Hockey trip

The next morning arrived with a quiet heaviness in the air. The team was already gathered in the dining room, a tense silence filling the space. Everyone had heard about what happened to Val, but the details were still scarce. The team couldn’t help but glance over at Val and Tyler, who entered the room together. Val’s face, though pale from the pain, was a mask of determination. Her bruises were still visible, the dark purple and blue coloring along her cheek and jaw stark against her skin.
Tyler was by her side, her posture protective and watchful, ready to step in if anyone said anything out of line. She was the first to notice how Val’s limp had worsened overnight, but Val wouldn’t admit how much pain she was in. She refused to let the team see her vulnerable, refusing to acknowledge how much the attack had affected her.
The whispers in the dining room hushed as the two made their way to the table. Players from both teams stared as Val slowly lowered herself into a chair, her eyes meeting the concerned gazes of her teammates. She smiled weakly, trying to assure them she was fine, though everyone could see it was a struggle.
Steph, who had been up and pacing earlier that morning, was the first to speak. “You okay, Val?” Her voice was tentative, unsure of how to approach her after everything that had happened.
Val nodded, but the tightness around her mouth said otherwise. “I’m fine,” she said, a little too forcefully. “Just a bruise here and there.”
Tyler shot her a look, raising an eyebrow, but Val didn’t catch it. Tyler knew she was trying to downplay the pain again, trying to keep her guard up for everyone else.
The silence that followed was thick with unspoken questions. Steph and Kara exchanged a glance, but neither said anything more.
Coach Roberts walked in just as the last murmurs died down, her expression serious. “Eat up, everyone,” she commanded. “We’ve got a big day ahead. Remember, the tournament is against Tyler’s team, so stay focused. We need to be at the top of our game.”
Val’s eyes flicked toward Tyler, who was already eyeing her out of the corner of her eye. Tyler’s team. The rivalry that had been brewing for weeks would reach its boiling point that afternoon. But right now, she had to focus on surviving the pain in her body and making it through another practice before the game.

Pre-Game Practice
After breakfast, both teams gathered at the rink for practice. The cold air bit at Val’s skin, but she ignored it, determined to push through. Tyler walked beside her, offering her support but saying little. It was clear they both had something weighing on their minds, but neither spoke a word about it.
Tyler’s team was already out on the ice, warming up for the upcoming match. Val’s team lined up for their turn, Coach Roberts giving a few last-minute instructions. Tyler was near the edge of the ice, watching Val carefully as the practice began.
Val took a few tentative steps onto the ice, her leg still sore from the night before. She hesitated for a moment, trying to assess how much she could push herself today. As she glided forward, her foot slipped beneath her. The ice gave way as she stumbled and fell hard, her body crumpling onto the rink with a sickening thud.
Tyler’s heart stopped for a second as she saw Val go down. Without thinking, she sprinted to her side, sliding to her knees next to her. “Val!” she called out urgently, her voice tight with panic. “Are you okay? Can you move?”
Val lay still for a moment, her eyes closed. The fall had taken everything out of her. Slowly, she opened her eyes and met Tyler’s concerned gaze.
“I’m fine,” she muttered, but her voice was strained, filled with pain. She tried to sit up but winced, her body clearly protesting.
Tyler’s hands hovered near her, unsure whether to pull her up or leave her be. “Val, you’ve got to let me help,” she said gently, her voice soft but insistent.
But Val shook her head, her expression unreadable. She didn’t want Tyler’s help, didn’t want anyone to see her like this. With a labored breath, she looked up at Tyler.
“I just need to sit here for a minute,” she said, her words barely above a whisper. She looked exhausted, like every ounce of energy had been drained from her body.
Tyler didn’t push. She stayed by Val’s side, kneeling beside her. She watched as Val settled on the cold rink, pulling her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. It was hard to watch—Val was clearly trying to fight through the pain, trying to hide the fact that her body was screaming at her to stop.
“Are you sure?” Tyler asked quietly, her worry creeping into her voice.
Val gave her a faint nod. “I’ll be fine. Just… need a second.”
The ice around them was filled with the sound of skates cutting through it, but in that moment, everything felt still. Tyler stayed by her side, silently watching over her, hoping that Val would let her in—hoping that one day Val would realize she didn’t have to fight everything on her own.
