Last Shot Read online

  “Sounds like there’s a spot up for grabs for a fancy-pants scoring machine named Rocket,” André said.

  Rocket laughed. “I’d feel better if you were the GM.”

  “You’d be on the bench. Your ego is out of control.”

  “I wouldn’t play for a hack like you, anyway—”

  “Watch out!” André said as they both skidded to a stop. They just managed to avoid two boys who’d cut through some bushes to cross the park.

  Rocket knew them. Bad dudes. They wore faded jean jackets with Brigade written across the back and had bandanas tied around their right arms. One of them, Connor, was basically a gangbanger. He’d dropped out of school, and Rocket knew he hung out at the Grove, the bar around the corner, even though he was only seventeen.

  “Hey, Raja, check out these losers. You little boys lost?” Connor sneered.

  Raja laughed.

  Rocket wasn’t worried, not with André there.

  “Sorry. We’re just running … training. See ya,” Rocket said.

  Connor knocked him to the ground with a vicious two-handed shove to his chest.

  “Don’t run into me next time,” Connor growled.

  “Yeah, no running into us,” Raja said.

  “Back off, bro,” André said, taking a step toward Connor. No surprise that André wasn’t scared. He was a big guy. He didn’t live here, though. He didn’t know who he was messing with, and he wouldn’t have to deal with the consequences.

  Rocket got to his feet.

  “Back off or what?” Connor said.

  “Come find out,” André said calmly.

  Connor moved toward André, who didn’t budge. He towered above Connor.

  “You’re lucky we got to go,” Connor said. “I see you around here again, your face is broken.” He punched his fist into his palm.

  Rocket bit his tongue. He didn’t need trouble with these two.

  “I got you figured as a total wimp — all talk,” André said. “Break my face now.”

  “Relax, bulldog,” Connor laughed. He flicked his chin at Rocket. “What are you going to do without your bodyguard around?”

  So much for avoiding problems. “Whatever I want,” Rocket said.

  He’d lived here for most of his life. Rule number one: Show no fear.

  Connor’s eyes grew wide and he elbowed Raja. “Peewee is going to throw a hissy fit on us. He’s all angry.”

  “Peewee angry,” Raja said in a baby voice.

  “You ever say anything original?” Rocket said to Raja.

  Raja kept giggling.

  “I’ll see you around, Peewee,” Connor said to Rocket. Then he glared at André. “Take a good long look in the mirror tonight. I’m going to destroy that face of yours.” He turned to leave.

  André shrugged. “Like I thought. He runs away.”

  Connor spun back. “You have a death wish? For real?”

  “Apparently, you do, too,” André said.

  “We got to go, Connor,” Raja said. He sounded nervous all of a sudden. “They’re waiting for us. We shouldn’t be late. They told us not to be late.”

  Connor pressed his lips together. “I so want to crack some heads.” He pointed at André. “We’ll run into each other again. Count on it.”

  This time he walked off. Raja, of course, followed.

  “What was that?” André said.

  Rocket felt himself flush. “Welcome to the neighbourhood.”

  “Those guys live around here?”

  “Those guys … lots of other guys.” No point hiding it. “I live there, in that apartment, the one with the grey wall.”

  Rocket knew what André was thinking: You actually live there, in that dump?

  Instead of disgust, André’s expression seemed thoughtful. “I’ve heard this is a rough place. I know there are some gangs and stuff. I got to admit, my mom was a little freaked that I was coming here.”

  Rocket took it all in: the dark, crumbling apartment buildings, houses with boarded-up or broken windows, garbage strewn about. “That’s sort of why I suggested the school.”

  “You training tomorrow?” André said suddenly.

  “I guess — every day.”

  “I’ll meet you back here tomorrow.”

  “We can meet at my school.”

  “Here,” André said emphatically. “Those two weasels got on my nerves. Hopefully, they’ll come around again.”

