"One more thing to test Turner." Coach Rickards yells out.

"Which is?" I ask, panting slightly from the drills I've been running all morning.

Coach has had me weaving between cones, taking shots at the net and relearning plays I haven't done since I was 12.

Muscles I seem to have forgotten I had are screaming at me and I'm a far cry from the delicate fairy skater Grinksy wants me to be.

And yet... I feel alive again.

My muscle memory is doing overtime, helping me as I try to live up to Coach's hopes. I'm convinced he's having some sort of psychotic episode to be considering me for his team.

A team of boys. A team of people who until recently tormented me from afar. A team that includes 4 guys who are barely past the sale by date in our friendships.

It's a team that includes my very new boyfriend who I haven't played hockey with for almost 8 years.

But I have no more time to ponder the extent of Coach's insanity because the very team I'm thinking of walks into the rink.

"Skates on, huddle up boys." Coach yells out and they do so, then he turns to me, "Time to test your chemistry with the team"

Oh fuck

It's only once the first wave of guys have cleared that Mason catches my eye. He smiles at me and waves but it's clear he's confused. His team wasn't meant to have a practice today, they've all been called out of class for this, and I should have left the rink over an hour ago.

Mason skates onto the rink and straight over to me.

"Want to enlighten me about what's going on Princess?"

I laugh nervously, "You wouldn't believe me if I did."

"Captain" Coach calls out, skating over to us.

"Sup Coach?"

"I want you to get the team set up for a scimmage. 1st line on one team will be the seniors who are leaving us and 1st line on your team will be yourself, Morris and Turner."

Mason frowns, "We don't have a Turner Coach."

Coach winks at me and smirk, "Now you do."

Mason's gaze drags itself over to me and his eyes, understandably, widen to saucers.

"Surprise" I shrug nervously.

"Coach what the hell is this?" Mason yells, his reaction a stab in the gut for me as it draws the attention of all his team mates.

"This is Miss Turner's audition." Coach replies calmly.

"You can't be serious." Hugo snaps, having skated closer to hear Coach's reply.

"Remind me of when I last joked about this team's roster Morris?"

"Coach this is bullshit! That first line spot is mine!"

I assume that's yelled by one of the freshman Coach doesn't want to replace his seniors with.

Coach simply chuckles, "Then do better than her."

"What?" The freshman asks in disbelief.

"You want that spot Smith? Then earn it. If you can play better than Turner, the spot is yours."

"I shouldn't have to prove myself against her! She's a girl for Christ Sake, she doesn't belong here!"

"Jesus Smith, leave that shit in the 1920s." Seb spits out.

Smith turns to Mason who is observing the situation quietly, "Come on Cap. You know this is ridiculous."

Mason meets my gaze and holds it while he replies to Smith.

"What I know is that you better have the talent to back up that mouth of yours. If Turner plays better than you, the spot on 1st line is hers."

Coach blows his whistle and starts splitting the team in half but his commands are background noise to me as my attention lingers on Mason.

"Why?" I ask him.

"Why what?"

"Why defend me? You didn't seem too happy a second ago and this is your team. A team of guys."

"I have no idea how to handle this if you're about to be sexist towards yourself Lexi." Mason chuckles.

I roll my eyes playfully, "That's not what I meant. I just don't want you to feel suffocated."

"I would never complain if you suffocated me with your-"

"Mason! I'm trying to be serious." I criticise.

He chuckles.

"I'm being totally serious Lexi. I don't have a problem with you being on the team."

"You're being awfully mature." I note suspiciously.

Mason hold his hand to his chest in mock offence, "I'm not the petty man I once was Alexandra."

I scoff before continuing, "Hockey is your thing, not mine. I'd be less surprised if you were annoyed."

Mason shrugs his shoulders, "I remember a time when it was our thing. It didn't bother me then and it doesn't bother me now. I was just a little shocked." He kisses the side of my head and begins skating backwards into our half, "Play smart, play fair and show these knuckle heads the Lexi Turner I remember being smug to be on a team with. Why would I not want a secret weapon on the roster?"

