𝑯𝒆𝒚 𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝑫𝒆𝒍𝒊𝒍𝒂𝒉 | ᴹᴰᴳᶜ

3: Halfway There

Alex was telling Evan, Nick, and I about the rink we'll be playing at. The owner of the Ice Palace is Gordon Bombay, the 90s ducks coach! I'm a big fan of the OG Ducks! Evan was trying to make an announcement to the cafeteria but failed. He took Nick's tray and threw it on the ground, and stood up.

"My pudding." Nick said sadly."Here." I said, sliding over my lunch tray to him.

"Hello everyone, my name is Evan. You probably know me from the viral video of my mom and my friend Delilah punching Coach T." He said, causing everyone to start laughing. "Yeah, I'll admit it is a good watch. But the thing is everything she said was true. I used to be duck. It was awesome being part of the cool kids, sitting at the cool table. But I always felt like I was hanging on, trying to prove I could be a part of that, but not anymore. Because I've realized the ducks aren't the center of the universe. The second I was cut from the team, they cut me from their lives. But in a way, I'm happy I was cut. Because now we're starting a new team. Just me, Delilah, Nick, and Logan. And all we need is a few more players. It's gonna be different. We may not win a lot, but we are gonna have each other's backs. So, does anyone want to join?" he asked but received no replies. "Is there anyone who understands a little hit of what I'm trying to say?" He asked. The girl from yesterday stood up.

"I'm in. I've never played hockey, but I think I might have an inner rage that really needs an outlet," She said. "I also own nunchucks. "Do not bring those to practice." Evan told her. I see Maya from the popular table stood up.

"I get it. I always feel like I'm hanging on. It's exhausting, constantly being nervous and trying to fit in with this group. So I want to join you." she said. "I mean, can I? Is that okay, or -" She asked the 'leader' of the group.

"Very okay. Bye-Bye." She answered. Maya walked over to our table, and I became nervous. She sits next to me, and I begin to feel my heart beat fast it might pop out of my chest. "Hey Sam," Evan said, turning around. "I dare you to join our hockey team." Evan said, pointing to him.

"Somebody dares you to do something. You gotta do it, right? I'm there." He answered. "All right, we just need one more player." Evan told everyone. Evan's former teammate stood up.

"And I'm... Just gonna throw this Gatorade bottle away. So, not with ya." making the ducks laugh as she chucked the bottle. But the guy Nick and Evan went to see caught it.

"That's not cool. What you said has moved me. I will be your wall." He told Evan. "Thank you, Koob13!" Evan replied. Later that day, we all got together at the Ice Palace for practice.

"Hey, guys. Um, welcome to the first practice of the Don't Bothers." Alex said as we started cheering. "Today, we're gonna start with a really cool passing exercise!" "Alright, let's lace up." Evan told us. "No, no, not that kind." she told Evan. "Today, we won't be touching the ice, but we will be breaking the ice." She told everyone. "What does that mean exactly?" I asked. "Well, I don't wanna play by the Ducks' rules because we're a different kind of team. We're nice, and they can suck it. I wanna try a new approach and work on trust and bonding. So today, we're gonna sit in a circle and pass a puck around and play a game called Outside In. Everyone says something that might seem obvious about them on the outside, but then reveals something on the inside that not everyone might know." She explained."So, no skating at all? Our first game's Saturday." Evan told her. "We will get there. Don't worry. Okay, let's circle up." She told us. "This is the trust puck. When you are holding the sacred trust puck, the floor is yours." Ms. Morrow told us. Sam started.

"Uh.. Outside, I like skateboarding, and I act kinda crazy, but, inside, I have no spleen. It burst when I crashed into a stop sign. I am a mess in there." He told us. Damn. That's gotta hurt.

"Hi, I'm Maya. Uh, I have this talent where I can zero in on someone's weakness and destroy them. Like I might tell you that your puffy vest is very 2017." she told Alex. "And then every time I saw you, I'd say other things from 2017 just to get in your head. Like, Lego Batman Movie or fidget spinners." I pushed my lips together to hide my laugh and looked down, then looked back up. "But this is one of my favorite vests. It's got a lot of useful pockets." Alex told her. "I guess pockets were big in 2017." Maya continued. I smiled again, trying not to laugh. "You know what else was big in 2017? Hockey! Now come on, let's go." Evan said impatiently. "Not just yet." Ms. Morrow said.