Chapter 18 ~Northvale Titans vs Chrisland Tigers~
Xander's POV
Drowning.
A word used to describe the state of being stuck under water.
I wasn't, but why did I feel like I was drowning… from the stress of the pack, the words of the shaman, the curse, protecting my mate, protecting my pack, the council, my parents, school… life?
I splashed some water on my face to wake myself up a bit.
A tap on my shoulder had me spinning around quickly.
“Come on, man, it's almost time for the playoffs. Coach has been looking everywhere for you.” It was one of my teammates, Matt.
“Yeah, I'll be on my way, soon, man.” I tried to sound enthusiastic.
“Today is going to be a badass match! I can feel it in my goddamn soul, bro. Woo-hoo!” Matt looked pumped as he walked out of the bathroom.
I went into the locker room, my head still reeling from the stress.
Coach Bruce motioned for me with his fingers. “Grayson, are you alright?”
“Yeah, Coach… just nerves or something.” I lied.
“Alright, walk with me to my office.”
I shot my eyebrows up in question. My mind first went to the dumbass PTA meeting the principal spoke about. I thought he'd forgotten about that shit.
“No, you're not in trouble, trust me.” Coach Bruce chuckled, raising his hands in mock surrender.
We got to his small office, and I sat, playing with the straps of my jersey.
The coach sat back in his revolving chair, arms folded as the chair rocked back and forth. “So, I've been speaking to some NHL scouts on your behalf and they agreed to come visit… check you out.”
I shot up in my seat, my heart pounding with excitement. “Wh… today?”
He pinched the bridge of his nose, his eyebrows scrunched. “Ya see, that's kinda the problem… they didn't give me an exact date.”
What did that even mean? “Like… they can show up on any date?”
“They said they want to see you on a random day. Real pressure, no preparation, nothing.”
I chuckled dryly. “So, what this means is I have to play like there's some scout watching me every damn day? Great!”
“That's what it means.” The coach had a more serious look on his face now. “And for you, this means bringing your A game. On that field, I don't want any distractions or emotions.”
I nodded.
“Your skills - elite. But where your weakness lies is your head, that's where you lose the game.” He shook his head. “For now, you're getting away with it because you're Xander Theon Grayson, but on the big stage… that's gonna be a problem.”
He wasn't wrong. “Yes, Coach.”
He stood up and gave me a back tap. “Now go gear up. Northvale Titans need their forward.”
I walked out of the office with the coach's pep talk still in my ears, but, of course, as soon as I got to the locker room, the noise of my teammates drowned it out.
“Xander fucking Grayson!” someone hailed as soon as I walked in.
Others were yelling over the loud hip hop music playing.
“Boys, hydrate or die!” Matt yelled as he slammed bottles of water on some guys.
As one bottle hit Sandelson, he threw his helmet in revenge and a play-fight broke out in the locker room.
The cheerleaders were strutting around, their pompoms glittering under the bright stadium lights.
My eyes scanned over the bleachers; students, the rivals- Chrisland Tigers, a few teachers and parents until they landed on her.
Fiona, I could spot her from a mile away. Her red hair was flowing and bright, she was munching on some snacks, distracted. She had never looked more beautiful than this, her natural state.
I brushed my number 2 jersey and rushed to the ice for a quick warm-up.
The cold hit me immediately, but I loved it.
The Chrisland Tigers team skated into the rink. I could see how concentrated they looked.
They didn't come to play around.
“Yo, Xander!” Their captain - I couldn't remember his name called out. “Don't skate like you're in slow motion today.”
His teammates laughed together.
Matt responded on my behalf. “Go fuck your coach, why don't ya! With y'alls bum ass defense.”
The whistle blew.
It was game time.
In less than two minutes, the captain of Chrisland Tigers scored a goal. They were fast, aggressive, and they definitely weren't messing around.
Matt equaled almost immediately, but their forward landed another goal. Ending the first 20 minutes with 2-1.
During the 15 minute break, the coach slapped my back, his eyes blazing with fire. “Grayson, lock in.”
Second period.
With my wolf reflexes, I slid a puck between two unsuspecting defenders. It entered the net in a millisecond.
2-2.
The crowd from Northvale erupted in loud cheers. I looked at Fiona; she had a wide grin on her face.
Equalizing was never enough for me. I would need to secure another goal this second period because I knew the third would be war.
I continued the game, expertly dodging guys slamming into each other aggressively, skates slicing lines across the ice, sticks diverting to secure the puck.
Someone from my team passed the puck to me finally and, dodging the opposing players, I shot the puck into the net.
3-2
“That's why you're Xander Theon Grayson!”
“Let's go!”
I beamed at the cheers from the bleachers.
The third period came, and the Tigers were not backing down.
It was neck and neck; the puck didn't stay on anyone’s stick for more than a minute before the opposing team whisked it away.
Their forward almost broke through, but our goalie dove in and blocked the goal last minute.
The captain of Chrisland Tigers was glaring at me throughout the game, this was why I had my eyes on him when he tried to take out my knee, I dodged almost swiveling to the ground.
“Try harder next time.” I shouted at his hearing.
There were almost five minutes left in the game. If the tigers didn't equalize the score now, we'd lead.
But I wasn't backing down. I needed to score one last goal. For Fiona.
1 minute left.
“Yo, Grayson,” It was Matt, stuck in between two defenders, puck in stick. “Catch.”
My heart was pounding in my chest.
The coach shouted from the sidelines. “Finish it!”
Immediately the puck got to my stick, I decked left and right, the intense motion almost making my head spin… and boom! It was in the net.
The stadium roared as the end game whistle blew.
4-2 Northvale Titans vs Chrisland Tigers.
We won.
My teammates swarmed around me, their helmets tapping mine. Chants of ‘Xander! Xander!Xander!’ filled the room.
With adrenaline pulsing in my veins, lights flashing, crowd chanting, I spotted Fiona in the crowd.
I took off my gloves and formed a heart shape with my fingers at her. “For you.”
My teammates began teasing and back slapping.
The bleachers erupted with coos, and Fiona… she stood there with a cute and embarrassed smile on her face.