Jenn POVI wouldn't be lying if I told you that I was the most pissed off person in the world right now. I couldn't sleep at all last night thanks to stupid Trace for playing his stupid game. What the hell was with everyone?! I layed awake all night tossing and turning, shoving pillows over my face, and nothing worked. I wasn't about to go into his room cause I would probably get my faced ripped off like I did the last night. What the hell was up his ass? All I know is that I woke up a train wreck; hair a mess, black baggy eyes, the whole deal. I dragged myself to the bathroom to take a shower and then tried to dress myself but I was having trouble. I finally managed before walking out and packing my backpack. I could still hear Trace playing his game and that only got me more irritated. I just rolled my eyes, not even bothering to get him. I walked downstairs and into the kitchen throwing my bag with anger by the front door. I drew the attention of my uncle and dad and they just looked over at me watching me walk to the fridge. I glanced at the clock, 7:53am. Great. I had to leave the house at 8 just to make it to class on time. School started at 8:30 and when I didn't have my deck, I wouldn't be able to make it unless I ran. I just grabbed the milk from the fridge pouring myself a glass before grabbing a piece of bread slabbing the butter on it before biting into it.
"What's wrong with you?" My uncle Dean asked with a raised brow. I didn't even need to answer because the person that got me in this mood was just waltzing into the kitchen looking refreshed; ironic considering he'd been up all night. I just rolled my eyes turning around grabbing my stuff and slumping into the chair.
"Morning." He had the nerve to say all cheery like, like nothing had happened. "How was your sleep?" he asked at me in his normal tone. There was nothing to it. He wasn't being sarcastic or snarky…he just acted like nothing happened. What an ass! I just glared at him before dropping my piece of bread on the napkin sipping some milk.
"Awesome, I slept like a baby in a sound proof room…oh wait. Never mind. That would be a different place, because unfortunately this house isn't sound proof and all I could fucking hear was your stupid game!" I spat and he just looked at me as did my uncle and dad.
"Oh yeah, about the game. Dude…the coolest thing happened last night!" I lost it. I just picked up my glass of milk whipping it across the kitchen and listening to it shatter into a million and one pieces right by him before heading out. I grabbed my bag and deck before slamming the door and heading off to school. I don't know what possessed me to do so, but I couldn't take it. If all I was going to hear was shit about The Severance, I was seriously going to blow my brains out. I could hear the door open and I didn't even look back as I dropped my deck and skated off. I rounded the corner toward Dakotas house to see if she wanted to come with me and her uncle Rylan was standing outside the house getting something from his car. He turned his attention to me as I got off my deck.
"Morning Mr. Myles." I said tiredly. He grew a soft grin as he looked at me. He looked the same, bags under the eyes and beat tired. "You alright?" He nodded.
"Yeah, Dakota just kept me awake playing her stupid game." You have got to be kidding me! Her too?! Forget this then. "Want me to get her for you?" I just shook my head.
"Thanks anyway." I smiled as I turned around. "I'll see you later." He nodded and I just skated off. Perfect way to start the morning, I didn't even want to know what the hell was going to happen at school that was for damn sure. I was gone since Saturday, and I hoped since it was Wednesday things might turn around but hell, they were just starting. I heard someone approach behind me and I didn't turn around because his smell hit me before his figure.
"Jenn…wait up. What's wrong? Are you okay?" did he NOT get the point this morning?! Holy crap! I just ignored him and skated faster. "Jenn, come on talk to me. What was with the whole scene? Is it your time of the month of something?"
"I should be asking you the same thing!" I snapped back, I just didn't want to hear anything from him right now. I continued to skate and he remained silent.
"Jenn look-" It was all I heard before I ate pavement. I didn't realize the pot hole up ahead and my deck wheels got caught in it and I heard a snap as my body was thrown from my board. I did a face plant before I rolled almost hitting a parked car.
"FUCK!" I screamed as I sat up. My hands were cut and bleeding and so were my knees. I had a nice split soon to be fat lip swelling up my face. My favorite Jeans were now torn at the knees and I looked like a slut that liked to be one them. I glanced back and noticed my board in half lying in the middle of the road. I was heading over to them before a car came whizzing past swerving to not hit me but in the process then hitting my board again now completely obliterating it. The trucks were toast and there was no point. I kicked half of it as I threw my head back. I wanted to scream. I wanted to chase after the driver and pound his head in. But worst off, I just wanted to break my cousins neck. Instead of loosing control, I turned around and then started to walk to school now in an even sourer mood.
