7. home team

Kitt was were she belonged.

On the ice.

The championship tournament was a long weekend away from the XOU campus. Kitt just wanted to play hockey. She didn't want to answer questions or lead anyone in a revolution. But her new found fame had proceeded her.

It was the first game of a possible five. Three days to determine the winner, the champions. Each round half the teams would be eliminated, until only two remained.

"Pass! Pass!" Coach yelled as Kitt noticed Josie skate smoothly into position Kitt looked at Tracy on the other side of the net drawing the opposing teams attention to her, before flicking the puck between her own legs to her other wing woman, who was left open.

Seconds later the buzzer sounded. Another goal for the Princesses.

Momentarily Kitt felt bad for their opponents, all eyes were on them as they failed to score a single goal against the now famous Princesses. Kitt looked into their faces and didn't see defeat. She saw aww, appreciation and pride. These women were also just happy to be there knowing that they are one part of something much larger.

Kitt slid heavily onto the bench at line change, smiling and panting.

"Look what you have started." AC Jarvis whispered to her subtly gesturing to the full seats of the arena. It was the biggest turn out the women's championship had ever had.

Little girls wearing their own jerseys with hand made signs saying things like "I am a hockey princess too." "Play like a girl" and "#29 born to score". Kitt couldn't help but smile and wave to the crowd.

"I can't believe this." Kitt admitted. AC Jarvis patter her back.

"You have inspired them." She said before going to check in with the other players.

Before she knew it the final buzzer sounded and the shut out was confirmed. Five to zero.

Kitt half expected the other team to be angry or frustrated, and while they looked defeated, they also looked happy.

"Great game one!" Coach said as the team changed in the visitors locker room.

"Game two is at ten am, so that means no late parties, dinner and bed. That means you Daria!" Coach joked. Everyone knew Daria and Lenore were always up for some sort of shenanigans.

"Me?" Daria couldn't hide her smile as she played innocent.

Everyone laughed.

"Rest! That's an order!" Coach pointed around the room before leaving them to finish getting changed.

As usual Kitt wasxthe last to leave the dressingroom. She was about to call her dad when the door squeaked open.

"Um, Kitt? You should probably hurry up." Josie said with a wide grin.

"Why?" Kitt asked confused.

"You'll see." Josie grinned backing out the door.

Kittpacked her last few things and went to go see what had her friend grinning like a fool. It only took about four seconds to see what had her in such a good mood.

The lobby was full of people. Young and old all waiting to meet her, ask for a picture or an autograph. Kitt's heart nearly exploded when a group of small girls with matching jerseys turned to show her their names in glitter across their shoulders.

***

Kitt shared her hotel room with Keisha, Josie, and Tracy. While her teammates went in search of food, Kitt declined in favour of staying in and calling home.

"Baby girl! We watched you online. I am so proud of you." Her mom said sounding like each breath was a struggle.

"I couldn't believe the turn out! Did you see all those people?" Kitt asked sitting cross legged in the middle of the giant bed.

"They were there to see you play!" Her dad chimed in.

"They were there supporting women's hockey, that's all I care about." Kitt shrugged.

"I always knew you would do amazing things. Sweetie we are so proud of you." Her mom said breathlessly.

Kitt could feel the sadness creeping in. She was glad she wasn't on a video call because her voice was steady , even though her eyes were wet with unshed tears.

"It was an accident." Kitt said again.

"I don't mean this political stuff, I mean you, the person you have become. You are amazing sweetheart." Her mom said firmly poorly disguising the emotions in her voice.

"Thanks mom. I love you." Kitts voice broke a little.

"Get some rest, we will talk to you tomorrow ok?" Her dad cut in. She knew that meant her mom needed to rest and she said goodbye quickly.

Her mom used to be so vibrant never missing a game, always dressing up or creating little celebrations to show Kitt how proud she was of her accomplishments.

Her phone dinged. She expected it to be one of her teammates or her dad.

Unknown number- Hey rock star! Just watched you kick ass again, it seems to be turning into a habit with you.

Kitt had no idea who was messaging her.

K: thank you? Who is this?

U: ouch that hurts, I thought we agreed to be friends!

K: Leo?

L: the one and only

K: oh OK. Thanks.

L: not out celebrating?

K: no, I don't like parties too much, and besides we have game two in the morning.

L: ah! A good girl, I kinda thought you would be a bit of a bad ass.

K: you would be wrong. I actually like my bed more than I like most other things.

L: I will have to check it out some time!

K: yeah, no.

L: since your season ends this weekend does that mean you are going to be free to come watch me play in our championship next weekend?

K: I have no clue. Honestly I will probably say something that will prompt someone to fly me down to Ottawa to address the president of Zimbabwe. (Does Zimbabwe have a president?)

L: and why would you have to do that? (And yes I believe they do)

K: how should I know?? I didn't plan to be the face of a revolution, but here I am.

L: so barring visiting dignitaries, are you going to come watch me play?

K: I don't know, did you come to watch me play?

L: touche. We have practice like three times this weekend.

K: shocker

L: it's not like that.

K: I know.

L: so can I save you a seat?

K: I will let you know.

L: remember, if I win I get to take you to dinner.

K: let's see you win first.

L: ouch!

K: only one of us has a nearly perfect season.

L: ouch again! Rude!

K: my roommates are back, night friend.

L: night princess!

The girls had brought back arm loads of food. Some snacks some actual meal items and a lot of junk.

