speed of sound // Charlie Conway

| TWELVE |

"Coach isnt here, why do we have to be?" I whined. I didnt even really want to be working out in this hot field. I only did it because I would be able to hang out with some of my best friends.

"We have a game tonight, we have to work out!" Someone from the group called, and I sighed. I didnt want to work out just because we had a game. If anything, this made me even more tired. "I say mutiny, who's with me?" Goldberg stood up, not being able to deal with working out anymore.

"Goldberg, Im too tired to mutiny." Dwayne raised his hand up.

"Come on, guy, its not like we couldn't use the conditioning." Julie spoke, standing up. "Speak for yourself, babe." Dean laughed, Adam instantly defending Julie. "Her name is Julie, not 'babe'." Adam informed Portman, walking up to him.

"Don't tell me how to talk, rich boy!" He pushed Adam, everybody instantly gathering around them, trying to stop the fight. "Hey, Portman, chill!" Fulton ran up to the two. "Hey, you want a piece of this!" Portman yelled before everybody, including me, attempted to push the two away from each other. Yesterday and today had already been not the best, I couldnt imagine if it got even worse.

"Yo, team USA, what are you gonna do today, a million jumping jacks?" A boy yelled out, I recognized him from most of our games, he always yelled insults and messed around with us.

"This kid's crazier than me, forget about him. Look, Fulton," Portman started up again, everybody pushing him back. "Hey, chill!" I raised my voice, tired of arguing. "Man, I'm getting suck of you and your insults!" I turned back around to the boy, calling him out.

"I'm gettin' sick of seeing the USA represented by a bunch of whining babies." He shot back.

"Too bad you can't back up that mouth." "Me and my boys can take you anytime, anywhere." "I dont see any 'boys'." "I got em waitin'." "Grab your gear and let's go play some schoolyard puck. Or maybe you forgot what it's like to play for real pride?" The boy argued with me.

"You got a pass?" A staff member asked him.

"Come on, its not too far you little wimps. Come on." He ignored the staff member. "You comin' or not!" He yelled before he was escorted.

"Well what are we waiting for, come on!" I walked off, everybody following behind me. Working out tired me, but hockey sure didnt.

—

THIRD PERSON :

Everybody now all gathered up, standing infront of a group of boys.

"My little brother Russ here has been telling me that you have been chokin' big time." His brother spoke. "Well it doesnt help, hes got a big mouth." Natalie rolled her eyes.

Everybody sat in silence for a moment, Russ' brother looking down at him. "He does, doesnt he."

"We thought we'd call you all to see what you got." His brother told team USA. "We know you can talk to the press and sign autographs." Russ shot.

"We can do more than that." Luis nodded his head, standing next to Natalie. Even if they were still trying to forgive each other, he still really liked her. "Yeah? We can teach you to play like the real team USA." Russ' brother suggested.

"What would you know about it?" Portman spoke up.  Russ' brother looked at one his friends, a smirk on his face before the game started.

"You gotta earn every inch." He told Portman, pushing him up against the gate. The game was filled with lots of pushing and slight shoving, but also cheering from the bench. "Come on! Get him!" Natalie and Charlie cheered, sitting down.