"Jenn, are you alright?!" He got off his bike and caught up beside me.
"I'm fine, just leave me alone!" I walked quickly and he held back before biking ahead toward school. I just wanted this day to end, and my life. So far, there were now 2 strikes on the bad day chart for Jennifer Winchester. So far, I hated my life and going to class, wasn't looking up either.
I entered my class 10 minutes late. My lovely obsessed group of friends that I always sit with in English Class were all turned facing each other and they all looked deeply indulged in conversation. This school was weird with the schedule. On Fridays and Mondays, the first period swaps with the last period. I guess instead of 3rd and 4th switching, they switch 1st and 4th.
"Ms. Jennifer. You're 10 minutes late. Tsk tsk. That's a detention young lady, I would expect more from you." I just rolled my eyes. I didn't even bother to tell her what happened because she hated excuses, if I was late, I was late. "Can you please hand me your essay and short story."
"Yeah. I got them right…" I opened my bag and went to get them but then it hit me. They weren't in my bag! Oh shit! I left them on the floor by my bed with my English binder and my Allen Poe book. Shit! Come on! Give me a break!! "I…forgot them at home…I'm so sorry Ms. Stein I did-" She just turned her back shaking her head as she wrote something down in her book.
"That will be a mark of 0." I opened my mouth but fell silent as I sighed. I grabbed my stuff and headed toward my seat which of course, was in front of my cousin. The crew of Brayden, Brody, Shane, Austin, Dakota, and my cousin were all indulged in conversation about…The Severance. It's all I could hear every 5 seconds. I was getting so pissed about this whole thing, I just couldn't take it. Luckily, they were silenced by the sound of the teacher's voice but I could hear scribbling going on. I turned around and they were all drawing stuff. You've got to be kidding me. They were the worse case of OCD with The Severance than the Rice Krispy guys were with Rice Krispy's! That's all they were drawing, things that they dealt with in the Severance.
"Alright, today were going to be getting into groups of three so you guys can work on the project. I've already put you into groups so there are no problems. You know who you are but for the people that weren't here…this is what you need to do. You will be doing a game board project. It has to be based on your short stories. The three of you will give your group members the plot synopsis of your story; the three of you will combine it and make it into a Clue Game. You have to pick 9 locations that were introduced in your stories and take 6 characters from those stories to make them the players. Also, any object that was mentioned in them will be the weapon of choice." Sweet! This sounded awesome! "But…if you didn't write a story…" Her glare focused on me and I just rolled my eyes. "Then you will have to write one today to help your partners. Since I started with you Jennifer…you will be paired up with Dakota and Trace." Ouch. What a way to point a kid out. I just sat back and listened to all the other names before I was about to get into my group. She liked repeating herself. Apparently she handed this thing out a few days ago so I could only hope Dakota started; unfortunately by the sound of the game talk, I doubt she even touched it. But since Brayden, Shane, and Austin were all in a group together they all just turned their chairs in and the 6 of them continued their conversation about the stupid game yet again. So, looks like I will have to do this myself, check mark number 3 on the J chart shit list. Oh joy, oh bliss.
Lunch wasn't looking up either. Once the bell rang and I was out of my boring Law Class, I headed straight for the cafe. I walked in expecting to see our usual table crowded with all of them but instead, no one was sitting there. What the heck? That was weird. We didn't go anywhere else during lunch except for Tim Horton's or the Football field. But no matter what, we always meet up in the café. I walked toward our table and passed the posse of skanks listening to their giggles and laughs about my jeans before I glanced around. This was new. I couldn't believe it but I was actually ditched by my own friends and cousin. This really sucked. Looks like it's not only check mark number 4 on my shit J list but now I was going to be eating by myself, oh wait, uncheck that, I left my lunch at home too.