  “They definitely fit the weasel category.” Rocket laughed, but the truth was he was scared of them. Connor and Raja weren’t so tough on their own, but they were part of an actual gang. Some of the Brigades were older and pretty dangerous — you definitely wanted to avoid them. But how could a guy like André understand? He didn’t have people like that in his neighbourhood.

  André pulled out his water bottle. “Could I hit up your place for a refill? I’m about done.”

  “You could get some water at the corner store, on the way to the subway.”

  “Yeah, but I forgot my cash. Just got enough to get me home. Otherwise, I’m walking, and after that workout, I’m done exercising for the day. Bro, you’ll be like Superman if you keep this workout up.” He began to walk toward Rocket’s apartment.

  Rocket took a deep breath and ran to catch up.

  “You make up your mind about who you’re going to play for next season?” Rocket asked.

  They crossed the street.

  “I think I’m done,” André said. “Grade eleven is a big year, and I have to focus on my grades. I might just fool around in a rec league with some buds.”

  Rocket was shocked. André could play. He really could. If he took it seriously, he might make a Junior B team, and then Junior A — even a university team.

  “If you miss a year, then you may never make it back,” Rocket said. They went into his building.

  “Make it back to what?”

  “To whatever. You have the skills,” Rocket said. “You should play midget and go for the draft …” André was laughing. “Did I get funny?” Rocket asked.

  The elevator came and they got in.

  “Definitely not,” André said. “You just don’t get that most guys don’t want to pay the price. You’re willing to do it. I think you’d do almost anything to make it. Me? I’m not risking my body and a concussion and my education, especially when I know there’s no point.”

  “You’ve got to have more confidence,” Rocket said. “You get a free year of university for every year in the O. Did you know that?”

  “I’m going to university anyway,” André said.

  Rocket felt stupid. André’s family was rich. Of course, he was going to university. Rocket, on the other hand, wasn’t going anywhere without hockey.

  “Well … it’s good for some guys,” Rocket murmured.

  The elevator opened. He heard some shouting from 1203. They were always arguing.

  “I didn’t mean it like that,” André said.

  Rocket took out his key, opened the door and went in.

  “It’s not going to happen for me,” André said. “Too much of a long shot. For you, I get it. You can do it. It’s worth the risk. You’ve got the talent.”

  Rocket suddenly felt tired. The odds of making the NHL were huge. Whenever he really thought about it, his stomach began to churn.

  “You work off all that fat?” a voice called from the living room.

  “Hi, Maddy,” André called back.

  The TV turned off and Maddy came into the hallway.

  “You didn’t tell me André was coming over,” she said, sneaking an angry glance at Rocket.

  “I didn’t know,” Rocket said.

  Maddy was hard to understand. Why was she mad? He thought she liked André.

  “He didn’t think I’d get home in one piece,” Rocket continued. “We met your friend Connor.”

  “What happened?” she said.

  “Nothing,” Rocket said. “We scared them away, but apparently André’s face is about to be r
earranged and I’m a dead man.”

  André began laughing.

  “How is this funny?” Maddy gasped. “Those Brigade boys are the worst.”

  “More bark than bite,” André said.

  “It’s easy for you to say. You’re twice Bryan’s size,” Maddy said.

  The room went silent.

  Then Rocket and André went into hysterics. Rocket was laughing so hard, he had to sit down in the hall.

  “I forgot to tell you how small you are again,” André sputtered.

  “Why do I forget that boys are mentally damaged and aren’t worth my time?” Maddy asked.

  “Private joke. Sorry,” André said.

  Maddy threw her nose into the air. “I forgive you, but not Bryan. He’s too stinky.”

  “Will you forgive me after my shower, sis?” Rocket said.

  André looked puzzled. “Um, I thought you weren’t actually brother and sister.”

  “We’re not,” Rocket said quickly. He shouldn’t have said that. It was hard to explain. “Maddy used to live in this building, and then she moved in with us a few years ago.”

  He hoped that was enough. He couldn’t remember what he’d told André about Maddy, and he didn’t want to embarrass her.

