Page 5 of Off The Rush
“I will,” I promise, my voice barely a whisper. As I turn away from the table, elation fills me that I have a spot in the Spring Showcase but it is immediately followed with dread. How on earth am I going to get Alec Campbell, someone I don’t know, to pretend to date me for the showcase?
Heart pounding and thoughts racing, I hurry back to Tessa, who is still sitting in the corner of the coffee shop, sipping her caramel macchiato. The moment she sees me approaching, a worried frown creases her forehead.
“Emma, what happened?” she asks as soon as I reach our table.
I plop down across from her, feeling my face flush with embarrassment as I recount the events that just transpired. “I told Dean Anderson that Alec and I are dating so she would give me a spot in the fall showcase,” I admit, cringing at the memory.
“Emma!” Tessa’s eyes widen in surprise, and I can tell she is trying hard not to laugh. “What were you thinking?”
“Trust me, I know it’s crazy,” I sigh, playing with the cardboard sleeve on my coffee cup. “But I panicked, Tessa. She only cares about hockey and it felt like my whole future was slipping away. The fall showcase is so important! Scouts come! It’s for the best of the best.”
“Okay, deep breaths. We’ll figure this out. Let’s start by coming up with a plan.”
“Right,” I agree, inhaling slowly and trying to calm my nerves. “A plan. Any ideas?”
“Well, first things first,” Tessa says thoughtfully, her hazel eyes sparkling with determination. “You need to talk to Alec and explain the situation. See if he’s willing to help you out.”
My stomach twists into knots at the thought of approaching the annoying hockey player with such an absurd request. But Tessa is right; I have no other choice.
“Do you really think he’ll go along with it?” I ask, my voice wavering.
“Who knows?” Tessa replies with a shrug. “But there’s only one way to find out, and that’s by asking him.”
“Okay,” I say, my resolve strengthening. “I’ll talk to Alec. I’m going right now before I lose my nerve.”
“You’ve got this.”
Taking a deep breath, I stand up from the table and grab my coat before realizing the obvious.
“I don’t know where to find him.”
Tessa laughs and pulls out her phone. “The hockey team is crazy active on social media. Let’s check when their next practice is. You can catch him after.”
She scrolls through before turning her phone around and showing me a short clip with the caption: “Practicing for our next game! Here we come!”
“That’s super lame but helpful. Alright, here goes nothing,” I mutter, slipping on the warm fabric to protect myself from the chilly winter air outside.
“Good luck!” Tessa calls out as I turn to leave the coffee shop
As the door closes behind me, the cold nips at my cheeks, and I pull my sweater tighter around my body. My heart is racing with anxiety about facing Alec.
“Okay, Emma,” I whisper to myself, taking in the steamy puffs of breath that accompany each word. “You can do this.”
I walk briskly towards the hockey rink. I can feel the tension building in my shoulders, but I try to focus on my anger over the whole situation.
Upon arriving, I hesitate at the entrance, the sounds of skates carving through the ice and the occasional slap of a hockey puck echoing within. This is it – the moment of truth. Will he laugh in my face? Or worse, will he ignore me entirely?
Hockey players do have a reputation.
“Excuse me,” I say tentatively, approaching a tall, muscular guy with dark hair. “Can you tell me where I can find Alec?”
He looks me up and down before flashing a friendly grin. “Yeah, sure. He’s on the ice right now, number 22. Can’t miss him.” He points towards the players skating swiftly across the rink.
“Thank you,” I reply, forcing a weak smile.
I make my way over to the stands, my eyes scanning the players until I spot Alec’s number. My heart skips a beat as I watch him glide gracefully across the ice. I want the puck to hit him in the face as revenge for the position he’s put me in.
“Hey, Emma,” a friendly voice greets me. I turn to see one of my classmates from music theory, her bright eyes sparkling with curiosity. “What brings you here?”
