The Hockey Boy

Chapter 5

TY

November 14

"I need help, Koivu," we heard Easton say.

"I know," replied Koivu. "You let Toews skate past like you were a dummy or something. You can't let that happen again. You're just lucky Coyle had a good game tonight. Yes, I realize that you weren't the only guy that had a bad game, and yes, I realize that Kuemps missed the save, but things like that shouldn't happen."

"I know, that's why I'm asking for help," said Easton.

"Fine, I'll help you, but you know I'm on the same schedule as you, which means I have hardly any time off. When do you want me to help you?" asked Koivu.

"Anytime that works for you," Easton replied coolly.

"I have time at five in the morning," smirked Koivu.

"Five in the morning!" exclaimed Easton, but then he caught himself. "Works for me. When do we start?"

"Monday," replied Koivu simply. "I'll see you then." Cal and I heard footsteps, so we knew that Koivu had left.

"Let's go," I instructed Cal. Easton must've heard us talking because right at that moment, he turned his head to the left so he could see where we were sitting.

When Easton saw us, it looked like his eyes were going to pop out of his head. "Ty?" he asked confusedly. "What are you doing here?"

"I, uh, well, we were just..." I stuttered.

"Ty has something she'd like to say to you," started Cal as he elbowed my side.

"Yeah, I, uh, just wanted to say sorry, for the other day, you know," I added awkwardly. "Just because I don't like you doesn't mean I have the right to assault you or anything like that."

"It's okay, you didn't actually hurt me," replied Easton. His tone was wavering, so I knew that he was lying.

"How did that not hurt?" exclaimed Cal. "Ty's stronger than most of the guys at our school."

"Okay, fine, maybe it hurt a little," admitted Easton.

"Well, I'm glad that that's over with. We'd better be going now, right, Cal?" I said, turning to leave.

"Yeah," he said, taking my hint. "We should really go. Nice seeing you again, good game." I elbowed Cal really hard and gave him a look after that.

"Were you not listening to his conversation with Koivu?" I whispered angrily, quiet enough so only Cal could hear me.

"Ow, you really need to be careful when you elbow people. I don't think you know your own strength," Cal grumbled, avoiding the subject, as he rubbed his side where I had elbowed him.

"Oh, shut up you baby," I laughed.

"It was nice seeing you again, Ty," smiled Easton.

What's wrong with him? The last time I saw him I hit his face with a hockey stick, I thought to myself. "So, Easton," I said, avoiding his previous comment. "Toews way of playing tonight kind-of reminded me of someone I know."

"Really, who?" Easton asked cluelessly.

"Me, in that game against Andover freshman year," I smirked as I turned to leave. "Bye, Easton."

I didn't wait long enough to see his reaction to my comment, but I knew it was good. "Ty, wait!" he called.

I stopped and turned around. "What do you want, West?"

"I was just wondering if you'd ever want to, maybe, practice together sometime," he choked out.

"Thanks, but no thanks. I'd rather not workout with someone I despise," I spat as I began walking again.

"Okay, what did I ever do to you," demanded Easton, suddenly turning serious. Cal looked between the both of us awkwardly as if he knew he shouldn't stick around for the conversation.

"I'm just gonna go wait in the car. Can I have the keys?" he asked, and I tossed him the keys to my Chevy. Cal caught the keys easily and bolted around the stadium.

"Okay, Easton, here's the thing. When you were in high school, you and I were at about the same skill level, were we not?" I started.

"Sure, I guess you could say that," he replied unsurely.

"Okay, so if I was just as good as you, then how come you always got more hype, huh? Why? You always got more attention than I did, even after the times Blaine played Andover and I made you look like a pee wee player. Why is that?" I asked.

"I think you already know the answer," he mumbled as he stared down at his feet.

"It's because I'm a girl, right? I'll never be as good as Easton West because I'm a girl," I said.

"Actually, people don't really know that you're a girl. I have no idea why I always got the hype. Maybe it was because I was older than you, but it wasn't because you were a girl. People don't really know that."

"I suppose that could be right," I admitted.

"Yeah, I'm usually right," he smirked.

"You know what? You are exactly the type of person I always thought you were. You don't have a humble bone in your body, and you respect few people besides yourself, yet you have tons and tons of fans and get paid millions. I'm humble about my skills, and I know how to keep my ego in check."

"Excuse me? You don't even know me, so how can you be saying these things?" Easton asked, his face turning red from anger.

"Well, look at the way you treated Koivu! He agreed to help you, but only when he's free, and you almost shot him down because he wanted to work out early. You have no respect for vet players."

"You know, you're not the greatest person around, either. You think you know everything about everybody, but you don't. You aren't the most humble person, either, saying that you're as good of a hockey player as a pro. I don't see you playing in the NHL right now," said Easton pointedly.

"You're right," I said simply. Easton was about to say something else, but he stopped when he comprehended what I had said. He seemed surprised that I actually agreed with him on something. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been so rude. I guess your cockiness is rubbing off on me."

"Hey, I take offense to that!" Easton protested.

"Why did you say you were glad to see me earlier? The last time I saw you I hit your face and gave you a black eye," I said, changing the subject so I avoided injuring Easton again.

"No reason," said Easton, avoiding the question.

"Okay, if you won't give me a straight answer, fine. I'm leaving now. Congrats on the win," I said, turning to leave once more.

"Wait!" he called after me, grabbing my wrist. His hand was warm, but I pulled my arm away a few seconds after he touched me.

"What do you want?" I asked. I could still feel the warmth of his hand on my wrist even though his hand wasn't present there anymore.

"I like you," Easton blurted out. I stopped and turned around. Had he really just said what I thought he had? On Easton's face was a look of shock, like he couldn't believe what he had just said.

"What did you just say?" I questioned.

I expected him to say "nothing", but he surprised me. "Oh come on, you don't feel it, too? You have to. There's something between us, something I can't explain. You have to feel it, too."

"I don't feel anything. I've only met you once before, so there's no way you could like me, or the other way around," I lied. I knew I shouldn't deny feeling something, but just four days ago I hadn't even met the guy and had been saying I hated him.

"That's a lie and I know it. I know you feel something, something beneath the hatred that you have for me," said Easton.

"I don't hate you," I muttered.

"Don't try to change the subject," he said as he began to walk towards me. "Ty, honestly, do you feel something, some, tension, I guess you could call it, between us? You act like you hate me, but I think that you just don't want to admit that you feel something for me to yourself."

I didn't say anything for a while. I just stared at my tiffany blue Nikes. I felt Easton's breath on the top of my head, and then I felt his fingers beneath my chin, lifting it so I was looking into his ocean blue eyes. When his fingers touched my skin, I felt sparks. No, I have no idea what I'm talking about, but there was some chemistry between us that was explainable. I didn't want to admit it, but there was absolutely no denying it: I had a crush on Easton West.