Home vs. Away.

Jade stood at the entrance to the rink, hands on his hips, body leaning on the wall. The glass door in front of him reflected the bright lights inside, the cheers of the fans.

Behind him, laughter erupted from his new teammates. Loud, careless and mocking.

Coach Declan appeared at the end of the hallway, hands shoved into his jacket pockets. The hallway instantly quieted down.

"All right, listen up" he began, voice firm and sharp.

"Tonight, We're not facing a small team. Tonight, it's Titans versus the Black Bears, a team that thinks they can walk in here and take our ice. Guess what? They're wrong. Fucking wrong!" He paused, scanning the group with sharp eyes.

"We're faster. We're smarter and we are going to remind them why Titans don't lose. You're not just playing for yourself. You're playing for this jersey, for this rink...for every fan out there." Then his gaze sharpened on Jade.

"Riccio!, here is not Apex. Here, you have to earn your spot, like everyone else."

Jade's jaw clenched, stomach twisting. He hated that everyone here seemed to look down on him. He fisted his bump, determination burning inside him. He would prove them wrong.

"Now, get out there and show them what you're made of." Coach Declan said.

One by one, the teammates skated into the rink, sticks in hand.

The Black Bears weren't just any opponent team. They were one of the longest-reigning ice hockey teams from Southern Carolina. They were more experienced and ruthless.

Jade tightened his grip on his hockey stick, his skates digging into the ice as he steadied himself.

The referee blew the whistle and dropped the puck.

Players scattered across the ice instantly. Jade pushed forward, skates slicing through the surface as he went for the puck.

"IT'S A HUNT RACE FOR THE DISK! RICCIO IS HEADING FOR THE PUCK!" The first announcer said into the mic

"HE'S HUNTING IT DOWN!" the second announcer shouted in agreement.

A Bears player got there first, snatching it and pushing past him, heading towards the Titans' goal.

"AW. THE BEARS GOT THERE FIRST." The first announcer groaned.

"THE BEARS TAKE CONTROL" The second announcer added quickly.

Jade turned, chasing after the luck, his breath steady. The crowd roared as the Bears charged towards their zone, fast and aggressive.

He closed the distance. One second, he was behind him. Next, he was right on him.

Jade dropped low, his skates carving deep into the ice as he slid in. His stick shot forward, aiming clean for the puck.

The Bears player tries to shift it away but he is too slow.

Jade's stick grabbed the puck. He was now with the puck. He made a sharp U-turn and started heading towards the opponent's goal.

"OH. RICCIO!" The first announcer gasped, in disbelief.

"HE STRIPS! HE TAKES IT RIGHT AWAY FROM HIM!" The second announcer exclaimed, jumping from his seat.

"Pass!" Elliot shouted behind him.

Jade ignored him.

He pushed forward, speeding past one Bears player. The crowd cheered louder.

Just as he tried to move past another defender, a Bears player came in hard from the side. His stick hooked Jade's arm, then his shoulder slammed into him.

Jade lost his balance for a second.

The puck slipped away.

"Shit!" He cursed.

The same Bears player grabbed it and skated off towards the Titans' goal fast.

"BIG HIT! UNEXPECTED! SANTAMARIO CHECKS AGAINST RICCIO, SNATCHING THE PUCK OFF HIM" The first announcer roared as the crowd erupted.

Jade turned and chased, anger rising in his chest.

The Bears moved quickly. Passing the puck amongst each other.

Before anyone knew it.

Goal.

The puck hit the Titans' net.

"HE SHOOTS...HE SCORES!! UNBELIEVABLE!" The first announcer bellowed.

"GOAL FOR THE BEARS. SANTAMARIO SILENCES THE CROWD WITH A CLEAN SHOT TO THE BACK OF THE NET!" The second announcer said.

Jade stopped, breathing hard, eyes locked on the Bears player who took the puck from him. The same guy turned, an evil smirk on his face like he knew what he had done.

Elliot skated toward Jade, his expression dark.

"I told you to pass, were you deaf?" Elliot said, his voice was sharp.

"I had it" Jade replied, frowning.

"You had it? It doesn't look like you had it. Now they fucking scored." Elliot let out a short laugh.

"I had it, can't you see that he checked me?" Jade stepped closer.

"You had it but you should have fucking passed to me, if you had...this wouldn't have happened. You don't get to play the hero, this isn't Apex." Elliot shot.

Jade fisted his bump, his chest rising and falling, anger boiling over.

"Don't even try to make our team lose this game just to spite me." Elliot warned.

Before Jade could respond, the referee skated over, eyes narrowing at both of them.

"Am I going to have a problem with you two?" he asked.

"No, ref" Jade replied.

The ref gave them a warning look.

"Keep the game clean" he said before skating off. The crowd's roar died down a bit, everyone sensing the heat between the two teams.

The ref dropped the puck and the game resumed. This time, Jade got it.

He didn't even hesitate, he moved fast, stick steady, his eyes locked on the Bears' goal as he pushed forward. The home fans started a rhythmic chat, stomping their feet.

Suddenly....

Santamario came in from the side. Jade was determined he would get past him but unexpectedly, Santamario's stick slammed against Jade's, very rough.

Jade lost control and the Puck slipped away.

"OH, HE GOT HOOKED!" The first announcer said

"THAT WAS A DIRTY PLAY. WHAT? NO WHISTLE?" The second announcer shouted.

He stopped abruptly. A chorus of boos from the home fans erupted from the stands at the cheap hit.

Anger rising in him.

Before Santamario could skate away, Jade grabbed him by the jersey and yanked him back.

"What the hell is your problem?" Jade growled.

"RICCIO IS NOT HAPPY ABOUT THAT HIT!" The first announcer said.

That was all it took.

Suddenly, more Bears players came in, circling them.

"THE BEARS ARE SURROUNDING HIM! THIS IS GETTING UGLY!" The first announcer said.

"Cry about it" One of them mocked.

"You're softer than I thought, all that hype for nothing." Santamario said , with a crooked smirk on his face.

"Funny. You needed some dirty hits to prove that. Try me, and I'll show you what soft really looks like." Jade spat at him.

Before Santamario could reply back, the ref skated over.

"What is going on here?"The ref demanded.

Jade released Santamario's jersey. His chest rose and fell asleep he grabbed his stick slightly.

"He hooked me and hit me from the side." Jade said.

"He lost the puck. That's on him" Santamario scoffed.

"I don't see a problem here" The ref said.

Jade clenched his jaw.

"Get back to the game" The ref said firmly before skating away. The fans went loud, booing at the ref for ignoring the foul.

"THE HOME FANS ARE LOSING IT! NO CALL?" The first announcer said.

For a moment, Jade stood there, frustration rising.

"If cheap hits are all you got to stay relevant...try it again, I dare you." Jade said.

Santamario scoffed, stepping closer.

"Back off, man" Jade warned.

But it was too late.

Santamario pulled his arm back and swung his tightened, heavy fist.

Jade ducked just in time.

He missed the punch.

Suddenly...

A fist came out from nowhere, fast. It connected with Santamario's jaw and he staggered back. The arena exploded with chaos.

"Don't touch him" Elliot's voice came, low and dangerous

Jade blinked.

Elliot just stepped in for him.