The Penalty Box

Chapter 31

I rolled over and looked at my clock. It was much later than I'd intended. I jumped out of bed and got dressed as quickly as I could. I knew if I ran fast enough, I should be able to catch him before he leaves.

I ran faster than I knew possible. I reached his house in under five minutes. I ran right to the door and started banging, who had time for a doorbell. My heart and head pounded as I hit the door harder, hoping I wasn't too late.

I was about to hit the door again before it swung open," Mary mother of Jesus Christ," A deep raspy voice groaned,"What the hell do you want?"

I looked up at the man in front of me. He resembled Cooter in ways that I couldn't understand. But it wasn't him, his eyes were dark green, instead of gray. Plus his hair was lighter, like Cooter's moms. Clayton Bruner had finally returned home, only he wasn't the Bruner boy I'd hoped for.

"You must be Callahan," he observed," I hate to break it to you sweetheart, but you just missed him."

"Can you just tell him-"

"I'm not going to tell him that you were here," He huffed," You're messing with him little girl. He got in a fight with our mom this morning because he didn't want to leave his perfect little Callahan. So if you want what's best for him, you'll drop it. Because that's the only way he'll be able to do what needs to be done out there."

"Clay, please," I begged.

"I'm not trying to sound like an ass, well actually I am, but you know it's the only way you'll be able to play too. You're good kid, but you got all mushy, if you're going to be the captain that my stupid brother talked about, mushy won't do it," He told me almost sympathetically,"Now get out off here kid. Go take it out on the rink, it's the best way to do things."

I stood there as he slammed the door in my face. I turned around and found myself running again, much faster than before. My feet carried me all the way to where Clayton said I should go. I was somehow already on the ice with a bucket of pucks and my stick.

I shot puck after puck as hard as I could. I tried letting go of the bottled up anger that I had, but I wasn't ready to let go of all of it yet. I'd figured out that anger was a sort of wall that I built up to keep me safe. If people were scared of me then they wouldn't mess with me. Plus, if I was angry all the time then I wouldn't have time to deal with everything else that was going on.

"So did he dump you, or leave without a goodbye?" Conrad asked from across the ice," But leaving without  a goodbye is the same as dumping so... either way I should kill him."

"Don't worry about it," I grumbled hitting another puck. 

"Okay, well you get in the face off circle," He told me as he skated over," A little one on one never hurt anyone. First one to five wins."

"No offence  Con, but I don't feel like playing right now," I told him," I just thought that maybe I could take some stuff out on the ice like I used to, but I guess that doesn't work anymore.

"Because you aren't The Wrecking Ball anymore, that's why it doesn't work genius."

"You're right, I'm not her anymore, but I'm not nice Cally anymore either."

                                                                          FOUR MONTHS LATER 

"Alright boys, welcome to the team," I smiled as I stood next to Coach Cartwright," Before the games start, you are all going to work your little asses off. We have a chance to make a run for Nationals this year, and we're going to take it. I'm not only a teammate but I'm also your captain, so if you have a problem with me being a girl then take it up with coach." 

A few of the guys from last year laughed at the newbies that were almost scared to the point of peeing. I guess the summer of crazy conditioning, and finding my inner worrier as Con called it, worked. I found a healthy balance between the Wrecking Ball that I was, and the other kid I had become. Coach seemed to be in favor of my new way of play and actually gave me a spot on first line.

"She's right," Jepsen interrupted," We have a chance at Nationals. We had a chance last year too but we kind of tanked."

The guys laughed again, even I couldn't help but laugh. He was right, if we hadn't have gone down mid season, we could've made it. But life got in the way, however this year we were going to do it. We had to do it, it was now or never for us. After this year most of us would move on and then it'd be left to  the younger kids. Maybe they'd get lucky and win one too, but this was our year. 

We started the practice and went hard for two hours. The newer kids almost barfed after the third suicide. Mason couldn't help but laugh at the boys, I actually felt pretty bad for the poor kids. Conrad did pretty good when it came to keeping up with everyone, I guess he owes it to our summer training. 

After practice I could hear the newer members of the team groaning in the next locker room. They were all complaining about how much their legs hurt.  They were also complaining that I was a hard ass, but I could live with that one.

"Hey Callahan!" Mason called after me as I walked towards my car.

"Yeah Mase?"

"Welcome back." 

I could see by his smile that he knew there had been a shift in my whole demeanor. After a few weeks of moping, and a couple of breakdowns I finally got my crap together. At one point this summer, I even went to see my father. I had Jared, Charlie, and Conrad by my side of course, but I did it none the less.

"Thanks Mason."

A/N

Y'ALL THE NEXT SEASON BEGINS... #byebyeCotter. I'm not going to lie I actually loved Cooter and he will come back later on. Sure he was an ass, but he had good intentions. But I want to know how you guys feel about everyone! Either let me know in the comments or message me. I'm always up for a conversation about the book and all of the characters. soo yeah! I hope you guys are having a great summer, and yeah!

Kisses-M