The game continues for another fifteen minutes before the referee blows the whistle again. Both teams skate off the ice and head back to their locker rooms.
“I love this part,” Lisa says excitedly, her eyes fixed on the Jumbotron.
“What is it?” I ask, looking up as well.
“They film famous people and awkwardly make them wave,” she laughs.
“We’re grabbing drinks real quick,” Leo says as he and Tess head off to refill.
“Is that the girl from the movie Seventeen?” I ask, and Lisa nods.
“And apparently that’s her new boyfriend, they just exposed them,” she adds, sounding both surprised and amused.
The camera continues scanning the crowd, lingering on a few unfamiliar faces. Then, suddenly, I notice it moving in our direction.
“No way Perth is here,” Lisa gasps when a man appears on the Jumbotron. The crowd reacts with a mix of boos and cheers.
“Who is that?” I ask, confused.
“He plays for the Hawks. It’s a long story, but let’s just say we don’t like him,” she explains.
“Noted,” I reply.
The camera keeps drifting closer, and I glance around our section, trying to spot anyone who might be famous. There’s a strange excitement in the air at the idea of being near someone well-known, which feels a bit ironic considering I’m already sitting with the team, and my boyfriend is one of the players on the Grizzlies.
I’m still turned around when Lisa suddenly gasps.
I turn back, and then I see it.
My own face on the Jumbotron.
Instantly, it feels like the entire crowd erupts in boos. Unlike the reaction to Perth, where there had been a mix of cheers and jeers, there’s nothing but disapproval aimed at me. The sound washes over me in waves.
I want to cry. I want to disappear. I want to run.
Still trying to process it, I force myself to do what Lisa said earlier and give an awkward wave. The camera lingers on me for a few more seconds that feel far longer than they actually are.
Then it finally cuts away.
“I got booed,” I say, still stunned, my voice barely above a whisper.
“They don’t know you,” Lisa says quickly, already trying to reassure me. “It’s all because of that dumb article. We’ll fix it. Just give it time.” She places a steady hand on my shoulder as she speaks.
“Are you ok?” Tess asks, slightly out of breath as she comes up on my other side. “I saw your face and came running back.”
“I’m fine,” I reply with a small smile, though I can feel tears threatening behind my eyes. I focus on holding them back and redirect my attention to the ice.
When Leo returns, his expression is tense, almost angry, but he doesn’t say anything. He simply hands each of us our drinks.
“Are you sure you still want to hang out at the apartment after this?” Tess asks gently.
I nod.
“I have to. It’s his big game, I can’t bail now,” I whisper.
The Metallica song starts up again as the team returns to the ice. I try to follow the game, but my attention keeps slipping. So I do the only thing I can, I mirror Lisa’s reactions.
When she cheers, I cheer. When she stays still, I stay still. I follow her lead through the rest of the game, pretending to stay engaged while my mind drifts.
