𝗢𝗡𝗟𝗬 𝗙𝗢𝗥 𝗬𝗢𝗨 • 𝗔. 𝗕𝗔𝗡𝗞𝗦

𝑇𝐻𝐼𝑅𝑇𝑌 𝑂𝑁𝐸

[n a r r a t o r]

—"we'll, Gordon Bombay's old team was called the "Ducks" and I guess we've got the U.S.A ducks out there now."

They all started to chant. Shouting as far as their lungs could take them.

Alexis Stansson who had pulled away from the huddle sat on the bench beside her mother Delta Stansson. Who hugged her daughter so tight to the point it felt she had truely squeezed the life out of her. But Alexis couldn't care less. It felt relief as her mother held her in her arms.

She felt the crown of her head damp with trails of kisses. The tint of Deltas blonde hair tickles the side of her face. Her amber eyes fells onto the soft exteriors of her mums face. The light expressions and the fond smile that never weakened from her face. Creasing her slightly tan skin into folds as her grin only grew bigger.

"So how was the games? You've been doing so well." Delta wraps a warm arm around her daughters shoulders. Leaning her head into hers as she releases her breaths. The dead skin on her lips non existent as she pulls at it, waiting for that stinging sensation to crack her out of her drunken state of mind.

"I love my team. But I've missed home. And I've missed you the most. It was so hard not being able to talk to you as regularly as before. And it's even harder being stuck with dad." Her tone dropped down octaves as she pointed to Wolf. Who's stare was taken by Delta. He felt his heart swell and the veins to his heartstrings clear pure radiance as her blue eyes coloured his brown ones in the purest of shades.

He wanted to talk to her. He even tried to move his lips but all that came out was stutters and pointless murmurs.

All this time Wolf had hoped she'd forgotten about him, and that she'd never remember the moment he told her he was going to leave. But she hadn't. It was the only thing that kept her sane knowing that after hearing the news that he could possibly come back. But that day had never came. And those moments had been long gone and given up on.

"You go out there and kick some Iceland ass— sorry I meant butt." Delta rephrased. Her arm retreat from her daughters shoulders. Watching closely as she skated to centre.

Averman pushed the Iceland player down. The puck now in Jesse's possession as he covers the edge of the rink. He's quick to pass to Alexis who circles the Iceland players. Her feet moving fast backwards and her swift motions equal to the smooth weaves that pass her shoulder as she dodged their multiple attacks.

Alexis passes it to Connie, who makes her to the goal and right before the boy behind her could beat her to it she hits it to the back bar declaring as a goal.

—"Connie Moreau with a lovely move in front of the net. Pulls team U.S.A. Two goals. Team U.S.A. Down by two goals. Trying to get back in it. Shot and diving save by Goldberg."

Goldbergs dives, the puck transferred to Averman, "Hey! Watch your back!" Goldberg shouts. Indicating towards the boys behind him.

"Averman lost the puck, Iceland gets it over Gunnar Stahl. He's got an open net. He scores!" And the blare clarify's the goal.

—"Oh, that hurts. The ducks trail now five-to-two."

The team huddled tightly together. Their sweaty bodies forming into a circle as their breath heave against their ow skin. "Okay, ducks take a look here." Charlie draws onto the board, a messily written representation of their play.

"Charlie what are we trying to do here, this isn't the NBA." Averman points out. "It's the perfect teamwork play." Charlie explains as he point to our positions. His voice quiter as the Iceland team ceases their shouts to a holt.

Adam lead with the puck, Luis who races towards Icelands goal. Alexis and Connie trailing behind the Iceland player who fail miserably as he tries to grip onto Luis' jersey, Luis passes it on to Dwayne who stops at centre.

"Alley-Oop boys." He shouts, flipping the puck into the air. Naturally all eyes fell into the puck. The way it flew into the air, slicing threw the ice in the most effortlessly way. And right before the goalie could break it in. The puck glide past his legs and into the net.

—"okay continues here in the final period. The hitting has picked up but the ducks are hanging in there. However, they're still down by two goals with time running out. Bodies flying all over the ice . The puck is in the ducks' zone. Here's Mendoza on a breakaway he can really fly."

Luis Mendoza felt his heart repress against his lungs. He wasn't at all focused on the puck but how he was going to stop or more on how he can prevent his body to slam into the goal... again.

—"the speedster into the Iceland zone." His blades glide with the rink. The perfect balance we tween his left and right foot. His breathy still staggered along with his chest that felt still when he had realised he had stopped. In the perfect form and timing.

The ice shaved onto the goalie, who immediately went up to wipe the extra ice off his face distracting him for the dumbstruck boy. "I stopped." He says breathlessly.

"Put it in, Luis!" And he does so, right between the legs. "He scores! Luis Mendoza on a break away, scores with two minutes left. And the ducks trail by one."

Alexis slides beside Adam. Her hands folded in front of her with a wide smile on her face. "What do you need this time Ms. Stansson?" He asks incredulously. The light smile that played on his lips ceased to weaken underneath her hypnotic gaze.

"Nothing, just that we could win this." Her hands meet with the back of his helmet, hitting it off his head as the Stansson girl quickly skates away with giggles escaping her tongue.

Russ gets the puck and yet again a huddle of Iceland players play up on him. Alexis takes her seat on the bench. Calling out for the Tyler boy how struggles underneath their bodies.

"Time out! Guys, come one. Come one!" Coach shouts, pointing towards the sidelines hurriedly.
Huddle up! Listen up."

Delta Stansson sat at the other side of the Iceland team. Her eyes drawn to the rink but her mind wasn't exactly on the play of the game. More on the fact that her ex husband was less then 6 feet away from her. She remembered everything, the way his voice left her ears. The way he left her breathless. The way his scent lingered in her nose even when he was gone.

But that doesn't change the fact that he left. But she had let him. Even when he was looking for her to tell him to stay.

"Time running out here in the third period."