Now here’s the thing. I might fight on the ice, but I’m generally a pretty easygoing guy and takes a lot to get me angry. Just keep me fed and watered and I’m good, add Emerson into the mix and I’m golden. So I’ve never really given much thought to the term ‘seeing red’, because why would you? But fuck me. You really do.
Snap.
And that would be the final shred of composure I’d been holding onto before my fist connected with his face.
Again.
He grabbed hold of my collar, punching me in the ribs with a hard upper cut, trying to wind me, but I only stumbled for a second before smashing him with a left hook to his jaw, knocking him back against the wall.
“You’re a fucking bully. You have no business being in this game.”
He groaned as I returned the hit to the ribs.
“You might have ended Felix’s career and you don’t even give a shit.”
He grunted, spitting out blood to the floor. “No, not really.”
Rage flooded my brain. I could only see red.
In the distance, I heard the buzzers go off. The second period had finished and everyone would start making their way back.
Smash went my fist, again, already pulled back for another swing, but I was grabbed from behind before it could make contact and hauled across the corridor. Huck and Dante were holding me in a firm grip.
“Stop, dude. He’s baiting you.”
I tried to pull away, but they were holding me firm.
Jasper had Devon Walls pinned, until several of the Philly’s guys turned up, the corridors filling up with sweaty hockey players each taking a side.
“What’s going on here?”
Jasper shoved Walls over to the Philly captain. “Someone needs to fucking babysit your teammate before he causes any more damage.”
Billy McKenzie glared at me, taking in my bloody fists. “Looks like he’s not the only one causing damage.”
“Damn right,” I mumbled.
Jasper grabbed my shoulder, pulling and shoving me at the same time, back toward our locker room. “Let’s get out of here before Coach arrives and this turns into gang warfare.”
“Too late,” muttered Dante.
We spun to find Coach walking toward us, flanked by his crew.
“I don’t know what’s going on here and I don’t care. None of you is supposed to be out here, so move.”
Everyone dispersed.
“Crawley, not so fast.”
Jasper stopped with me. “Coach…”
Coach held his hand up, silencing him. “Drew, I told you to get changed and cool off. And now I find you fighting in the corridors like some fucking high-schooler.”
“Coach, he started it…” Jesus. I sounded like a high-schooler.
He silenced me with a raised eyebrow, showing zero patience for my excuses. “I’ve no doubt about that. He’s a piece of shit and had it coming. I was on my way to tell you that you’ve been suspended for six games and I don’t want any fucking more added. You’re one of my best players, and I can’t lose you now.”
I hung my head. “Yes, sir. I just wanted to find out where Clevs went so I can go.”
