Born To Be A Star, Raised To Be A Legend - A Riley Andersen Story

Chapter 2: Don't Underestimate Me, Ever.

After a moment of waiting, Riley's mother decides that the best future for her little girl was closer than she imagined, and so she agreed to let the scout sign Riley up for the Draft.

The chance to participate in the Draft for Riley could come a few years in the future, but for her, starting early was better than nothing.

Mom: My daughter, if this is best for you, then you can apply for the Draft.

Then, Riley jumped up from the dining table chair all happy.

Riley: YES!!

Scout: Thank you very much, Mr. and Mrs. Andersen, your daughter will certainly have a great future on this new journey she will have. If they could enroll her in a school that has Hockey, that would be even better.

Mom: She's already in one, but could you tell me when the day of the Draft would be so we can prepare her?

Scout: June 22, If Riley manages to establish herself in the league by then, she could even participate in the Olympics in Paris!

Interestingly, the day of the Draft would fall on the same day that Riley would turn 14 years old and would turn her as the youngest girl in history to play professional hockey.

In fact, the chance Riley had was one that few girls her age had; Chloe Primerano, however, was the exception and made Riley follow the same path as the young girl.

Riley: Really?! I'm just going to start, so I'm going to talk to my friends and stuff so we can get started.

Scout: I see that you are very excited little one, that's it, always keep your head up and you will achieve the biggest goals in your life.

So, Jenny leaves Riley’s house and now the young girl has a mission to prepare herself until then, in addition to the fact that the young girl would now be the center of attention for the Firehawks due to her registration for the Draft.

After that, Riley runs up the stairs towards her room to call Valentina, who, by the way, was at the end of her training session with the Firehawks.

Riley: Val! Do you have some time?

Valentina, who had her phone nearby, decided to talk to her friend.

Valentina: Riley? Any news, little one?

Riley: I just spoke to a professional scout who reached out to me about signing up for the girls' professional hockey league draft, and I wanted help with training!

As Valentina and Riley spoke, Valentina's teammates sat next to the  captain to hear some of the conversation as well.

Valentina: It will be an honor, little one! Know that I am very proud of you and this wonderful chance you will have.

Riley: I have to thank you, Valentina. You made me the girl i am today.

Valentina now knew that she wouldn't be just another friend of Riley's. But rather her mentor until Riley's professional journey in Hockey.

Emily (Valentina's Teammate): It was Riley, right?

Valentina: Yes, I didn't expect that call from her. (with a smile)

Ava (Valentina's Teammate): It means that now you will help her until the day she becomes a professional?

Valentina: Yup. If it's for the bright future she's going to have then I'm in.

Olivia (Valentina's Teammate): You are now her Skipper, while she is Dusty Crophopper. Helping her is your mission now, Val.

Ava (Valentina's Teammate): I understood the reference to that sentence there.

Olivia (Valentina's Teammate): It was the first thing that came to my mind, oddly enough.

The fact that Valentina now has the responsibility of guiding Riley means that her, who is about to turn 19 years old, sees little Riley as having the most promising future on the Firehawks team.

A brief moment of silence takes place, as Valentina knows that Riley has the potential she has, and that comparing her to Dusty, their future would be connected to amazing achievements.

Valentina: She is The Chosen One.

Coach Roberts then arrives at the Firehawks' Ice Hockey gym, where she found all of her players there, except Riley.

C. Roberts: Girls, do you know where Riley is?

Olivia (Valentina's Companion): Coach, know that our friend now has a wonderful destiny and that she will come and talk to us tomorrow!

So she is surprised, as Riley is not one to miss training, and so she is curious to understand what this surprise was. So she calls Valentina.

C. Roberts: Valentina, what happened to Riley?

Valentina: Coach, she signed up for the draft to become a professional player and she chose me to mentor her until then.

So Coach Roberts understood that Riley was taking great strides towards becoming what the coach herself said about her: unique, special and with a rare talent.

A day later, Riley went to Bay Area High to meet her friends from the Firehawks on what would be a special day, as it would be the first state hockey matchup of the year.

Riley then arrives at her team's locker room and notices that it is empty. Believing she is the first to arrive, she decides to go to her locker to prepare for training before the game, until after opening the closet door, she realizes that there is a photo of her and Valentina together.

Riley: But who put this here?

Valentina then opens the locker room door where Riley was and decides to surprise the girl.

Valentina: Hello, Riley! I noticed that you arrived earlier than everyone else, including me.

Riley: Why is there a photo of us right here?

Valentina then sits on the bench in front of Riley.

Valentina: Riley, I spoke to Coach earlier about you choosing me as your mentor, and we came to the following conclusion.

Riley then becomes anxious, but at the same time, afraid of what Valentina would say.

Valentina: You're the only one of us with a willpower that I've never seen before, you're the most committed of us with a smile that lifts us all up, so. I will be your personal coach until the end of your career.

Riley was then surprised, but at the same time, knowing that Valentina would be by her side until the end.

Then, the two hug in a moment of connection between the two. Then, Valentina asks:

Valentina: Ready for the game?

Riley: But the team hasn't arrived yet.

Valentina then laughs, as Riley didn't know yet.

Valentina: Everyone is waiting for you outside, the people who arrived earlier than you. (with a slight smile)

Valentina: Plus, there will be several PHL scouts keeping an eye on you. They came for YOU.

Riley then becomes clearly nervous, but Valentina makes a point of calming her.

Valentina: Don't worry, I'm on your side.

Then, Valentina and Riley get ready to go to the game, The fact that Riley was the next "Dusty Crophopper" made Valentina think as she walked with Riley to the match.

Valentina's Mind: The future is bright, and I walk with the future by my side.

End of Chapter 2.