Linemates - Adam Banks

School's Out - 14

It had been one of the worst nights of their young lives. Despite Charlie and Adam choosing to stay and skate with Indiana, the girl couldn't help but feel badly, as if she was the one who kept blowing the whistle. She knew she couldn't beat herself up about it and that Bombay had been the true problem with this team, but she also couldn't help but blame herself for the team being punished and because of the loss against Iceland. Maybe if she had pushed herself more, trained harder, or focused more, then the score might have been closer or had changed entirely.

The three of them hung their equipment to dry in their stalls before exiting the rink as they were directed back to their hotel by the moon which lit up the pitch-black sky.

"I just can't believe Bombay would do this to us," Charlie had continued his rant about Bombay. Indiana could tell that the way the team had been treated tonight was unusual. Bombay had once told them that hockey wasn't about winning or losing, but about having fun. Los Angeles had clearly gotten to the man's head, the pressure of living up to expectations filling the back of his mind.

"He's going crazy. That has to be the only explanation," stated Adam.

"I understand skating us a bit after a rough game, but tonight was excessive. Especially because of what he pulled with Indiana," said Charlie.

Adam nodded, "There was no reason for keeping us at the rink as late as he did." The three soon fell silent, not knowing what else to say to each other. They each had no words for the horror they had faced tonight.

As the three members of team USA walked up the stairs and onto the second floor, Charlie headed into his room, allowing for the two others to have some space. Adam noted Indiana being unusually quiet and wanted to ensure she was alright before he left her to sleep. The two walked a few doors down from Adam's room, where Indiana, Connie, and Julie's room was.

"You sure you're alright?" Adam asked, glancing down at the girl who simply nodded.

"Yeah, I'm just really tired. Plus, I really need a shower," stated Indiana, laughing quietly.

"Well, if you need anything-- and I mean anything, just knock on me and Charlie's door," instructed Adam. Adam was shocked by the unexpected hug by his female counterpart, who clung onto him for a moment before letting go. She spun around and swiped her keycard into the door, opening it and stepping in. Adam nodded to the girl, beginning to walk away.

"Adam?" The girl asked, causing him to spin around immediately to face her. "Thank you," she said, smiling at the boy who almost instantly smiled back. Adam nodded before watching the girl close her door, Adam heading back to his room. Indiana took a quick shower and quietly slipped into bed, not wanting to wake either of her friends.

On their next day of school, Miss MacKay found herself in a room of students who simply could not stay awake. She quickly found out this was the fault of Coach Gordon Bombay, who kept the team at the rink past midnight in order to prove a point.

Indiana was shaken awake by Miss MacKay, "Oh, I- I'm so sorry Miss MacKay."

Miss MacKay looked at the girl, her face indicating that she hadn't been able to get much sleep at all, "It's okay, Indiana. Everyone is going home to their rooms to rest. Practice is canceled today." Indiana slightly smiled before putting her head down into her hands for a moment. "Thank you, Miss MacKay." The teacher nodded before ushering her students out of the classroom and back to their hotel rooms.

Indiana, Connie, and Julie all laid in their respective beds, staring up at the ceiling and speaking to one another tiredly.

"So what, coach just kept you, Banks, and Conway after for more sprints?" Connie asked.

"Well, actually, he only wanted to keep me. Banks and Conway overheard and said that if I had to stay, so did they-- and they did," explained Indiana.

"Wow. That's really kind of them, actually," stated Julie, both Connie and Indiana agreeing with them.

"It was awful. I felt awful last night, and now my legs are so sore I can barely walk up the stairs from floor one to floor two. God, I'm so tired," expressed Indiana.

"I'm so sorry that he kept you. If I had known I would have made everyone else get back on that ice and join you until he let us leave," explained Connie.

Indiana shook her head, "I wouldn't want us all to suffer because of a bad performance of mine. I'd feel even worse."

"Well at least me and Connie would have been willing to suffer with you," remarked Julie, earning a small chuckle from the two girls.

"I just don't know what his problem was. He said I wasn't performing, but besides Iceland I thought I had been playing well," explained Indiana.

"What an asshole. Indiana, you're playing fine," stated Julie.

"Dude, you have some of the most impressive statistics in this tournament. Don't worry about what Coach says," reassured Connie.

"But what if I'm not good enough? What if he's right?" Asked Indiana.

"He's not right, Indiana. Not right at all," stated Julie.

"He's not known for making the best coaching decisions. His methods are-- questionable, at best," explained Connie.

"I guess if he was making good coaching decisions, then one of us in this room would be starting goalie," Indiana pointed out.

Connie turned to look at both the girls from her bed, "Me?" She asked, causing both girls to laugh.

"Starting goaltender Connie Moreau. Has a nice ring to it," joked Julie. The girls settled down, deciding to shut off the lights and do Miss MacKay's homework for the day-- napping.