I can't help but smile at his encouragement. I saw this conversation going very differently with 90% of my imagined outcomes being him storming out the rink.

Sam skates over and hands me a helmet, "You ready?"

"Stupid question from such a smart guy" I quip and he chuckles.

"I'm excited to see if the rumours are true"

"Rumours?" I nudge.

"Jennings claims you have no mercy. Says you were brutal on the rink, the MVP of your dynamic duo."

"He said that?"

"He did." Sam nods, "But then again he also told me you were a coniving brat who ruined his life so the jury's still out on your hockey prowess."

I chuckle lightly and skate closer to him.

"Might want to summon that Jury of yours. I think they'll be reaching a verdict pretty soon."

I aggressively push the helmet down onto my head and give him a wink before skating over to my starting position next to Mason.

"You better not screw this up Turner." Hugo grits out.

"I thought you didn't want me on your team Morris?"

"I don't. But I want that freshman on my line less."

Coach Rickards skates to the middle of the rink for the puck drop.

"Last chance to back out darlin" Smith chides, "Your fancy little twirls aren't what we're looking for."

I laugh loud enough to be audible and sound slightly deranged, "Could've fooled me with the way you skate."

A few of the guys snigger and I know Mason is enjoying this from the way his shoulders shake slightly out the corner of my eye.

Smith's eyes are practically burning into my jersey.

"Big talk from a little girl."

Mason's back straightens but I tap his left ankle with my stick. If I rely on him to defend me now I'll never have the respect of the team.

If I even join it.

"I do hope you play better than you treat women Smith. Misogyny stopped being cute a couple decades ago."

"Oh I've got no problems with women. I just don't see any here. All I see, is a girl who wasn't good enough to make it in the big leagues without the pity vote."

This little-

"You better shut your mouth right now Smith before I use your head as a puck."

So much for letting me handle it Mason.

Smith's eyes light up like Christmas came early, "Ohh I see. You've got our Captain wrapped around your little finger because you're bouncing on his dick now. That's why Coach is giving you a golden ticket."

"That's enough!" Coach bellows before Mason or I have chance to spit a rebuttle, "Smith I suggest you don't utter another syllable if you want to stay on this team. Jennings, don't stoop to his level and Turner..." Coach smirks, "Show him where he can shove your gold ticket."

"With pleasure Coach." I reply, tightening my grip on my stick.

Mason calls his team in for a short huddle and lays out the play. He thinks the other team will do one of two things. Either watch me like a hawk or underestimate and ignore me completely. This first play is about seeing which way they'll go.

The puck is dropped and a senior steals it straight away but Mason is hot on his heels and intercepts it quickly. Hugo supports him up close and I skate up the outside on the left.

I can see the guys considering blocking me but they're more focused on the other two who actually have the puck. Even Smith who apparently has an axe to grind with me is more focused on stealing the puck from Mason than coming after me.

I can't help but chuckle to myself. For a division one team, these players are acting like amateurs.

Mason passes to Hugo who dodges Seb and one of the seniors as he forces his way up the rink. They both move with such speed it's hard not to just watch in admiration.

But I'm not here to watch.

So I play to the strengths these bulky guys don't have and I'm blessed with. I cut through the players, weaving in every direction and turning away from any attacks.

It's not perfect but I move fast enough that by the time they realise they should defend against me, I've already skated past.

Hugo passes back to Mason who lines up for the net but at the last second passes to me. The defence from the other team had converged on the two of them, completely ignoring me on the other side of the rink so I'm wide open.

I don't hesitate to take the shot, planting my feet and swinging my stick back. I make it seem as though I'm aiming left but as soon as I see Anthony move to block that side of the net, I twist my body sharply and score in the top right corner.

I'm tackled by Mason in an awkward, hockey gear restricted, bear hug.

"That's my girl!" He yells as a feeling of pride unfurls in my chest.

Smith is hovering a couple feet to my right and I make sure to skate leisurely past him on my way back to my team's starting line.

"Not bad for a little girl huh?" I mock.

"Anyone can take a shot. You wouldn't last a second in head on challenges with us. You'll be crushed Turner."

