Page 110 of The Puckable Playbook

Then we all chant, “Bulldogs.”

We start our way through the tunnels, and something is definitely up. The announcer is still going, music echoing around us. The low buzz is still there, growing louder and louder thecloser we are to stepping foot on the ice. We each give one another confused looks, and once we arrive at the mouth of the tunnel, my eyes blink in disbelief.

That sound isn’t a buzz at all, it’s people. It’s the hum of a crowd talking all at once.

When we turn the corner, we see them. The seats…they have people sitting in them. “What the…”

Adam mirrors what I’m thinking. “The fuck is going on?”

“Let’s go, gentlemen,” Coach says as he leads us out, not stopping like the rest of us. The crowd starts to cheer, and when my blades hit the ice, I skate in a large circle, taking everything in. So many people sit in the stands. In fact, it takes me a second to find my family in the throng, but they’re there, watching me, screaming their heads off. My mom wipes at her face, and I really would like to know what the hell is going on.

No one ever comes to see us. No one.

I search the seat next to Izzy where Lenore always sits, but it’s empty. I remind myself that it’s okay. She said she’d be late, but I want her to witness this.

Holy shit. People are here for us.

A chorus of boos rise up, and I peer around, worried that people have realized they’re here for a hockey game, but instead, I see the other team has skated out onto the ice.

A grin nearly takes over my entire face. Adam comes up and hammerfists me in the chest pads a few times. “Let’s go! We better have the game of our fucking lives.”

I do the same back. “Let’s do it!”

We skate back to our bench. The announcer starts listing off the starting lineup for the players on the opposing team, but then the lights dim and blink out.

“Shit,” I mutter.Of course this has to happen. We’re literally about to have the coolest game of our collegiate life, and the lights go out. What are the odds?

A strobe light flickers. Then another. Sinister music follows.

My gut clenches.

“And now, your Warner Bulldogs!”

I nearly pass out. None of us know what to do when they start announcing our names, so Coach pulls us up one by one and shouts in our face, pushing us over the wall to skate onto the ice. I’m the fourth announced, and when he gets to me, he smiles, slapping my shoulder. “This is what you’ve deserved, Zaiah. All these years. Go out there and make them fucking wish their asses were sore for how long they should’ve been planted in these seats. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir.”

He pushes me, and I skate out onto the ice, the applause nearly deafening. I skate in a circle, peering up at everyone. My mom is recording, and I’m so glad because Lenore needs to see this. That I matter. That I’m doing something with myself. What a shame that she had to miss the puck drop of the game of all games.

“What is going on?” Adam asks when I find my spot next to him.

“No fucking clue.”

“There has to be a reason all these people are here. Look, there’s hella students in that section.” He points in their direction, and that section stands, screaming. “Oh, shit. Did you see what I did?”

I laugh, patting him on the shoulder. “You’re like a wizard.”

“I’m Harry Fucking Potter all of a sudden. Lumos Maximus.” He points at the student section again, and as if on cue, they all go bananas. “I like this.”

We stay out on the ice while they play “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and then we skate to our bench again, waiting for puck drop.

All the guys are hyped, but there’s a general consensus that no one knows what is happening. Why are there so many people here?

The lights dim again, and this time, I’m pretty sure it’s not because the rink is about to lose power. It’s because the game is about to start. The crowd screams louder.

This hype. This energy… It’s addictive.

I skate to my starting position, body tingling. I spy the same excitement in my teammates’ eyes. We’re all on fire. When the puck drops, they skate like their asses have literal flames flickering out of them. They skate like there’s no fucking way we’re going to lose this game, and holy shit, who knew that all we needed was people to believe in us?

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