District-5

Game Time

Bella's POV

I sat on the bench and watched the game as the others played. I am benched until further notice because Coach doesn't want me screwing us all up and making us all loose. But what irritates me most is that he is teaching us how to cheat. He said to pretend to be injured when were not, get penalties for the other team. But Goldberg is always fake falling before anyone even touches him. Charlie doesn't like it one bit.

"Let's go Ducks!" Coach yelled as the other team scored once again. It was no where near a tie or us winning. We were getting our asses kicked. You don't know how bad we are, we're terrible and with this cheating added on to it, doesn't help anyone either.

I watched Charlie get pinned to the boards while trying to get the puck. He fought with the two guys until the other team got the puck and passed it out to another player who then scored on Goldberg. Coach called for Charlie and he came over, Charlie didn't look too pleased with Coach or anyone.

"When they pin you up against the board again, cover your eye and pretend they hurt you. Got it?" Charlie skated off and got ready to play once again.

"Coach, we can't keep cheating!" I called. He looked at me and told me to shut up and pay attention to the other team and how they play so we can learn something from them. But I wasn't going to keep my mouth shut just yet, I'll put up a fight.  I am not gonna cheat, it isn't right and nor is it fair. But doesn't matter anyways, the refs keep catching Goldberg when he tries to fake injury himself.

I looked over at the ice and saw Charlie being pinned up by two guys. I shook my head as I saw him there, it was like he was debating whether to cheat or not. but he did the right thing and didn't cheat, he kicked the puck away with his foot and passed it to one of the guys, our guys. But it got easily stolen by one of the other boys on the opposite team.

Coach yelled at Charlie for not doing what he was told. The game ended with us loosing. But coach was really upset with us, he didn't like it one bit. I didn't like the fact that we lost, but we still tried our best and tried winning the right way and not the wrong way. The guys somewhat fooled around on the bench as coach was debating or thinking of the words to say to us.

"That was the sloppiest playing I've ever seen."

"I knew we forgot something." Peter said. Some of us started laughing.

"You guys think its fun to loose all the time? I don't like it and you shouldn't either."

"Well, no. But you get use to it after awhile of loosing all the time." Averman said. Coach blew us off and left the rink, leaving us all here. We all made our way to the locker rooms to change out of the uniforms and gear. I sat next to Charlie on the bench, Connie and Guy sat next to each other, Terry and Jesse were next to each other, peter was in front of us and Karp, Goldberg and Averman were sitting on benches by the door to leave.

Coach came in and looked at us all. He didn't look at me once, none of the others really know what Coach told and or how he treated me. He looked at Charlie and then went on with his speech. "What was that Charlie? I tell you to do something, you do it! Do you understand me!"

"Can't make me cheat." He said and looked at Coach and then rolled his eyes. He turned around grabbing his things and leaving out the door. He accidentally hit me with his hockey bag and I fell off the bench backwards. I stayed there because I didn't want to see what else he had to say or do.

"C'mon, Terry." Jesse said and the two of them left after them. Peter stood up against the lockers and looked at the ground while his arms were crossed. Coach left once again and we got undressed. I took my stuff off and threw my winter jacket and boots on. I was ready to walk around town for a little or go someplace.

I left outside carrying my bag over my shoulder and my hockey stick in my hand. I walked down the street to my dad's place, my mom got the other house so my dad had to get a new one. I whistled for a little while as I walked down the road, I heard yelling and screaming but it was no one I knew.

"Bella!" I turned to see who it was that was calling me. I saw Charlie at his place, he was on the second floor peeping his head out the window. I got off the middle of the road and went to the sidewalk and looked up at him.

"What?"

"Where you headed?" I shrugged my shoulders, I wasn't going anywhere in particular since my dad isn't home until later and he always gives me some money to spend when I'm on my own. I didn't know where I was headed to exactly so I couldn't give him an honest answer other then no where in particular.

"No where in particular."

"Wanna hang here for awhile?" He asked.

"Well, I- I guess." I stumbled over my words. I just had to leave before 5:00 so I can get to my place before 5:30. He left from the window and then he was in front of my hauling me inside the building. I followed him up the stairs to a red door. He let me walk in first and then took my bag from me, setting it on the ground next to his bag and stick. Our bags were the exact same size, color but, didn't have the same stuff inside. His were a little bigger then mine and his smelt worse.

"What do you wanna do?" He asked.

"I don't know, what do you do for fun?"

"Watch Tv, hockey, homework or hang with the guys and Connie." I nodded. I don't think he and I were going to be leaving his place for a little. I followed him to his room and he shut the door. I don't think his mom was home yet, but it didn't bother me, as long as he was able to have friends in his place when his parents weren't home.

"Cool room." I said and looked around, he had some pictures of him and his mom. But I didn't see any of his dad. There wasn't any of his dad to be exact. I wonder why? Does he hate his dad? Does he not have one? Or is he like me with divorced parents. I mean, he doesn't know about my family and what's been going on. Only coach does. "Where's your dad?" I asked. I looked at a picture as Charlie was on his bed looking at the picture I was looking at.

"Mom and I left him a long time ago. It's just her and I, just like its only you and your dad." He told me.

"How do you know about that?" I asked walking over to him and sitting next to him on his bed.

"Heard you telling coach the other day, sorry." I nodded, I guess it was bound to get out sooner or later, right? I laid back on his bed and he did too, except he sat on his side looking at me.

"Anything interesting you see?" I asked, he smiled and looked the other way. I looked at the ceiling, but not long before I heard someone calling Charlie's name.

"Charlie! Someone's here to see you!" I knew that was his mom, he got up and rushed out of his room. I got up and walked into the kitchen and saw Charlie's mom, Casey, there standing next to the wall listening to who ever it was that wanted to see Charlie. "Oh, Bella. I didn't know you were here."

"Sorry, Charlie invited me over. I can leave, I have to go at 5:00 anyways." She nodded and we listened to Charlie and... Coach Bombay!?

"You're sorry!" Casey said loud enough for Coach to hear.

"Yes, I'm sorry... to both you and your mom." I didn't see what was going on and nor did I hear what Coach said before hand. I just heard that Charlie didn't want to play no more. "What do ya say, back on the team?" Please come back, Charlie! We need you!

"Oh okay." I heard Charlie laugh. Casey left out into the living room after Charlie had asked Coach to stay for dinner at his place. I had to get home, so I left the kitchen and walked behind the others. Charlie ran up to me and looked at me. "Where you going in a hurry?"

"I gotta go home now." I told him, he nodded and I picked my bag up off the ground and he handed me my stick. He led me to the door and we walked together down the stairs until we reached the bottom. He offered to walk me to my place, but I said no since he had other guests over and that that would be kinda rude to ditch them since he did invite Bombay over.

I left down the street and walked the couple blocks to my place. I wasn't fair from here, I lived about 5 blocks from Charlie's and about 8 from the hockey rink. I got in the door and threw my bag on the ground. No one was home yet, it was just me until my dad gets here in about half an hour. I decided to crash on the couch and watch tv for awhile. But I ended up falling asleep after a long day of work and seeing people cheat and fight.