Terrified and disoriented, I immediately try to scream. The sound is muffled as a large, callous hand presses over my mouth. I struggle as violently as I can, kicking and punching in the darkness wildly. I can hear my attacker grunt, but his grip on me doesn’t waiver. Fear and adrenaline course th
In the wake of the attack, Aiden’s already protective nature has kicked into overdrive. I hardly spend a moment where Aiden isn’t by my side. He watches over me with a vigilant eye. It serves to settle my nerves somewhat. Aidens protectiveness has bled over into her private life, as well. Anytime
The next match approaches even more quickly than the last did. The feverish energy that picks up around games is upon us once again like a raging storm. This time, instead of being buried in real estate, I find myself deeply involved with the team. Most of the time, Coach Henry runs practice. He d
The game reaches its inevitable conclusion. As the final buzzer sounds, the audience erupts into joyous applause. The Freeze has won again, and the match wasn’t very close. The team makes their signature lap around the rink, soaking in the applause, before zipping into their locker room. I head do
The realization strikes me like lightning. It all suddenly seems so clear. I turn to Aiden, feeling a need to help mend our misunderstanding. “I don’t think they’ve been slacking off, Aiden,” I say softly. I gesture toward Aiden’s teammates. “They’re nervous.” Aiden blinks at me. He follows my g
The days blur together in a whirlwind of training, each day blending almost seamlessly into the next. Aiden and the rest of the team pour their hearts and souls into their preparation for the upcoming match. With each passing practice, I see the team improve more and more. The players’ teamwork be
The second half of the match gets off to an explosive start. As soon as the timer starts, Aiden’s team unleashes a relentless barrage of aggression. The Freeze bursts across the ice in a unified push that sends the Capital reeling. The Capital is clearly caught off guard. As the Freeze return the
With a sudden surge of energy, I hurried down to the edge of the rink. The coach and team owner have already opened the side door to join the team and their celebrations. I follow, too. Oh, I catch a glimpse of Aiden and the crowd of players. His face is flushed with figure, and his hair looks wil