Chapter 7
It was Friday evening and the night of the club’s dinner was on. Ashley stared at her mother a not very impressed look on her face.
‘A dress!’ she shrieked her mother nodded.
‘No way,’ she said.
‘This is an important dinner honey, so we all have to look our best.’ Catalin explained.
‘Well yeah, but—but you know I hate to get all fancy dressed and everything.’ Ashley moaned she looked down at the dress it was a brown and yellow floral dress not exactly of her taste.
‘Honey, I don’t want an argument with you just be ready and—-’ her mother was cut off midsentence.
Knock! Knock!
Catalin went to the door and opened it Daniel was there and had a quick word with her, she then turned to look at her daughter.
‘Be ready when I get back.’ She said and was out of the room before Ashley could say another word.
‘This sucks,’ she grumbled and hastily snatched up the dress and went to the bathroom to change. She didn’t see the point of this dinner as far as she knew it was all strictly business and that was something she wasn’t at all interested in. She would be so much happier to stay in tonight and watch TV and even plan for tomorrow but no she had to be dragged out for dinner.
Around ten minutes later Ashley was ready she’d changed into the dress and put on the shoes her mum had bought earlier in the week.
‘Honey are you ready to go?’ her mother asked when she re-entered the room.
‘No.’ Ashley muttered.
‘What’s wrong?’ her mother asked.
‘I don’t know what to do with my hair,’
Catalin walked over to the bathroom and Ashley just looked at her mum with a frustrated sigh.
‘You don’t have to make it fancy sweetheart. Leave it down and you look fine.’ She said Ashley frowned.
‘Are you sure?’ she asked her mother nodded so Ashley just nodded and left the bathroom she stuffed her things into a small black purse and tucked it underneath her arm.
‘Right then I’m ready to go.’ She said Catalin smiled and nodded.
‘Well come on then let’s not keep your father waiting for you,’ she said and headed for the door opened it and Ashley gasped. There was another man much taller than her stepfather and he looked built his body mass was disguised very well through his suit.
‘Uh…who is he?’ she asked pointing at the man.
‘Don’t worry honey he is just here for precaution; we must get going.’ Daniel replied; Ashley was still uncertain she tentatively stepped out of the room and just helplessly stared at the big man he smiled she returned the smile but still felt uncomfortable at his presence.
‘All right is everyone ready to go?’ Daniel asked; Catalin and Ashley both nodded and the big man led them down the corridor to the lift, it arrived on their floor just in time and a couple stepped out and they immediately recognized the younger girl.
‘Hey, hey hold a second.’ The guy remarked. * Oh no here we go * Ashley thought.
‘Sorry guys but we must go maybe next time,’ the big man remarked and the young couple looked surprised as did Ashley, but her parents exchanged a knowing glance, and once the couple were ushered on the family got into the lift and headed down to the lobby. When they exited instead of heading out the front entrance the big man instead took them through the back way where one of the hotel’s parking valets had already brought a waiting taxi around.
‘What is going on? Why all the sudden change?’ Ashley asked she didn’t get it at all and it bothered her that things had altered so suddenly.
‘Just don’t worry about it.’ Her mother remarked and climbed into the car and a short time later the taxi drove them away towards the inner city.
During the drive Ashley felt her phone vibrate in her purse and discretely she opened it to look at the message.
As far as we’ve been told
It’s for precaution and
Some security thing.
We got one 2 & I think Cal has
As well.
So James and Caleb had the same thing well at least they sort of knew what was going on but despite what James had said Ashley still wondered why this was even needed it wasn’t like they were some big names never mind about what happened the other night on the news. That big man wasn’t mean or anything he seemed quite nice, but she didn’t know him and if he was supposed to be following her or parents around for however long the thought just didn’t sit too well with her. Catalin could see the uneasiness in her daughter’s face she laid her hand against her shoulder.
‘Ashley, sweetie you must stop worrying it is not good for you. This whole week has already been about you and work, so for once don’t let anything else occupy your mind and relax and enjoy the dinner,’ she remarked.
‘Yeah but…but I don’t understand it.’ She said.
‘Just leave that one to us.’ Her stepfather answered and the look on both her parents’ faces told her there was to be no more talk on the subject.
When they arrived at the restaurant it was one of the very popular Steak and Cobbler places and already there were quite many customers inside. Daniel led them through the doors, and a waiter and waitress were already there welcoming in all the customers.
