"𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝗰𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗲𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿." || 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗺 𝗯𝗮𝗻𝗸𝘀

17 | team usa.

Pee-Wee coach, and minor-league player, Gordon Bombay makes the move to the national stage, as he steps behind the bench for Team USA. Coach Bombay's Ducks will be joined by some of the top young players from around the United States.'

i read. i find myself in the Ducks selection, and Olivia Conway is labeled under my picture.

~

the 5 teenagers skate infront of us, "tell me about my new kids." coach tells Don. Tibbles points to a tall boy with black hair, "that's Luis Mendoza. he's from our Miami club." the boy starts skating around our rink. "a real speedster, incredible skater. i clocked him at 1.9 seconds, blue line to blue line." Luis continues skating around with his stick, as i feel Adam slip his hand into mine. we watched the boy skate, "good lookin' skater." Connie states. "very good lookin'. what do ya think, Guy?" Averman teases and Guy rolls his eyes, "shut up, Averman." he hisses before elbowing him and making the ginger fall to the ground. a small chuckle leaves my lips, along with Adam's.

"just one minor problem...." Tibbles states before a large thud comes from an end of the rink. my head snaps over towards it, seeing the boy laying flat on the ground. "has a little trouble stopping." Tibbles finishes his own sentence.

"i'd say so" Goldberg chuckles. i elbow him, "please, you barely even know how to skate. just yesterday you rudely interrupted a families picnic." i snap and the whole team laughs, Goldberg looking defeated as i smirk and place my head on Adams shoulder.

the rest of the non-ducks skates over to Luis and help him get up. "yeah, i'm fine. i almost had it that time."

i haven't known this boy for longer than 5 minutes, but i am 100% sure that he did not almost have it.

the next boy skates up, ripping of his cowboy hat with a "YEEHAW! how's everyone?! y'all ready to play some puck?!" the boy asks, filled with enthusiasm. "hey, look, it's hopalong gretzky!" Jesse laughs. everyone does, but not me. i get the teasing and rough-housing with the Ducks, our teammates, because we've been together for a good 4 years. but....i don't know, it just doesn't seem right to tease these kids the first meeting.

"that's Dwayne Robertson from Austin. the best puck handler i've ever seen." Tibbles introduces as Dwayne bounces the puck on his stick. "you mean for his age." coach tries to correct. "no. i don't."

he continues with everyone, and we meet Ken Wu and Julie Gaffney. i tap Connie lightly, "finally another girl on the team, i'm sick of these boys." i state carelessly, all the boys snapping their heads to me with shocked and hurt faces, besides Adam. he just smiled at me, like he was proud of me. Julie sent a soft smile to me and Connie, that we both happily returned.

suddenly, a loud noise busts from behind. i turn around and see....Dean?! MY FAVORITE COUSIN!!

i drop my stick and start skating towards him, "Deanie!" i exclaim as he looks at me before his face glows. i've called him that since i was six, so be quiet. "popcorn!" he exclaim back, skating towards me.

once, when we were little, when i was eight and he was nine, i mistaked a bowl of almonds for popcorn, and me and Charlie are extremely allergic to any kind of nut. and Dean thought it was absolutely hilarious when i blew up, so now i'm 'popcorn'.

once we get close enough he picks me up and throws me up and down into the air, since i'm light enough for him to do that. the whole rink watched our chaos in confusion as coach and Tibbles watched cautiously, scared he'll drop me. once he puts me down, we hug, "where's Charles?" Dean questions and i point to Charlie, who's in between Guy and Adam. Dean skates up to Charlie, "hey, cuz'!" Charlie hugs him, "hey, Charles. i missed you two back in Chicago." Dean hugs back. "we've missed our favorite cousin too" i smile as i skate back next to Averman. "i didn't know you had a cousin." Averman scrunches his nose. i nod, "mhm. he lives in Chicago, Illinois, so i never brought him up." i inform. i look at Adam and realize i never told Dean about my boyfriend.

i skate back over to Dean and pull his arm down so his head would be my height, and cup my hands around his ear, "i have a boyfriend and he's on the team" i whisper and he shoots up with a grin, "which one?!" he asks and i point to Adam, who's eyes go wide before forcing a smile and waving awkwardly. Dean looks down at me and smiles, before skating towards Adam and everyone backs away, like they're scared of Dean or something.

i hear them whisper a bit before both their faces start turning sour. "don't get an attitude with me, Banks!" Dean yells and pushes Adam. "i'm not!" Adam pushes him back.

oh no.

Guy gets infront of Adam and pushes Dean, and Dean pushes Guy, so Connie shoves Dean, so he shoves her back, and that's my last straw. i step in, "Dean calm down!" i yell and everyone starts arguing and shoving each other. Dean tries to push me but then Charlie and Adam push him but Luis pushes them two back, standing up for Dean.

TWEET!!

"EVERYBODY FREEZE!!"

we all stop and turn our heads to the noise, seeing coach standing there. "we didn't come here to fight! we came here to play hockey! you're team usa. you represent your country!" coach lectures. i realize Tibbles walking out of the rink, but shrug it off. "one more shove or push or insult and you're all hitting the bench! okay?!"

"okay.." we all chorus.

"alright. now let's start with a scrimmage." coach blows his whistle and we separate into teams.

~

we played for a little while, until we all got into another fight. and guess what. coach took a rope, and tied us all together tightly. i don't think he realized how uncomfortable and tight it was, and because i'm only 5'3, i got put in the front, causing the rope to be clinging to my stomach. coach put us by height, so Kenny is next to me, Connie on the other side, and Dwayne behind me.

we all practiced moving together as a team, falling down at least 5 different times in the process. eventually, we all got the hang of it and skated around half the rink while tied together.

he unties us all and i immediately bolt as fast as i can go to the other side of the rink. i spin around in circles with my arms extended next to me. "finally i'm free!" i exclaim before coach calls us to sit down on the bench. we all sit down and i sit in between Julie and Luis, as coach starts to talk.

"you guys are starting to look like hockey players. i'm proud of you, team. you did good today. but, hockey should also be fun..."

"rancher Dwayne!"

"yes sir!" Dwayne snaps his head over to coach. he hands him a rope, "round me up some stray cattle there." coach smirks, handing him a rope.

Dwayne looks around at all of us, "my pleasure!" he exclaims, standing up as we all scatter off the benches. we all try to stay as far from Dwayne as possible, trying not to get caught.

everyone eventually gets caught, besides me and Adam. lovey dovey couple isn't a thing anymore. this is war. we glare daggers at each other from across the rink, Dwayne coming after me. i quickly skate away from him, and passing Adam, him quickly following up with me. "just because i love you doesn't mean i won't crush you, puck girl!" Adam exclaims, trying to catch up to me on his skates. "shut it, cake eater! i'm trying to focus!" i yell back with a grin. i turn around and start skating backwards, and becoming face to face with Adam, "oh, and just so you know, you're the one getting crushed, Banks." i smirk before pointing behind him. Adam turns around, and before he can realize anything, he gets caught in the rope by the cowboy. "HA! I WIN, BANKSIE BOY!" i yell, jumping up with my arm extended, Connie and Julie high-fiving me as Adam sighs in defeat, along with Guy and Charlie.