I have NO understanding of the American schooling system, so if there is anything wrong, sue me (as it seems to be so popular over there these days). This chapter is dedicated to a friend of mine who seemed to be upset today, but wouldn't talk about it. Lukey-chan, this is your chapter. :P YOU BETTER LIKE IT!!!
"I made Varsity?" I asked nobody in particular. Well, my father would certainly be pleased about this, that was my first thought. His son, the freshman player on Varsity at the prestigious Eden Hall Academy. Ambiguity overwhelmed me. I had made Varsity, giving me a head start with my professional hockey career, another thing my father would be happy about, but I was also happy about it. Hockey was my life, and this was certainly a step in the right direction. But leaving the Ducks? I couldn't leave the team. They'd been my only friends since leaving the Hawks, probably the hardest thing I'd ever done, and here I was about to desert them and feeling happy about it?
Then again, without Jesse, there wasn't anyone I could really call a friend on the team, except Charlie. But that was difficult, so I didn't say anything to coach. I had thought about asking him if I could stay with the Ducks, but my hockey career was more important. Sure I was friendly to Julie and some of the others but I'd made no real connection with anyone else.
I missed Jesse, he was the one person on the team I'd felt close too. Ever since the "playoffs present" he'd been nice to me. I'd always guessed it was the way the Hawks players treated me, Jesse has a big thing about loyalty. He saw McGill and Larson at the North Stars game and although he didn't say anything at the time, he asked me about it later on, after the championship game. That was when we became close, he was so angry, I was scared he was going to go after them.
Then came the Junior Goodwill Games, and I couldn't focus on anything but hockey. The scouts were out there in full force and it was my shot, I didn't have time for friends or getting to know people, I needed to impress the scouts. Training continuously throughout the games was why I became so distant from those who were close to me, mainly Jesse. His decision not to continue with the Ducks to Eden Hall was painful. I didn't know what I'd do without him, so again I focused on hockey. Knowing that Jesse will never again step onto the ice with a proud Duck smile is saddening, but while one Duck has left the flock, there are many of us here, and our flock would continue.
However that notion was dieing away. Our new coach lacked any Duck attitude, Duck doesn't start with a "w". I had been moved up to Varsity, a great chance for me, but another link in the chain removed and finally the removal of Charlie's "C" had delivered a devastating blow to our flock. Charlie was the heart of our team, and without him to lead, the team wouldn't know what to do.
As I looked around the steamy change room, I noticed the tired faces. That training session was the hardest ever, more so than when horrible "Captain Blood" arrived at the Junior Goodwill Games. There was one however, who wouldn't look me in the eye, Charlie. His gaze stayed on the floor, purposely avoiding my eyes. It hurt, but I wouldn't let him know that. He knew as well as I what was happening, the Ducks were breaking apart, but why was he blaming it on me? It wasn't my choice to be moved to Varsity! I cleaned up my things and left the dreary room as fast as I could.
I was glad when I reached my dorm. It was a safe-haven from the Ducks. While I was as yet unsure of how each of them would react, I was dreading the outcome. I was happy to be sharing with Dwayne. While our resident cowboy was still a Duck, he was naïve enough to avoid talking about the team. Sometimes it's nice not having to be deeply concerned with your friends. If you know people on a superficial level then they can't hurt you. Therefore Dwayne would be easy to handle. I was worried about the coming week, the rest of the Ducks wouldn't be as easy to face, especially the one who would be most hurt, the one who would blame it on me. Charlie. I could already plan out the confrontation in my head, being predictable as he is. But none of it mattered, all I wanted was some peace and quiet.
"I made Varsity?" I asked nobody in particular. Well, my father would certainly be pleased about this, that was my first thought. His son, the freshman player on Varsity at the prestigious Eden Hall Academy. Ambiguity overwhelmed me. I had made Varsity, giving me a head start with my professional hockey career, another thing my father would be happy about, but I was also happy about it. Hockey was my life, and this was certainly a step in the right direction. But leaving the Ducks? I couldn't leave the team. They'd been my only friends since leaving the Hawks, probably the hardest thing I'd ever done, and here I was about to desert them and feeling happy about it?
Then again, without Jesse, there wasn't anyone I could really call a friend on the team, except Charlie. But that was difficult, so I didn't say anything to coach. I had thought about asking him if I could stay with the Ducks, but my hockey career was more important. Sure I was friendly to Julie and some of the others but I'd made no real connection with anyone else.
I missed Jesse, he was the one person on the team I'd felt close too. Ever since the "playoffs present" he'd been nice to me. I'd always guessed it was the way the Hawks players treated me, Jesse has a big thing about loyalty. He saw McGill and Larson at the North Stars game and although he didn't say anything at the time, he asked me about it later on, after the championship game. That was when we became close, he was so angry, I was scared he was going to go after them.
Then came the Junior Goodwill Games, and I couldn't focus on anything but hockey. The scouts were out there in full force and it was my shot, I didn't have time for friends or getting to know people, I needed to impress the scouts. Training continuously throughout the games was why I became so distant from those who were close to me, mainly Jesse. His decision not to continue with the Ducks to Eden Hall was painful. I didn't know what I'd do without him, so again I focused on hockey. Knowing that Jesse will never again step onto the ice with a proud Duck smile is saddening, but while one Duck has left the flock, there are many of us here, and our flock would continue.
However that notion was dieing away. Our new coach lacked any Duck attitude, Duck doesn't start with a "w". I had been moved up to Varsity, a great chance for me, but another link in the chain removed and finally the removal of Charlie's "C" had delivered a devastating blow to our flock. Charlie was the heart of our team, and without him to lead, the team wouldn't know what to do.
As I looked around the steamy change room, I noticed the tired faces. That training session was the hardest ever, more so than when horrible "Captain Blood" arrived at the Junior Goodwill Games. There was one however, who wouldn't look me in the eye, Charlie. His gaze stayed on the floor, purposely avoiding my eyes. It hurt, but I wouldn't let him know that. He knew as well as I what was happening, the Ducks were breaking apart, but why was he blaming it on me? It wasn't my choice to be moved to Varsity! I cleaned up my things and left the dreary room as fast as I could.
I was glad when I reached my dorm. It was a safe-haven from the Ducks. While I was as yet unsure of how each of them would react, I was dreading the outcome. I was happy to be sharing with Dwayne. While our resident cowboy was still a Duck, he was naïve enough to avoid talking about the team. Sometimes it's nice not having to be deeply concerned with your friends. If you know people on a superficial level then they can't hurt you. Therefore Dwayne would be easy to handle. I was worried about the coming week, the rest of the Ducks wouldn't be as easy to face, especially the one who would be most hurt, the one who would blame it on me. Charlie. I could already plan out the confrontation in my head, being predictable as he is. But none of it mattered, all I wanted was some peace and quiet.
