31. puck handling

The rainy afternoon made it perfect for studying. Kitt sat in the library across from Trevor, who was typing furiously on his laptop.

"I have no idea how you can take such good notes every class." He shook his head and copied her notebook.

"You think I take all these notes during class? That's cute." She laughed at her friend.

"That should be its own class. 'How to take notes' I think it should be mandatory." Trevor said, looking over the extensive information on the page.

"So how do you do it then?" He looked up at her.

First, you have to read your syllabus. It tells you what sections to prepare for, and read that section before the class. Print out the professors notes, and then add your own. Then, in class, add explanations or graphs or examples that help you remember. After that, you take that all home and rewrite it all into a short, concise study note." She shrugged.

"Yeah, just that, huh?" He laughed at her.

"How did you get into sports medicine and kinesiology without knowing how to study?" She wondered out loud.

"I could remember stuff usually." He shrugged.

"Must be nice. Unfortunately, there is a lot to remember, and a lot of it sounds the same." Kitt said, looking over her page.

"That's where I'm struggling, so many terms that are similar. I'm getting them confused." He admitted.

"Well then, it's good that you made friends with a fanatical note taker." She laughed.

"Well, isn't that the truth!" He said, finishing up the last bit of typing.

"You are welcome." She grinned, taking back her notebook and putting it in her bag.

"So, how are you doing?" He said, packing up his laptop.

"I was wondering when the third degree was going to start." She sighed.

"You can not walk around with half your face covered in a giant bruise and not answer some questions." He said honestly.

"Fine, I am fine. Sore and stuff obviously, but overall, I am doing OK." She nodded.

"Physically. You are doing fine physically." He corrected.

"Exactly." She turned to get up, hoping the conversation was over.

"You can't be serious. You know people talk. Vin saw Axel yesterday. He has a broken nose." Trevor wasn't lettering her off that easily.

"Oh?" She pretended like she had no idea. She got up and headed out of the study room.

"Do not play dumb, I know that you knew that." He got up and followed.

"I haven't seen him, myself, but I have heard some things." She said, trying her best to sound aloof.

"I bet. You also saw the doctor, right?" He continued to follow her out of the library until they were standing under the covered patio off the back of the building. The rain was heavy, creating a curtain around them, giving them privacy.

"I did. My cheekbone is fractured, but apparently, full head casts are not a thing." She tried to lighten the mood.

"Look, Kitt. I am so sorry I didn't go with you the other night. If someone else had been there, Axel wouldn't have..." He said, looking like he might tear up.

"Hey, no one could have guessed about any of this. I just don't want it to be the only thing people remember. I don't want this to be my qualifier." She sighed.

"Qualifuer?" He looked at her.

"You know, who is Kitt? She is a great hockey player, she is a smarty pants, great note taker, awesome friend, she created a super awesome association... not, like, she is the girl that got attacked." She explained.

"Oh, yeah. I mean, all those things are true, but you aren't wearing them on your face." He reminded her.

"Well fuck him for that." She snapped.

"Absolutely!" Trevor agreed.

"I should get going. Leo is supposed to meet me." She said, looking at her phone.

"Kitt?" Trevor interrupted her exit.

"Yeah?" She turned back.

"Do you think anything is going yo happen? To Axel, I mean? Did you report him?" Trevor looked like the guy she had first met. Tall, skinny, and awkward. He was obviously uncomfortable. Kitt grinned. He could ask her openly about her sex life, or lack thereof, but this made him feel awkward.

"I told the doctor what happened. I didn't file a police report, though. I was too tired, and I just couldn't face rehashing it again. I might still." She shrugged, thinking about how many times she had to tell the story.

She also knew that she would have to tell her parents if she were to make an official report, and they would worry. She wanted to avoid that at all costs. They had enough on their plates.

"Well, if you want some moral support when you are ready, you know I am here for you." He said.

"Thanks Trev, you are the best. I'm glad we became friends." She smiled and hugged him.

