Free Ice in My Veins by Kelli Sullivan Page A

bad. I’m leaving after lunch. I just came by to get my school papers, there was a mix up with something for my online university courses.” He informed me. “Who’s your friend?” He asked curiously.
    “This is Lauren.” She looked up when I said her name. She smiled shyly.
    He smiled back at her. “Hi Lauren, I’m Alex.” As he spoke she nodded and buried her head back into her book.
    He turned back towards me. “Do you want to hang out tonight Christine? Maybe go out for dinner or a movie?”
    “Err... thanks Alex, but I can’t. I have homework, and I promised Mrs. Peat I would spend some time with her this evening. She wants to do some bonding.” I laughed.
    He looked disappointed. “Alright, some other time,” he said. “I’ll see you later gator.” He smiled, then got up from the table. What a cheesy comment. Especially coming from him. Although it made me laugh.
    Lauren watched him walk away. Her jaw hanging open. “Holy crap!” She exclaimed with a mixture of shock and excitement. “He’s the cutest boy I have ever seen.” She looked confused. “How do you know him?”
    “He’s my teammate. I play hockey for the Gophers.” I told her. I didn’t get the feeling that she was one of those puck bunnies that Moose was telling me about.
    “Wow, I would never have enough nerve to play anything with a bunch of guys.” She shook her head. “I couldn’t even speak to Alex just now.” She seemed embarrassed by this fact, and thrilled to use his name in conversation. That amused me. I knew the effect he had on me, I could just imagine the effect he had on her.
    “He’s cute. My roommate told me he’s a player, treats girls bad after he gets what he wants from them.” I told her.
    “Oh! I guess most guys are like that,” she said. “I wouldn’t know though, because they never speak to me.” She looked down at her hands suddenly nervous about confessing that to me.
    “Well trust me, most aren’t worth speaking to.” I assured her.
    Then the bell sounded and I had to get to class. I said good bye to her, and told her I was happy to meet her. We exchanged MSN’s. She told me that she would add me on Facebook later that day.
    So far none of my teammates had been in any of my classes. I was late getting into my History class, and there was only one seat left. It was in front of one of my teammates; Joe Sim another rookie.
    He was a jerk from what I could tell. I hadn’t really spoken much to him. He was one of the guys complaining about me being on the team.
    When I took the seat in front of him, he kicked the back of my chair. I turned and glared at him. He snickered. I looked back towards the front of the class. Throughout the hour he randomly would kick the back of my chair. I was extremely annoyed by him. If I could, I would have smacked him upside his head right there.
    The last kick, his foot slid through the back of my chair and hit my lower back. I had had enough of his taunting.
    I turned to him and forcefully, but quietly whispered. “You kick my chair one more time, I will cold clock you. Two hits – me hitting you – you hitting the floor!” I was pissed off now.
    He laughed out loud, and the teacher glared at him. Then he tapped my shoulder for me to turn around. He spoke with a cutting tone. “You are a waste of a roster spot. Josh Morgan was cut because of you.” He snapped at me. “You’re not good enough. I don’t know who you blew to get that roster spot, but enjoy it while you can. It won’t be long before every one sees you don’t belong on the ice with us.”
    “You better grow eyes in the back of your head during practice you dick.” I fumed. I ignored him for the rest of the period.
    Great! I had to sit in front of him all year. I was going to make him pay for what he said to me. He had some nerve. Just because he was drafted in the first round of the OHL draft, and had a contract - he thought he was God’s gift to hockey. I would show him.
    When I got