Page 2 of Enemy Games

“I didn’t know any better!”

“Just goes to show that just because a school is Division 1 doesn’t mean it’s nice or fancy.” She refolded a pair of leggings before adding them to a drawer in her dresser.

That was an unfortunate lesson I learned after arriving at my previous dorm for the first time. None of the tours or visits I had leading up to my freshman year showed the true living conditions.

Not that it would have changed my decision. It was the only Division 1 school I got a scholarship offer from, and it was the closest university to my hometown. I could stay close, visit home often, and my parents could come to my games.

The biggest downside was that it was the most popular choice for the kids from my high school, so it earned the nickname of being Green Lake High. I wanted the chance to continue to play hockey and start fresh, but with so many people that had known me since elementary school, it was hard to do.

The opportunity to truly grow and become the person I wanted to be without my past holding me back was the main reason I jumped on the chance to transfer to West Penn. Playing on a brand-new team, and with an organization that had only been officially formed for a few weeks, was intimidating and risky but completely worth it in my mind.

Despite a few bumps, West Penn had an amazing athletic program and much higher academic rankings over Green Lake, which aligned better with my plans for the future.

I was nearly done with my bag, and had barely taken up any space in the closet and hadn’t had to use my dresser at all. This room was even nicer than the one I grew up in.

“Have you met or talked to any of the other girls?” I asked as I opened my second bag and began unpacking.

“Not really. I just added them on social media but didn’t really reach out. You?” She stacked her suitcases in her closet, then sat on her bed, looking at me.

“Same. I sent them messages, introducing myself, but that was it. Only a couple replied.” I went to the closet for a few more hangers and worked through my tops and jackets.

“Hopefully, everyone is chill. I can’t stand drama.” She played with the laces of her purple Converse.

“I think we all have enough on our plates to keep us busy.”

She snorted. “Some people can always make time to stir up trouble.”

I finished with my bag and put it in the corner of my closet before falling back on my bed. “Do you think I have time for a nap before we have to go?”

“Nope. We have to leave in ten minutes.”

I let out a groan and closed my eyes. This day was never going to end. I got up at three that morning to get to the airport, and it was now four in the afternoon, and we still had the tour and the meet and greet with our coaches and teammates tonight. I just wanted to sleep.

A knock on our door surprised me enough to make me sit up. “Come in.”

Karly poked her head in. “Just letting you guys know we’re going to be meeting downstairs in a few.”

“Do we need to change?” Chris asked, and I eyed Karly’s outfit. She’d switched outfits since we last saw her and was now wearing a tight black sweater, leather skirt, and black tights.

“I thought this was just a casual team thing?” Did I miss an email or text about a party?

“Oh, I just wanted to look nice.” Karly waved us off and smiled before leaving, not shutting the door.

“Should I change?” Chris stood and waved a hand in front of her black-and-white flannel, baggy jeans, and sage-green beanie. Her teal hair poked out of the bottom, making her blue eyes pop.

“I like what you have on, but if you want to, you have time.” I waited for her to decide so I knew what to do.

She looked down, then sighed. “It’s just the team. They’re going to have to get used to seeing me like this sooner or later.”

“That’s true. This is pretty much what I wear every day, so there’s no point in pretending.” I tugged down the sleeves of my oversized cream sweater down to my wrists. My jeans were worn and molded to my body just how I liked them.

She chuckled. “We’ll be used to seeing each other in pads and sweating by the end of the week.”

Not the most flattering image, but she had a point.

We walked down the street toward campus with our other sixteen housemates. The sophomores and juniors from the team were allowed to live in the team house, but the freshman had been assigned dorm rooms to keep them with the rest of their classmates.

The arena we’d be calling home was closer than I expected. The walk was less than five minutes since it sat on the very edge of campus. The freshmen were waiting for us, looking nervous and so young. I was only two years older, but the fear emanating from them made it seem like more.