flipped. charlie conway

55

like soft candlelight flames flickering over a wick, russia glided over the ice. their skates were sharpened to perfection, leaving the slicing sound of their skates to mimic that of a knife cutting through cold watermelon. though they were far more sizeable than leah remembered, she held faith that team usa could successfully meet the challenge.

team usa skated in a shortening circle, to which leah watched on from the bench with coach bombay. watching a game from the bench would be strange, but leah sought to gain some newfound experience and strengths through watching her teammates.

"i'm so nervous, i feel like my feet have gone cold." gordon admit with a chuckle, shaking nerves out of his hands as though flicking water off his freshly-washed fingertips.

leah grinned as she recognised how deeply bombay cared about their team and their success, plastering the damaged trust in her heart from the start of the goodwill games. "with you as our coach, i think we could take on any team in the world."

the coach peered down with a thankful smile, appreciative of how forgiving and dedicated his team were, even from the bench. leah was a little ray of sunshine, and bombay was eternally grateful to have her optimism beside him.

without having to focus on the game, leah felt her eyes lingering on one teammate in particular. one she hadn't had the chance to admire from the sideline in a long while, not since they were back in minnesota.

despite how starkly charlie had changed leah's opinion on him, and how foolish he'd left her feeling, leah still felt herself acknowledging his beauties. the beam of his smile, the rustle of his shaggy hair, the glint in his dazzling eyes. charlie emit a radiant glow of genuine sincerity, which leah knew she'd always admire even when his adamancy came to bite her. he had a big heart, there just wasn't any room for leah.

the referees blew their whistles, ushering each team to their benches. bombay took another relieving huff of reassurance as they approached.

"alright, play smart. play hard. we gotta think about what we're doing, okay? you got this!" gordon encouraged, receiving nods of preparation from the team. with a clap of his hands, the second line found their positions on the ice to start. leah watched on eagerly.

guy was on centre ice, fulton on his left and luis on his right. dean and dwayne were in defence with goldberg in the goal. leah just prayed they'd step off on the right foot. russia approached the awaiting usa on the ice with scowls.

"i'm not used to playing without you, lee." adam groaned, visibly concerned for his time on the ice. leah took the battered stick out his hands, tapping his scratched helmet with the taped end of the stick. adam smiled at the gesture.

"you gotta win for me!" leah encouraged.

the puck dropped, and the russian centre was quick to sweep it away. lester drummed against the boards from beside leah.

"hum, centre centre... swing, centre centre... score, centre centre..." the thick-lensed boy chanted with high spirits.

despite averman's chant of encouragement, no effective swings or scores were made. russia were beating usa to a pulp.

"change it up!" coach bombay yelled, visibly in deep analysis of the team.

the conway boy grew frustrated as team usa struggled to collect the puck. team usa just weren't quite fast enough, weren't slick enough, weren't smart enough. he came to the realisation that with a different line on the ice, it was far harder to execute such skills.

charlie let the thought in his mind settle: perhaps leah was more helpful on the ice than he thought. he could picture it, adam and leah collecting every loose puck and whirling around their opponents like unleashed puppies. charlie prayed russ could help them out, for charlie knew he couldn't do it himself.

the first period ended with the ringing siren, and usa was yet to score a goal. russia had gained two of their own, and that unsettled the entire team. they were so close to the final, they couldn't let this game slip away.

as gordon bombay pulled out a whiteboard to prepare his team for the next term, leah observed the russian team. their burnt orange jerseys resembled the fierce flames of a fire. their faces dripped with beads of sweat, angry frowns etched onto their faces. it seemed their determination resembled that of a fire, too. fires were scary when uncontrolled, but they could be tamed and put out. leah knew russia could be tamed and put out. leah knew team usa could fight off the fire.

as each team returned to the ice, leah looked back to her encouraged teammates. the second term was yet to begin, and the tension simmering in the air was thicker than the ice they skated upon.

charlie cleared his throat and leaned against the boards smugly, smiling and waving to random members of the audience. "i'm like a movie star, you know," the conway boy turned to leah, "all these girls chasing after me, look at them all waving! too bad they're all cali-girls, though— i need a minneapolis chick."

leah's cheeks heated, knowing she was a 'minneapolis chick'. her inner voice wanted nothing more than to shout out that she was 'right there, the minneapolis girl' he asked for, and that he didn't ever need to play mind to another girl. leah had dreamed of such an opportunity for years. yet, all leah could muster was a scoff in response to the boy's arrogant words. the audience was only there to watch hockey. team usa was only there to play hockey.

"not degrading at all, charlie," leah rolled her eyes boredly, "how d'you know they're not waving at me? banksie-number-two?"

"good joke." charlie laughed, winking at a young adult walking past with popcorn. the woman held back a visible gag, quickly pattering away. after all, what rational grown woman would pursue a teenage boy?

leah widened her eyes in disgust, turning away from charlie as she uncrossed her slinged arms. the shaggy-haired boy scrambled in his spot, reaching out an arm and quickly flinching away at the thought of touching leah banks. what was taking over him? charlie almost felt like he wanted to talk to leah.

the final term began, and team usa played harder than they had the entire game. fortunately, it was paying off. adam was on the ice by himself, and though she could read his nervousness, he looked more focused than ever. he moved with purpose and power, so much strength that it seemed to unnerve a few of the russian skaters. leah aspired to play with as much power as adam.