6. Anticipation #2
Once dressed, they headed out to the rink, the chill of the ice wrapping around them like a cool embrace.
As the teams lined up for the opening face-off, the tension in the air felt electric.
Alex focused on the puck drop, blocking out everything else—the noise, the crowd, and most importantly, thoughts of a cute redhead. Just stay present.
The game began, and the first period unfolded like a dance, each player moving with purpose across the ice. Alex darted between their teammates, eyes sharp and reflexes primed. When a short but speedy brunette broke down the right wing, Alex saw an opportunity.
“Go, go, go!” they shouted, pushing off hard, gliding alongside their teammate.
The puck zipped from the petite forward’s stick to Alex’s, their heart pounding in rhythm with the play.
With a quick flick of their wrist, they sent it flying towards the net, watching as it found its way past the goalie—goal!
“That’s one!” someone shouted from the bench, but Alex couldn’t hear the noise over the thunder of their own heartbeat. They exchanged high-fives as they skated back to center ice, adrenaline coursing through their veins.
But the game wasn’t without its twists. The Dolphins responded viciously, capitalizing on a power play that left the Queens scrambling. Tension rose with every tick of the clock, but the Queens retaliated fiercely .
As the second period started, Alex felt the momentum shift.
Their focus sharpened, and when the puck found its way to them again, they took a breath, channeling all their energy into the shot.
The crack of the stick against the puck resonated loudly, echoing the thrill of victory in every spectator’s heart as it rocketed past the goalie.
“That’s two!” Jess cheered, her voice ringing clear above the chaos.
“Let’s keep it going!” Alex hollered back, determination lighting a fire within them.
Moments later, they intercepted a pass, weaving through defenders like a dancer performing a routine they’d practiced for years.
The puck felt like an extension of their body, gliding seamlessly as they moved up the ice.
Pulling their stick back to shoot and drawing the full attention of the goaltender, they surprised everyone with a pass to a wide-open Jess.
With one swift motion, Jess redirected the puck into the back of the net, the noise of the crowd reverberating through the rink.
In this moment, nothing mattered but the ice beneath their skates and the support of their teammates—their instincts guiding them with a confidence they hadn’t felt in a very long time. No distractions, just pure passion.
The whistle blew, slicing through the electric atmosphere of the rink as the third period began.
The score was 3-1 in favor of the Queens.
Alex’s heart raced, and they shifted their gaze to the stands, scanning eagerly.
I see red they thought, the bright auburn standing out against a sea of colors, and for a moment, everything else faded away.
“Focus, Alex!” they muttered under their breath, shaking off the distraction. It’s just a girl—just the girl they were trying not to crush on so hard that it felt like a slap shot directly to the chest.
As the puck dropped, Alex found themselves fumbling during their first two shifts.
A miscalculated pass sent the puck skittering into enemy territory, and the subsequent rush from the Dolphins nearly cost them a goal.
Their palms felt clammy inside their gloves, each mistake echoing in their mind like a loudspeaker announcement. Look at you, superstar.
“Alex!” The captain, Jess, pulled them aside, concern etched across her face. “Are you okay? Did something happen between periods? Or are you just distracted by that hot redhead you swear you are not interested in?”
Heat crept up Alex’s neck, their cheeks burning. “I’m not… I mean I wasn’t,” they stammered, averting their eyes. “I was just... thinking about strategy.”
“Uh-huh.” Jess raised an eyebrow, but the corner of her mouth twitched upward. “Well, her name is Cassie—”“
“Cassie,” Alex mimicked, their eyes starting to glaze over.
With a swift knock to the front of Alex’s helmet, Jess grabbed their attention once more, “Now get your head in the game. We need you.”
“Right,” Alex replied, swallowing hard. They took a deep breath, letting the familiar scent of ice and adrenaline ground them. Time to shake off the nerves.
They hit the ice with focus honed to an edge, sharper than their own skates.
The Queens were more determined than ever, and momentum swung back in their favor.
Jess scored an unassisted goal with just over six minutes left in the game that had the bench erupting in cheers, and with renewed energy, Alex joined the fray.
Then, as if the universe was finally aligning, they seized on a rare opportunity.
The goalie went down as they tried to slap the puck out of the zone, only for it to land directly on Alex’s stick.
With the net wide open, they rocketed towards it, pushing past fatigue and doubt.
The hat trick felt surreal, a sweet culmination of determination and chance.