  “My mom left me,” Maddy said in a determined voice. “She took off a few years ago, and then I lived with her ex-boyfriend for a while. He was a total jerk, so Risa invited me to live here. The sis-bro thing is our inside joke.” She beamed a fake smile at Rocket.

  Rocket was surprised. She never told people that.

  “Must have been really tough,” André said. He slid down the wall and joined Rocket on the floor.

  Maddy shrugged, and then she sat down too. “I don’t recommend it, but I’m okay. We’re all okay. It’s Risa I worry about. She has to work so hard and she has the two of us to support. We both have part-time jobs, but we don’t make much.”

  “If I make the Axmen, all of my room and board, and a lot of other things, will be covered,” Rocket said. He looked over at André. “That’s another reason I have to make the team. Plus, my mom won’t have to pay anything for me to play hockey, and I know it’s a huge chunk of change for her.”

  The door opened.

  “Hey, Mom,” Rocket said.

  Rocket’s mother came in and put two plastic bags down. “Is there a reason you’re all sitting on the floor in the hallway?” she said, her head tilted to the side.

  “Because Bryan is small,” Maddy said.

  That set them off again.

  Risa shook her head, laughing. “My goodness, André, I haven’t seen you in years. Not since Bryan played on the Blues.”

  André stood up and shook her hand.

  “Why don’t you guys set up in the living room, and I can get dinner ready. Will you stay?” Risa asked André.

  “That’s nice of you. Thanks. But I need a shower, and … you didn’t expect me,” André stammered.

  “You may as well stay,” Maddy said. “You’re here anyway.”

  André smiled at her. “I am here …”

  They both laughed and went into the living room. Rocket stared after them and then looked over to his mom.

  Risa picked up the bags. “Show André the shower and give him a towel. You can lend him a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. You have enough of them. They might be a tight fit, but we’ll do a quick wash of his stuff and he can wear it home.” She went into the kitchen.

  “You need any help?” Maddy sang out.

  “I’m good, dear,” Risa said. “I’ll tell you when to set the table.”

  “Tell Bryan. He’s good at it,” Maddy said.

  Rocket went into the living room. Maddy was sitting down. He watched as she pulled the elastic from her ponytail and shook her hair out. Then she patted the sofa and André joined her.

  “So what have you been doing this summer?” she asked.

  “I’ve been working at a grocery store, doing the stocking,” André said. “What about you?”

  “I’ll take the first shower, I guess,” Rocket said.

  “Not much. Hanging out mostly. I work for this juice place. It sells bubble tea, smoothies, juice — obviously — that kind of thing. It’s only part-time, and they’re always messing me up for hours. But I couldn’t find a better job this summer, which sucks.”

  Rocket was getting that third-wheel vibe. “André, you want to change into something else for now?” he tried again.

  “Is your job full-time?” Maddy asked André.

  “Pretty much. It’s unionized, so the pay’s good. I got real lucky. My dad knows someone there, one of the owners,” André said.

  They were in their own world. Rocket gave up and went to take a shower.

  He turned the water on. It usually took a minute or two to warm up. He thought about Connor and Raja. He couldn’t let them intimidate him and throw him off his training. The puck dropped in seven days, and he needed to answer the call.

  Then he thought about André. What price was too high to make the NHL? He’d never considered that. André had said Rocket should go for it because he had the talent. The truth was Rocket would pay any price because he had nothing else. Hockey was his only ticket out of this neighbourhood, for himself, for his mom and for Maddy.

  He had to make the Axmen. If he didn’t and had to try again next year, then the odds of getting to the NHL just got worse. His mom needed him to make it, to make money — NHL money. He wanted to get her out of this apartment more than anything. He’d buy her a big house and a car — everything she ever wanted. And Maddy needed to go to school. He knew she was already looking at colleges because they were cheaper. But she was so smart. If anyone should go to university, it was her. It was so unfair that rich kids never had to worry about these things.