The rest of the team, seeing the scene unfolding on the ice, began to skate over. Coach Roberts was the first to reach them, her eyes immediately assessing the situation. She looked down at Val, then at Tyler, who hadn’t moved.
“Get her off the ice,” Roberts ordered, her tone sharp but not unkind.
Val opened her mouth to protest, but Tyler gently helped her to her feet, supporting her weight as she limped slowly off the rink. Val didn’t say anything, but Tyler could feel the tension in her body, the stubbornness radiating off of her.
As they reached the side of the rink, Coach Roberts caught Val’s eye. “Rest. You’re not going to be much help to us if you’re pushing yourself too hard,” she said firmly, though there was a softness in her gaze.
Val’s lips pressed into a tight line, but she didn’t argue. She simply nodded and sat down against the boards, watching her teammates practice. Her eyes stayed on the ice, following the movements of the others, but her mind was elsewhere—on the game ahead, and on the fight she still felt deep inside her to prove that she was strong enough to handle everything, even when it felt like it was all too much.
Tyler stayed by her side, watching her with a mixture of admiration and concern. She could tell Val wasn’t giving up, but deep down, she knew that Val needed to rest. She needed to heal, to let the bruises fade and the pain subside. But Val wasn’t one to show weakness, not when it mattered most. And that was something Tyler admired, even as it made her heart ache to see Val struggling silently.
The game was coming up soon, but for now, all they could do was prepare—mentally and physically—for the challenge ahead.

The tension on the ice was palpable, like an invisible force hanging in the air. Val and Tyler skated back into position, the weight of the moment pressing down on them both. Tyler kept her eyes fixed on Val, her protective instincts in overdrive. Val’s body was sore from the earlier check, the hit leaving her feeling bruised, but her resolve to finish the game and push through was stronger than ever.
Tyler’s focus was unwavering. She was determined to make sure no one—especially Sarah—took another cheap shot at Val. As the game resumed, Sarah started to circle like a predator, her eyes never leaving Val, waiting for the right moment to strike.
Out of nowhere, Sarah skated toward Tyler, her face twisted with frustration and jealousy. Before Tyler could react, Sarah shoved her with all her might, knocking Tyler off balance. The crowd gasped in unison, knowing immediately what Sarah was trying to do. It wasn’t just a push—it was a distraction, a calculated move to divert Tyler’s attention.
And as Tyler stumbled, Sarah seized the moment, charging straight at Val. Without hesitation, she slammed Val into the boards with a brutal, forceful check. The sickening thud of Val’s body hitting the glass echoed through the rink, and the arena went silent, everyone in stunned disbelief.
Val crumpled to the ice, her face contorted in pain. Tyler’s eyes widened in shock and fury as she skated toward her teammate, her heart racing. “What the hell, Sarah?!” she shouted, her voice filled with anger. “You’ve crossed a line!”
Sarah didn’t flinch, her eyes burning with rage as she glared at Tyler. “She’s the enemy, Tyler. You should be focusing on the game, not on her.”
The words stung, but Tyler couldn’t take her eyes off of Val, who was still lying motionless on the ice. Her heart pounded in her chest as she quickly skated over to her, kneeling beside her to check on her.
Val’s breath was ragged, and she looked up at Tyler with a pained expression. But despite the obvious injury, Val whispered softly, “Tyler... I’m fine. Don’t worry about me right now. Focus on your game. We’ll talk later. Let Sarah do whatever she wants.”
Tyler’s face twisted in concern, disbelief and worry written all over her features. “Are you sure? Val, I—"
Before Tyler could finish, Val placed a quick, soft kiss on her lips—fast, but with so much meaning behind it. The kiss silenced the chaos around them, as if the entire rink had frozen in time. The crowd gasped in shock, the moment more powerful than anyone could have anticipated. Players on both teams stopped, stunned by the intimacy of the act. Even the coaches were caught off guard, exchanging wide-eyed glances. But in that brief moment, nothing else mattered. Tyler was left breathless, her heart racing, a swirl of emotions flooding her mind.
Val stood up slowly, her face flushed, her body aching, but a fire in her eyes that made her unbreakable. Tyler stood beside her, still shaken by the kiss but more determined than ever. She was ready to fight, not just for the game but for Val, for them.
