Chapter 2

Back to School

Kyle

“Yo, where’s my best Left Winger!” Jared calls me in the school hallway and approaches. The whole place is buzzing with laughter, students, and teachers. It’s the first day, so everyone’s still feeling summery. Yet, posters and notes are already covering the walls. Our latest trophy’s in the case on the wall opposite me. Among the pool of heads and the tide of students moving around, we’re easily noticed. We stand out because we’re The Wolves. I mean, that’s what I’m expected to think.

Might be ’cause we’re towering over everyone else and we’re double the size of most guys our age, I don’t know.

There’s not a single person who doesn’t know Jared around here, and I don’t mean just at school. The best Captain the hockey team’s had in years, it’s obvious we won the tournament last year thanks to him. I can’t believe this is his last year in high school. He’s going to university next where he can finally play professionally, after all, hockey’s his whole life. Almost like it would be mine, were I a better player.

“What’s up, man?” I greet him, and we do the team’s handshake. I know it probably looks stupid to outsiders, but the guys do it, so I kinda go with the flow.

“How’s the injury?” he asks and points at my leg.

“Better, thanks. Still a bit swollen here and there, but nothing too bad. “

“I told you to take it easy on the training camp, McDavid, but you don’t listen.” he shakes his head and says, “Anyway, you know what’s best for you. Just get ready cause we have practice this afternoon and I’m gonna kick your ass.”

“Yeah, we’ll see about that.”

A girl appears from somewhere and drapes herself on his neck. Maddison? I’m not exactly sure if that’s her name, but I guess he’s dating her now. I don’t know, he’s constantly surrounded, anyway; girls are only part of the whole crowd.

“Right, cool. I gotta go to class.” He says, trying to pull away from the kiss the girl’s trying to give him. “Laters, bro.”

“I’ll see you around, then.”

I head for my class as well, trying not to limp as I do. It hurts more than I admit, but it’s not like I can just stop training.

I spent the whole summer practicing with the team, so it’s basically like school never stopped. I get to class late, but one of the good things about winning prizes for the school is teachers are okay with some absences here and there. Grades, even. Not that grades matter that much right now. The Wolves are the most important thing and the whole school knows we are going to win this year too- that is, if you ask my father and my classmates. I open the door, fumbling with my textbooks when everyone starts talking.

“There he is!”

“You scored most of the goals, man!”

“Kyle, you were awesome”

“When’s the next one?

“My sister asked if you have a girlfriend now?”

“Will you be the captain soon?”

All of this at once. I have no clue if I’m expected to answer, just smile back at everyone and nod. I look helplessly around like someone can answer some of all that for me and my eyes land on an unfamiliar face. We probably have a new classmate.

He is like a dark shadow, leaning back with his chair tipped onto the rear legs, staring blindly at something outside, oblivious to all of this. The first thing that comes to my mind is that some invisible glass wall is separating him from us. It’s like all of the clatter and fuss just can’t possibly reach him. My second thought is I hope he doesn’t tip back, even though there’s an actual wall behind him. It’s as if he read my mind, or saw me looking at him, that he turns. And the grayest eyes I have ever seen are now pointed at me. I never even knew there were eyes of such colors. I can tell there’s something else about them, but I’m too far to see what exactly that is from here. I nod in his direction, an attempt for a casual greeting, and he just shakes his head in return and resumes staring out.

Uh. Okay.

“Enough, everyone.” my teacher’s voice brings me back to reality and I realize I’ve stopped in the middle of the room, staring at the new guy.

“Kyle, don’t just stand there,” Miss Chase says, “you take enough space anyway.”

All my classmates burst out laughing and I search for an empty seat.

“Hurry up and sit down. You’ve wasted enough of my class already.” she says, “And Max- please stop doing whatever you’re doing with that pen. Now open your books on page 12.”

Everyone obeys and I never thought I’d say it, but Miss Chase is an absolute savior. I know this silence won’t last long, but at least I won’t have to answer my classmates’ questions for now.

* * *

I finish classes and spend the entire afternoon training. I need to get new knee pads, but first I’ll have to pick my sister up from her dance practice. She wants to be a ballerina; too bad she can’t use me as her prince for at-home practice anymore.

“Kyle!” she beams at me when she sees me waiting for her in front of the studio, “We did pirouettes today.”

“Oh, yeah, and how was it?” I ask and, of course, I know what this is since she doesn’t stop talking about the performance they’ll have in December where she’ll be...wait, I got it – she is going to be The Crystal Fairy from Sleeping Beauty.

“I still need to rehearse, but I’ll make it in the end.”

“You will.” I want to ruffle her hair, but I know she’ll be mad at me for ruining her bun. Stela’s nine and started dancing when she was only four. It was more of my Dad’s decision. What he said was something along the lines “ballet is for girls and hockey - for boys .”In her case, following Dad’s order worked out pretty well and she’s happy.

“Can we go for ice cream?” Stela asks when she gets in the car, trying to put her seat belt on.

“Wait, let me help you with that. There. No, not today. I have to help Dad in the garage and then I’m going out with the guys.”

“Mom says you shouldn’t practice so much”

“Yeah, but Dad doesn’t.” I clench the steering wheel and step on the gas unconsciously.

“I think they were fighting the other night.”

“All families fight Stela, that’s normal,” I say, trying to slow down. “Besides, it’s as Mom says- if we don’t talk we can’t fix our problems. Right?

“Right” she nods, frowning. After a second she adds, “They won’t separate, will they?”

I feel like this is a conversation everyone has at least once in their lives if they have a little sister who’s smarter for their age. I still try to sound surprised when I ask,

“What? Why did you say that?”

“My friend’s parents are getting divorced and I’m scared Mom and Dad will too.” I glance at her and she now looks even smaller than she normally is. Sad.

“Oh, Stels, they won’t. They love each other and...I don’t know, stop thinking about stuff like that. And I promise everything will be fine. I always keep my promises, remember?

“I remember.”

“Good. Cool. “I relax against the seat and say “So, are we going for that ice cream? “

“Can we? Are you sure Dad won’t be mad?”

“I’m sure. I can work on the car later tonight. Besides, I can’t refuse you anything. But just one scoop, okay?”

“Yaaay! Deal- just one. But I want the blue one.”

“The blue one? Well, that sounds gross”.

Stela chuckles at my words and I turn the old truck, driving to Jasper’s.