Chased by The Hockey Stars

Chapter Six

After 10 minutes of frantically searching the arena, I had given up all hope of finding my shoes. Whoever had stolen them, had done a damn good job of hiding them. They’d left me with no other choice but to head to class while wearing my ice shoes, and hope to god that no one looked at my feet long enough to notice.

I made it to my first class in record time, sliding into my seat just as the professor had made his way to the centre stage. Normally, I’d be scrambling to get out my note book and preparing to write down everything the professor said, but right now I was still far too focused on my feet. They felt as if they were on burning, possibly only because I knew I shouldn’t be wearing them right now. That had practically been the coaches only rule when I’d started this new job. Ice shoes were expensive, and they were meant for ice use only. Wearing them anywhere else would cause them to get worn out faster, nevermind getting them dirty and spreading that same dirt around on the ice later.

Today, I had no other choice though. I could only hope that the coach would see it the same way.

I pulled my phone out of my pocket, sending the coach a text in a desperate attempt of saving my ass today. I explained quickly what had happened, and asked him to keep a look out for my missing shoes, then finished off by apologizing a second time for having worn my ice shoes out.

The text delivered straight away and for the first time since leaving the arena I felt as if I could finally take a moment to breath properly.

Gathering my emotions, I pulled out my notebooks and turned to focus all my attention on the class that was now starting.

I glanced down at my phone again only once class was finished, bracing myself for the coach to lecture me on the damage the concrete on campus had probably already done to my shoes.

Or worse, I worried I might lose my perfect new job only 2 days in. I was disappointed to notice however, that the coach hadn’t answered me. The message hadn’t even been marked as read yet. But maybe that was a good thing because now I could carry on with my day, or maybe I was just putting off the bad news.

I headed out of class, planning to head to the library and get some homework time in before my next class later this evening. I was making my way across campus when I head an alarming yell coming from behind me.

“Hey!” The voice called, deep and aggressive. I flinched slightly but kept my head down as I continued walking. There was no way they were talking to me, right? But then it came a second time, and this time they left no mistake as to who the voice was directed at.

“Hey! Hockey girl!”

I froze in my step, my entire body turning rigid before I turned to face its owner.

The last person I wanted to see right now, the one person I was clearly avoiding earlier today at practice. Leon, the tallest and possibly most frightening player on the team was standing behind me with a glaring look on his face. In a split of a second though, I swear I saw him smirk. He knew what he was doing right now, and whether he was just trying to mess with me or not, the threat felt very real.

“What the hell do you think you’re doing, wearing your ice shoes outside of the arena?” He asked, his voice still raised enough to catch the attention of several bystanders.

My eyes darted down to my feet for just a second, eying the black shoes, but coming back up to meet Leon’s eyes in a panic.

“I-I couldn’t find my shoes when my shift was done and I couldn’t wait-“ I tried to explain myself but Leon had no intention on listening to anything I had to say. He raised his hand in my face to cut me off.

“They’re never to be worn on the concrete. You’ve already ruined them. Guess we won’t have to worry about keeping you around much longer, once the coach finds out you’ll be out of a job,” Leons words cut through me like blades, making the panic rise up in my stomach.

“I-I tried to text him,” I managed to say, hating the way my voice broke in a nervous stutter.

“Enough! No excuses hockey girl,” Leon raised his phone, snapping a photo of my shoes before I could move away. Now he had the evidence blatantly on his phone, and I had nearly lost all hope in keeping my job once he showed it to the rest of the team.

“Woah woah woah,” Benno’s voice came, allowing me to breathe a sigh of relief. The very sound of his voice was beginning to have a soothing effect on me. Hearing him was like the opposite of hearing alarm bells going off. Probably because he had come to my rescue so many times over this past week.

“What’s going on here?” He asked, stepping up beside me.

Leon smirked, flipping his phone around to show Benno his masterful photo as if the real evidence weren’t right there in front of him.

“Looks who’s wearing their ice shoes out. Guess we’re gonna be looking for a new hockey assistant again,” he said.

Benno looked at the phone, then to me, then down to my feet, and finally back to me again. His lips parted, his handsome face staring back at me in confusion.

“I had no choice someone took my shoes, I already text the coach to tell him,” I managed to blurt out all in one breath.

Benno, unlike Leon, accepted my explanation almost immediately. He nodded his head, turning back to Leon.

“It’s best to let the coach deal with these things. She’s new, and it’s an honest mistake,” he said quickly. Then, just as it had the other day with Courtney, Benno’s arm found its way around my back and led me forwards towards the library.

“Leon’s really into the rules, or at least he is when it’s convenient to him. Always be careful around him,” Benno advised, and it was a warning I certainly didn’t take lightly.

I glanced one last time over my shoulder. Leon and his little followers may have dispersed now but I still felt the chill of fear run down my spine.

If not for Benno, that little run in could have been so much worse.