CHAPTER SEVEN
KAYLAH
This is my worst nightmare.
I hate being late, especially when I’m walking into a room full of people who take no hesitation in staring at me. The only problem with that is that I’m late quite often, most of the time if I’m being honest.
I know I need to do better, and maybe this is my incentive to, because if I simply on time, I wouldn’t be welcoming this confusion rising inside of me as I take in Julius’s presence.
I knew he was a Hockey player but the first thing I saw walking into this room was the Women’s team.
I remember all their faces from my research and as I’m planning on joining, Coach’s email made it clear they would be here with me.
I’m pretty sure they had a different coach last year, but I know these things can easily change so I didn’t question it.
The real surprise, however, was finally catching sight of the Men’s team.
So, I think it’s safe to say this is weird.
But I’m going to start sweating if these people continue looking at me.
“Sorry I’m late,” I say, not only because I mean it, but because I’m hoping the bland tone puts people off.
Though I’m sure the looks I’m picking up on aren’t frustrated ones due to my tardiness. No, I’m guessing everyone’s curious about who the new girl in the room is and what she has to do with the team.
“Nice of you to join us,” Coach Campbell says.
I’m used to ice, but the glares being directed at me from what feels like the entire room, is making me wanting to crawl into a hole.
Thankfully, Coach continues with, “Now, I know you’re probably all wondering what’s going on here, so firstly I need to tell you that you all did a great job last year on your respective teams.” There are a few seconds of murmured appreciation, before, “That said, we know that this is the year where the real work begins. As such things are gonna be a little different for us all. Right now, I’m going to split you into two teams. They will be based on your position and then we’ll have a little friendly game. ”
He does as he says and divides us into teams. I’m aware of the fact Julius was switching between Centre and Defenseman last year, but it’s nothing if not typical that Coach has us both playing Centre in our opposing teams. I just can’t seem to get away from this guy.
I was in my element from the moment I heard about this game, so when it’s time for the face off, I remain focused and then act quickly as soon as the puck is mine for the taking.
Naturally, Julius does the same, and naturally, he’s just not quick enough, and now I’m ready to play the game I’ve missed so much.
While I played it in my first year of university, during the time I was there anyway, all I could really do during my break was practice. I’ve been in need of a good game, and this…could have been a good game but there’s too much tension on the ice, and not enough passes that make sense.
I try to work with what I’ve got, though, signalling when I’m open, intercepting the puck as much as I can and being there for the other members of my team when they need it. Frustration sits within me throughout the whole game, but that doesn’t mean I’m ready for it to end when it does.
“Good game, everyone,” Coach Campbell says when we’re all done. “Go get yourself changed. I’m sure you have lectures or whatever people do at university. You…You, stay behind right here please.”
He points to Julius and I.
I can’t bear to think where this might be going.
“You been practicing, Julius?” he says, getting straight to it.
“Every day, Coach.”
“Hm.” There’s a hint of…something in his tone, but I don’t know what it is. “Kaylah, is it?” He says to me.
“Yep.”
“You’re good.”
“I’m more than good.”
“You’re great.”
“I know, but thank you.”
If men can be this cocky, why can’t I?
Julius scoffs.
I watch him. “You have something up your nose?”
“Yeah, the smell of bullshit.”
“You better go deal with that elsewhere, then.”
“You two know each other?”
“No.”
“No.”
It would probably be more believable if we didn’t say it before the question has even marinated in the air, and at the same time no less. I’m not surprised that Coach is looking at us like we have two heads.
“Okay…anyway, Kaylah, were you aware that Julius was the Captain of the team last year?” he asks.
“Yes.”
I feel his eyes blazing in on me at that. Did he really not expect me to look into him?
“Julius, were you aware that Kaylah was the Captain of her Women’s team at her old university?”
“Yeah.”
My breaths get a little shaky at the mention of my old university, but I definitely don’t feel comfortable showing that to anyone in this room. I find it even more difficult to compose myself after Julius’s admission. I wasn’t aware he knew this particular thing about me.
It’s one of the few remnants of me that still remain on the website, so I’m guessing that’s where he got it from.
I already know that Coach is familiar with this piece of information because I told him and he fact checked with my old Hockey coach.
She was nice enough that she would happily verify it.
“Still as chatty as you were last year, I see,” he says. “So I’ll let you guys be the first to know that we’re trialling out something new this year. I think from the match you just played you can figure out what it is.”
Silence cuts through the air.
His eyes flicker between us. “You both really just don’t like to talk, do you?
” Still nothing. “Okay. We’re combining the Women and Men’s Hockey teams this year into one.
I already had an idea of who I would have on this newly formed team but I wanted to confirm it with the game I just had you play.
The Women’s Hockey team coach has found new opportunity so the timing is perfect.
