Page 183 of Between the Blue
“You better get going,” I say.
“You’re right,” Rhett agrees. “Don’t need to give Bear another reason to be on my case. See ya, Little Dixon.”
I give him a saluting motion as he turns away, which he quickly returns, making me laugh again.
He puts his head down, jogging through the rest of the tunnel. And it’s only when he steps onto the ice and makes a sharp turn that I notice Ben standing perfectly in my line of sighton the ice, his hockey stick motionless in his hand as he stares at me with the heaviest gaze I’ve ever seen.
I try to place the emotion on his face, but I can’t.
It’s not exactly angry. It’s not sad. It’s almost empty. Vacant. Raw.
I tilt my head at him, but before I can analyze it any further, he turns his head in the direction Rhett just skated off in. And then he skates across the rink, as far away from me as he can physically put himself, until he just becomes a blur under the bright lights from here.
My lips part, my eyes blinking. And then I shake my head, forcing myself to push the thought away.
It was nothing.
He was just zoned out.
I turn and start walking towards my workspace.
It couldn’t be anything.
About a half hour later, just as I’m making my way back through the tunnel, I hear the horn sound to signal the game is about to begin.
The spotlights and green laser lights swirl around in the dark arena as the fans wail in excitement.
Despite the chaos, I manage to find the photo taking spot I’m beginning with just to the side of the bench. I settle in it, getting my camera up and ready at the same time the regular house lights come on.
The players of both teams settle around the circle at center-ice, Ben in place in front of the referee and ready to take the face-off.
I zoom in on him with my camera, taking a photo. And when I zoom back out, I notice Rhett skating up to him, giving him a quick pat on his back, which he immediately shakes off, not looking in his direction.
I blink, trying to process what happened, but then the puck drops, and Ben wins it with ease, sending it ricocheting across the ice straight in my direction.
Several players go for it, including Rhett, which causes a pile up just in front me. Rhett goes slamming into the glass, followed by two players from the opposing team. One of them manages to get the puck while the other gives Rhett an unnecessary shove, causing him to spin around awkwardly and slam against the glass once more, this time facing towards me.
In the split second when he’s still against the glass, he manages to register I’m just on the other side of it. He leans back, giving me a grin and a little wave of his glove.
I cover my mouth with my hand to hide the laugh that bursts out of me, because it’s so ridiculous, but I’m not sure Rhett even sees it before he’s already spun around and shoved the guy back.
I suddenly remember my camera in my hands and raise it to take some photos of what’s happening right in front of me. Just as I do so, however, a dark blur shoots across the ice. It takes me a moment to register that it’s Ben, and I instantly feel my blood pressure spike. Because I, along with the rest of the screaming crowd, obviously assume that Ben’s coming to back up Rhett.
But then my camera falls away from my face when Ben’s fist comes harshly in contact with Rhett’s jaw.
Every fan in the arena seems to gasp, and I’m sure I would join them if I was able to find the air in my lungs.
Rhett nearly keels over, gripping his jaw in his hand. In the short seconds it takes for him to stand back up and face Ben, I’m sure it will be obvious that this was a misunderstanding. ThatBen wasn’t going for him. That he moved too fast and was blind with rage trying to defend his friend.
But then Rhett says, “What the hell, man?”
And Ben drops his gloves, lunging for him.
Ben lands one more punch before Rhett grabs him by the jersey, trying to push him away. But when Ben keeps coming at him, Rhett eventually fights back, dropping his own gloves and shoving Ben hard in the chest.
The entire crowd is on their feet at this point, seeming as utterly confused as I am as these two teammates– who have been lifelong best friends– continue to brawl, time suddenly seeming to go in slow motion.
It appears that Rhett is only fighting to defend himself and keep Ben at bay, but the longer the two stay intertwined, the more aggressive Ben seems to become.
