“He started it,” I grumble.
“Really?”
Our conversation is interrupted as the players skate onto the ice for warm-ups.
My attention instantly goes to Bennett as he skates out on the ice. I can’t see his face from here, so I’m not sure what kind of mood he’s in.
They go about their warm-ups, and I watch for any sign that he’s off his game. Not yet, from what I can tell.
The game starts, and everything seems fine. At least for the first half. Then things start to go downhill fast. The Silver Knights were winning until the other team got three back-to-back goals. They’re down to the final few minutes, and it’s tied.
Aria looks a mess, worried for her friend. When I see Bennett rip off his gloves and start beating the shit out of another guy on the opposing team, my heart sinks into my stomach.
Lips parting in shock, I get to my feet. Bennett gets a few hits in until the other guy starts fighting back. Bennett is taken down to the ice, the other guy on top of him,
“Oh my god!” Aria gasps. “He’s gonna kill him!”
He’s not. The refs and players are interfering, pulling off their respective members. Bennett is brought to his feet, and my stomach turns when I see his lip is bleeding, nose too,blood dripping down his face. Bennett shouts at the guy he was fighting with as his teammates pull him off the ice.
Once he’s back at the player’s bench, his dad starts to lay into him.
He’s kicked out of the game.
Fuck.
This isn’t what I wanted. I want him to be off his game, not for their team to lose, or for him to be hurt in a fight.
As I sit back down, the bit of joy I had from getting my revenge on Bennett is gone.
Taylor looks at me with a guilt-stricken face before wrapping her arm around Aria, who is worried about her friend.
“He’s fine,” I say to no one in particular.
He’s fine. Just a bloody lip. Nothing to be worried about.
So why did I have the urge to go down there and check on him, and then find that asshole on the other team and bust his lip open, so he’s matching with Bennett?
The game ends, and our school loses. I’m not sure what I thought I was gaining from this prank. It might not be my team, but it is my school. I shouldn’t be cheering against them.
I’m overthinking this. Shit like this always happens in hockey. It’s not like taking his lucky boxers is the reason all this happened.
“I can’t believe that happened,” Aria says, chewing on her lower lip. “I’ve never seen him so upset. He’s never been in a fight on the ice like that before. He’s always so good at making sure the other team doesn’t see that he’s bothered.”
Well shit. Never mind what I was thinking beforehand. Maybe this was because of me.
No, it’s not. I didn’t make him lose his cool. I didn’t force him to get into a fight with that guy. That was all him.
Aria wants to wait for Bennett to leave the locker room. They’re supposed to be going to a Halloween party together tonight.
I was planning to leave, but I kind of want to stay until I can make sure he’s okay.
“Oh my god.” Aria gasps when Bennett emerges a half hour later. “Your lip!”
Shit. He looks bad.
“You should see the other guy.” Bennett chuckles, trying to smile, but winces in pain when his lip starts to bleed. “Fuck.” He reaches up and dabs at it.
“Here.” Aria reaches into her pocket and pulls out some tissues.