Sam's POVWhat the hell was up with Jenn this morning? She defiantly wasn't herself and that bothered me. I wondered if I should pick her up for lunch and take her out but she was probably with all her friends. Who thinks it's cool to be picked up by their dad anyway? I sighed as I got my stuff together. I was heading to work at the only stupid job I could find, but I didn't mind it. I worked as a Journalist for the Maine Star. I wanted to be doing something more, something different but this job had to stick and I had fun with it. I had an at home office in the basement that both Jenn and I would write out a few articles before we'd get to the real one. The two of us would come up with whack ideas and fun stuff to write. Sometimes she drew comics to put in it, it had come more as an inside joke for the two of us than a job. She thought I would make a cool nurse but I wasn't looking forward to getting groped and asked out by patients as she stated it. I usually got the cool things to write about, like homicides or some sort of case like that. More than a few occasions they've lead to hunts, so it wasn't as bad as it sounded. It wasn't to far from where we lived and I always loved the walk. It was a peaceful walk. Especially around noon since there wasn't the awkward rush of people scrambling to get to there jobs in time. It was just pretty silent with the rhythmic song of the birds. As I rounded the second corner to head to the Starbucks that I always stop at before heading to work, there was a familiar figure sitting outside on the bench. I walked over and took a seat next to her wrapping my arm around her shoulder.
"What are you doing here hun? Are you okay Jenn?" she looked up at me with these soft, hurt eyes. Something was defiantly up.
"Yeah, I'm fine. You know because I've had a terrific day so far. Sleep exhaustion, broken deck, cut hands and knees, detention, and ditched, oh and a mark of zero on my story that you briefly read because of course, I forgot that at home to. I just can't seem to catch a break." I sighed sadly as I wrapped my arms around her pulling her into a hug. She hugged me back before pulling away and handing me a coffee that was sitting next to her. "I know it's your stop." She smiled a little, the only smile I had seen her grow since yesterday. I returned it before kissing the top of her head.
"You wanna come to work with me?" I asked softly and she shook her head.
"I think I'm just gonna head home." I gave her a look and she looked down.
"Or…you know…go to my last 2 classes because they've been so much fun up until now." I could hear the sarcasm in her voice and it only made me smile more. At least she wasn't skipping school and that's all that mattered.
"I'll walk you." She nodded before the two of us got up. Her school wasn't to far off from my work and I had to walk by it anyway. It was sort of a silent walk but the slight breeze spoke for the two of us. She had her hand wrapped around my arm as she leaned on me a little. I smiled as I looked down at her as we walked and we got a few smiles. I saw the school up in the distance and I replaced the view with the view of the rhythm of our feet.
"Hey dad," I looked down at her and her blue eyes met mine, "Are we going to carve some pumpkins?" My smile grew and I laughed a little.
"Usually on Halloween, it's a perfect night for hunting. It's the night that the shield between the living and the dead,"
"Is broken." We finished together before laughing a little. Once I looked back up I noticed we were at the entrance to her school. She looked at the school before back at me. She wrapped her arms around me and kissed my cheek.
"Take it easy alright?" She nodded before walking in. I just watched her with a smile hoping that she'd be okay. She reminded me so much of myself when I was in school. It wasn't pretty. We were never really popular and most of the time, when Dean wasn't there to back me up from getting my ass kicked, he was at home suspended.
I
was walking down the crowded hallways of our high school heading
toward my next class when I accidentally bumped into some dude. His
back was facing me and he was talking to some chick that had her back
to a locker. He was one of the footballers that always walked around
like he owned the building; Tory Hillings. The biggest stuck up jerk
you'd ever meet in your life. He turned around and glared at me and
I noticed that the chick he was talking to now had soda all down her
white t-shirt. "Oh I'm so sorry, I just-" I started
panicked a little. "You mind watching where you going you
little rat faced punk?!" He snapped as he gripped the collar of my
shirt. I dropped my books and he just slammed me into the locker. "Yeah man, I said I was sorry…I didn't mean to..." I didn't
know what to say, it all came out in gibberish. "You damn
well better be sorry!" He raised his fist ready to deck me across
the face when he was pulled back. I dropped to the floor and glanced
up to see my brother Dean swinging. He took a right hook to his cheek
before jabbing him with an uppercut. Tory flew back and Dean stood
there over looking him. "Why don't you just back the
fuck off him Hillings?!" Dean spat as he looked down shaking his
now bruised fist. "Oh, look at the tough guy sticking up
for his nerd little brother. You guys are freaks, just like your old
man. You two need to be locked up in the loonies bin with your father
you circus freak!" Tory rebutted as he rose to his feet. "It would be a more comfortable place than the piss hole your
daddy's in up in Fox River Penitentiary. Couldn't keep his hands
off you could he? But my dads fucked? No need to be pissed just
because your daddy touched you in the wrong place." "You
sonuva-" he was cut off by the shouts of the coaches but Dean
lunged for him and kept swinging. He was pried off by the head coach
and the two were dragged down to the office. The only thing I
remember from that day is the welts I came home with. I got my ass
kicked after school and Dean was to busy in the back of a cruiser to
come to my aid. How he Houdini'd out of that one and we skipped
town successfully, I couldn't tell you.