"Hey." A newcomer to the patio said making them both turn to see who had joined them.

Leo was dripping wet and looked sad.

"Hey!" Kitt let go of Trevor and bounced over to hug him and kiss him. Leo practically bent her over backward like in the movies, kissing her dramatically.

"Hey man." Trevor said, offering his hand.

"Hey." Leo shook his hand briefly. He barely looked at the other guy before turning to look out at the rain.

"I was just coming to meet you! Are you ready? How was class? Ours was brutal, so boring today." Kitt said, smiling up at Leo. She felt instantly lifted just seeing him. His shoulders were slumped slightly, and his expression was dark.

"Bye, guys!" Trevor called as he waved from the other side of the patio. Kitt waved and then tucked her arm into Leo's elbow. She put her healthy cheek on his wet arm in a hug.

"I don't like that guy." Leo mumbled, his voice muffled by the heavy rain.

"What?" She tipped her head back to look him in the face.

"Nothing." He sighed, and his mood shifted.

"Ok." She smiled.

"Want to go get some food?" He offered.

"Or we could go back to my room and be alone, leave the door open, and listen to the rain." She grinned.

"Yes, that." He smiled brightly.

"But we could totally get some food to take with us." She said with a playful grin, realizing she was hungry.

"Of course, princess, whatever you want." He pulled her against him, and they dashed out into the rain.

***

The rain lasted two days, making the first day of sunshine seem special. All the students were outside soaking up the rays. Students played Frisbee, football, or soccer on the lawns. They studied alone or in groups, and many just sat with friends eating or talking.

Finally, spring had arrived at the XOU campus.

Kitt had the day off because her professor was giving a lecture at a high school and judging their science fair. He had left them with plenty to do in their Google Classroom, so Kitt packed up her laptop and went out onto her balcony.

Before she could even sit down, she heard a knock on her interior door. She furrowed her brow. No one she knew would just show up without a text first.

Her RA would text or email.

Leo would just climb the balcony.

Josie would text.

Keisha would text.

Trevor didn't even know where she lived.

She left her bag on the chair outside her patio door and crossed the room to investigate.

She opened the door to find a stranger.

"Miss Kittridge McCoy?" The young man said formally.

"Yes?" She held the door halfway between them. Muscles tense, ready to attack should his actions warrant it.

"You have a letter from the dean of admissions." He said, maintaining his air of formality.

"Thank you." She took the envelope, and the guy just nodded and turned away. He left quickly, and even his walk seemed formal.

Kitt took the letter outside to open it. Why was the dean of admissions sending her a hand delivered letter?

Ms. McCoy,

NOTICE:

PROBATIONARY STATUS: ACTIVE

DISCIPLINARY STATUS: UNDER INVESTIGATION - DECORUM

We regret to inform you that due to a breach of the scholarship contract signed prior to admission, you are being placed on probation with the admissions department until such a time that these accusations can be properly investigated. Students on scholarship are required to maintain a passing level of their course load as well as maintain a level of decorum outlined in the scholarship offer.

Until the final decision of the Athletics Department disciplinary committee is submitted in writing, you will be able to attend regular classes and contracted events. Additional opportunities will be unavailable, this is in effect until such a time that the probationary period is lifted.

If you wish to dispute any charges or accusations, you may do so by email or written letter to the admissions department. Within ten days of receiving this notice.

A.Z. Mooney

Admissions

Kitt felt sick. Her heart was racing as she read and reread the letter. She snatched up her phone to call her coach but Coach Ten was calling her already.

"Coach! I just got this super insane letter!" Kitt said fighting back tears.

"I know, I know. I just got a notification as your coach." The woman said over the phone sounding just as out of sorts.

"What? What did I do?" Kitt asked looking around wildly holding the letter in one hand and her phone in the other.

"Come see me. Don't speak to anyone, I have some calls to make." Coach Ten sounded firm.

