Hockey trip

The rink was alive with the sharp sound of skates cutting into ice, the crack of pucks hitting sticks, and the occasional barked command from Coach Roberts. Val’s team was running drills, moving with a mix of determination and fatigue. At the center of it all, Val was in her element. She darted across the ice, snatching the puck from a teammate and sending it into the net with a quick, smooth shot.
“Nice shot, Ortiz!” Coach Roberts called, her voice cutting through the cold air.
Val skated back to join the group, wiping her brow but grinning from the excitement of the play. She was so focused that she almost didn’t notice the approaching footsteps near the rink’s entrance. But when she heard the familiar voice, she froze.
“Well, if it isn’t Ortiz.”
Val’s head whipped up, her face lighting up with a mix of surprise and a warmth she couldn’t quite hide. There was no mistaking that voice—it was Tyler Grant, her biggest rival, and yet the one person who always seemed to throw her off balance.
The rest of Val’s teammates turned toward the sound, eyes narrowing as they saw Tyler and her team entering the rink. The tension between the two squads was palpable, and they didn’t seem to be thrilled about this unexpected visit.
“What are they doing here?” Steph muttered, crossing her arms.
“They’re spying on us,” another teammate added with a glare.
Tyler, seemingly oblivious to the tension, leaned casually against the boards with a smirk, her posture relaxed as though she owned the place. “Hope we’re not interrupting anything important,” she said, her voice dripping with playful sarcasm.
Val blinked, caught off guard by Tyler’s sudden appearance. She could feel her teammates' eyes on her, but for a moment, all she could focus on was Tyler’s grin, the way it made her heart race, and the way her voice seemed to fade everything else into the background.
“What’s going on here, Ortiz?” Steph asked, narrowing her eyes at Val. “Why does she look like that?”
Val felt a flicker of heat rise to her cheeks. She opened her mouth to speak but was interrupted by Tyler, who had already jumped over the boards and skated toward her, a playful glint in her eyes.
“Don’t tell me you’re busy,” Tyler said with a wink. “Because I could really use a distraction.” She skated right up to Val, who was still trying to process the sudden change in dynamics between them.
Before Val could say a word, Tyler grabbed her by the waist and spun her around effortlessly, twirling her on the ice. The move was smooth and graceful, but it caught Val completely off guard. She couldn’t help but let out a surprised laugh as Tyler pulled away with a mischievous grin.
Val shook her head, feeling the heat on her cheeks. “You’re ridiculous,” she said, her voice laced with amusement.
Tyler laughed, her eyes twinkling with that same playful energy. “I’m just keeping you on your toes,” she said with a shrug, skating backward a few feet and flashing a teasing grin. “Besides, it’s way more fun when you don’t see it coming.”
The air was thick with confusion and curiosity. Val’s teammates stood still, their eyes wide, trying to make sense of what they were witnessing. They weren’t used to seeing this playful, almost intimate side of their captain when it came to Tyler. The rivalry that had defined the two girls for so long seemed to be taking a strange, new direction.
“Okay, what is this?” Steph asked, her voice sharper than before. “You two are acting like—what? Friends?”
Tyler raised an eyebrow, her grin never fading. “Friends? Oh, we’re something,” she said with a wink.
Val could feel the stares from her teammates, the weight of their questioning eyes boring into her. “It’s not—” she started, but the words stuck in her throat. The truth was, she didn’t have an explanation. She didn’t know what was going on herself, only that something had shifted, something neither of them had expected.
“Seriously, what’s happening here?” another teammate demanded. “We’ve been watching you two fight for weeks, and now you’re out here acting like you’ve been best friends for years?”
Tyler chuckled, skating over to the boards and leaning casually against them. “Wouldn’t exactly call us ‘best friends,’ but we’ve got an understanding. Right, Ortiz?”
Val swallowed, trying to gather her thoughts as her teammates continued to shoot questions her way. “Look,” she said, her voice finally steady. “It’s... complicated.”
“Oh, really?” Steph asked, crossing her arms. “What’s so complicated about it? You two can’t stand each other one minute, and the next... you’re laughing and spinning around on the ice? What are you not telling us?”
Before Val could answer, Tyler cut in with a grin. “You really think we’re going to give you the answer so easily?” she teased. “Come on, where’s the fun in that?”
Val shot her a look, a mixture of exasperation and fondness. She couldn’t help but laugh, despite herself. “Seriously,” she said, rolling her eyes. “You’re impossible.”
“Well, that’s what you like about me,” Tyler said with a shrug, her playful grin returning. “And if we’re being honest, you wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Just then, Coach Roberts and Coach Everett walked onto the ice, pausing at the sight of the two girls in the middle of the rink. The two coaches exchanged an awkward glance, clearly unsure what to make of the situation.
Coach Roberts raised an eyebrow and glanced at Everett. “Is this some kind of joke?” she muttered.
Everett smirked. “Could be the start of something... interesting.” He crossed his arms, watching the two girls, who were still skirting around each other with teasing remarks.
