Banksie// Adam Banks

Chapter 4

Our first practice was really chill. As I expected, the scrimmage was interesting. We won but only by 2 goals. It was a close game. Luis and Ken made most of our goals, Dean and I had defense, I scored a goal too but it's not a big deal, and Julie was goalie. I mean obviously she was, she's the only one of us who can be goalie. 

The whole team was told to meet at a skate shop a few minutes away from the rink. Both my parents had to work so I have to skate there. It's fine though. Julie has to stay at a hotel while she stays in Minnesota so I invited her to come to my house. 

Me and Julie were about to leave when she asked, "Why do you think people were asked to join this team, like, people from around the country? They don't do that for any other team I've seen besides the pros."

"No clue, it's cool though." I said, I hadn't thought about it before she brought it up. Hopefully we find out soon.

We had to skate for about 10 minutes before we got there. It was so hot outside. I could feel my clothes sticking onto my body. It was painful. When we walked into the shop we were immediately greeted by the cold air conditioning. It felt so good at the moment. There were small tables set up with chairs. The place looked nice. 

Me and Julie found seats next to Luis and Ken, once we sat down coach started talking. "Okay team, we all know that this isn't going to be a normal season because we have invited people from around the country to play." he started. I tried playing attention but Luis kept playing with the dangly earrings that I wore so it was hard to. I kept shooing him off but he kept playing with them. "this year we were offered to be Team USA in the Junior Goodwill Games."

We were all shocked. I didn't expect that. I don't know what I did expect but it was for sure not that. Luis tugged at my earring, which may I say, really really hurt. I swatted his hand away harshly. I did not want a ripped earlobe, that would be terrible. 

"In order for us to be seen as a team, we need some team apparel." He said while throwing random clothing items at us. It was fun to watch people scramble to catch things. "Along with the clothes, we need a jersey." He started throwing our jerseys at us too. I got number 93, not what I was used to but still cool. 

Out of nowhere the Tibbles guy came out with a huge rolling thing covered by a big piece of cloth. It was weird, until he uncovered it to reveal a huge cracker box logo with all of us on it. I don't think I would've ever expected to see myself on a crackers box. I guess there's a first for everything. 

This whole time I felt that weird feeling where you know someone is watching you. I was looking around and saw Adam looking at me. The second he saw me looking at him looking he looked away. I laughed, it's always funny to catch people off guard.

*****

Coach had explained to us that we would be travelling to Las Angeles for the games, but would have some practices here beforehand. I wanted to try to get closer to the team before we left so I would have some more friends here, and in California, I guess. There's another girl on the team, so I wanted to try to talk to her first. I was walking to the locker room behind her after practice, I thought that it was the perfect time to talk to her. 

"Hi, I'm Anna! Let me say that I am so excited to be going to Las Angeles. I've never been there and going there to play in a junior Olympic's thing is so exciting!" I said. I don't think I've ever been so energetic while talking. She looked at me confused then realized that I was talking to her.

"Oh! Yeah that's super exciting. I'm Connie, sorry I didn't realize you were talking to me, haha." she laughed.

"Sorry if I caught you off guard." I laughed. She seemed so surprised that I was talking to her. She sounds nice though. 

"oh no, it's fine. I was kinda zoned out when you got next to me so I didn't see you." she basically said I caught her off guard without saying it. "I gotta go, I have to hurry 'cause my rides here already, It was nice talking to you though. You're a good player." she said while waving. 

I tried walking into the locker room but accidentally bumped into Adam. Holy crap he seemed so tall compared to me. I'm 5'4, I didn't think that was short but compared to him it was.

"Sorry! I didn't see you." He said. 

"I can see why, sheesh you're tall compared to me." I responded, where has all this confidence even come from? I've never been able to talk so confidently in my life!

"Haha, yea. Or you're just short. It goes both ways." did he just call me short? Sir, you are a giant I am the average height.

"Maybe, well see you tomorrow." I said before walking into the locker room. That was a crappy way to end a conversation. I don't even think I looked him in his gorgeous eyes at all. I was super nervous during that conversation. You couldn't tell based off the talking itself, but I was freaking out.

A/N: Oh my gosh, this is so weird to write. This is my first book if you couldn't tell. I know, I know, it's going by sssssuuuuppppeeeerrr slowly. But give it time and it will eventually get there :)))