But as the play continued, Sarah wasn’t done. Her eyes, burning with jealousy and malice, locked onto Val. She wasn’t going to let the kiss or Val’s defiance slide. She skated toward Val with a furious purpose, and before anyone could stop her, Sarah charged once more.
Without warning, Sarah delivered another brutal check to Val, this time slamming her so hard into the boards that Val’s knees buckled beneath her. The crowd groaned, sensing that Sarah’s aggression had reached a boiling point. Val, though weakened, quickly regained her balance. She wasn’t going to let Sarah get the best of her again. With a fierce resolve, Val shoved back, slamming her shoulder into Sarah’s chest and checking her hard into the boards.
The crowd was on their feet, roaring with excitement, as the two players began to clash. But Sarah wasn’t finished yet. Fueled by a mix of jealousy and anger, she retaliated with a vicious move. She grabbed a handful of Val’s hair, yanking her backward with a brutal force. Val let out a cry of pain as Sarah’s grip tightened, pulling her down to the ice.
Tyler’s eyes widened in fury. She couldn’t stand to see Sarah hurting Val, and without thinking, she skated over like a blur of speed. In an instant, Tyler crashed into Sarah, her body colliding with hers in a move that was pure instinct. The impact was hard, sending both players tumbling to the ice, but in the chaos, Val was dragged down with them, still caught in Sarah’s hair.
The crowd went wild, the noise deafening as players from both teams shouted, trying to make sense of the chaotic scene. Sarah’s grip was still tight in Val’s hair, and Val, her face twisted in pain, struggled to free herself. Tyler scrambled to her feet, eyes focused on Sarah’s hands, determined to break her hold on Val.
“Get your hands off her, Sarah!” Tyler roared, her voice filled with raw fury. With a strength she didn’t know she had, Tyler yanked Sarah’s hand away from Val’s hair, pulling her violently out of the tangled mess.
Sarah, now furious beyond reason, glared at Tyler, her chest heaving with rage. But before another blow could land, the referees blew their whistles loudly, skating over to break up the pileup. Players from both teams were shouting at each other, the tension in the rink so thick you could cut it with a knife. Coaches stood at the edge of the ice, trying to process what was happening, unsure of how to restore order.
Tyler quickly pulled Val to her feet, making sure she was steady before glaring at Sarah. The animosity between them was palpable, thick and suffocating. This wasn’t just about hockey anymore—it was personal.
“Don’t you ever touch her like that again,” Tyler said in a low, dangerous voice, her protective instincts now fully engaged. “You’ve crossed every line, Sarah.”
Sarah didn’t respond, but her eyes burned with fury. The hatred between them was undeniable.
Coach Roberts, who had been watching the scene unfold, stepped forward, her voice booming over the chaos. “Enough! Both of you, to the penalty box, now!”
Tyler’s heart was still pounding, her adrenaline pumping as she skated with Val to the bench. But her focus was on the fight that had just unfolded, on the kiss, on everything that had changed in that split second. Sarah wasn’t just a rival anymore—she was someone who had crossed a line, and Tyler wasn’t going to let that slide.
As Tyler helped Val skate to the bench, she couldn’t shake the rush of emotions flooding her. The kiss had thrown her off guard, but now more than ever, she knew what mattered. It wasn’t about the score, it wasn’t about the game—it was about them, about standing by each other, no matter what.
The crowd was still buzzing, still processing what they had witnessed, but one thing was clear: the rivalry between Tyler, Val, and Sarah had turned into something much deeper, something no one could ignore. Tyler and Val were a team now, bound together by something more powerful than any rivalry could break. And no matter what Sarah did, that bond was unshakable.
The penalty boxes were now occupied by both Sarah and Tyler, and the game resumed with a palpable tension hanging over the rink. The atmosphere had changed. The crowd, still buzzing from the chaotic scene, wasn’t sure what to expect next. It wasn’t just a hockey game anymore—it had become a battle, a personal war between the players, particularly between Tyler and Sarah.
Tyler sat on the bench, heart still racing, her thoughts consumed by what had just transpired. The kiss. Val’s pain. The fight. It was a whirlwind of emotions, and she felt as though the ground beneath her was shifting. She couldn’t stop thinking about Val’s words and the look in her eyes when she kissed her. It had been quick, but it meant everything. They hadn’t had the chance to talk about it, but Tyler knew one thing for sure: the bond between them had changed in a way she couldn’t ignore.
