The match

91. The match

🤍🖤💜 Jacob 💜🖤🤍

We are ready to go out for our first match of the season. Air is high with thrill and anticipation. I can hear the thumping of the crowd outside. Cheerleaders have been warming up the crowd. Ice girls, they call them. June is dancing too. She is graceful both on and off the ice. I haven’t seen her dance on ice many times. Wish I could see her practice, at least.

Dad is here too. For her, I guess.

I shake my head.

No stupid thoughts!

I look across the room. The team is ready and pumped up. The Coach gives us some last-minute instructions.

“Happy Birthday West!” Someone pats his back and I see annoyance cross his face. It’s amusing.

“Stop wishing me guys and fucking focus!” He orders.

“Opposing team won’t take it easy on us only because we have a birthday boy playing.” We chuckle and nod in response.

The match starts in half 10 minutes. Our head should be in the game the moment we step into the locker room.

“Come on, Let’s do this!” West shouts and team cheers. I realize I zoned out the coach’s motivational speech.

Fuck!

Where is my head today?

….

As I enter the ice rink, I look for my girl in the crowd. It’s easy to spot her in the bright red dress. I shake my head in amusement. I thought she was bluffing me when I said I might not spot her during the game and she replied, “Oh I will wear something bright. So my presence calls you like a siren.”

Her family is here too. I nod at her father and he responds back.

I told my parents about Natalie the same day she questioned me. Delaying it didn’t seem fair to her. I went in and apologized to her mother. Someday soon we will have dinner at their place.

My parents, on the other hand, sighed a breath of relief, which is annoying, but I can’t do much about it.

June and Hanna are excited and trying to take all the credit. I had messaged in ‘Win Natalie’ group a few days ago.

Me: ‘Thanks for useless suggestions and no help guys. High time we delete this group. I am leaving.’

Hanna added me back to the group and texted.

Hanna: ‘NOOOOOO… It’s high time we add Natalie here. I want to know her.’

Me: ‘Well I am not gonna do that!’

June: ‘Oh I can do that!’

My-Dull-Mean-Happening-Girlfriend added to the group ‘Win Natalie’

My-Dull-Mean-Happening-Girlfriend: ‘WHAT is this place?’

My-Dull-Mean-Happening-Girlfriend: ‘OMG I am so honored.’

I facepalmed myself.

Yeah, make me look bad, in front of my very first actual girlfriend.

Long story short, now I am butt of the jokes of my three favorite girls.

…

Match starts with the referee in the middle, both teams opposite to each other in formation. Puck is in the center with center players ready to grab their chance.

Barely ten minutes into the game, I can tell West was right about this game being an easy one. Opposing team’s defense players aren't strong. West would rather say they’re all sloppy, because he likes to rub insults into other’s faces.

During the last round, they try to fight back harder and turn a boring match into an interesting one. By the end of the game, it is a cut to cut situation. But our goalie blocks their last attempt to land the puck into goal net at the last moment. The crowd howls to cheer our victory. We stake towards our goalkeeper and join in a circle to celebrate. Then we form a line and shake hands with the opposing team.

I am glad they gave us some competition in the end, else the victory wouldn’t have felt good enough.

“You always get things easily.” Dad has told me so many times. Sometimes this statement gets to me and I doubt myself if I deserve credit or not.

…

Soon Natalie surprises me by joining me in rink skating towards me.

How did she get in?

She takes a spin and her dress swirls around her gracefully.

She looks stunning, and My breath is hitched.

This is the first time I have seen her skate. She comes closer to hug me. I lean in and pull her for a kiss. She chuckled onto my lips and kisses me back.

“Alright, Love birds… Enough!” Norris says and Natalie pulls away biting her lips.

“Guys! My place tonight.. No excuses..” West says, gliding towards us and I give him a nod.

“Now that we have won, are you happy now?” Norris asks. Despite it being his big day, he was behaving like an ass today.

“I will be.. when you guys come to the party tonight. “ He says.

I look at Natalie to see if she is still coming.

“Sure we will be there…” She says.

“and West,” She calls him out as he skates away from us.

He turns and Natalie says with a smile,” Happy Birthday.”

I see his lips twitch, and he goes out of the rink.

… … … …

🤍🖤🤍 Natalie 🤍🖤🤍

… … … …

Idea of going to a hockey match stirred so many fucking emotions I didn’t know I still had. Last time I came here I was wearing West’s Jersey. After winning the match, he took me on a long drive and then we…

I close my eyes and take a deep breath.

I am here for Jacob today. There is no need to linger in the past. I don’t have to give in only because West is playing nice. I have a loving boyfriend and I am happy with him.

I always enjoyed the game, though. Flawless movements of every player. A few body slams with a sparkle of needless aggression. I don’t like the risk it poses, but still love the thrill it passes onto us as an audience.

I might have seen Jacob play before, but this will be the first time my eyes are on him. He is good at ice.

Damn good.

I dressed up for him today. A red dress I bought a few months ago but never had a chance to wear it. I don’t get why people don’t wear bright colors. This is the reason I feel conscious whenever I wear them. Because, of course, I look like a clown gaining attention. I can’t even tell that they are looking at me because I look good or if I look stupid.

I have bought my skate shoes too. I haven’t worn them in a long time either.

I hope I don’t fall down.

As the match ends, I rush toward the rink's fenced gate to enter.

“Hey… “ I call out to the guy who promised to get me in, if possible.

He sighs. “I was hoping you wouldn’t come.”

I grin and say, “Only 5 minutes.. Please…” I practically beg to him.

He glances at the watch and says, “You have 3 minutes… Don’t fall down..”

My feet shiver as I step in.

“Breathe in and out, Nat.. Don’t freak out. I will catch you.” West had told me when he first started teaching me to skate.

It’s not a welcome memory, but I still take a deep breath and go in.

If done right, it feels like flying. Serene, peaceful, rhythmic, even hypnotic. I would have closed my eyes if I knew someone was around to catch me.

Jacob’s eyes widen as he notices me. I twirl.