‘Good evening.’ The waiter said.
‘Yes, good evening. Is Mr. Holland here already, by any chance?’ Daniel asked. The waiter flipped through the appointment book and scanned down the page.
‘Ah yes here we go. He has arrived I will take you to their table right now.’ He answered he instructed the waitress, nodding her head she scooped up the menu and led them through the crowded restaurant floor. The dining area was open and lightly decorated with checked table clothes and wooden chairs with comfy cushions on the seats. They were taken past a set of closed double doors presumably the kitchen area and there was a ton of noise coming from behind those doors, they rounded another corner which looked like a closed off area for the staff and up a flight of stairs. This part of the dining area was also quite large with a beautiful 360-degree view of the city’s skyline.
‘Mr. Pearson!’
They turned around to see a very long table set up at one end of the room and seated there was Ken Holland, Mike Illitch, the coaching staff, James and his parents and Caleb and his parents. The waiter led them to the table and pulled out the chairs for them.
‘So glad you can join us. We were just talking about what all the parents do,’ Ken said.
‘Oh, right well I’m work in finance and some IT here and there,’ Daniel remarked
‘I used to teach kindergarten children for about three years and have since done private tutoring for high school kids,’ Catalin said, everyone around the table nodded and the continued conversations went from there, but Ashley was quick to tune out. She noticed the big man that was with her family had now moved off to the side and stood with two other similar looking men.
‘They make me heaps nervous,’ she said to Jame he nodded in agreement as he ate.
‘Oh, you are such a baby, grow up man they aren’t that scary,’ Caleb remarked she sneered back at him.
‘Shut up Caleb I wasn’t talking to you.’ She answered.
‘Kids.’ Tania, James’s mother said she glared at the three of them and they kept quiet.
As time went by some of the players also turned up with their partners and even their kids and that gave some company for the three youngsters in particular James and Ashley, while Caleb couldn’t be bothered with anyone younger than him and the meal was also lovely. In the middle of the dinner as the adults continued to converse with each other Caleb got board of just sitting around so he made an excuse and left the table. He wandered around the restaurant but there nothing of great interest to him so he headed outside to the car park. There he noticed a group of guys about his age playing a game of hack sack, so he walked up to the circle.
‘What do you want?’ one of the guys asked.
‘I want to join in.’ He said the guy laughed.
‘Fat chance we don’t need another player.’ The guy remarked.
‘Listen I want to play and there is nothing in the rules to say I’m not allowed to play,’ Caleb said.
‘Yeah, well I make the rule here so get gone,’ the guy snapped. Caleb stood his ground he folded his arms.
‘Make me.’ He said the guy and his friends stopped their game and turned around.
‘Boy you really are asking for trouble, aren’t you?’ one of the guys’ said.
‘What is so wrong with wanting to play too? I think you are being way too sensitive,’ Caleb said he saw them advance on him.
‘One last warning for you, kid now gets lost.’ The guy said he even pointed in the direction of where to go but Caleb shook his head.
‘I won’t go anywhere,’ he answered.
‘All right then I guess we will settle this with fists.’ The guy said a big grin spread across his lips.
*~*~*~*
Nobody asked Caleb about what happened following the dinner, but it was clear from his bruises he got quite a beating. His parents were livid with him and had every intension to send him packing straight home with them but with still two more days until the two-week trial was over the club was happy for him to stay on until the decision had been made. The coaching staff had changed things up for Saturday’s practice, so they gave everyone the morning and afternoon time off and set it up for 6:15pm that evening. Little did anyone know but the guy Caleb had run into the previous night had decided to follow up on him and without being detected they sneaked into the Joe. However, since it was only 5:45pm only the three youngsters had arrived on the advice of their parents, and they took advantage of the extra ice time.
‘So, Cal do you want to tell us what really happened yesterday?’ James asked.
‘No,’ Caleb answered he touched his cheek and winced.
‘Well, well look here boys! Seems our friend has company with him.’
James, Caleb and Ashley looked up to see the group of guys standing by the bench.
‘What do you want?’ Caleb asked.
‘We came to visit you of course. But I see your friends might need a lesson as well,’ the guy remarked.
‘Leave them out of it’ Caleb said. As much as he hated James and Ashley for out doing him here, he couldn’t get in more trouble by letting anything happen to them.
