Puck in the rink

BENJAMIN 

The puck slammed against my stick with a crack.

“Again!” Coach said and the team reset instantly.

Skates carved into the ice, cold air burned in my lungs.

I pushed off hard, cutting across the rink. Scott came at me from the left, but I shifted and slipped past him.

“Too slow,” I muttered and he grinned. “Fix it.”

I didn't look back at him again. The puck left my stick and snapped into the net. The sound was satisfying.

“Reset.” Coach called.

We moved again, drill after drill.

I paid attention closely, I needed perfection.

Adam skated beside me during a reset, a scowl on his face.

“Are you trying to kill us before the season starts?”

I didn't look at him, “If you die, you weren't useful anyway.”

The doors to the rink creaked open, but I didn't turn. I couldn't lose focus yet.

“Again,” I said sharper this time, the team growling.

Slowly, I turned to talk to the coach, and then I saw him.

Jerald.

He stood near the entrance wearing blue jeans and the company hoodie 

Scott skated towards me, “What’s he doing here?” he muttered under his breath.

I stepped off the ice, pulling my gloves, one finger at a time, my eyes locked on him.

He didn't flinch, he didn't seem nervous.

“What are you doing here?” I asked, stepping forward.

He shrugged casually, “Training.”

“Funny,” I laughed. “Yeah and I'm Michael Jackson.”

“He’s here for the try outs.” Coach answered before he could.

I blinked, “What?”

Coach stepped closer, arms folded across his chest. "We need another player,” he said. “Sam's injury is worse than we expected.”

“He still can't play.” I replied immediately but Coach ignored me.

“He’s tall and seems to move fast enough. If he trains properly, he can fill the position.” He said, “but temporarily.”

I scoffed, “You’re serious?”

“Have I ever joked about anything to you, Benjamin?”

Jerald shifted awkwardly beside him and I accessed him from head to toe, my eyes landing on the file he was holding.

Ofcourse, internship.

Three weeks ago, my father had made the company accept some group of college interns for some sort of partnership program with Jerald's university.

I had countlessly declined his internship, but someone he managed to find his way into the company.

And every single day since then had been torture, because no matter how I tried to ignore him, I find myself searching across the room for him.

And then there's last week, the betrayal.

He was just something I passed my time with, I wanted him to know that he wasn't worth my time. But even after the damage I had done, Jerald ought to have hated me to stay far away, but instead he was here, standing in the rink and once again, breaking my concentration.

“He won't survive two days,” I said.

Coach shrugged, "And that's where you come in.”

“What?”

“You’re the captain,” Coach replied with a smile. “Train him.”

The team cooed, everyone laughing.

“Training your step brother,” Scott grinned. “What a beautiful way to bond as a family.”

Jerald looked disturbed.

“No,” he said quickly, tugging at Coach's hoodie. “It’s not really necessary, I mean...”

“It is.” Coach interrupted.

Jerald inhaled slowly before looking up at him again.

“You said I'll get paid, right?”

Right, it's always about the money.

Coach nodded. “Every player gets paid per game.”

Jerald nodded, his eyes scanning across the rink and then it hit me.

I suddenly understood why he suddenly needed the money.

College fees.

He really didn't want to bother the family about his education. He never even liked the idea of his mother marrying my father.

He really needed the money, badly.

He exhaled sharply, "Fine.” He said quietly, “I’ll do it.”

Coach nodded, “That’s a good choice.”

I stepped forward, "But coach, he can't even stand on skates.”

“Then teach him.”

“You’re really asking me to babysit?” I asked.

Coach stepped closer, his finger poking my chest. “I’m asking you to lead your team.”

I glared at Jerald who was avoiding my eyes.

I hated it when Coach uses that voice, his final voice. It always meant that he had already made up his mind and there was nothing that could change it.

“He’s your brother, Captain.” Scott teased, skating round the rink. “Maybe you'll finally learn to go easy on us.”

“Yeah right.” I scoffed, throwing him a glance.

"Welcome to the team, Jerald.” Liam said. 

“Thanks,” Jerald muttered.

“Jerald,” Coach called, tossing a stick at him. “Training starts at five every morning.”

Jerald gasped, “Five?”

“Yes.”

“That’s like the darkest hour.”

Coach smirked, “That’s how win.” he said. “But don't worry, you have Benjamin. It'll be easy.”

He scoffed, muttering curses under his breath but I heard it. He lowered his head, it really looked like he was reconsidering every decision that had led him to this rink.

“Fine,” he muttered dryly, raising up his head. “I’ll do everything. I'll train with Benjamin, I'll wake up by five, but...”

“But?” Coach twisted his brow.

“I don't want any other thing asides hockey, no meetings, nothing.”

I smirked, Scott slowly turned towards me with a grin.

"Of...of course, that won't be a problem.” Coach said. “Right Benjamin?”

“Yes,” I nodded. “It won't.”

But I know Jerald didn't believe it, his expression said it all.

Coach finally stepped away, calling the rest of the team into the ice.

I stepped closer for only him to hear.

“You should quit now.” I murmured, leaning closer.

“No,” he snapped. "I need the money, if training with you is all it would take for me to get the money and go far away from you, then I'm ready to die doing that, Benjamin.”

“You’re really playing a hard game, Jerald.” I stated and he scoffed, folding his arms.

“And why do you care?” he said. “Remember, we're nothing.”

My chest tightened, my jaw shifted. My anger was boiling inside, I was trying so hard to control it before I snapped.

“Fine,” I smirked. “Then let's make this training session fun.”