Coach Roberts sighed, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “This is going to be a disaster, isn’t it?”
“Maybe,” Everett replied with a grin. “Or maybe it’s exactly what both teams need.”
The tension between the two teams was still thick, but now it wasn’t just about competition. It was about something else. Something that neither team fully understood, but both were starting to realize might just change everything.
As the coaches watched them, it was clear: whatever was happening between Val and Tyler wasn’t going to stay a secret for long. And whatever came next, it was going to make for one hell of a season.
The Next Game
The arena was packed with fans, their cheers reverberating through the walls as Val’s team prepared to face one of their fiercest rivals. It wasn’t Tyler’s team this time, but that didn’t mean the game would be any easier. The opposing captain, Rachel Carter, was notorious for her aggressive style of play. Val knew this game would be brutal, but she welcomed the challenge.
Somewhere in the stands, Tyler sat in a low-profile seat, her hoodie pulled up just enough to avoid drawing attention. She wasn’t supposed to be here—it wasn’t her team’s game—but she couldn’t resist the urge to watch Val play. Her eyes tracked Val’s every move on the ice, admiration flickering in her gaze.
The first period was fast and intense, with both teams battling for dominance. Val played her heart out, weaving through defenders and sending clean passes to her teammates. But Rachel was relentless. Every chance she got, she checked Val into the boards with bone-jarring force, each hit harder than the last.
By the second period, it was clear Rachel wasn’t just playing rough; she was targeting Val. Every time Val touched the puck, Rachel was there, slamming into her or hooking her stick in ways the refs conveniently missed. Tyler clenched her fists in the stands, her jaw tight as she watched Rachel take yet another cheap shot at Val, knocking her to the ice.
“Unbelievable,” Tyler muttered under her breath, her heart pounding with anger.
Val, ever resilient, got back up each time, her face set with determination. But even from her spot in the stands, Tyler could see the strain. Val’s movements were a little slower, her hits a little weaker. By the end of the game, Val’s team had managed to secure a hard-fought victory, but at a cost. Val skated off the ice with a noticeable limp, her face pale.
Tyler didn’t think twice. As soon as the final buzzer sounded, she slipped out of the stands and made her way toward the locker rooms. Security barely noticed her as she moved with purpose, her thoughts consumed by Val.

The Locker Room
Val sat on the bench in the locker room, her gear half off and her head in her hands. The adrenaline of the game was wearing off, and the pain from Rachel’s hits was starting to settle in. She winced as she shifted, her shoulder and ribs throbbing.
“Knock, knock,” came a familiar voice.
Val looked up, surprised. Tyler stood in the doorway, her hoodie pulled down and her face a mixture of concern and frustration.
“What are you doing here?” Val asked, her voice soft but laced with exhaustion.
“Checking on you,” Tyler said simply, stepping inside and closing the door behind her. She moved to sit beside Val on the bench, her gaze scanning her rival for injuries. “That was brutal out there. Are you okay?”
Val shrugged, wincing at the movement. “It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Tyler raised an eyebrow. “Don’t give me that. I saw how many times she slammed you into the boards. She was playing dirty, and you know it.”
Val sighed, leaning back against the wall. “It’s just part of the game, Tyler. You don’t have to come rushing in like some knight in shining armor.”
Tyler smirked, but the concern in her eyes didn’t waver. “Yeah, well, watching her try to turn you into a pancake wasn’t exactly fun for me.”
Val let out a soft laugh despite herself. “A pancake, huh?”
“You know what I mean,” Tyler said, nudging her gently. “Why didn’t the refs call half of that stuff? It was like they were blind.”
“Welcome to my world,” Val said with a small shrug. “Rachel knows how to push the limits without getting caught. She’s been like that for years.”
Tyler frowned, leaning forward with her elbows on her knees. “I don’t like seeing you get hurt. Especially not like that.”
Val’s gaze softened, and for a moment, the tension from the game seemed to fade. “You really came all the way down here just to check on me?”
Tyler turned her head to meet Val’s eyes, her usual smirk replaced by something quieter, more genuine. “Of course I did. You think I’d just sit there and let this slide?”
Val smiled, the exhaustion in her features softening as she looked at Tyler. “Thanks.”
They sat in silence for a moment, the hum of the arena fading into the background. Tyler glanced at Val, her voice turning teasing again. “You know, if I’d been out there, Rachel wouldn’t have gotten away with half of that.”
Val snorted. “You’d have gotten yourself a penalty in two seconds flat.”
“Maybe,” Tyler said with a grin. “But it’d be worth it.”
Val laughed, shaking her head. Despite the pain, she felt lighter with Tyler there. “You’re ridiculous.”
“And you love it,” Tyler replied, her grin widening.
Val rolled her eyes but didn’t argue. Instead, she leaned back against the wall, her body aching but her heart a little less heavy. Whatever was happening between them was still complicated, still undefined, but in that moment, it didn’t matter.
Tyler was there, and that was enough.