‘Oh, and why not? We all have heard about the three of you. A bunch of foreigners’ invading our team that is not a good look.’ The guy said then he pointed to Ashley.
‘As for you, this is no place for a girl like you,’ he added.
‘And you weren’t invited here,’ she retorted he glared.
‘Did you just speak girly? Nobody asked you for your opinion,’ he snapped.
‘Hey leave her alone. If you got any problem, then deal with Caleb and me.’ James said. The guy and his friends all laughed they came out onto the ice too and to the three youngsters surprise they had their skates and sticks.
‘Then let’s have a game. It will be a one on one with two players each. As full-time players, I’m sure you will know this game,’ the guy remarked.
‘I like to call it the 3-bar game. You got to hit both posts once then hit the crossbar. First two players from either side to hit all three wins,’ he added.
‘Done.’ Caleb answered.
‘Not so fast.’ Ashley said.
‘You stay out of this missy,’ the guy said she cocked her eyebrow.
‘And why is that?’ she challenged he narrowed his eyes.
‘Because I say you don’t belong here now butt out.’
‘Actually, come to think of it let’s make it three against three,’ Caleb remarked Ashley smiled James shook his head.
‘Cal are you crazy?’ he asked.
‘Nope. I think we stand a good chance.’ Caleb said he gave Ashley a warning look.
‘Just don’t mess this up.’ He snapped the guy and his friends stood and laughed.
‘Well, you are already handing us the win this will be good.’ He said.
‘Let’s play.’
Caleb was to start off against one of the guys’ named Brandon. They skated in the neutral zone for a bit neither one of them allowing the other any space to set up. Eventually though Brandon made an inside-out play which allowed him to get past Caleb easily he fired his first shot it clanged straight off the right-hand post.
‘Come on Cal use some defensive strategies!’ James yelled. Since Brandon was successful on his first shot, he had another opportunity however Caleb learnt on the first attempt and made it much more difficult for Brandon though he was still able to manufacture a shot chance, but Caleb intervened and deflected the shot wide of the net.
‘Yeah, bro! Good job that’s the way to do it!’ James yelled again. Caleb had control of the puck now and without too much effort he was able to wrong-foot Brandon at center ice, and it gave him a clear shot of the net. He fired he hit the post too James and Ashley cheered like crazy and swapped high-fives Caleb grinned.
‘That was too easy. I guess you and your friends have no idea what you got yourself into tonight,’ he answered. He was again successful with his second shot the gang was not impressed. Caleb miss-fired his attempt for the crossbar and Brandon was able to even scores 2-2 but he too failed to convert and handed advantage back to Caleb; this time he wouldn’t miss his high slap shot hit the crossbar.
‘Woohoo! Yeah bro you did it!’
In the next match up James had to go against the gang’s head leader Boyd.
‘Your friend got a lucky break, but you won’t even get a chance.’ He said. They got underway and Boyd was true to his word he didn’t give a chance to James to even settle and knocked him on his bum several times and made his first shot count. His second chance was easy too leaving him to hit just the crossbar next and James yet to make an impact.
‘For crying out loud Jay you idiot!’ Caleb said. Boyd won that battle 3-1 and this game was going to be decided in the final match up with Ashley up against Jonathan.
‘I don’t know why you bother this game is ours.’ Boyd replied, Caleb just gritted his teeth, and James swore under his breath. Jonathan laughed at Ashley she said nothing didn’t even react.
‘Since you will lose anyway here’s the deal.’ Boyd said.
‘We win and you three will be sorry for crossing our paths and if, that is a big IF you win then we leave.’ He said. James and Caleb said nothing too they didn’t like the odds against them but Ashley on the other hand wasn’t perturbed by any of this. If there is one thing she has learnt quickly in this game nothing hurts a guy more than wounding his ego. Jonathan wasted no time he got control of the puck and raced down the ice Ashley followed him, but he was able to throw her off balance with his elbow and she hit the boards.
‘That’s illegal!’ James shouted but Boyd only smiled.
‘That’s the game we play,’ he answered. Jonathan hit the post and they were up 1-0. Ashley dusted herself off and got up again and as she skated past the gang Boyd called out to her.