"On my way." Kitt felt panicked. She slipped on some sandals and did her best not to run to the familiar office in the Athletics Department.

It took her half the time to get there than usual because she ran, trying desperately not to cry. She burst through the door, not bothering to knock. There was no time for formality.

"Kitt!" The coach gasped seeing her.

"Coach." Kitt burst into tears at seeing a comforting person.

"What happened to your face?" Coach demanded getting up to come around her desk. She held kitt's chin in her hand and turned her face to get a better view of the angry dark purple mark covering her cheek.

"Who cares? Why am I getting kicked out?" Kitt cried, feeling like a scared little girl.

"Ok, so I made some calls." Coach brought Kitt to sit in the corner of her office on the couches the team usually lounged on during meetings.

"And?" Kitt hiccupped. Coach Ten opened the mini fridge and brought Kitt some orange juice.

"Were you in a fight? Did you injur another student?" Coach said gently.

"Sort of." Kitt hiccupped again. She took a sip of the orange juice and wiped her uninjured cheek harshly.

"What does that mean?" Coach prompted.

"Well, we were out at a barbecue the other night." Kitt started between hiccups.

"Ok?" Coach looked at her intently, waiting for the story.

"So, so, so. Axel from the Knights, the... the center? He fol-lowed me to the river, and he k-kept trying to k-kiss me and he kept touch-ching my arm." Kitt drew a ragged breath and then hiccuped.

"He did. Hmm. Go on." Coach sat back her face turning to stone.

"So I, I, j-jumped in the ri-ver to get a-away from him." Kitt cried.

"And then?" Coach looked like she did when they lost that one game because rather second line had 'tried something new' and lost the puck deep into the third period. Twice. They never got that last point back.

"I w-went d-down the ri-ver and, and th-then cl-climbed ou-out and h-he was there! He... he... he grabbed me. I was ssso sc-scared. He wa-as going to h-hurt me. He... he wa-as h-hurt-ting me. He wa- he was... he wa-as grab-bing my my ch-chest, a-and t-tr-trying to-to k-kiss m-me." Kitt was openly sobbing. Her breath was ragged and un even making it hard to talk. It was the first time she had shared the whole story and the first time she had admitted how scared she had been and cried.

"What happened after he grabbed you?" Coaches voice developed a hard edge and her mouth barely moved as she spoke.

"I f-fought. I sc-scre-eamed. He-e pull-ulled my h-hair. I pu-nch-ched h-him to make h-him let let go. I ki-cked h-him too, I, I th-think." Kitt gasped for breath.

"How did you get that bruise?" Coach asked through thin lips.

"He he he he he, he pulled my my h-hair and and punched me-e in the fa-face. I f-fell back into th-the ri-river." Kitt finished.

Coach handed her a box of tissues.

"Excuse me a moment." Coach got up and left the room leaving Kitt sitting on the couch breath jagged and sobs wracking her body. Tears fell down her face. Kitt wiped her nose and eyes with a tissue and pulled one of the decorative pillows onto her lap.

She was ashamed. For the first time in her life she felt white hot shame course through her body, pushing hot tears from her eyes and squeezing her chest painfully making it hard to catch a breath.

Coach returned shortly after looking so angry she scared Kitt.

"You are being accused of 'unsportsmanlike conduct'. Remember, it is written in all athletic contacts that athletes will not engage in unsportsmanlike conduct on or off the ice." She spit the words out like they were nails, and she was building a house.

"Wh-what about Ax- wh-what a-about h-him?" Kitt asked.

"He made a report against you for assault. He, so far, has no pending disciplinary actions." Coach's face was red, her anger evident in her hard expression and her harsh voice.

"He wants to ha-have ME ch-ch-charged?" Kitt felt dizzy.

"He filed charges. You might even get arrested." Coach said, turning to stalk across the room to her desk.

"Arrested?" Kitt grabbed the small trash can and emptied her stomach.