Coach Benson nodded, and Melanie watched his back before plopping down in her seat. She wouldn’t look back.
CHAPTER
51
NOAH
I
T WAS GAME DAY, AND THE AIR WAS DIFFERENT TONIGHT AS ALL THE HOCKEY PLAYERS stood inside the locker room listening to their coach speak. Noah was a bundle of nerves as he rocked back on forth on the heels of his feet, his mind in a different place. With everything in him, Noah wanted to win this game. He worked his whole life for this moment, and now was the time to prove himself to everyone— to his parents, his hometown, the naysayers, the recruiters, even to his new agent, and show that he was worth it; that he would help his team win the entire series. Noah would prove that he deserved to be on any professional hockey team out there without the help of his father's name.
"I just want you boys to go out there on the ice today and give it your all. Play like you never ever played before; skate like this will be your last time. Show the world out there why we made it to this point. Give them a show and show why we are the Falcons. I believe in you all, and I'm glad to be your coach."
Rumbles and shouts were made throughout from the players. The lockers were shook, creating an energy in the room that they would take out onto the ice soon. Coach Benson's words gave the team the motivation they would need out there when they went against their opponents.
"Now, go out there and give it your all," Coach Benson said. Everyone shouted and slapped the coach's hand as they filed out of the locker room, ready to play the game. Noah was the last one left, and he stopped in front of the coach before he left.
"This is it," Coach Benson told him quietly. "You only have one shot. I can't do that for you. No one can but yourself. I need you to push aside whatever is going on in your head and think about what's on the ice. Think about your future and all that you've worked for."
Noah nodded as he swallowed all of his anger, the frustration he felt towards Melanie, the anger he felt towards his mother, and everything that had bothered him this past month. He had to let it go if he wanted to win. He had to let it all go. When he stepped out on the ice, he would think of nothing else but winning.
"Thanks, Coach," Noah said as he squeezed his shoulder before heading out of the room and into the arena that would decide the course of his fate.
CHAPTER
52
MELANIE
I
T WAS THE NIGHT OF THE FINALS, AND THOUGH MELANIE PROMISED herself that she would not step a foot inside of that arena, by the end of the second quarter, she found herself squeezing past disgruntled people who were none too happy with her being in the way of the game. When she got closer to her seat, Abigail locked eyes with her, grinning. Melanie sighed as she dropped down next to her friend.
"Don't say anything," Melanie warned her with a finger, a flush of red beneath her skin from embarrassment. She hadn't planned on coming tonight, but Melanie found that she was losing her mind pacing back and forth in her apartment and that when she got in her car to get some fresh air, she found herself here.
"I'm not going to say anything at all, but about damn time. I thought you were never going to come. You know you're the most stubborn person I've ever met."
"Whatever," Melanie said dismissively as she shrugged off her coat, placing her purse between herself and Abigail.
Melanie looked at the score and noticed that their rival team was one point ahead of them, and she nervously bit her lip. No wonder everyone on this side of the arena was so grumpy. This game was going to be a close call, and after Weston had come so far, it would disappoint everyone in their community if they didn't win tonight. She had just made it here, and already her stomach was a mess of nerves. Melanie found herself secretly crossing her fingers together, and she prayed for them to win this game. She didn't even believe in things like crossing your fingers for good luck, but tonight she would believe in it.
It wasn't for herself or to ease her own guilt, but because Noah worked so hard to get to this point. He deserved to be here tonight, and he deserved to take the trophy home. Melanie didn't want to see him lose everything he worked so hard for because his thoughts were in turmoil.
"I got a bad feeling," Abigail said, leaning forward in her seat as the next play started. Two of the players stood facing off, and as soon as the referee blew his whistle, the puck was on the prowl as both teams tried to take it from each other. Melanie sat on the edge of her seat, watching as Noah skated across the ice with fury, knocking into a player on the rival's team on purpose, jamming him against the wall before elbowing him. After doing that, Noah continued down the ice, chasing after the puck that was in the other team's possession. But he was a second too late when the puck was shot down halfway through, reaching its destination, and the other team scored.
The player who scored looked at Noah triumphantly, knocking into Noah’s shoulder hard. Something was said between them because they next thing you know on the big jumbotron, a fight broke out between them.
The rival team came to their teammate's aid, along with the Falcons for Noah. Once they were able to break them apart, Coach Benson called Noah off the ice, replacing him with another player. Groans were let out by the fans seeing their favorite player taken off the ice while the time was ticking; while on the other hand, fans from the other team booed Noah. Melanie's leg shook as she tried to tamp down her worry. This game was cutting it too close. And with the way things were going, Weston might lose. And though there was a high possibility Noah would get drafted anyway, this wasn't what he wanted. He wanted to get there on his own merit. And if Noah got drafted without taking this win home, she had a feeling this wouldn’t be great for his mental state going forward.
The sports commentators on the side weren't holding back their punches either as they made nasty comments about Noah's aggressive play.
"I know for some of you guys out there, it might be a surprise to see Noah go out like this, but for me, it isn't. He's been skating by on his father's name from the beginning, and the reason he's gotten this far is that Weston is already a well-rounded team with players like Anderson and Johnson on the ice."
"That's a stretch, John, and you know it. Noah has been pivotal to this team since he's gotten here. Even without his father, he would be the star player he is now. But, I will admit that recently, Noah has not been at his best, and right now, with only so little time left, he needs to be his best."
"Well, we aren't getting his best, and with the way this game is going, Weston won't be taking home another trophy, and recruiters will have to ask themselves will they want someone like Noah on their team, who under pressure can't handle the heat."
Melanie glared at the commentators, irritated by their words. They were like wolves. One little mistake, and they were ready to attack the players. She watched Noah angrily skate off to the bench where the rest of his team sat. And when he got closer to their section of the arena, their eyes connected.
