flipped. charlie conway

33

the next day, team usa were ushered to the rink clad in their red and blue hockey gear. after conversing with connie and julie of all their possible girly activities to pursue together, leah found herself eager to get on the ice. of course it would be fun to paint fingernails and buy clothes together, but it wasn't leah's favoured cup of tea. if she had to choose, she would be on the pond raft with adam.

once gordon bombay huddled the team together with a rope, leah was certain she'd rather be on the pond than in such a tight crowd of young boys.

"somebody better watch their hands." julie sternly remarked, scoffing as the young boys swarmed within the confines of the rope. the team made disgruntled remarks about their close proximity with one another. despite the frustrated groans of her peers, leah could not complain. fortunately for leah, she was forced into the crowd next to none other than charlie conway. his shaggy bedhead was so perfectly ruffled that it sent off wavering scents of apple shampoo each time his head bounced in either direction. leah didn't believe she could ever find a scent better than that apple shampoo.

charlie forced himself to ignore the doe-eyed girl beside him. time was not flying, because charlie was definitely not having fun. her dull and plain blue eyes bore into the side of charlie's head each time her hay-hair flipped around to steal a glance at the boy. perhaps she really did have a birdbrain, because leah banks could not satisfy her ability to process information by observing something just once, including charlie conway.

once coach's whistle blew, charlie released a relieved huff. the sooner he could get this over with, the better.

coach bombay strolled around the huddled team of usa. "i don't know how to make this any clearer," he began with a particular eye on charlie, "you are a team."

charlie scoffed, allowing himself to side-eye and scrunch his face at the girl beside him. of course coach bombay would say that.

"to win this thing, you must work as one," coach continued, "so as one: skate." he instructed the crowded team. one by one, each hockey player kicked off their skates. yet almost as soon as they began, team usa were piled on the floor.

"everyone goes their own way, everyone falls down. now get up and try again." coach bombay smirked, amused by the dramatic fall.

as dean pulled leah back onto her feet, charlie glared at the tall boy as leah gave him a smile of thanks. "don't help her." charlie scoffed under his breath. leah couldn't help but blush, wondering if charlie wanted to be the one to help her up even though she knew she didn't need any help.

once the team rekindled into their tight bundle, they attempted to skate as one again.

"alright, everyone move to their right, now!" dean portman leaded, urging the outermost skaters to move to the right.

fulton almost growled at the boy. "who made you boss? everyone to the left!"

and before the conflict could be resolved, the team were fallen on the floor once again. coach bombay rolled his eyes. "you guys can argue all you want," he shrugged, "i won't be untying you until you move as one. up you get!"

charlie huffed once again. "yes, get off me already, chicken wings." he scowled at leah as he shoved her off his red jersey.

"quit it with the bird names, charlie." adam sighed, pulling his sister off the floor.

soon enough, the team were successfully skating as one and receiving praise from their coach. when they all worked together, it was rather fun to skate so cohesively.

"now you're starting to look like hockey players! i'm proud of you, team. you worked hard today. but, hockey should also be fun," coach bombay spoke to his kneeling team, "rancher dwayne?"

"yes, sir?" dwayne robertson immediately replied.

"round me up some stray cattle?" bombay anticipated, causing the team to flurry away as dwayne shot up in excitement.