My Hockey Alpha

The next morning was my first day at my new internship. I woke up feeling both nervous and excited for what was to come. Hopefully I wouldn’t have to interact with the hockey team too much.

It was raining and chilly, so I wore something warm. I put on my usual skinny jeans, a knit sweater that I thought would be appropriate for work, comfortable boots to keep my feet and ankles dry and my leather jacket. I pulled my hair into my two long braids and was ready to go.

I was supposed to meet Tiffany in her office, but when I arrived, she wasn’t there. There was a note on the desk.

“Sorry to say this, but there was indeed an injury on the hockey team already. Meet me at the arena -Tiffany”

I groaned and made my way to the hockey arena. Why did it feel like the universe just wanted me to be miserable lately? Why couldn’t I have just stayed in Tiffany’s office today and dealt with paperwork?

When I entered the arena, the whole team was already there in their full gear. They were circled around someone on the floor — two people, actually. Tiffany and one of the team members.

The team member was on the floor, groaning and holding his ankle while Tiffany prodded at it.

“Yep, looks like you rolled your ankle nice and good,” I could hear her say as I approached.

Several heads jerked up when they heard me coming. Enzo and Justin both looked at me; Justin seemed confused, while Enzo seemed somewhat pleased.

Tiffany looked up and smiled. “Oh, Nina!” she said, pointing to her medical bag on the bench. “Can you grab the ace bandages?”

I nervously walked over to her bag and rifled through it until I found the ace bandages, trying my best to ignore Justin and Enzo’s eyes on me, then handed the roll to Tiffany.

“Everyone, if you don’t know already, this is Nina,” she said as she wrapped the hockey player’s ankle. “She’s my intern this semester.”

player stand. He couldn’t put weight on his ankle and had to

out of commission for a bit,” she said, cringing at the sight of his ankle. ” Tony, will you help me bring Matt

alone here, but that we would also be spending more time with the hockey team. Was this a plan of hers to get me to face my fears? I felt almost

hockey players left the arena,

nonchalantly, clearly not wanting to draw attention, ” let’s

but Justin stayed.

ice and

the whole team to hear, “I tried apologizing to you. I know what I did was fucked up, but you have to understand that it

heart catch in my throat as the entire team stopped and gathered near

not the time,” I said. ” And

said. He was still raising his voice. It almost felt like

entire team’s eyes on

are dating?”

to be listening as the team erupted into a chorus of gossip. I heard snippets of “I told you so” and “She

at me sternly, his eyebrows knit. I could see the pain on his face, but he

The entire group went silent and turned to look at their captain, but

and I pulled out the players one by one for their physicals in the locker rooms. Justin gave me puppy dog eyes throughout his whole physical, practically begging for me

person to examine

were tight and pronounced from how hard he was practicing, and as I stood nearby while Tiffany examined him, I could smell the sweet odors of his sweat emanating from

I could tell he was upset