𝗵𝗲'𝘀 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶'𝗺 𝗵𝗶𝘀<𝟯. || 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘄𝗮𝘆 -on hold

01 | the news.

October 8, 1994
-
"BOOM! that's how ya do it!" i exclaim to my teammates, doing an extremely dramatic hair-flip and bowing, looking at the puck still rolling in the goal. Austin, the goalie, sighs in defeat. they roll their eyes playfully as Amber and Daniel slow clap sarcastically. i'm skating over to my friends when coach opens the back door of our rink, a man standing next to him. "Miller! come here, please!" coach yells from across the rink. i glance at my team, shooting a worried look that they shoot back before i skate over to the two. i step outside into the cold October weather and coach closes the door. he looks at the other man and he starts talking, "hello there! i'm Don Tibbles from Hendrix Hockey Apparel." the man introduces himself excitedly. "and i was wondering, if you would take the chance of a lifetime and represent team USA in the Junior Goodwill Games." he explains.

my face lights up, "oh my god! that is-...amazing! beyond amazing! yes, yes, yes! i will, but....what about my team..?" i question, looking up at coach. he looks at me with sorrow eyes and bends down to my height. "listen, Sky. don't worry about us. we will be fine and will find an extra player to play in games with us. i know how close you, Amber, and Daniel are, and i know it will be hard leaving them. but, you are THE Skylar Miller! you've got to get out there. and show 'em what The Fire can do." he pep-talks.

"you're right. i have to do this."

"great! i've just booked you a flight and a driver for tomorrow. the driver will pick you up at about 2:40pm and drop you off at the airport where you will meet me and get on the plane and take our flight at about 3, to Minneapolis Minnesota." Mr. Tibbles explains, putting his device back in his fancy coat pocket.

i went inside and broke to news to my team, and they were extremely happy for me, yet upset i had travel.

~

i give Amber and Daniel one last hug on our own and then the whole team gives me a group hug. "i'm going to miss you guys so much." i state, sniffling my nose. "we'll miss you more." Sarah replies.

"Skylar! it's time to go!" i hear Mr. Tibbles yell from behind me. i back away from them and grab my suitcase, looking at them one more time before i walk to the plane.

once i'm sat in my seat i stare out my window at my team, who are basically all crying, but smiling. the plane starts to lift off the ground and i wave goodbye to my friends, them waving back and the plane starts to move forward. the team runs after it, like they're going to follow it all the way to Minnesota. i chuckle a bit at the sight, and eventually they stop running and wave aggressively, before they're out of sight. i sigh and look infront of me.

this is going to be a long ride.
-
meanwhile in Minnesota

"THE Skylar Miller is going to be on OUR hockey team?!" Connie questions, looking at Gordon. he nods. "Skylar THE FIRE Miller?! she's the best thirteen year old hockey player i've ever seen!" Averman exclaims. "yeah! we're losers compared to her!" Charlie states. "literally! they don't call her The Fire for the fun of it!" Adam continues.

"now, calm down, guys. she may be famous and extremely good at playing ice hockey, but we're good too!" Gordon tries to pep-talk. "yeah, he's right. we don't want to make ourselves look like losers!" Goldberg agrees, getting nods from the team.
-
Skylar

"skylar.." i hear whispers as my eyes flash open and see Don standing infront of me. "we've landed, come on!" he informs. i rub my eyes and look at my watch. it's 6:36am. i grab my suitcase and walk down the aisle, walking out of the plane and getting into a limo with Tibbles.

i meet my new team today.

"where are we going?" i ask Don. "we're going to the ice rink to meet your new team. there's other children from around the US on the team too, but half of the team is The Ducks, coached by Gordon Bombay." he explains. "oh, okay. i've heard about that team. they're really good, and isn't their coach called 'The Minnesota Miracle Man'?" i ask. "yep." Don answers.

i wasn't lying, that team is really good and plays hockey really well. i'm glad to be on a team with them.

a few hours pass and we're supposedly in the town of the rink. the driver stops at the rink and we step inside, a bit early than the other players. "imma go change." i state to Don and he nods in approval.

i change into my hockey gear and slide my jersey on, 'The Badgers' showing in bright yellow on the front. i slip my black ice skates on and tie the two-different-colored laces, the left one yellow and the right one light blue, then step out of the bathroom and start skating on the ice to warm up.

the rest of the team show up and we're separated by the new players and The Ducks. "so, let me meet my new players."