  Rocket tested the water. Still cold. He wondered when his life would get easier.

  CHAPTER 3

  Rocket took a big bite out of his sub.

  “Ack. My shirt’s been hit by sub sauce,” he said.

  “We could’ve eaten there like normal people,” Maddy said.

  “I can’t sit. Too hyped. Besides, I can do this.” He took a bite. “See, no sauce on the shirt this time.”

  “I’m very impressed.”

  They turned off the main street.

  “This isn’t meant to be a lecture,” Maddy said, “but you could, maybe, spend some time with your mom tonight. You leave tomorrow, and I think she’s a bit sad that you might be gone for the year.”

  “I think she’s okay with it,” Rocket said. “Axton’s only a few hours away.” He took another bite.

  “Trust me on this one. You forget that you two are … you two have been together a lot since your parents separated, like you’re a team. At least, that’s how I see it.”

  “You’ll still be here.”

  “I’m not her daughter.”

  He thought about what to say next. “I’m not saying you are. It’s just that I think of us as a family, the three of us, like we’re in this together … like a family.”

  For a while they walked together quietly.

  “That’s a nice thing to say, and … that’s how I feel, too.” She let her sub fall into the bag, and she punched Rocket in the shoulder.

  “Um … Ouch?” he said.

  “Stop pretending to be so nice and brother-like, and go back to being the usual insensitive Bryan. You’re going to make me cry,” she said.

  He rubbed his arm. “I thought you were supposed to be more mature than me.”

  “Shut up.”

  “Whatever.”

  A bottle suddenly skidded in front of Rocket’s feet and smashed on the sidewalk.

  “Where’s your bodyguard, Peewee?” Connor called.

  He and Raja ran across the street and stood in front of them.

  “I don’t want any trouble,” Rocket said. “We’re just going home.”

  Connor snatched Rocket’s sub from his hands. “You ate my sandwich,” he said. �
�Look, Raja, the dude actually ate my food.”

  “Total rudeness,” Raja said.

  “You can have it,” Rocket said, “and I’m not interested in doing this.”

  He wasn’t afraid of Connor. He’d dealt with way tougher guys on the ice. But Connor had Raja as backup — and Maddy had to get away from this.

  Connor’s mouth gaped open. “I’m sorry, what are you interested in?”

  “I bet it’s being a loser,” Raja said.

  Connor laughed, tossed Rocket’s sub to the ground and kicked it aside. “So Peewee, do you care about what I’m interested in?”

  “What are you interested in, Connor?” Raja said.

  “I’m interested in kicking Peewee’s butt into another century,” Connor said.

  “I have a phone and I’m calling the police,” Maddy said.

  Connor’s head swivelled around. “You think we’re going to let you make that call?”

  “We don’t need to make any calls,” Rocket said. “We’re just going home.”

  “You go where I tell you,” Connor said.

  Rocket knew he had to act now — show no fear. He charged into Connor with his shoulder and knocked him back. “Run, Maddy. Get out of here!” he yelled.

  Raja threw a punch at Rocket’s head from the side. It clipped him in the ear. Rocket took a step toward him, and Raja backed away.

  “I’m breaking an extra bone for that,” Connor growled, as he got up. His fists were clenched.

  “Yeah, let’s settle this,” Raja said.

  Maddy stood a few metres back.

  “Get going,” Rocket said to her.

  She looked like a ghost, her face was so pale. She shook her head, moved next to Rocket and raised her fists.

  “You don’t think I’d hit a girl?” Connor grinned.

  “I’m sure you’re the type of guy who would,” Maddy answered.

  “Maddy,” Rocket whispered urgently.

  “Forget this. Grab her, and I’ll take Peewee out,” Connor said to Raja.

  Connor threw a left jab at Rocket’s face. Rocket blocked it with his forearm, and took a few steps back. Raja grabbed Maddy by the wrists.

  “Let go!” she screamed. She kicked him in the shins.

  “This girl is nuts,” Raja said, letting go.