Traces POVFinally! It was last period. Film. I was sitting next to Brayden and I could tell by the wiggling of his foot that he was just as itchy as me to get the hell out of this class. I was dying to get home. All I wanted to do was play The Severance. That's all that mattered. I didn't even make out anything that our Film teacher was saying. He was just going off on a tangent about how people were taking off parts of his expensive Tripods and now we weren't aloud to take them out to film and blahh blahh. I couldn't give two shits; my eyes were dead focused on that clock that just seemed to taunt me with the way it slowly made its way around and around. Every minute seemed like an hour and ever second seemed like a minute. It was brutal. I could swear time stopped and rewound a few hours back, that's how long it seemed. I don't even know how long I was looking at the clock for…ironic I know but when I finally glanced back to see what was happening, we were watching some movie. I rolled my eyes and rested my head on the desk when I got an elbow. I looked over at Brayden who handed me a piece of folded up paper.
"From D-dawg with love." He said with a grin and I just punched his shoulder. He meant Dakota. I opened it and read it before writing back. In red marker it read, 'tonight, you're going down.' I scribbled something back with my pencil basically with 4 words. 'You, my room, knees.' I folded it back as Brayden handed it to her with a shake of his head. I watched Dakota's beautiful face as she read it. Her amazing eyes opened wide when she read it and she just looked up at me. She stuck the finger before laughing a little as did I. Her smile was so amazing I now ignored the clock and couldn't help but look at her. She wrote something back and threw it at me. I snatched it from the desk before reading it, I felt like a 5th grader with a grade 8 vocabulary. What I read almost made me burst out laughing. She replied 'Slut services at your service' with a little smiley face. I just shook my head and threw the small piece of paper in my bag. She was funny; I only wish we could have a deep relationship like that. Not just for that but…I just wanted to be with her. I wanted to take her into the hall, ask her out, kiss her, and move on with my life. But I couldn't. Whenever it was just the two of us, I shut down. It was weird. I was so absorbed in my thoughts that the sound of the bell was like a distant calling and The Severance was my caller. I jolted from my seat as did the rest of the crew and we grabbed our shit heading out of the classroom quickly, just thinking about everything that I was going to hunt. The rest of the class was just getting up and I shook my head as I rushed toward my locker. Dakota opened hers right beside me and I just looked over at her, she turned and faced me and caught me dead staring. I must have looked like a deer caught in headlights because this smile crossed her lips.
"Ready to get your ass kicked?" she asked in that tone. I just shook my head.
"You wish. I think it's you my dear that's going down." I just shut my locker and faced her. This feeling came over me and I just wanted to ask her so bad. Over the past day, well, since yesterday during the game play and all day today, we just got closer. She went to turn around and walk away when I grabbed her arm lightly and turned her around.
"Wow…you okay?" she asked as she looked up at me. She just looked so perfect in the light; the way it illuminated her perfect face. The way part of her hair covered her eyes, I could help but brush it to the side. She looked up at me confused and I just wrapped my hand around the back of her neck and pulled her closer kissing her softly. I was shocked because she kissed me right back. It was the most amazing feeling I had ever felt. I just looked down at her and she pulled me closer kissing me again; I just melted. This weird feeling just possessed me and I don't know what it was but I liked it. The second we separated I just looked at her. She blushed as she smiled before looking down. She took my hand in hers and we started to walk out of the school quickly. We were just out of the doors when two hands gripped both our shoulders. We both turned around breaking grip from our enclosed hands and faced Brayden, Austin, and Brody.
