I am sitting in English the next day when Julie poked me in the back with her pen. I cast a glance over my shoulder and she signals for me to get closer. Leaning backward, struggling not to tip over in my chair, I partly listen to what the teacher is rattling on about and to whatever ground breaking new Jules has with the other ear.
"What's up, Jules?" I whisper.
She slides forward and leans across on her desk. "I heard from Charlie, this morning, that you kissed, Becky yesterday. How'd that happen?."
"Huh?" I shift to look her in the face, losing my balance and crashing to the floor.
Our teacher whirls around. "Mr. Banks, what on Earth are you doing?"
Instantly I feel my cheeks flush as every face in to room turns to me. I hate being the center of attention. I'm the type that tries to fade into the background and the fact that everyone's looking at me, just bothers me. I'm probably as red as my lettermen jacket right now.
"Nothing, I'm sorry. Just fell over." I bite my lip waiting for the pending tirade, that doesn't come. Right before she can open her mouth and send me to the office the bell rings and I leap to my feet, grab my books and race for the door.
I've got a free period now, I need to go to rink. It'll help me get over my completely humiliating display in English. Urg, I can't believe I did that. I'm such a moron. Not only that, I'm slightly pissed off at Charlie. He had no right to tell Julie about what happened between Becky and I, it's none of her business, or anyone else's.
I slip into the locker room and take my skates out of my locker. Lacing them up as I sit on the bench, I get the distinct feeling I'm not the only one at the rink. I'm usually on my own during my midday skating adventures. This is weird, its almost eerie.
I hear a throat clearing behind me and I jump. "I figured I'd find you here. Banks, can I speak to you for a moment?"
"Sure, Coach. What can I do for you?" I reply, confused as to why Orion would need to talk with me.
The coach sits next to me and sighs heavily. He doesn't look too good at all. Though I guess, if my marriage was ending and my daughter was contemplating moving away, I wouldn't look happy either. It only makes sense he's not in the best of moods.
"Adam, I'm sure you've probably been told by now, that my wife and I are splitting up and my daughter is considering moving to Wisconsin with her mother. Now I know this maybe wrong of my to ask you, but it's the only solution I can think of. The future, ex Mr. Orion and I agreed not to try to sway, Rebecca's decision, but the truth is, I don't want to lose my little girl. So I'm coming to you, hoping you'd be willing to help me."
"Sure Coach, I'd love to help you, but I don't know how…"
"Give her something to stay for. I'm not asking you to marry her or anything, just maybe, take her out, show her a good time. I still have some friends in the NHL, I'd be willing to make it worth your wild."
I blink. "So you want me to pretend to be in love with, Becky, sir?"
"Just think about it, Banks. It maybe worth it in the long run."
As he walks away I stare off over the ice in thought. The NHL has always been my dream, but to only achieve it by deceiving a friend of mine. It feels so wrong. But then, I want it so badly. I can almost hear the sound of the crowd, chanting my name. Smell the ice. Could I really do this? Should I really do this?
"What's up, Jules?" I whisper.
She slides forward and leans across on her desk. "I heard from Charlie, this morning, that you kissed, Becky yesterday. How'd that happen?."
"Huh?" I shift to look her in the face, losing my balance and crashing to the floor.
Our teacher whirls around. "Mr. Banks, what on Earth are you doing?"
Instantly I feel my cheeks flush as every face in to room turns to me. I hate being the center of attention. I'm the type that tries to fade into the background and the fact that everyone's looking at me, just bothers me. I'm probably as red as my lettermen jacket right now.
"Nothing, I'm sorry. Just fell over." I bite my lip waiting for the pending tirade, that doesn't come. Right before she can open her mouth and send me to the office the bell rings and I leap to my feet, grab my books and race for the door.
I've got a free period now, I need to go to rink. It'll help me get over my completely humiliating display in English. Urg, I can't believe I did that. I'm such a moron. Not only that, I'm slightly pissed off at Charlie. He had no right to tell Julie about what happened between Becky and I, it's none of her business, or anyone else's.
I slip into the locker room and take my skates out of my locker. Lacing them up as I sit on the bench, I get the distinct feeling I'm not the only one at the rink. I'm usually on my own during my midday skating adventures. This is weird, its almost eerie.
I hear a throat clearing behind me and I jump. "I figured I'd find you here. Banks, can I speak to you for a moment?"
"Sure, Coach. What can I do for you?" I reply, confused as to why Orion would need to talk with me.
The coach sits next to me and sighs heavily. He doesn't look too good at all. Though I guess, if my marriage was ending and my daughter was contemplating moving away, I wouldn't look happy either. It only makes sense he's not in the best of moods.
"Adam, I'm sure you've probably been told by now, that my wife and I are splitting up and my daughter is considering moving to Wisconsin with her mother. Now I know this maybe wrong of my to ask you, but it's the only solution I can think of. The future, ex Mr. Orion and I agreed not to try to sway, Rebecca's decision, but the truth is, I don't want to lose my little girl. So I'm coming to you, hoping you'd be willing to help me."
"Sure Coach, I'd love to help you, but I don't know how…"
"Give her something to stay for. I'm not asking you to marry her or anything, just maybe, take her out, show her a good time. I still have some friends in the NHL, I'd be willing to make it worth your wild."
I blink. "So you want me to pretend to be in love with, Becky, sir?"
"Just think about it, Banks. It maybe worth it in the long run."
As he walks away I stare off over the ice in thought. The NHL has always been my dream, but to only achieve it by deceiving a friend of mine. It feels so wrong. But then, I want it so badly. I can almost hear the sound of the crowd, chanting my name. Smell the ice. Could I really do this? Should I really do this?