Chapter 28: Chapter Twenty-Seven

I sat down at my allocated desk and took a deep breath. The room was packed, and we were all taking the SATs today. I felt calm and ready. I was well prepared, and Gareth had told me that I only needed a score of 1200 to get acceptance to most colleges.

Three and a half hours later I had finished, and I walked out of the test room feeling like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I’d never before thought about going to college or what I’d do with my life after school.

I’d never dared to dream before, but like everything else in my life, Alexander changed that too, and I wished I could get rid of the doubt inside me. I wanted so badly to let go and trust in what he said. We would have to wait anywhere between two and six weeks for my results.

“You’ll have to start sending out applications once your test scores come back,” Alexander said one night at dinner.

“Other than playing hockey I’m clueless about my future,” I said to him.

“It’s good to have a dream but you can’t play hockey forever, you should have a back-up, go to college, have something you can do when your hockey career is over,” he said.

“Career? I’m playing high school hockey,” I said with a laugh.

“Kage, you don’t think you stand a chance to be drafted, do you?” he asked me.

“Not really,” I said.

“I think you do, but I thought I’d play for years until I couldn’t anymore. What else speaks to you?” he asked.

“Even if I get drafted it doesn’t automatically mean I get to play for whoever drafts me,” I said.

“True, I got a contract three years after being drafted,” Alexander agreed. It was a daunting thought that stayed with me. Alexander had been one of the best and there were still guys trying to beat his records and he waited for three years.

Just the idea of being drafted by the NHL had my heart beating erratically. Could that really be a real possibility for me? Not everyone that was drafted got signed. Many guys played in the junior leagues and never played in the NHL despite being drafted.

“You do realize that you’re eligible for next year’s draft,” Alexander said, and the fork fell out of my hand as everyone looked at me.

“Shit,” I said as they started to laugh.

“The key is just to play each game to the best of your ability. The scouts don’t announce that they’re there, they just show up and watch, take notes and videos. Don’t focus on that though, just play the game you love,” Alexander said.

“Kage is going to the NHL!” Sloan shouted loudly, and even I had to laugh at his excitement.

“Last year only five high school players got drafted,” I said.

“And next year you could be on that list too,” Castiel said seriously.

After that discussion at the dinner table, I started to dream about going to the NHL. It became my new goal, not only to be drafted but to be signed. I didn’t really worry about college and maybe I should have.

Three weeks later Alexander stood in the foyer as we all filed into the house. Madison had started to spend more and more time at our house, and she was standing right next to me when Alexander handed me an envelope.

“What’s this?” I asked him, putting my helmet down on the side table.

“Your SAT scores,” he said.

I’d kind of forgotten about that and I looked at everyone as they crowded around me. Castiel had gotten a score of 1580, an almost perfect score, he was the academic between all of us and set to go to Stanford.

“Open it!” Madison practically yelled at me.

I ripped the envelope open and read the contents of the letter. I couldn’t believe it and I felt lightheaded for a moment. I looked up at Alexander as he frowned at me, and the letter fell from my hands as emotion took over.

“What does it say?” Madison asked as they all looked at me.

“Holy shit,” Alexander said as he picked the letter up and read it.

“What?” Madison yelled with big eyes.

“You got a perfect score!” Alexander yelled as he hugged me suddenly.

“No way!” Castiel said and grabbed the letter.

“He looks like he’s going to pass out,” Miles said as I just stood there.

“Breathe, Kage,” Alexander said.

“I can’t believe it,” I said as a smile formed on my face.

“You’re like eligible for Harvard!” Castiel said.

“What?” I asked him.

“Dude, you can literally do anything you want,” Endri said.

Everybody was so happy, but I just wanted to play hockey. I didn’t say anything except to excuse myself and go upstairs. I stood on the patio overlooking the farm and sighed. I was proud of myself for finally achieving something, but I didn’t know what to do with it.

“Hey,” Madison said softly from behind me.

I didn’t say anything as I swallowed back my emotions and blinked the tears away. I kept my back to her and stiffened slightly as she put her one arm around my waist and my arm around her shoulder. She rested her head against me and just stood with me.

“Let’s get out of here,” Madison said suddenly.

“And go where?” I asked her.

“Anywhere,” she said.

We walked out of the house but instead of turning towards the garage I led Madison to the other side of the house, past the barns and down to the creek. I always went there when I needed space or when my past tried to overwhelm me.

We sat down on the ground, and I looked out at the water. Madison settled down, right next to me and she took my hand in hers. I’d never held a girl’s hand, as odd as that was. I wasn’t interested in getting close to anybody that could hurt me.