"Dude, who's ready to have an all night marathon again!!" he cheered excitedly and we all just smiled and rose our fists.
"You guys are totally getting the beat down tonight, there's just no way I'm playing easy for you noobs." Dakota replied as she stuck out her hands and continued to walk ahead.
"The only noob here is Trace. We've been playing since Saturday night and he just got on it yesterday and this kid is totally kicking our ass. How is that even possible!?" Austin asked just looking over at me. I smiled sheepishly.
"Cause I'm just to kick ass for you all." they all rolled their eyes before continuing their walk. The whole way home it was just nothing but laughs and threats. I wasn't going to play nice with any of them and that was for damn sure. I was gonna over pass Dakota no matter what the case. Her gloating days were over. The whole crew quickly dispersed once we rounded the corner turning into the school parking lot. Austin and Brody headed to their cars and I just walked over to the bike rack. I wanted to walk home with Dakota but she continued to walk ahead with Brayden. I quickly unlocked my bike and rushed over to them. I really wanted to walk home alone with Dakota but since Brayden lives on the same street just around the corner close to Dakota, it was the usual routine since he wasn't heading out to smoke it up with Austin and Brody. The two were in their own little world just talking about what they killed in The Severance and I just smiled holding back just watching Dakota walk. I don't know what it was but there was just something about her that I couldn't get out of my head. As the slight breeze hit my lips, the only thing I could remember was the kiss. Walking the rest of the way home, I was in a daze.
I quickly booked it up the driveway and threw my bike down the side of the house toward the backyard before I rushed in through the front door. The house was vacant and I guess my Uncle Sam forgot to lock the door or something. I just rushed upstairs to my room dumping my bag by my bed before closing the door. I turned on my Xbox 360 and the dramatic music started to play. It was such a sick song, one of my favorites. As the game loads up it plays Now You Know by Full Devil Jacket. It's a wicked ass song and I just bobbed my head as I logged in. The second I saw Dakotas name I just smiled. I put on the headphones so I could hear her talk and the second Dakotas voice started to ring out through the speakers, my smile never left.
"Ready to loose?" she barked and I just shook my head.
"If it gets me another kiss, I'd loose any day." I heard her laugh a little and I did too. I still didn't ask her and asking out a chick that you like over a game play is pretty corny but I didn't care. All that I knew was that I got to kiss her and that was well worth the wait. I took in a deep sigh as I started to play. Today was one of the best days in my life and I never wanted it to end.
Dean POVWork just seemed like it was lagging all day. Bobby was busy salvaging parts from a wreck and I was underneath the hood of a totaled Ford F-350. It was a pretty nice truck but after having a lovely rendezvous with a guard rail and then ending it with a tree hug, it wasn't looking as tip top as it had been when the owner who just recently got it. I checked my watch as I started to pry off the doors and it was only 4. I usually stayed late to help out Bobby but during these past couple of days, the business was running pretty slow but it didn't matter. Both he and I did this out of passion, pay or not. This truck was going to take me hours and not even the melody of Motorhead was making it better. I slid out from under the truck and walked over grabbing my bottle of water when Bobby rolled in towing in what looked like yet another Ford but it was the Ford Harley Davidson special edition from 2009. I walked out toward him as he stepped out of the truck.
"Guess that trucks run its course." Bobby nodded with a bit of a chuckle.
"So did the driver. Looks like it's nothin' but parts and scrap metal." I nodded and crossed my arms before slowly walking around the truck inspecting what needed to be done. "The engines toast, the fenders a pretzel…this truck is done. You know what they say about Fords…"
"Fix Or Repair Daily. It's what keeps us in business. I guess this just proves it." I joked and the two of us laughed. He started to fiddle with the door and I just stopped him. "Wait…is it okay if I fix this thing up and take it?" I asked hopeful. Bobby just gave me a sidelong glance before readjusting his hat.
"Why on earth would you want to do that son?"
"Well…Jenn loves trucks and she's gonna need one sooner or later." Bobby just nodded.
"Alright. If you feel up to it, it's all yours." He smiled and I just returned it as he started to unhook it from the tow truck.