"Gross you guys!" Kitt laughed picking up a back of chips labeled  garlic parmesan and shrimp.

"What? They sound gross, so they are probably delicious!" Josie laughed.

"Did you get anything that doesn't cause gut rot?" Kitt asked peering into the bags.

"Grilled Chicken and forest floor salad." Keisha handed her a bag.

"Do I want to ask?" Kitt held the bag between two fingers.

"You know, nuts and seeds and berries and weeds and leaves and things?" Keisha gestured her away as the other three pulled out a bucket of fried chicken and large foil dishes of poutine and pasta and bread.

"I thought you wanted a nap." Tracy asked settling in against the pillows on the other bed.

"I called my parents." Kitt shrugged.

"Oh that's good. My mom texted and my brother sent me a meme. Gee I feel so supported." Tracy laughed.

"I haven't talked to my mom in like a year, my dad and step-mom called to ask about the game though." Josie shared.

"My mom makes me FaceTime with all my cousins and aunties and random church people." Keisha said eating directly out of the take out dish.

"Anyone hear from their boyfriends?" Josie looked at Kitt with a sly grin."Or girlfriends!" She added as an afterthought.

"Why are you looking at me? You know my dating status makes the Sahara desert look absolutely cluttered." Kitt furrowed her brows at her friends odd behavior.

"So no messages from anyone interesting?" Josie obviously knew something.

"What are you going on about?" Kitt played dumb.

"Maybe nothing, but maybe something?" Keisha gave Kitt a sly look.

"What is going on with you people?" Kitt demanded.

"They gave your number to some hockey boy the other day and told him to message you after the game today." Tracy said sounding a bit bored.

"Gee thanks FRIENDS." Kitt rolled her eyes.

"How do you know Leo any way?" Kitt asked taking a big bite of salad.

"He did message you!" Josie stood up grinning.

"Hum? What?" Kitt pretended not to understand.

"We never said his name was Leo." Keisha grinned triumphantly.

"Ok so he messaged. As friends, we are just trying to see if we can figure out how to be friends." Kitt tried to calm her excited friends.

"Friends with benefits!" Josie said with her hand by her mouth.

"Get it, that boy is fine." Keisha nodded.

"Leo? I don't think so, he is a hockey bro, and a bit of a self centered ass." Kitt shoock her head.

"And the God son of Director Thomas." Tracy shared mire interested in her chicken than their conversation.

"He is who now?" Keisha turned to look at Tracy more fully.

"You knew that." Tracy shrugged.

"I most certainly did not!" Keisha said emphatically.

"Well that makes a world of sense, than! He just wants to be friends to figure out my next move." Kitt leaned back against the head board.

"Yeah, I don't know." Josie grinned sitting back on the bed.

"It's honestly nothing." Kitt assured her friends.

"If you say so!" Keisha shook her head like she didn't believe what she was saying.

***

The final game was at four o'clock on Sunday afternoon. The arena was packed, reporters sat in the usually empty press box and cameras were set up around the ice to stream the game live.

Kitt was actually nervous. Athletics Director Thomas was in the audience, purely for the aesthetic of it all. He had to at least APPEAR to support his female athletes.

The tension in her shoulders made her neck ache. It wouldn't be good if she couldn't relax, her shots would be off and she felt like the whole world was watching, waiting for her to screw up.

Kitt closed her eyes, she let her shoulders drop away from her ears. She took herself through a meditation practice she had learned in high school. Focus on one small area at a time, starting at your toes and working your way up the body. One little area at a time. It allowed her to really concentrate on releasing the tension in her muscles. She was often surprised at

How tense she was.

This game seemed important, more important than literally any other time she took the ice. The pressure on her shoulders was almost more than she could handle.

"You ok?" Josie asked sitting beside her.

"I kinda feel sick." Kitt admitted.

"Want me to grab the garbage can?" Josie smiled trying to be supportive.

"I don't think so, but maybe you could help me disappear?" Kitt joked.

"Get away car or sleepy-time frying pan?" Josie offered some options.

"You choose." Kitt shrugged.

"You are really nervous. Kitt, it is ok, I promise." Josie put her arm around her friend.

"How did you find me?" Kitt asked leaning on her friend.

"It's two hours before the game. Kitt is in the dressing room." Josie slapped her friends knee.

"Oh, yeah that makes sense." Kitt nodded sitting up.

"I promise, no matter what happens it will be ok. I know it feels really big, but it is only one thing." Josie tried to be supportive.

"But..." Kitt started.

"But what?" Josie asked gently.

"What if we loose?" Kitt asked quietly.

"Where is the girl who bought twenty glitter tutus just to make a point?" Josie prodded.

"I did do that didn't I?" Kitt laughed.

"I think you just got into your head, these Bayor University Bobcats are not better than us." Josie assured her.

"But what if they are?" Kitt asked almost whining.

"Then we celebrate them with gusto, we show the world that we are good at winning and at losing! We congratulate them and sing their praises." Josie said  plopping back down on the bench.

"Genius! Win or loose we celebrate! Women's hockey is getting a giant boost either way!" Kitt popped up and felt her mood switch in an instant!

"Uh oh, you have an Idea." Josie laughed.

"There she is!" Josie clapped her back.

"Come on we have just enough time." Kitt grabbed her phone.

"For what?... Kitt... what are we doing?" Josie went chasing after her friend.