Today was the day. The first game of the season was only a few hours away. Coach Orion told us not to be nervous because we were playing an easy high school team, but I obviously still was.
Did I prepare enough for this? If only I did just five more drills surely I would be more ready. Over breakfast, all of us ducks ate in silence pretending like we weren't nervous. Finally Fulton spoke up.
"This is killing me." He said, nearly yelling.
"Geez tone it down Reed." Adam said while salting his eggs.
"You guys, we literally have a game in a few hours, how are we supposed to just sit and soak in our nerves?" Fulton then asked.
"Don't even remind me..." Goldberg said.
"Somebody has to be positive!" Ken reassured Fulton.
"Well, just know it's not going to be me throughout this entire process." I announced while picking at my breakfast.
"Amen." Julie agreed.
Coach Orion strolled into the cafeteria and stopped at our table, a big smile on his face.
"The sunlight you bring..." Connie grumbled.
"What? We're inside Connie." He said in confused state.
Nobody said anything and continued to toss their breakfast foods around their plates. Even if this game was easy, it was the Ducks first time with me. They could use past tactics and pull this off easily, but I was the one out of sync. I wouldn't be taking the lead, rather falling in line. Today was my turn watch and learn. If I did that a lot, my arrival and stay on the team wouldn't be a scandal to Charlie. Like I said, in the beginning, you're supposed to be unique.
Hockey is all about the precision and sharpness. Your eyes flicker watching every movement of the puck as it gets passed back and forth. Before I could get too preoccupied in my thoughts, Coach spoke again.
"Alright. If you guys don't start flipping your moods, I'll forfeit real quick here." He tried to negotiate.
"And all of a sudden I'm feeling GREAT about today!" Luis said, everyone nodding with smiles that were formed in seconds.
"That's the attitude I want." He said while passing papers around the table, "Okay here's your schedule this afternoon, please plan accordingly. I'm not going to hold your hand and you know that. We're certainly going to knock them dead, and I don't want to hear anything otherwise in my presence. Got it? Good, great." Coach flashed a small thumbs up and then jogged away to do who knows what.
Everyone looked over their schedules in concentration.
Athletes -
Today's schedule to help you get into the swing of things. In your future, this should be done in routine by yourselves.
- Coach
12:30
Have your bag(s) packed and ready to go. All your good skates, extra tape, extra gear you or anyone might need. Always be prepared.
12:45
Eat healthy snack, leave main campus with time to spare.
1:00 - 1:15
Arrive at complex, Check in, Get into locker room.
1:15 - 2:00
Warmup Conditioning, your choice.
(Options include treadmill, spin bikes, soccer ball work, maybe even basketball.)
2:00 - 2:45
Suit up and double check everything.
2:45 - 2:55
On the ice and ready
YOU ARE READING
~Pucker face~ Charlie Conway
FanfictionAfter Sloane gets into the prestigious Eden Hall Academy, she confirms her acceptance right away in hopes she can pick up hockey there as she played for her team when she lived in New York. As soon as she steps foot onto the ice to play JV, Charlie...