The rest of the day all I could think about was the smile that wouldn't leave Jenns face if I brought her home that truck. I know Sam was thinking about getting her one but it was completely out of the question due to the fact that A, it costs to much, and B, there hard to find, and C, credit card fraud would be caught pronto. So that resulted in D, no car. At least not the kind she wanted. Her dad had brought home one before from an old friend but it was a Ford Focus and well…that's the one that got totaled…intentionally. She says it wasn't but we know it was and Sam didn't care. He was just glad that his daughter was alright. I didn't know you could actually race those things. The clock was now clicking on past 4 and Bobby decided that I could go. Nothing was really going on and home sounded good. I just drove leisurely enjoying the music that constantly filled my head just soothing me. The second I rounded the corner I stopped the car. Jenn had the net out and was firing slap shots at them hard. The girl had an amazing slap shot I had to admit. She was completely indulged in hockey and she was the only chick on the all guys team in this town. She shot the tennis ball hard at the net but it missed by a long shot and riffled its green blurred path right toward my car. Luckily, it whizzed past my windshield and Jenn slapped her stick down hard against the concrete pavement. I had never seen the kid so beat. I looked closer and noticed she had a bit of a fat lip with a nice gauge in it. She threw her stick atop of the net before dragging it off the road and heading inside; the poor kid. I felt bad. Ever since Trace started to play his stupid game, he ditched her. I heard him yell at her last night and it wasn't pretty. She hadn't been the same all day, I don't even remember the last time they fought…I don't even thing there was one. I just started the car and pulled it into the driveway before heading inside. The second I got in I saw my brother cooking food and Jenn sitting in the living room on the floor with a bunch of papers scattered around her with some textbooks; homework. Looked like fun. I entered the kitchen with a half smile because all I could see was the look on Jenns face and it irked me.
"Hey. How was work? Boring as my day was?" Sam asked with a laugh as he turned slightly toward me.
"Not even…dude…" I walked closer to him to whisper so Jenn wouldn't hear. "Guess what came into the shop today that is now completely ownerless?" I asked with a smile. He looked at me and shook his head dumbfounded. "A Harley Davidson Ford F-250; I'm fixing it up for Jenn." Sam's jaw nearly hit the floor and his eyes were wide.
"You're kidding?" I shook my head. He looked just about as excited as did I. He tried hard to suppress his laughing excitement as he glanced back at his daughter. His smiled slowly dropped and he sighed. "Think you can bring it home now? It looks like she's in need of it." I looked over at her and shook my head returning my gaze to my brother's worried expression.
"Don't think that would work. It needs a LOT of work." He nodded and I just grabbed a beer from the fridge. I popped it open taking a swig before taking a seat at the table. He stirred whatever it was that was in the pot and stopped when Jenn walked into the kitchen. She just headed straight to the fridge opening it and grabbing a bottle of water. Once she closed it she looked at whatever Sam was making and dipped her finger in some sort of red paste before dipping her finger in her mouth. She tasted it like a food critic before nodding and giving him thumbs up. Apparently, she approved. He smiled a soft smile as she turned to walk out. I grabbed her shoulder gently and she looked at me confused.
"What happened to you? I didn't even notice your lip." I asked worried. She just looked at me before pressing her finger to her fat lip.
"Oh. Skateboard accident. Just the tally to my day." She smiled weakly and I just looked at her before she trotted off back toward the living room. I looked up at my brother Sam who took in a sad sigh.
"You don't wanna know." I nodded slowly. I didn't expect anything further and I just looked back up at my brother. He dumped what I now saw as pasta noodles into the strainer before dumping them into the pot with the sauce. Looks like dinner was served and it was a damn good thing because I was starved! He got out the bowls and filled them up but he only had out 2. I looked confused as to why since I know Jenn loves his pasta.
"Dude. There are 4 of us."
"Jenns got hockey in an hour and Trace is…well…to occupied."
"So? Get him un-occupied."
"I tried. He said he wasn't hungry and that he'll eat when he's ready. He's really gotta get away from that stupid game." Sam shook his head as he took a seat and I nodded my head in agreement. I rolled my eyes annoyed as I dove into my pasta. I couldn't agree more with Jenns critique cause this pasta was actually pretty awesome. Jenn must have taught him well. They use to make this stuff all the time together and Jenn would add in something new every time. But I noticed that there wasn't any pasta sauce on his shirt or on the walls and that only indicated that the weekly pasta fight they usually have when they cooked together, didn't occur and that drove the nail deeper into my gut. Not only was I looking at a depressed niece, I was also looking at a depressed brother. I just hoped that this would turn around soon because now sitting here…I could clearly hear Traces game loud and clear and just listening to it, was really starting to get to me.