Across the rink, Sarah seethed from her spot in the penalty box. Her jaw was clenched so tightly that it looked like it might crack. She couldn’t believe what had just happened. Not only had she been taken down by Tyler, but the kiss—that kiss—had made her blood boil. It was the ultimate sign of defiance, and it made Sarah angrier than she’d ever been. She had always been the center of attention, always the one in control. But Val—and now Tyler—had taken that away from her.
“Keep it together,” Sarah muttered under her breath, wiping a hand across her face as she tried to calm herself. But it was no use. The more she thought about it, the more she burned with fury. She could still feel Val’s hair in her hands, still hear her gasp as she pulled her down. There was no way she was going to let that slide.
Back on the bench, Val sat with a silent intensity, her body aching from the hit and the scuffle. She wasn’t entirely sure what had happened between her and Tyler, but she knew that kiss had changed things. The way Tyler had looked at her, the way her protective instincts had kicked in—it was different. And now, in the aftermath, Val couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was unfolding between them, something that went beyond friendship.
She wanted to talk to Tyler. To say something—anything—that would explain what had just happened between them. But her mind was a jumble of emotions, and she knew they needed to focus. The game wasn’t over, and Sarah wasn’t going to stop until she had taken it all out on Val.
“Are you okay?” Tyler’s voice cut through the noise, soft but urgent. She was kneeling beside Val, her eyes full of concern as she reached out to help her adjust her equipment. “You don’t have to do this if you’re not ready.”
Val shook her head, her expression resolute despite the pain. “I’m fine. It’s just a scratch,” she said, trying to brush off the physical pain. But the truth was, the emotional toll was harder to bear. “I’m not backing down now, though. I need to finish this. We need to finish this.”
Tyler nodded, squeezing her hand before standing up. The moment between them was brief, but it felt like a promise. Whatever was going on—whatever they were about to face together—she knew they’d face it side by side.
The game clock ticked down, and the intensity on the ice ramped up. Both teams were playing with a new sense of urgency, the rivalry now more than just about points and victories. It was about pride. It was about proving something. And Sarah? She wasn’t going to let up.
After a few minutes, the penalty boxes emptied, and the teams resumed play. But Sarah’s eyes were fixed on Val. The rage inside her was simmering, and she was looking for an opening. She couldn’t let Val get away with this, not with the kiss and the defiance she had shown. Her body language was aggressive, her every movement a calculated attempt to provoke.
Val, for her part, was ready. She wasn’t going to back down. She knew Sarah was coming for her again, but she wasn’t scared. The earlier hits had only strengthened her resolve. If anything, she was ready to show Sarah what she was made of.
The puck dropped again, and it didn’t take long for the confrontation to return. Sarah skated up behind Val, her stick raised in a feint, then delivered another brutal shove to her back. Val stumbled forward, her body screaming in protest, but she quickly regained her balance.
Tyler, who had been waiting for this moment, skated in front of Sarah, blocking her path. The tension was thick as Tyler and Sarah stared each other down, neither willing to give an inch.
“You want a fight?” Tyler growled, her eyes hard. “Then let’s go.”
But before Sarah could respond, Val, with a burst of energy, swung around, slamming her shoulder into Sarah’s chest. The hit was hard enough to send Sarah back a few feet, but Val wasn’t done. She was relentless now, channeling every ounce of frustration and anger into her next move.
Without hesitation, Val grabbed Sarah’s collar and shoved her to the ice. The crowd erupted into cheers, and Tyler watched with a mix of awe and pride. This was the Val she had always known. Strong. Determined. And unwilling to back down from anyone or anything.
Sarah, furious and now on the ground, wasted no time in retaliating. She grabbed Val’s hair again, yanking her down with a force that made Val cry out. But Tyler, ever the protector, was there in an instant. She skated over and pulled Sarah off Val, throwing her off with all her strength. The impact sent Sarah tumbling backward, but Tyler was already kneeling next to Val, helping her back up.
“Don’t you dare,” Tyler warned, her voice deadly serious as she glared at Sarah. “I will protect her no matter what. You keep going, and you’ll regret it.”
Sarah didn’t respond, but the look in her eyes was enough. She was furious, but she knew better than to continue the fight. At least for now.
