Challenge Accepted

1, pain in the ass.

BOSSY

Since the season ended, and Coach Bombay started making it big in the minors, I wasn't sure the Ducks would ever be back.

Sure, they could get us a new coach, but it was Bombay that made us a winning team.

But I'm not one to dwell.

I like to go down to the skate park to take my mind off it. The rink would be my first choice but ice time is too expensive.

The skate park is big. Lots of room for me to practice my speed and tricks. The only problem is all these cocky skater guys. They think if you're a dude on a board, you're the only one that gets any space.

But that's one of my favourite parts about coming down here.

Knocking them down a few pegs.

I finish lacing up my roller blades and take off through the park.

First, I make my way through a group of three coasting skateboarders. One of them is taken off guard and lands on his butt, leaving his friend to fall over him.

Next, I jump on and off the ledge, forcing the guy coming in the opposite direction to swerve around it.

One skater, who had been taking up space in front of the ramps for the last fifteen minutes tries to make his move before I can get there, but he's too slow.

I swoop in in front of him, making him lose his balance. Unfortunately he just about manages to save himself.

It's always funnier when they fall.

I jump from one ramp and glide down the other, doing a spin when I come off. And then it's half pipe time.

The guys are all crowding the top of the pipe, not leaving much room for anyone else.

I whistle loudly to alert them that I'm not slowing down. They see me, but don't move an inch.

Oh well, it's on them when I run them over.

I skate up the hill and once the realize they are right in my firing line, they stumble to make a gap for me.

I skate up and down along the half pipe, grinding on the edge each time I get to the top and forcing the spectating skaters to take a few steps back.

One guy is so distracted watching me, his board rolls down into the pipe and he goes with it.

Classic.

Just as I finish up my set, I'm caught off guard by a weird noise.

Sort of like a... duck?

"Bossy!" A familiar voice calls my name.

I turn to look at the gates of the park where none other than Charlie Conway, Jesse Hall and Four Eyes Averman are gathered and waiting for me.

Four Eyes doesn't like the name I dubbed him but hey, anything's better than Dave.

Charlie smiles and continues, "We got some work to do!"

"Quack, quack, quack!" Averman choruses.

Well that's enough to get my attention.

I unbuckle my helmet, letting my mane of hair come falling down around my shoulders as I grab my backpack from the bench. Up until this point, I hadn't noticed all of the skaters I just pummelled staring at me.

Got bested by a girl, big deal.

As I go to join my teammates I skate by one string bean of a boy with his mouth hanging open and eyes on me.

Rolling my eyes, I order, "Close your mouth."

When I look over my shoulder, his mouth is indeed closed and he is making his way back to his friends.

"You haven't lost your charm." Averman notes sarcastically.

"Picking on the skater dudes? Really Bossy?" Jesse laughs.

"They were in my way." I shrug.

"Oh sure!" The guys all remark sarcastically.

"Shut up, we've gotta go get the lovebirds." I say, right before bumping Averman on the helmet and knocking him onto his behind.

It's too easy with him.

As we round up the rest of the Ducks, Charlie begins to elaborate on the Junior Goodwill Games. Apparently, Coach Bombay is back and being recruited to coach us into being Team USA.

A few hours ago I wasn't sure if the Ducks would ever even see the ice again, and now here we are, going to represent our country in the Goodwill Games?

It's almost too good to be true.

We have most of the ducks with us, now it's just a matter of finding Fulton. As we skate towards the lake, everyone begins getting ahead of themselves about the Goodwill Games.

"Guys, it's an international competition, it's us against the world!" Banksy exclaims, enthusiastically throwing his arms into the air.

I push his arm down from in front of my face. "Nice sentiment Banksy but are we actually ready to take on the world?"

"Yes!" Charlie shouts back.

"Of course!" Someone else agrees.

"We're the Ducks!" Jesse reminds me.

A team name is not enough motivation for me.

"Okay, let me ask you this, how many of you have actually been practicing over the break?"

"What do you call what I was just doing?" Banksy refers to us interrupting his front yard target practice.

"Juvenile!" I shoot back.  "If we're gonna do this we have to get serious. Blood, sweat and tears, like full on boot camp style, I mean it!"

"Do you really gotta suck the fun out of it before we've even started?" Jesse shakes my shoulders from behind me and I swat him away.

"Just when I think I've missed you Bossy, you remind me of all the reasons why you're a pain in the ass." Averman remarks.

Well, well, well, look who's gotten cocky.

"Not winning is a pain in the ass, Four Eyes. And with the amount of training you've done over the break, I'm thinking the only pain in your ass is gonna be from keeping the bench warm."

The team lets out a couple of "oooooohs" and laughs while Goldberg pats Avermans helmet condescendingly.

They all know that I'm fiery. When I snap at one of them, it's because they're asking for it. The team always gets a good laugh out of seeing me take someone down though.

After watching Fulton acost some of the Hawks from last season, we make our way to Coach Bombay who's waiting for us in town.

Once he sees us coming around the corner, I can see it in his eyes that he's happy to be home.

Everyone is excited to see him, going in for hugs and to ask him all about the minors and his victories, but I'm quick to yank Guy out of my way and grab Coach's jacket.

"Coach, is this Goodwill Games thing for real?!"

"I missed you too, Bossy." He smirks and attempts to hug me, which I very awkwardly attempt to reciprocate.

I am not a hugger.