Page 25 of Jesse and the Ice Princess
She didn't respond for a long moment. "Why do you want my help so badly? You can skate."
"Not like you."
"You have a coach, Jesse. I call him Dad."
This was getting nowhere. "Yes, but he's the coach. Some of the guys don't respond well to being coached. I want you to work with us."
She shook her head. "I can't. Even if my dad would ever allow me around his team—which he wouldn't—I don't have the time. I'm sorry."
To his surprise, she actually sounded sorry.
"Just—"
She shook her head. "You're going to get us in trouble. Stop talking."
He couldn't give up, not after what he saw this girl do on the ice.
"Just one day. Come to a practice. I'm sure your dad won't mind."
Coach would do anything to help his team. Jesse had to believe he'd let his daughter come. It wasn't like the guys were going to hit on her right in front of him. Most of them were too scared to even approach her.
She sighed. "My dad might be convinced. Mom... never. I can't waste my time with a hockey team when I have a competition coming up."
Waste. That should have bothered him, but he didn't believe that was how she truly felt. He'd seen the smile on her face as she handled the puck. She loved the game. He'd never have guessed it until the moment he saw her on Friday.
Charlotte "ice princess" Morrison had a secret love affair with hockey.
He glanced at the video before leaning back toward her. "We have a game in two weeks against our biggest rival. We haven't beaten them since my Freshman year. Just one game, one time this year, I'd like us to win."
"Jesse, I—
"Miss Morrison," Mr. Thomspon snapped. "I don't expect such disobedience from you."
He paused the video, and every eye in the class turned to them.
Charlotte gripped the edge of the table, her hands shaking. Jesse had been in school with her since they were kids and couldn't remember a single time she got in trouble.
"Mr. Thompson." He stood. "It's my fault. I was distracting her."
Mr. Thompson ran a hand over his bald head and sighed, his tone softening. "I'm afraid I have to send you both to the principal's office." He pointed to the door.
Charlotte sat frozen in disbelief for a long moment before gathering her books and running from the room. Jesse chased after her.
"Wait," he called.
"This is all your fault." A tear slid down her cheek when she whirled to face him. "Why can't you just leave me alone, Jesse? Go on calling me ice princess and ignoring my presence."
"Hey." He stepped closer, wondering how he ever sat in the same room as the girl before him and didn't notice the way her cheeks reddened at the smallest things, or the way hurt lingered her eyes. "I really am sorry."
She wiped the tear away. "I know you are. Just... I don't like stepping out of my routine, feeling uncomfortable."
He smiled. She reminded him of Cassie with her carefully thought out days, designed so she'd never have to speak to anyone she wasn't related to. Her routine—set up by her therapist—kept her comfortable.
Just like Charlotte's.
"Have you ever been to the principal's office?" he asked, knowing the answer already.
She looked away. "No."
