Alaska | Adam Banks

skating to first base

CHAPTER THIRTEEN | SKATING TO FIRST BASE

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THE WEEK BEFORE the finals of the Junior Goodwill Games went by quickly. We practiced every day, watched film, conditioned and did anything else that would help us in our path to victory against Iceland. So when Coach Bombay told us to come to our last team practice without gear on, we were all pleasantly surprised. 

But we did as he said. We all arrived without our gear on, ready for whatever Coach was going to have us do. 

As we made our way to the ice, we were met with Coach, Ms. McKay, Jan and Mr. Tibbles. 

"Alright, team it's our last practice, which means-" Coach started before being interrupted by Averman. 

"Return of Captain Blood," he joked. 

"No, god no," Coach said, shaking his head. "It means, we're going to have fun."

He was handed a beach ball from Jan who was standing off at the edge of the group. He hit it away from us and many of us chased after it. We hit it around to each other, jokingly yelling whenever someone let it hit the ground. While many of the team were doing that, I was skating around the rink with Adam because he couldn't fully participate in the team's games. 

At some point, even though we were both trying to avoid the subject, the game tomorrow came up. 

"You know, I can't help but worry about the game tomorrow." I said. 

Adam turned his head towards me as we skated. "What do you mean? You've been practicing amazingly, and we as a team have all gotten a lot better since the last game."

I let out a sigh. "I know, I know, but I can't help but think about how physical they were with me last time. I'm just worried they'll do something this time that will injure me or someone else." 

"Augustine, you're like invincible. I saw you take those hits, and you got back up and recovered from them. There's no way you wouldn't be able to get back up from anything they throw at you. You just have that ability, and I personally love that about you." 

I watched as he smiled as he spoke, looking me in the eyes. I tried my hardest not to blush at the last part, looking down at my skates. 

After a moment, I went to say something when we were interrupted by a bit of commotion on the other side of the rink. We both turned our heads to see a group of people standing on the far side of the ice. Adam and I skated over to the forming clump of Team USA players that stood in front of them. 

When we reached them, I quietly gasped, watching as Coach Stansson of the Iceland team stood in front of us with the rest of his team, deflating the beach ball the team was playing with like it was nothing. They were all staring back at us with blank faces, other than Stansson himself. 

From behind me I felt an arm wrap around my waist, pulling me close to them. I looked up to see Adam, who was eyeing the team with a glare. 

"Playtime is over, we have the ice." Stansson's voice carried through the empty rink. "You and your little rink rats must leave."

"We're right here, Coach," Dean said. Most of us nodded at his words. 

I looked over each player on the Iceland team, eventually making eye contact with Sanderson, who had been eyeing me already with a look that could send me six feet under. I shifted uncomfortably under his gaze, which only made Adam's grip on my waist tighten. 

I could see Coach Bombay become visibly annoyed, but he kept his voice level as he spoke back. 

"The only thing little was your career in the pros."