I shook my head at the chortling Rotan.
"Leave me be." I said quietly, and she instantly stopped. "When's your next game?" She checked her watch.
"In about an hour." She stood up. "Better go get my bike from school before I have to get to the rink."
"I'll join you!"
"Stay here, Euro-boy, I'll be fine." But I've always been able to convince Rotan, and soon we were walking back into our neibourhood, Rotan leaning on the handlebars of the blue and sliver mountain bike. I waited in her yard while she went to get her gear, then we set off at a high pace for the Cleaveland Ice Rink. Rotan dissapeared into the locker rooms, and I climbed into the stands, glad and proud that my friend was so tough. Shivering, I hugged myself as the game began. I hated how brutal hockey was, but I loved watching Rotan careen down the ice, weaving in and out of players, and I grinned.