Jenn POVWhy was this day lagging? Why won't this day just go away, hell RUN away for all I care! I hated it! The only thing I was looking forward to was my hockey game. Just getting out of this house and away from this monstrous project that I got dumped on my lap was good luck enough! Thanks to my lovely best friend and cousin who decided that playing The Severance was a million times more important than working on this. They ditched me during lunch, the ditched me during spare, hell they even ditched me after school to work in the library on it and for what? A fricken video game! Did I tell you I hated this? Oh right, I probably mentioned it a zillion times! After reading both-oh wait. Never mind. They didn't even write short stories…so, forget that. They just showed her paper with a bunch of writing and got to walk away. Apparently Dakota had written 2 of those sheets saying that Trace handed it into her and the teacher accepted it but never collected them. So this left me with one story and a clue game board that needed to be done by tomorrow. Terrific. I was in the midst of writing up the rules when the casted shadow of my dad shaded me from the already dull light of the living room.
"Ready to go?" I looked at the clock and noticed it was 4: 58pm. My game started at 5:30 and I finally cracked a smile. I nodded before getting up and grabbing my hockey bag by the door. I ran to the impala and threw it in the trunk and climbed in the back. My dad and uncle filled the front seat and we just drove.
The second we hit the arena I was the first one in. I rushed down the stairs heading to the change room. I could hear the conversation of all the guys going off and I just shook my head. Luckily, none of them were about The Severance. Which was weird because I would expect them to be gabbing on and on about it. The second I entered and peered around the room, all the guys were without shirts…damn I love walking in at this time. I just smiled as they looked up at me. I noticed both Shane and Brody absent, I guess that's why there was no talk about The Severance, they were probably at home playing it as I spoke.
"Were facing the biggest Beach team ever J. Were talkin' about the biggest preps that probably had American Eagle make their jerseys." One of the guys said from the back. That was our goalie Griffin. He was a tall kid, stood around 6'7'' with spiked, short brown hair, complimenting his dark brown eyes. He was the sweetest guy I knew and it was sad to think he didn't go to our school. He was 19 and school was done for him but he was like my big brother.
"So I'm guessing what? The California Coconuts?" I snicked and I got a few laughs. They weren't really called that but it worked. I just sat down at my usual seat and got changed. So far, so good, but I was so tired. The second I rose to my feet in my skates, I tripped and fell flat on my face again. The lace got tangled in with the other skate sending me hurling to the group. The guys laughed as I dragged myself up. I guess to scratch that. I sighed in deeply now knowing that not even hockey was going to change my luck. After a few minutes we all headed out to the bench getting ready to play. My name Winchester spread across the back of my jersey with pride as I stepped out onto the ice. I was ready for the game of my life.
The thick taste of the salt, chilled air that filled the arena kept me going. I was skating hard down ice with the puck in the beginning of the second period. The game was looking horrific. I had made disgusting passes and I could hardly shoot at the net. I was fine the first period but half way into the second I started to fall apart. I didn't even feel a bit of momentum that at all and it was just reflecting my day. I could hear the voices of my uncle and dad call out as they cheered me on. I glanced up to look at them but I wanted to stop when I didn't see Trace there. My heart sunk as I just skated hard making my way down the ice. I managed to dangle around the defensemen before rifling a shot on the net. It went wide and I had a perfect shot at the net to and I blew it by a long shot. I groaned in annoyance out loud as I had to chase the puck in deep. I battled with it along the boards, something I use to be good at but I got it snaked away in mere seconds. I could feel the eyes of my teammates on me, glaring at me in disbelief at how shitty I was playing. I couldn't believe it myself. I headed down back toward our net at the advancing forward who slammed into the right winger. I managed to snake the puck from his hit before I felt the deep pain of an elbow drill my shoulder before slamming my body into the boards. The puck was stolen and before I could battle for it, it was in the back of the net with a quick wrist shot. My stick connected with the ice in frustration as we did a line change. My couch walked over to me and bent down by my ear.
