensued.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Coach talked over the grumbling, "Now, if you do not wish to be a part of this, I will kick you off the team. That is the ultimatum. You understand me?"
A few, "Yes sirs" resounded.
"Who's gonna teach us…you?" Tommy Thatcher demanded.
"No," Coach shook his head, "But I have a little lady in mind."