The Long Shot ✰ a.b.

4

✰ Grace Hills

"Coach Bombay! How does it feel to be ranked as the number 1 team coming into this tournament?"

"Do you feel like team USA will demolish it's competitors?"

"How have the new recruits fit in with the already tight-knit Ducks? Is there any drama?"

The reporters at the press conference reminded Grace of animals, as they all blindly and yelled shouted questions at team USA, hoping for a quote to put in their magazines and shove into the press. It shocked her as the reporters eagerly waited for answers that would hopefully rattle people across America.

"The new kids are great, and the whole group has bonded tremendously since our first practice. I'm excited to watch them show the world what they've got once they hit the ice at our first game." Bombay answers the leaching press, as he glances over at his team with a warm smile.

Grace can tell that he feels confident about all of the team, as with every question he's answered, Bombay always knows the right words to say. His replies seem to be coming straight from his heart, which makes Grace feel good knowing her coach really believes in them and their abilities.

"He's really good at these press things, huh." Guy whispers to the city girl as they stand on the small bleachers, next to Coach in their team USA gear.

Grace nods her head in agreement, and replies to him quietly, "Yeah, it's like Coach is a trained celebrity or something."

All the teens stand still and try to look good, as the reporters now start to aim their questions towards some of the players, instead of just at Coach Bombay like before.

One question is asked to Charlie— which makes sense as he is the captain. The reporters had asked him if he felt threatened by any team, which was a sort of controversial question to give a player in Grace's mind. Either way he would answer that, there would be some kind of talk that team USA was either too cocky, or that team USA was scared for what's to come.

Charlie took a deep breath, and slowly answered, trying to find all the right words to say like his Coach had done before, "I think our biggest competition would have to be ourselves. Everyday we are going to work hard, to try and get better than the days before. That mind-set will help us through this tournament."

All of the teens snap their heads to Charlie in surprise at his well-answered question, and even Dean gives him a pat on the back once the interviewer thanks Charlie, turning their attention to the another person.

For Grace, the group had been standing up on the podiums for about ten minutes already, causing her to get increasingly bored and stiff legged. She was hoping this conference would finish soon, and so she could go back to the dorms and take a nap. Her jet-lag was sort of kicking in, and Coach had mentioned there might even be a night practice after this press conference, so she needed all the rest she could get.

She also didn't realize— she didn't think that a question was actually going to be asked to her— so, when she heard the faint interviewer's voice say her name, her deep thoughts were halted, and she widened her eyes in surprise at the newfound attention from not only the press, but also her teammates.

"Grace Hills, how does it feel to be one of the said top recruits in the tournament. Are you nervous for the attention, especially because you are a female?"

The question asked cut through Grace like a knife. How on Earth was she suppose to answer that, she didn't know she was considered so highly, in regards  to the tournament. And why did it matter that she was a female? If she was just as good as the other boys she played, possibly better, why did her gender matter?