‘I told you this wasn’t for girls. Now watch my man put you and your friends out of your misery’
She kept skating and waited for Jonathan to make his next move. He did the same thing she was happy to back off at first then she moved in to force him out side so he changed direction to the right she chased him across the face of the zone he used his quick feet to pass her but then she wedged the blade of her stick underneath his left skate and lifted he slipped and fell forwards and lost the puck.
‘FOUL!’ Boyd and his gang screamed Caleb and James laughed.
‘That is the game.’ They said. Ashley then jumped on the puck before Jonathan could regain his footing and she hit the accelerator sprinting down the other end of the ice and backhanded her shot into the post 1-1 now.
‘Yes! Yes! That’s the way Ash! Keep it up!’ James cheered.
On her second chance Ashley again used her better speed to elude Jonathan when he tried to come in for a heavy check against the glass boards then he tried to do a poke check, but she was quick to bounce the puck against the boards chased after it and got it and fired a quick shot but it missed wide. Jonathan grabbed the loose puck and was away and he hit his second post giving the gang a 2-1 lead.
‘Damn it Pearson what the hell are you doing? You screwed that chance,’ Caleb yelled at her she ignored his comment and instead turned around to face him and James.
‘I think it is time to watch and learn boys.’ She said.
‘Yeah, right please. He needs one more shot and they win,’ Caleb muttered he glared at the gang they were swapping high-fives. Ashley saw this too and she tried hard not to laugh. * Boy, do I have a trick up my sleeve for them. * She thought. Jonathan had the puck and made his way down the ice, but Ashley once again used her speed to get to him and intervene with his play, but he shrugged her off and readied his shot. Ashley made a cross-check from behind that threw him off his shot and she swiped the puck away from his stick and to the side of the empty net. Just when she was about to head around to retrieve it he tripped her, the side of her head narrowly missed the metal part of the post but did get her face shoved into the netting.
‘C’mon Ashley! Get up!’ James yelled. She leapt to her feet in an instant gathered the puck and raced away from Jonathan he scrambled to catch up but she was long gone down the other end of the zone, fired the forehand shot and it smacked straight off the second post 2-2.
‘Yes, yes, we’re even. Take that!’ Caleb said.
‘Jon you absolute fool! Get into gear! Don’t stuff this up for us.’ Boyd demanded and Jonathan was up on his feet he would have to defend since Ashley had the chance to close out this game. She had the puck from center but instead of going for the net she took it and skated back behind the other net and stopped.
‘Chicken! Come on!’ Jonathan called she just smirked at him.
‘Why don’t you come and get it?’ she said that was tempting enough for him and he skated hard and fast to her; she waited and waited until he just got to circling around the net before she made her move. She skated out as he came in and using all her speed, she raced up ice she could tell he was on her heel so as soon as she passed the second blue line she fired the puck deep in the zone.
‘That’ll be mine!’ Jonathan yelled he made a beeline after the puck as it slid along the boards towards the back of the net.
‘Try if you want!’ Ashley called back she took off down the other side of the zone and to the naked eye it looked like they were headed for a collision course.
‘Look out!’ everyone else yelled; Jonathan wasn’t about to care he wanted that puck and he had the intention to make sure he won this game. He was coming in on the puck fast he was focused on it he never saw Ashley come flying in until the very last second, she hit him in the chest, and his legs went up from underneath him he landed flat on his bum. She stared down at him with hands on hips.
‘Shame on you, now you will just have to live with the humiliation of losing to a girl along with your friends,’ she said, she took the puck and skated past him out to the front of the net and set up for her usual high slap shot, it was a direct hit into the crossbar.
‘YES!’ Caleb and James screamed they bounced over the bench and raced down to Ashley nearly gang tackled her onto the ice. Boyd and his friends stood there looking shocked beyond belief.
‘This did not happen.’ Boyd said his friends kept quiet. Ashley, James and Caleb skated over to them with triumphant smiles on their faces.
‘Well bro your little plan backfired,’ Caleb remarked Boyd gritted his teeth he glared furiously at Ashley she smiled back at him sweetly.
‘The door is that way.’ James added he pointed the way; and the gang had no words they had to bite it they slowly walked off and away from sight.
‘Nice job out there kids.’
Caleb, James and Ashley looked around Joey, Kris, Kirk and Darren stood in the seats behind the benches.
‘Uh—hi.’ The three youngsters said.