"We'll see."

We all return to the starting line and I huddle with Mason and Hugo.

"If they weren't watching her before they definitely are now." Hugo notes.

"No more than they watch the two of you." I counter.

"Lexi?" Mason uses my name as a question.

"Yes Captain?"

I don't miss the smirk on his face as he no doubt recounts the last time I used his title.

"I'm in the mood for some birthday cake." He replies with a knowing grin.

I understand his reference perfectly and giggle.

"Would you do me the honour of lighting the candles so I can blow them out?" He continues.

"What the hell are you two talking about?" Hugo snaps.

"A little analogy we used back in the day."

"Back in the day? Christ Mason, you make us sound like fossils."

He chuckles and then turns to Hugo, "You steal the puck and pass it off to Turner as you get past the first layers of cake or players if we're being literal. Lexi will push through the rest of the layers, lighting the candle on the top as she sets me up perfectly to blow it out with a swing for the net."

"You couldn't just say all that without the cake stuff?"

I roll my eyes, "Well we wouldn't normally waste time explaining ourselves before we make the play Morris. Lighten up, it's a fun analogy."

"I'll lighten up when Smith is off the team." He grumbles.

My back straightens, "You know that means putting me on the team?"

Hugo shrugs, "I don't care how big or non- existent your dick is so long as you can play. Anyone with eyes and ears knows you're not an amateur Turner and if you on the team gets Smith off, all the more reason to support you."

"Mason I think I might feint."

Mason's by my side in a heartbeat, "Why? Are you okay? Do you need the medics?"

"I think I'm delusional because it sounded like Hugo just complemented me."

Mason chuckles and nudges me playfully.

"Ha ha you're hilarious Turner." Hugo deadpans.

"I know." I reply sweetly, "But I hate to break it to ya Hugo, Coach said I'm his last resort because he only has 19 players when the seniors leave during winter break. I don't think I'm all that special."

"No we don't" Mason counters with a frown, "We always have 5 reserve players who train with us. We'll be a team of 22 without the seniors."

Now it's my turn to frown.

"Then why is Rickards bringing me in?" I think aloud.

"Because my team is complacent Turner. They need a wake up call." The master-plotter himself skates up next to me.

"You think that's me?" I ask, "Coach I'm not naïve enough to think I'm better than a lot of your players. I haven't played properly in years and if you have reserves they should be the ones given a chance to play."

"Miss Turner, if I believed the reserves would suitably benefit the team they would be here."

"How can you know that I will, benefit the team I mean?"

"I don't" he shrugs his shoulders, "I simply saw a girl with wasted potential stuck in a sport she doesn't love. The only upside to your time as a figure skater is you have an agility and delicacy to your movements hockey players rarely possess. So no I don't think you're better than my players... but that doesn't mean they can't learn something from you."

He holds up the puck and nods to me. I nod back feeling a whole new pressure on the next play. A need to prove I'm worth his faith in me.

The puck is dropped and Hugo steals it as planned, expertly fighting off the first line from the other team. He pushes his way through the first two layers of cake, or players if you're boring like him, and then nods to me as he passes.

I'm on the puck as soon as it's within reaching distance and swipe it to the left as I weave around two of the seniors. My 'fancy little twirls' turn out to be the perfect tool to strike at the team's Achilles heel.

They're fast but not quite fast enough in their turns or changing direction. They predict what I'm going to do too late and by then I'm already out their reach. It's as if I'm invisible to them.

I clock Mason barrelling down the outside and thank Sam silently as he barges a Sophomore out my way. I pass to Mason and he blows the candle on the cake out beautifully with his shot into the left of the net.

My team roars in celebration as Mason collides with me once again.

"You sure you've not played since you were 12 Princess?" He asks while laughing and pulling my helmet off, followed by his own.

"I might have run a play or two on the lake when I had a rough day." I reply with a cheeky wink.

"THIS IS RIDICULOUS!"

Our laughter dies as it's pierced by the yell from the center of the rink. Coach is standing there with a very angry looking Smith.

