Elastic Heart ➵ C.Conway

IV. ONE PISSED OFF MUM

The limo shook as the Pee Wee hockey team continued to push it around. Riley and Charlie had joined in with the team after laughing at Riley's antics. Looking around at the boys Riley could see Karp and Goldberg's faces pressed against one of the windows. They seemed to be licking and pulling faces into it. Riley couldn't help but laugh at them, they never failed to make her giggle. Karp tore her out of her thoughts when he opened the limo door, entering with Jesse and everyone else behind him. Charlie and Riley were the last ones in, which meant they had to sit on the floor.

"Watch the upholstery!" Coach was ignored by the excited kids, but that didn't stop him from yelling again, "don't touch that!"

"We wanna ride! We wanna ride!" Connie started the cheering, followed by the entire team. Charlie and Riley looked at each other with humorous grins, knowing that they were going to get what they wanted.

"I could kill one of 'em just to set an example, Sir." The driver stated looking very agitated with the team, especially at Peter who kept stealing and eating his candy.

Clearly thinking about the option, Coach replied, "not yet, Lewis." He received a dirty look from Riley, but he only ignored it, "take 'em for a spin. Anything!"

The team cheered before everyone (except Charlie and Riley) settled back into their chairs for the upcoming ride.

"Wow, I feel like Madonna." Connie stated with a starstruck kinda look on her face.

"You wish." Karp replied with an eye roll before he shouted an 'ow' as he was kicked in the leg by Riley.

As everyone around them chatted and shouted about the limo Riley turned to Charlie, "even the damn floor is more comfy than my bed!" The brunette whisper shouted, making Charlie grin at her antics.

"It's probably more expensive too." He replied cheekily, causing the girl to gasp dramatically and hit his arm.

Riley was going to reply, but an awful smell shut her up, along with the rest of the team. Looking around for the smell, Riley came to the conclusion only one person could make that kind of smell.

"Goldberg!" Apparently the whole team realised who had done it too as they all yelled at the boy.

"It wasn't me, alright!" The boy defended himself even though know one was going to listen.

"Young man, what did you eat?" Coach Bombay asked with his face scrunched up in disgust at the smell the boy had produced.

"Nothing! It wasn't me!"

"Let's hope hot air really does rise." Charlie commented to Riley who laughed and nodded.

"Open a window!" Connie said as she was trying to push the air away from her.

Charlie suddenly looked up towards the front of the window yelling a, "oh , man. It's my mum!" The brown hair boy grimaced as he saw the look on her face, "She looks pissed!" He was pushed down by Coach Bombay but let out a moan of pain as he landed on Riley.

"Charlie get off!" Riley groaned as she pushed the boy off of her.

The limo door was suddenly opened as Riley heard, "all right, out! Everybody, out of the car right now!" It was Charlie's mum, and she really did look pissed.

Averman got out of the car first mumbling about Goldberg ruining the fun, then Coach slowly got out too, before he was suddenly pulled to the side by Charlie's mum.

Riley got out of the car last, straight after Charlie who waited to help her out onto the ice.

"Thank you." The girl mumbled, a slight blush dusting her cheeks as she looked up the kind boy.

The boy blushed as she looked at him about to reply before his mum cut him off, "Charlie, lets go." Ms. Conway looked behind her, "you too, Riley." The said girl groaned, knowing the lecture she was about to get from her best friends mum.

"Well, I guess practice is over." Coach looked at the team who were all gathered in front of him.

"Sorry my mum ruined it, guys." Charlie apologised as he looked at the team.

"It's alright, Charlie." The team chorused knowing it wasn't the boys fault.

"Coach," Charlie turned to his new Coach, "gonna be at the game tomorrow?"

"By order of the state of Minnesota, yeah." Coach Bombay replied regretfully making Riley huff with slight anger at her new coach's behaviour.

"Charlie! Riley!" The girl heard from the bench seat where their bags were placed, making her and Charlie say a goodbye to their friends as they headed over there.

Grabbing her bag, Riley sat down on the bench, not looking up at Charlie's mum as she didn't want to see her disappointed.

"I'm sorry." Both the kids chorused as their untied their skates.

Hearing a sigh, Riley chanced a look up at Ms. Conway, only to see her calming herself down before she spoke a simple, "I know." Ms. Conway looked down at her son and the girl she viewed as a daughter, "just don't do it again and consider yourself lucky I don't tell your parents." Riley smiled brightly up at her second mum, before she continued to put her shoes on.

~~~~~

It was a silent walk on the way back to the apartment building, both Charlie and Riley not wanting to say anything in case they upset Ms. Conway. Walking up the stairs, the three stopped at the Conway's apartment.

"Sorry again, Ms. Conway." Riley apologised looked up the women.

"That's okay. But like I said, don't do it again." The women smiled at Riley before she gave her a small hug before she walked into her apartment.

"I'll see you tomorrow?" The boy questioned, already knowing what the answer will be.

"Yeah, of course." Riley smiled at Charlie before giving him a small hug and running up the stairs to her apartment, completely missing his tomato red cheeks on her way up.