The referees, seeing the escalation, immediately blew their whistles, signaling for penalties. The game had become something else entirely, and even the coaches were beginning to realize that the violence on the ice wasn’t just part of the game anymore—it was personal.
Tyler, still with Val, helped her to her feet, making sure she was steady before looking at her with a soft, but determined, smile.
“We’ve got this,” Tyler said, her voice filled with conviction. “Together.”
Val nodded, her expression serious but appreciative. They both knew that whatever came next, it was no longer just about the game. It was about each other.
As the referees cleared the ice and players prepared for the restart, the crowd’s cheers were deafening. There was no going back now. The rivalry had reached its peak, and it was clear that the bond between Tyler and Val was stronger than anything Sarah could throw at them.
The final moments of the game approached, and both teams played with raw intensity. But for Tyler and Val, the game had already become secondary. They had each other, and that was all that mattered. Together, they were unstoppable. The Aftermath of the Hit (Continued)
The game had shifted. Every pass, every shift now carried a weight—the weight of a rivalry, a deep-seated animosity between Sarah and Val. The energy in the rink was thick with tension, but what was unfolding on the ice was something far beyond a hockey game. It was personal now.
Sarah circled Val like a predator, her eyes burning with a cold, calculated rage. She wasn’t just playing to win anymore—this was about proving something. This was about taking Val down, no matter what it took.
The puck dropped, and as players clashed, Sarah ignored the puck entirely. Her eyes locked onto Val, and in a flash, she charged. With brutal precision, Sarah slammed into Val’s back, knocking her off balance and sending her crashing to the ice.
The sickening sound of bodies colliding echoed through the rink, but it was the crack of Val’s neck that sent a ripple of concern through the crowd. Val’s wind was knocked out of her, and before she could react, Sarah was on top of her, fists pounding into her ribs with cruel force.
The crowd gasped as the brutality of the attack became apparent. This wasn’t just an aggressive play—it was raw, unfiltered violence. Each punch landed with a sickening thud, and Val struggled, barely able to protect herself as Sarah’s rage poured out.
“Not so tough now, huh?” Sarah hissed, landing another blow to Val’s side, her knuckles cracking against Val’s skin. The words cut through the air, and Sarah’s grip on Val’s hair tightened like a vice.
Val screamed, pain searing through her scalp as Sarah yanked her head back, exposing her neck. Val’s hands shot up to try and break free, but Sarah’s grip only tightened. She wasn’t playing by the rules anymore. This wasn’t just hockey; this was revenge, and she was determined to make Val pay.
Tyler, skating just a few feet away, saw it all unfold. Her heart raced, instincts kicking in as she pushed off the ice with all her strength. She wasn’t going to let Sarah get away with this.
But before she could reach them, Coach Roberts stepped in, grabbing Tyler’s arm and yanking her back with surprising force.
“Tyler, no!” Coach Roberts barked, his voice a mix of frustration and urgency. “You can’t afford to get a penalty right now. I need you on the ice.”
Tyler’s eyes flared with anger, and she yanked her arm out of Coach Roberts’ grasp, turning to face him. “She’s hurting Val!” Tyler spat, her voice filled with fury. “I’m not going to stand here and let her destroy her.”
“I know,” Coach Roberts said, his voice softer but just as firm. “But you will destroy this game if you get thrown out. Keep your head, Tyler. Let the refs deal with it.”
Tyler’s body trembled with the need to protect Val, but Coach Roberts was right. She could feel the weight of responsibility bearing down on her. The game was too important. For a split second, she did what he said—she looked back at Val, and what she saw made her blood boil.
Val was still struggling against Sarah, but there was a fire in her eyes now, a spark that was growing brighter with every second. She wasn’t going to back down. Sarah could hit her, punch her, and pull her hair—but Val wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of seeing her broken.
Val twisted her body, throwing an elbow backward into Sarah’s gut with the force of a freight train. Sarah’s breath whooshed out of her as she staggered back, momentarily disoriented. That was all Val needed. She fought to free herself from Sarah’s grip, slipping out from under her and rolling to her feet.
A low growl escaped Sarah’s throat as she quickly recovered, but Val was already on her. With a primal roar, Val charged, lowering her shoulder and slamming into Sarah’s chest with everything she had. The impact sent them both tumbling, but Val was quicker. She scrambled on top of Sarah, pinning her down for a moment.