"What the fuck is going on out there Winchester?!" he snapped a little but kept his voice at a low hiss.
"I'm sorry sir…I didn't sleep last night." He grunted a little. He knew this wasn't me up to my full potential and I could tell it pissed him off. I had never played so shitty in my life.
"Fix it! Your not skating hard enough, your passes are disgusting, get your head in the game!" I nodded a little as I squirted some water into my mouth before spitting it out and repeating the process once more. I was benched for the rest of the game; there was no way I was being put back out onto that ice with the plays I just led…or better off, lost.
Heading into the change room I felt like a noob entering a new high school for the first time. I sighed knowingly that loosing to a beach team sucked and we hated it because it rarely ever happened. My ass was on the hot seat tonight and I could feel it. Griffin walked in and threw me a slight smile before sitting down next to me.
"Don't worry…everyone has there off days…today out of all days to do so, was you." His slight smile grew a little longer as he patted me on the back before it dropped suddenly with a light pat on the back and him walking over to his usual spot with the presence of the coach just entering the room. I sighed biting my bottom lip knowing what was to come. I leaned back on the bench with my back pressed firmly against the wall. He paced the room looking around at all of us avoiding his glare at me.
"I don't know what came over you guys tonight, but that was the worst play I have ever seen in my life. I don't know what possessed you guys to play like a bunch of donkeys, but you sure as hell did. Jenn, especially coming from someone like you. You couldn't even pass the puck I was sure that I just let a 7yr old on my team! Getting your ass kicked by the worst team in the league with a shut out is not what I expected, even after al-"his glare focused dead on me as did the rest of the team as I cut in.
"Everyone needs a break coach. Just 'cause they were the worst team in the league doesn't make we should make them look that way. They needed some motivation; they needed some smiles and proud pats on the backs by their parents! Who gives a shit? Yeah, so we lost a whopping 2-0, big smell. We one of the top leagues and were going to the championships…why not have them end a game that they can leave smiling knowing that they just beat one of the best teams in the league? Were not the only ones that deserve all the spot light coach…maybe you should think about that? I'm not trying to make up an excuse about my play 'cause I know I fucked up and I know I played like shit and I'm sorry. But honestly coach…you can't tell me you had all good days back when you were in our league. I think you need to tone down your obsession with winning." His glare softened because he knew I was right. Hell, I knew I was right.
Just cause you're the little guy, doesn't mean you should be treated like the little guy. Yeah my day is sucking ass, and yeah maybe I looked like the worst hockey player ever but at this moment, I didn't care. I was so fed up with everyone's obsession with things I could have clearly slammed my hockey stick over my coach's head and bludgeoned him to death but I wouldn't. After that whole speech, the room fell silent and my coach left. I have never changed so quickly in my life as I walked out of there even more pissed off. My Uncle Dean and dad caught up with me and we walked quietly but quickly back to the Impala. I just wanted to go home, shower, and fall into a dreamless sleep and never wake up. But unfortunately that wouldn't be the case considering I would be up all night doing this project. Right now, at this moment, my life sucked so badly. I was an ocean full of mixed emotions. I wanted to scream, cry, beat some faces in, smash some things, and then shoot up cans. But most importantly, I just wanted Trace there. When I was playing and I looked up at the stands to only see my dad and Uncle, it hurt. Trace always came to my games and this was the first one he'd missed. I guess that's now like what? 3 more check on the J shit list. I couldn't stop the rushing burst of tears I could feel coming on. I let a couple escape me before I took in a deep breath sucking in up wiping my face dry. If this is what was going to reflect the rest of my week, I didn't even dare want to know what was going to happen tomorrow.
A/N:
Dun dun duuun! Here it is! The not so boring Chapter 10 after the
dreadful Chapter 9. :) I felt bad leaving you guys with Chapter 9 so
I had to spice it up with this one! Sorry guys! Hope I didn't loose
any of you! Thanks again to all out there still reading, you know who
you are! I also apologize for any mistakes that might occur in any of
my chapters, my stupid Microsoft Word isn't always the smartest!
But enough excuses now… if you feel up to it…you know where the
review button is! Thanks again and until next time! Love, Kayla