Chapter 1 Maya

Another gruesome shift at Hayley's arcade. I woke up exhausted from trying to finish up other students' assignments and mine

That's the only way I could make money and survive RLC (Royal London College)

I was way over my head, especially now that my mum had dementia and my dad a big no-show.

I hurriedly got up and threw on some clothes, made a sandwich and stormed out of the house.

I had to give these assignments to the owner before I headed to work.

And I am one more lateness away from getting into Hayley's blackbook.

I rushed to school and distributed each of the books as fast as I could and quickly rushed off to Hayley's.

"Late again..... Maya, it's your fourth time this week," Hayley said, looking at her watch as I walked in.

"I'm sorry it's just-"

"Traffic?..... helping an old lady cross the road?....a cat stuck on a fire hydrant?" She said, crossing her arms on her chest.

"Ok.... OK.....I get it" I said looking at her with remorse.

"You are always late with a different excuse.....you gotta keep up or you leave" she said walking away

I stood there watching her retreating figure, I sighed as I went behind the counter

"Tough cookie" Justin said as he wiped the glass

"Don't start" I said rolling my eyes

"What" he said shrugging

"That thing you are about to say just swallow it.....I don't want to hear it" I said gesturing a zipped mouth

"Well someone's gotta tell you the truth" he said dropping the rag

"You are over working yourself......I can tell you didn't have your bath this morning" he said looking at me from up to down

"It's obvious?" I said sniffing myself

"Honey....you have got to relax" he said, "and bathe" he said with irritation in his voice, "You stank' he said blowing air off his nose

"You don't have to be so graphic" I said rolling my eyes as I went to the back room to wash up and change to my uniform

Today the arcade was awfully busy and I had no time for a break

"Maya get in my office" Hayley came and called me

I walked into the office clutching my chest and praying she wasn't about to fire me or worse scold me

Hayley has been like a mother to me since my mum was admitted in the hospital

She made sure I ate and was well clothed, she hired me when I begged her that I needed a job to keep up with school expenses

"So as you very well know today is the big hockey game between Royal Ice Jumpers and Mountain dew Skater" she said placing her hands on her desk

This information was genuinely new to me no wonder the arcade is packed today people are waiting for the game to start

"Oh really" I said smiling awkwardly

"Maya?" She called looking at me from her glasses

"I totally forgot about that" I said scratching the back of my neck

"Well now you remember.....you are going to be working over time" she said crossing her hands across her chest and resting fully on her chair

"But-"

"No buts" she said waving her hands, "That would be your punishment and Justin has a date with his boyfriend so it's just going to be you" she said shrugging

"Justin gets to go on dates?" I asked between shock

"Yeah.....he hasn't been late four times this week" she said in a mocking tone

"Now get out.....my show is starting" she said making a get out gesture with the back of her hand

I groaned and walked out of the office back to the counter reeling over the fact that I'm going to be here till midnight all by myself

It was already 8PM and the Arcade was already filled to the brim with people who are trying to watch the game

"Ok honey it's my time to clock out" Justin said packing his bags

"Justyyyy.....please don't leave" I said begging him with doe eyes

"I wish I could stay baby" he said holding my hand

"But it's been two months without my boo bear and I promised him tonight before he goes back to Wisconsin" he said making a pity face

"I'll make it up to you" he said walking out

I groaned and picked up the remote and turned on the small TV in front of the counter

If I can't go home I might as well join the huss and watch the game

"Let's welcome into the rink the Mountain Dew skater" the commentator starts as he welcomes the opposing team

There were lots of boos and I joined them because I honestly didn't like them

They played rough and they were always mouthy about the Royal Ice Jumpers

Last week Reagan their captain made a post about Royal Ice players being too weak to get to finals

He also made a mean sticker about the last time Royal Ice players lost to them

I knew it was just a tactic to get into their head and it was not fair at all, not that I cared about the Ice Jumpers but I liked when a game was fair and well what do I know about hockey

"And here comes our home team, The Royal Ice Jumpers, with their captain Jason Whiteson leading them on" the commentator introduced the Ice Jumpers with Jason waving his Hockey stick in the air as he skates into the rink

I hated that smug look on his face, I just wanted to punch a hole right through him

But I don't want to be arrested for physical violence or murder so I balled my fists

"After the gruesome game last month with the Mountain Dew Skaters, would they be able to redeem themselves" the commentator said as the game started

There was the whistle and the game kicked starts

"It's looking like a battle field out there with Reagan holding the Face-off-dot refusing to let go" the commentator said

"You know Charley.....I feel like there is a lot at stake for Jason if he loses this match again" the female commentator said

"You are right Hannah....his career is on the line with this one.... it's just three games till finals and if he loses this one it would be difficult for them to fully qualify for finals" the first commentator said

"Jason has the puck....is he going to score.... Reagan blocking his path..... he's there.....and score that's a point for Royal Ice Jumpers"

There were cheers as the Ice Jumpers rounded themselves celebrating their win

Reagan didn't look like he had lost or anything he just smiled

The second period started Jason smiled as he held the puck to start the game

There was the whistle and the game started after a gruesome neck to neck the Mountain Dew Skaters won

There was a loud groan as the Dew Skaters hit the puck making them score

"What a score" the female commentator said

I got up to grab a drink from the vending machine with a bag of Doritos

Before I came the third period had started

"This is the last period for Ice Jumpers to prove that they can get to finals" the commentator said

"The Dew Skaters don't look like they would be getting out of the Ice Jumpers way for this one" the female commentator said as the game started

Reagan and Jason were face to face as the whistle blew

There was an intersection Jason lost focus, Reagan knocked him off balance

Jason fell hard and Reagan seized that opportunity and scored

"What a game....Mountain Dew Skaters has once again proved that they can move under pressure" the commentator said as cheers came in for the Dew skaters

Jason stood up and walked up to Reagan punching him hard on the face that he collapsed

Gasps filled the arcade as Jason tackled Reagan punching him hard

"Stupid mother fucker" Jason said as the coach rushed to make them kill the feed.