I stand at the back next to Fulton and Charlie, Adam standing in front of me.

"Tell me about my new kids." Dad says, as I hear skates on the other side of the ice.

"Luis Mendoza. He's from our Miami club. Real speedster. Incredible skater. Clocked him at 1.9 seconds blue line to blue line." Tibbles starts introducing them. I pay no mind, and honestly I'm not really paying attention. I hear names being called, Dwayne, Julie, Ken. Then I hear a name that brings me out of my daze.

"Dean Portman. From Chicago."

I push my way to the front, and to my surprise, it's actually Dean.

"Y/n, it's Dean." Dad says, smiling. I always knew dad liked Dean even if he didn't show it. Dad pushes me a little bit and I go off skating.

"DEAN!" I yell, and he turns around.

"Y/n?!" He replies, wide eyed. I jump into his arms as we meet eachother. It's really Dean, I can't believe he's here right now. He lets me down and we just smile at eachother. I look behind me, and all the ducks are looking at me as if I'm crazy, talking to this big goon. I look back at him.

"I can't believe your here. It's been almost 2 years." I say, looking over how much he's changed. Not a whole lot, just more muscle and taller. He's still my Dean.

"I know, Donnie and Kate have missed you so much, so have I." He replies. "After this, we are hanging out, I don't care what plans you have, you now have plans with me." He says and nudges me with his elbow. I just shake my head and smile at him.

We start scrimmage, and let's just say the ducks haven't been practicing a whole lot. Luis skates into Goldberg within seconds of starting. Adam gets the puck and starts going down the ice. I see Dean going towards him.

"Banks look out!" I try to say in time, but I was to late. Dean had flipped him over. Dean skates by me chuckling. I just shake my head again at him.
Fulton gets the puck and lines up for his shot.

"Look out!" Dad yells, and we all get out of the way. Dean looks at me, confused. The other new recruits look confused too. They won't be for much longer. Fulton takes his shot but misses it hits the post and goes flying, hitting other things until finally it's coming down, right at Mr. Tibbles.

We crowd around Tibbles and try to wake him up. He moves and finally opens his eyes.

"Mr.Tibbles, are you alright?" The lady who he was walking with asks.

"Oh uh I'll have a cheeseburger, fries and a chocolate shake please." Tibbles replies, which causes us all to chuckle.

"I think he'll be okay. Well keep an eye on him." The lady says. "I'm sorry he didn't have a chance to introduce us. I'm Michele Mackay, their tutor." Dad shakes her hand.

Everybody groans at the thought of doing school while competing.

"May I suggest optional attendance?" Goldberg suggests and everybody likes the idea.

"Yes, school will be optional." The team erupts in cheers but quickly gets shut down, "however should you not attend, you will not be eligible to play."

I walk next to Dean towards the changeroom, when Averman comes over and starts talking.

"Hey is that a tattoo? Is it real?" Averman asks, but gets scared when Dean barks at him.

"Dean.." I say as I laugh, watching Averman walk fast towards the changeroom.

"How about you come over to the hotel Tibbles has us staying at? We can hang out and catch up?" Dean asks. I nod and walk into the changeroom me and Connie were in. Julie, the goalie, had her stuff placed in here also.

"So that's Dean? The one in the picture and the one you talk about." Connie says as she takes off her skates.

"Yes, that's him." I say and smile.

"Adam was looking a little jealous when he saw you guys like that." Connie smirks.

"He knows me and Dean are just friends, and I don't know if there's anything between me and Adam anyway." I say, and when I get the last part out Connie whips around and looks at me.

"You've gotta be blind. Did you not see how he's acted towards you since you got back? Plus, he talked about you a lot over the year you were gone." Connie continues looking at me, while I process everything she said. Julie sits there intrigued by our conversation. He talked about me?

"I don't know Connie." I say finally, stuffing my gear into my bag.

"I know I'm new here, but when we were on the ice, he watched you a lot." Julie pipes in. We turn to look at her.

"See! I'm not the only one who sees it!" Connie says walking over and standing beside Julie in an 'i told you' way. I laugh and roll my eyes. I think back to the practice today.

Dad had tied us all together, to try and get us to work together as a team. We all fell a lot. But, in particular, me and Adam kept falling on top of each other, and then helping the other up.
I was brought out of my thoughts when I heard my name.

"Y/n?" I recognize it to be Dads voice. I walk out of the change-room. "Are you coming with me or what are you doing?"

"I'm going to hangout with Dean, if that's alright." I ask. