speed of sound // Charlie Conway

| ONE |

Saturday

Natalie and Charlie walked into Hans sport shop. Natalie walked around, looking at all the new hockey gear as Charlie walked up to the skates, picking one up and beginning to sharpen the blade on it.

Charlie had started working there because he liked to help out, since him and Natalie would always go there on weekends or after school, that is, if they didnt have homework or hockey practice.

All though Natalie liked helping out, she had yet to be an employee, since she was a lot more busy these days. Maybe summer would give her a break.

It was the summer of 8th grade, and it had already been more than two years since the ducks won the pee wee state play offs.

So, even though they werent always playing hockey with coach bombay by them, Charlie and Natalie, or at least Natalie, was most of the time practicing her skills and what-not.

As Natalie was looking around, she saw Coach Bombay sleeping in another room. She decided to be quiet while looking around, in an attempt to not wake him up. Well, you could say that didn't last long.

Both Natalie and Charlie had felt bad for him, obviously because they had heard about his knee being injured in his last game.

Charlie had began sharpening a skate blade. It made a loud buzzing noise, causing coach to jump up out of his sleep.

"Charlie, I think you woke him up." The girl softly chuckled, walking over to the door of the room Coach was sleeping in.

Charlie followed her. "Sorry, did I wake you?" He cracked the door open.

"Hey Charlie, Natalie." Bombay instantly got up, excited to see the two.

"Hey coach!" The two teenagers said together.

"Its good to see you." Charlie told Coach Bombay, hugging him tightly. "Good to see you. Both of you." Bombay told them, Hugging Natalie after he broke his hug with Charlie.

"We really missed you." Charlie spoke as Jan walked into the room, holding a plate of food for Bombay.

"For breakfast, my specialty, Jan's Hasen—" He started but immediately got cut off by the group of three. "Hasenpfeffer and eggs." They finished his words, softly chuckling

"Yeah.." Jan laughed, placing the plate down. "I see you've met my new apprentice."

"Jan told me you did this job when you were my age." Charlie turned to Coach Bombay. "Really?" Natalie laughed. "That's right. I hope he pays you more than he paid me." Bombay told Charlie, and both Natalie and Charlie scoff. "You got paid?"

"Eat, everybody, before the hasenpfeffer gets cold." Jan said, instantly changing the topic.

The group of four sat around in a circle, chatting about their recent life and everything that had been going on lately.

"Have you two been practicing during off season?" Coach asked Conway and Halsey.

"I have." Natalie smiles. "I dont know about Charlie over here, though." She looks at him. "Hey! Ive been practicing... a little." He defends himself

"Yeah, right." She continues eating.

—

The four finished eating and Charlie Immediately got back to sharpening skates. Natalie had finally decided to help him out, not having anything else to do.

Coach Bombay picked up a framed article off of Jan's wall. It was titled: "Ducks Are Pee Wee Champs!!" and was written about their victory in the play-offs.