An Infuriating Win

BLOOM

It took exactly one more second before the entire crowd erupted into wild cheers and chatterings. Everyone was instantly talking about him, screaming, shouting, mumbling. Every single talk was suddenly about Dante Romano and even as the cheering went wild, his eyes remained on me and the smirk didn't leave his lips.

I looked away.

After six years away from this Pack, he was still pulling all the attention like he always did in the past. Just his presence, he hadn't even done a single thing on the rink yet. Just his face and stature and he already had the crowd all over him.

"He is really here" Daria mumbled before suddenly grabbing my arm. "Dante is really back!" She squealed excitedly this time and I rolled my eyes and let it land on Hunter.

Now, I understood why he wasn't smiling, I understood why this match made him quite nervous.

I didn't know much about Dante but I knew he had joined an elite team of players outside the pack all these years.

I let my gaze remain on Hunter and he skated towards the medical station, seamlessly making his way to me, helmet and stick in hand.

He stopped by the medical station and rested his arm and helmet on the board. He flashed me a smile and I felt my heart ease slightly. That's what I wanted to see, his smile.

"Wish me good luck, beautiful"

"What would you need the wishes for?" I asked and Daria nudged me slightly but I kept my gaze completely on Hunter. "You have won every in-pack game this season, this will be no different" I added and Hunter's smile grew wider.

"Just wish me good luck" He insisted and I felt my insides get excited. He wanted ME to wish him good luck. There were so many people here right now but I was the only one he wanted to get the wishes from.

"Good luck" I said the words almost shyly.

"Good luck too, if mine counts for anything" Daria chipped in and Hunter chuckled before muttering a 'thank you' and skating away, settling his helmet onto his head.

I glanced back at Dante. I just couldn't help it. He was the center of attention anyway. He had changed position but his gaze was still on me, this time with no smirk.

'I will come back for you, Dumbie. I promise I will' I remembered those exact words at this moment.

Still looking at me, he put on his helmet and I looked away from him again as the referee finally dropped the puck.

The game swung into action immediately with the Clarions taking possession of the puck quickly. My gaze followed the puck, just like at every other match but I was finding it hard to stay focused when the boy I spent years of my life hating was the one playing in front of me, shifting past a defender skillfully and darting around another, like this match was a piece of cake for him.

The Clarion team was following his orders at top speed, the organisation was crazy and almost seemed rehearsed.

There was a pass, another pass and then a return pass to Dante and with one hard shot, Dante made the first goal.

The Clarion side of the arena burst into excited screams and Daria screamed excitedly next to me also but I didn't share in that excitement. I rolled my eyes and looked towards Hunter instead. He was wrapping and unwrapping his fingers around his stick, something I knew he only did when he was nervous.

I bit down on my lower lip as the match continued with even more intensity. Hunter was being intense, more intense than I had ever seen him and Dante was being just as intense while making it seem like he wasn't.

There was another goal. For the Bleerds.

I screamed out in excitement, feeling a fresh wave of life and joy. I wasn't sure I had ever felt this happy about goals and matches before but this one match was different.

The Bleerds side erupted in cheers and I joined in, doing a small dance that I had almost forgotten I used to do in excitement.

"Look at you, completely down bad for Hunter" Daria laughed and I didn't bother to hide my smiles.

I watched the match with increased interest, my eyes keenly following after Hunter, then the puck.

The scoreboards kept changing and at just a minute to the end of the match, it was a draw. Hunter had fallen down twice but he had gotten up back, clearly not willing to leave the rink at all.

3:3 was displayed on the scoreboard and everyone was now watching with hitched breath and the players were playing with a scary intensity.

It was almost as if they were playing for something more than just the prizes. Dante and Hunter had been best friends before Dante left six years ago. Was this just a really brutal match to see how far they had each grown? Or was there something else they were fighting for?

The passes, interceptions, shots, everything felt quicker, faster and the time was racing to the end.

Dante was now in possession of the puck and Hunter was trying to get possession from him. My heart was pounding as my lips mumbled a small prayer for Hunter to win.

Not just for Hunter this time but also for me. I didn't want my childhood bully winning on his first day back in this pack!

And just when it seemed the time would just run out, Dante suddenly made a skillful turn that had Hunter confused for a second. That one second was all Dante needed. He skated forward, Hunter moved towards him quickly but it was too late. Dante gave that one shot and every eye watched as the puck moved.

"Don't. Don't!" I muttered in prayer, hoping the puck wouldn't get in but it did.

And the Clarions side of the arena erupted in crazy cheers and I just felt instantly down.

There goes Dante Romano again, effortlessly winning and having the universe on his side when the world should be completely horrible towards him!

I looked at him with a scrunched up face, watching as he pulled his helmet off and slammed his stick into the rink with excitement on his sweaty face.

He was jubilating with his teammates and I saw him pull a necklace out of a small pocket on his vest. I shouldn't be staring at him even half this much but I hate this man and sometimes hatred has you staring longer.

He lifted the pendant of the necklace and put it gently between his teeth, grinning excitedly around the necklace and then it clicked. I knew exactly what necklace that was.

It was mine. My favourite necklace that he stole six years ago.

He still had it. And he still had that cocky grin as he looked at me.

I finally tore my gaze away from him and looked towards Hunter who was now skating quite weakly towards the medical station. I quickly opened up the station and hurried towards Hunter, already worried as to why he was this weak.

As I held Hunter, I could hear Dante's laughter slowly die down.

Six years ago, I hated him and now, I had to choose between hatred and indifference.

I chose.

Hatred.