Julius, you enjoy being Captain last year? ”
“I did.”
“Good, because you’re Captain again for this team and for the foreseeable.”
He lets out a breath. “With all due respect, Coach, that’s not news to me.”
“You’ll be sharing the responsibility with Kaylah,” he says and walks to the exit without another word.
“Wait, what?” we both say at the same time.
“Oh, is that news to you?”
I see a vein pulsing through his head as he probes, “What do you mean sharing the responsibility?”
“I mean…you’re Captain…and so are you.” He points at Julius first. When aiming his finger at me, he says, “Provided you’re okay with that, of course. I have to say it’s a great opportunity, encouraging for the team and I think it could definitely benefit you both as well.
I loved the four months in which I was Captain at my old university. Despite the lack of friends I had on the team, and my depression and anxiety sitting in the surface of my life, the role felt so natural. It evoked a feeling of comfort in me that I felt during every game.
I don’t really know if that same level of comfort would be there if I’m doing this with Julius.
But I won’t let that stop me.
“That’s fine,” he says.
He nods.
“Why the change in team setup?” Julius asks.
“I need my best players on the team, because, well, I’m not gonna beat around the bush, I want us to win every game we play.
I proposed my idea to the important names at the League, and they said we’ll all see how it works.
You know how it goes now. We’re all showing what we can do in the first few games and then the eliminations will begin.
Our goal is to not get eliminated, and if it’s not clear what I mean by that, I mean that our goal is to win.
From everything I’ve seen that is a combination of the two teams I just split up, I know who I want to move forward with as I believe you’re all capable of hitting these results.
I know fights are easy to come about during these games, and I’m here with open ears if you feel like that’s a point of concern for you, but… ”
“I’m not concerned about that at all.” I say, despite him making a point to not name anyone specifically.
“Oh, okay, but just in case…”
“I can discuss it with the team, though.”
“We.”
I would be offended by Juliu’s curt tone if I wasn’t so used to it by now.
“Forgot about that, sorry,” I say.
“I’m standing right here.”
“I guess I just tuned you out.”
Coach laughs.
“Well, on that note, I’m sure you’d be happy to discuss how you would like to perform your duties together amongst yourselves.
I think you should maybe…get to know each other a little bit.
Guys…I have to tell you, I could probably get more conversation out of a parrot.
I need you to mesh well together, so…please.
One of you will say something to the other, and then the other will say something back as a response, and then you just keep going from there. ”
Julius lets out an exasperated sigh. “Thanks for the lesson on how to converse.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Just quickly before you go, Coach. How much thought have you put into this?”
“A lot of thought.”
“Really? Because I don’t need a co-captain?”
“Sometimes you don’t know you need something until you have it.”
“No, I know what I need and don’t need.”
“It’s also not just about that,” Coach Campbell says. “I think the team will perform better under the guidance of both of you, especially with it being newly formed.”
“No one even knows who she is.”
“She has a name.”
“Then they’ll get to know who she is through this.”
“Do you even know who she is?”
“Of course.”
I’m fine with him just knowing the basics. I played Hockey, I was expelled and now I’m here. I reached out to the Women’s Hockey coach instantly asking for an opportunity to play for the team, and he directed me to Coach Campbell, who I decided to be honest with about my expulsion.
He said as long as the reason for my expulsion didn’t fit his non-negotiables he would be happy to potentially have me on the team, as long as I don’t make it a topic of conversation.
It didn’t seem as if he was actually checking to verify the information I gave him, but the reason didn’t fit his non-negotiables anyway.
He definitely doesn’t have to worry about that.
“I don’t want this,” Julius continues.
With a sigh, Coach says to him, “I thought I had already decided against a certain conversation I wanted to have with you, but now I’m starting to see its relevancy again.” What does that mean? “Come see me in my office after this, Julius.”
He finally exits through the door, leaving the two of us rolling our eyes at each other.
“I don’t know why you’re looking at me like that. I’m not the one who came up with the idea,” I say.
“You could have said no.”
“I have no idea why I would do that.”
“So it wasn’t enough that you take over my house you want to take over my Captain duties too?”
I let out a breath. “Wow, you’re dramatic.
No one’s taking over anything, calm down.
You quite literally saw me be asked,” I finish, my head still trying to wrap around the fact I’m a Captain again.
In an ideal world I wouldn’t be doing this with him, but I learnt that this isn’t an ideal world a long time ago.
“Tell him you’re not gonna do it.”
“Yeah, I’ll just go and do that right now, shall I?”
“I’m captain. Just me,” he says with a firm tone. “You weren’t even here last year.”
I ignore his last words and respond with, “I would prefer to do this by myself too.”
“That’s not gonna happen.”
“But Coach clearly has a plan.”
He walks out of the room.
Tough crowd, I guess.