Puck You

The biting chill of the ice rink was a familiar comfort, a stark contrast to the California sun that still felt foreign. Grace Gillman adjusted her helmet, the smooth plastic cool against her scalp. This was it. After weeks of silent treatment and forced smiles, she was finally here, on the ice of Arrowhead High. Her old team, her old life, felt a million miles away.
She scanned the rink, noting the faces of the guys warming up. Some looked bored, some intense. She knew a few names from her classes – Kent, the goofy one she’d met this morning; Matt, the cocky one who’d winked at her in history. And then there was Sebastian, whose glare she could feel from across the ice. He hadn't bothered to hide his disdain, not since she’d taken off her helmet yesterday.
A whistle shrieked, slicing through the air. Coach Howard’s voice boomed, calling for attention. This was it. The scrimmage. The real test. Grace took a deep breath, the cold air burning her lungs. She was ready. She had to be.