"I earned my spot on this team! And you're handing it to that bitch because she can spin around on the ice?!"

"This is why I am removing you from the team! You're a half decent player with a foul mouth and less sportsmanship in your whole body than my pinky toe. You are not the player I want representing my team Jenson. The decision was made before this session. Your behaviour has simply moved up my schedule."

"IT'S BULLSHIT!" Smith yells, raising his stick and slamming it down, hitting the puck Coach has set down for the next play.

The puck lifts off the ice and flies through the air, straight in my direction.

I process it too late to move or cover myself.

But the impact never comes.

Instead I hear a dull thud and heavy breathing as Mason's hand shoots in front my face, catching the puck in his glove.

The rink is silent for what feel like hours.

"Are you okay?" He asks me quietly.

"Me?" I ask in disbelief, "I'm fine. Is your hand okay?"

Mason drops the puck onto the ice and flexes his hand.

"It's fine." He grits out, turning to face Coach and a stunned looking Smith.

He skates towards them, followed by Hugo, Sam and myself as it sets in what's about to happen.

"Jennings, skate back and cool off." Coach reprimands.

"Oh no no, this prick doesn't get to take a shot at my girl and walk away." Mason spits, shaking his head as he gets in Smith's personal space.

"It was an accident." Smith says, slightly panicked but still clearly pissed off.

"An accident?! An accident is slipping on the ice and falling into her. An accident is not shooting a puck directly at her head, which by the way was no longer protected by a helmet."

"Mason I'm fine, it didn't touch me." I try to reason with him.

"If that puck had hit you wrong Lexi you could've lost an eye, your hearing. Christ Lexi, it could've killed you."

"Let's not make assumptions-" Sam jumps in and Mason whirls on him.

"You want to tell me a puck going at that speed hitting her head couldn't have fractured her skull?" Mason spits.

"Enough!" Coach yells, "Smith is no longer a part of the team. He is being punished Jennings. Don't make me take you to the Dean's office too for assaulting him."

Mason is breathing heavily but he skates back slightly, not for Smith's benefit but because he respects his Coach.

"Move Smith. Off my rink." Coach calls and starts skating from the rink.

Smith begrudingly skates after him, muttering "Fucking bitch" as he passes me.

It riles Mason up again but I hold a hand up to tell him to back off.

"Hey Smith?" I call out.

He stops and turns to face me and I close the distance between us.

"What?" He snaps.

"You're going without your leaving present."

"Leaving present? I-"

I interrupt his no doubt insulting remark with a right hook to the side of his face. I'm pretty sure it hurts me more than it hurts him but I'm still smug when he stands back up straight and is sporting a split lip.

The team cheers and whoops and Smith finally makes a smart decision, skating off the rink without another word.

"That was hot." Mason whispers in my ear as he turns me around to face him.

"Well I suppose that makes the bruised hand worth it then." I say shaking it out.

He chuckles, "Come on, we can ice our hands together."

"Oh Mason, you spoil me." I reply theatrically as we skate off the rink.

"Not so fast." Coach calls out from down the hall as we make our way to the locker rooms.

"Coach?" Mason queries.

"I need an answer from Miss Turner. Are you in or out?"

I look up to Mason who winks at me, then turn back to Coach.

I could stay as I am in my safety zone, or I could join the team I actually want to be on.

Tick tock Lexi.

I take a deep breath and go with my heart for once, "I'm in if you'll have me Coach."

For the first time since I've been here, I see Coach Rickards smile. Not just a grin, but a full face, wide smile.

"Then it is my pleasure to welcome you to the Bridewell Bisons Lexi."

Mason kisses the side of my head as I reply, "Thanks Coach."

He starts to walk away but I have a question niggling at me.

"Coach what happens about figure skating now? My scholarship was for that team, not hockey."

"It was."

"Was?"

"As soon as you agreed to be a part of my team, your scholarship was transferred."

"Oh..."

"You seem conflicted?" Coach notes.

"I just... I feel like I'm abandoning them."

Coach walks over to me and places a hand on my shoulder, "It is your choice whether you continue with both teams Turner. The University is simply concerned about your