𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨 • 𝗔. 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦

𝑇𝑊𝑂

[n a r r a t o r]

The six walked out of the rooms as they huddled at the front of the motel. Alexis and Kenny stood side by side as they chatted about their worst fall they had showcased infront of everyone during their figure skating journey. Alexis nibbles onto her bottom lip as she listens closely to the boy as she nods occasionally. She enjoyed listening to the boy, watching how his voice would change octaves every now and then. Ken loved figure skating. It was his passion, the one thing that gave him meaning. Figure skating gave Ken wu a defintion. A label. And loved every little bit of it. But everytime he watched Hockey players he always feels that little itch on his right forearm. And the itch would slowly grow everytime he'd think about the sport. As if it was shaming him for thinking about a sport other than figure skating. He liked knowing that when you lose in hockey you're not alone, you lose as a team not as an individual. And when you win you won as a team. So when Don Tibbles asked him to play for team U.S.A. it didn't take much convincing for him to join.

"Ready to meet your team?" Mr Tibbles slid his sweater over his wrists as he adjusted his jacket. He played with the whistle in his hand as he leaded the teens towards the bus. Don picked at the dead skin on his lips as he watched the cheerful teens as they ran onto the bus with the widest smiles he's ever seen.

Adam stood beside Guy as they waited for the six to come waltzing into the rink. Adam leaned his elbow against Charlie as they waited. Charlie babbling about the newbies that are yet to be introduced. The Ducks lined up on the ice as they waited in anticaption. Connie Monreau loved these boys but she always preferred the comfort of a girls prescence over a boys. So when she heard that there will be two girls joining she couldn't be anymore happy. Even the vaguest of thoughts crossed her mind made her leg bounce. She played with a strand of her hair- picking as her split ends as she neared Guy.

"Tell me about my new kids?" Mr Tibbles walked onto the ice as he followed the team into the centre of the rink. His shoes hites the ice in a harsh manner. His heels leaving dents onto the rink as he waved at the team. "That's Luis Mendoza. He's from our Miami Club, real speedster clocked him at 1.9, blue line to blue line." Mr Tibbles pursed his lips as he watched the boy race the rims of the rink. Luis heart was beating in his chest as he skimmed the ice with his fingertips in attempt to slow him down. "There's one minor problem-" Luis groans as his shoulder made amends with the floor. Julie, Dwayne, Ken and Alexis immediatley skating towards the boy as he clearly struggled to return to his feet.

"If you want Ken and I can teach you to stop?" Alexis indicated between her and Ken. "I almost had it that time."

"-he has troubles stopping." Don finishes. His hands cupping his waist as he shakes his head slightly. "I'd say so." Goldbergy chuckles. His grip tighter on his stick as he recieves glares from the two girls that nudged his shoulder as they skated away.

Dwayne shared a weak smile at the group as he forced the biggest smile onto his face. No matter how hard it hurt he ignored the anxiety that slwoly consumed him. Dwayne threw his hat to the side towards Ken who just caught it from the sidelines. "Yee-haw! Y'all ready to play some puck?" The cowboy slightly bends his knees in a prep position as he starts to balance the puck on the sole of his stick.

"Hey look it's hopealong Gretzky," Adam can't help but sneer at the three. His frown tightens when the boys start picking fights with each one of them, "Always having something to say huh?" Adam shakes his head in dismay as he skates away from the group. Mr Tibbles ignores their laughs as he watches in awe at the boy infront of him as he showcases his best skills and tricks. "That's Dwayne Roberston from Austin. Best puck handler I've ever seen." Coach Bombay corrects the man. "You mean for his age?" He quirks an eyebrow as he looks back at the boy as he skates in zig-zags "No I don't." Don Tibbles says firmly. Coach Bombay looks back to the centre of the rink. His mouth slightly agape.

"Hey this is easier than roppin' hogs." Dwayne comments. His voice slightly muffled from the guard of his helmet. Adam and Charlie nod impressivley at Dwayne in a way of welcome. "Has a tendency to showboat." Mr Tibbles shrugs. "Wow." Coach says breathlessly. Dwayne smiles at himself as he knows he has effectivley proved himself to the team. His worries avapporate as he take his helmet off his head letting small beads of sweat to release as he returns his hat onto his hairline. "Julie 'The Cat' Gaffney. She won the state championships for Maine 3 years in a row."

Alexis smirks as her best friend as she skates to the net. Her head held high and her shoulders rolled back. Her actions masking the true pit of anxiety that grows in knots as she kneels slightly benching forward. "Well we have goalie. Goldberg." The boy mutters quite affirmations, his head caught into his thoughts, Goldbergs' leg grow apart as it rips the bottom of his shorts. "Watch this." Don folds his arms across his chest as he watches each teammate sadly failed attmepts to shoot a puck past the blonde girl. "We could use a back up." Coach hightens his shoulders as he shrugs the thought of replacing Goldberg.

"Back up my ass." Alexis scoffs. She doesn't understand if this is a way of him joking or if this is in all seriousness. Maybe she'd have to shout it at him later or write it in bold letter. Julie won state championships 3 times in a row whilst your half ass goalie has only won once for a stupid peewee comp.

Adam watches each member showcase and display there skills as they prove themselves to the teams that they have earned their spot just like everyone else. He noted each of their weaknesses and their strengths to use against other teams. He mentally told himself to ask Luis if he needed help later.

"Last but not least Alexis 'The Hypno' Stansson. Can't get away from her, if you think you have the upper hand boy you are wrong. I've seen her play. And let me tell you it wasn't pretty."

"Put all your best players against her." Coach scoffs at his offer but gladly calls out the bunch. "Guy, Charlie, Adam and Jesse. Show her watch you got," He ushers the boys onto the rink. Adam returns the helmet onto his ehad as he skates infront of the girl. His eyebrows knitted together as she calmly skates infront of the four boys. Her smile widens as the whistle blows and yet his attention still drawned onto her eyes. Those captivating honey brown eyes. He felt himself fall into the depths of the honey hues as he let go of the worries that had caught onto him. Its as if he was cursed, it was ao addicting and so mesmerising but before he knew it she had shot 4 goals to 0. The three boys just stood there watching the empty space as their minds thought of the prettiest fantasies as she was in them all.

"Nice one guys." Connie scoffs as she hits the back of their heads. "Good game." Alexis winks playfully at the small group before joining her own. "What the hell was that!?" Gordon pointed towards the Stansson girl as he watched her giggle at their dazed looks. "Dunno." Jesse deadpans. "Well make it up to me with a scrimmage."

Adam still felt his throat ache. It was as if needles had pierced his lungs compressing his breaths knocking the air out of his lungs. He felt his spine shiver everytime he shared a glance with the girl. He hated it, and now he offically hates her.

"Stansson," Gordon couldn't ignore her name as it kept on looping withing his own thoughts. It taunted him and brought him to a place that he wishes not to return to. But still nothing comes back.