The crowd was on its feet, roaring in support as Val’s defiance rang out. But Sarah wasn’t done. With a low, seething growl, Sarah bucked her body, throwing Val off her with vicious force. The anger in her eyes was unmistakable, and she wasn’t going to let this end quietly.
Before Val could recover, Sarah lunged at her, fists flying. She landed punch after punch, but this time, it wasn’t clean. Sarah’s hits were wild, desperate, and dirty. She wasn’t just trying to win the game—she was trying to break Val, to destroy her spirit. Each blow landed harder than the last, and Val’s vision blurred with the sheer force of it all.
Then, Sarah’s hands moved to Val’s hair again, yanking her head back with a sickening twist. Val’s breath hitched in her throat as Sarah pulled harder, but this time, Val wasn’t going to let her. Through the pain, Val dug her nails into Sarah’s wrist, twisting with all the strength she had left.
But Sarah was relentless, using her size to overpower Val, pulling her down with a sharp tug that made the crowd wince. Just as Sarah prepared to strike again, the whistle blew.
The referees had arrived, skating in between the two players with urgency, blowing their whistles frantically. The game had shifted from hockey to a full-blown fight, and it was clear that it wasn’t going to be settled on the ice. The referees pulled Sarah off, but Val wasn’t ready to let her go yet. She glared at Sarah, her body still trembling with rage.
The refs quickly assessed the situation and immediately pointed toward the penalty boxes. Val and Sarah were both given major penalties for fighting, and the game was paused as they were escorted to the side. The crowd, buzzing with excitement, was still processing what had just unfolded.
Tyler, finally free of Coach Roberts’ grip, skated toward the penalty box. She could feel her heart racing in her chest as she watched Val, still breathing hard, make her way toward the box. Her eyes locked onto Val’s, filled with admiration, concern, and an undeniable sense of pride.
“You’re incredible,” Tyler said quietly, breathless with the rush of emotions. “You didn’t let her break you.”
Val’s chest was still heaving as she shot Tyler a look, her jaw clenched in defiance. Her face was flushed with anger and exhaustion, a few stray strands of hair hanging in her eyes, her helmet askew. A bruise was already starting to form on her cheek, the skin red and tender where Sarah’s punches had landed. Her lip was split, and blood had trickled down her chin, staining her uniform. Her left shoulder ached from the violent impact when she slammed into Sarah, and her right wrist throbbed from where Sarah had twisted her hair so hard.
But even in the midst of the pain, Val didn’t show fear. Her eyes were fierce, her hands still trembling but ready for whatever came next.
“I’m not going to let anyone break me—not her, not anyone,” Val replied, her voice steady despite the adrenaline still surging through her veins.
Tyler grinned, her hand reaching for Val’s as they both took their seats in the penalty box. There was no way to predict what the rest of the game would hold, but one thing was clear: whatever happened, they were in this together. Nothing could break their bond—not even Sarah’s dirty tactics. The fight may have been just the beginning of something bigger, but as far as Tyler and Val were concerned, they were ready for it.
The Locker Room Showdown
The locker room was tense, the air thick with the echoes of the chaos that had just unfolded on the ice. The sound of skates scraping against the floor, the clatter of sticks being tossed into lockers, and the heavy breathing of the players filled the space. Despite the adrenaline still coursing through their veins, Val and Tyler had retreated to a quieter corner of the room. Their minds were still racing, but the intense emotions of the game were now shifting into something else entirely.
Tyler glanced over at Val, her heart still hammering in her chest as she watched her teammate’s face, streaked with sweat and bruises. The cut on Val’s lip had begun to scab, and a dark mark was already forming on her cheek where Sarah’s punches had landed. The combination of fury and exhaustion in Val’s eyes made Tyler’s stomach twist with concern.
“You okay?” Tyler asked softly, her voice tinged with worry.
Val gave her a tired smile, though it was clear her body was still aching from the brutal exchange. “I’ll be fine. I’ve been through worse,” she muttered, though her eyes betrayed the pain she was trying to hide.
Without a word, Tyler reached out, taking Val’s hand. “Come on, let’s get you cleaned up,” she said gently.
Val didn’t argue as they made their way toward the bathroom. It was a quiet, private space where they could be alone, away from the eyes of the other players. Tyler’s thoughts were all over the place. The fight, the adrenaline, and now the swelling emotions between her and Val—it was all so overwhelming.
Once inside, Val climbed onto the counter, lifting her shirt slightly to expose her torso. Her skin was bruised, the marks from Sarah’s blows already blooming dark purple and blue. Tyler’s breath caught in her throat as she took in the sight of her teammate’s battered body, her fingers instinctively reaching for the first aid kit.
“Let me patch you up,” Tyler said, her voice barely a whisper. She didn’t know what had come over her, but the need to care for Val, to protect her, was almost overwhelming.
Tyler carefully began to clean and dress the bruises on Val’s ribs, her fingers gentle as she worked. The close proximity felt electric, and every touch of Tyler’s hand on Val’s skin made her heart race. There was something about the way Tyler cared for her—soft, patient, and so incredibly tender—that made Val feel a warmth spread through her, despite the pain from the fight.
Once the worst of the bruises were patched up, Tyler stood back, her gaze lingering on Val’s face. Without thinking, Tyler leaned in and kissed her, her lips pressing against Val’s in a slow, deliberate kiss. It wasn’t just about the moment—it was about everything they had just been through, the bond they shared, and the way Val had fought for herself, for them.
Val’s heart skipped a beat as she felt the warmth of Tyler’s lips against hers. She kissed her back, a soft exhale escaping her lips as she pulled away, looking into Tyler’s eyes. “Tyler,” she murmured, her voice full of raw emotion, “I…”
Before she could finish her thought, the bathroom door swung open with a force that made them both jump.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?!”
It was Sarah.
Her eyes were wild with fury, her body radiating the same anger and resentment that had fueled the fight on the ice. Her gaze flicked from Val to Tyler, and without hesitation, Sarah stormed forward, shoving Tyler roughly to the ground.
Tyler’s body hit the floor with a hard thud, the air knocked out of her as she tried to regain her bearings. But before she could react, Sarah was on her, kicking her in the side, hard enough to make Tyler gasp for air.
“Get off her!” Val shouted, pushing herself off the counter, only to be met with Sarah’s brutal aggression. Before Val could move, Sarah grabbed her by the hair, yanking her head back with a force that made Val cry out in pain.
“This is far from over, you bitch,” Sarah spat, her voice venomous as she pulled Val toward her, landing a solid punch to her chest. The blow knocked the wind out of Val, sending her staggering backward.
Val tried to break free, but Sarah was too strong. The force of her punch sent Val crashing to the ground, her body aching from the impact. Before she could recover, Sarah was already on top of her again, her knee pressed into Val’s stomach as she kicked her sharply in the side.
Tyler, still on the floor, fought to get up, but her body was sluggish from the impact. She managed to scramble to her knees just in time to see Sarah pull Val up by her hair once more, ready to strike again.
“Stop it!” Tyler cried, her voice full of rage. “Leave her alone, Sarah!”
But Sarah didn’t listen. She slammed Val’s body into the tile floor again with a sickening thud, pinning her down. The pain was overwhelming, and Val could barely think straight, her vision blurring as she struggled beneath Sarah’s weight.
“You want to play rough?” Sarah hissed, her breath ragged and furious. “Let’s see how you handle this.”
Tyler’s blood boiled at the sight of Val being pummeled once more. She pushed herself up off the floor, desperate to do something—anything. Her hands shook with fury, but before she could move, the bathroom door burst open again, and several of the coaches and players from the team rushed in.
“That’s enough!” Coach Roberts’ voice rang out, full of authority. He grabbed Sarah’s arm, yanking her away from Val with surprising strength.
Sarah struggled against him, but the coaches were too quick. They pulled her back, and the tension in the room was thick with anger.
Tyler immediately rushed to Val’s side, her hands trembling as she helped her up. Val’s body was battered, her eyes bloodshot and furious, but there was a fierceness to her gaze that made Tyler’s heart swell with admiration.
“Are you okay?” Tyler asked, her voice trembling with worry as she held Val steady.
Val looked up at her, her chest heaving with the effort to breathe. Her face was bruised and swollen, but she managed a small, determined smile. “I will be. I’m not backing down, Tyler. Not now, not ever.”
Tyler nodded, her eyes filled with a protective intensity as she looked at Val. “Neither am I.”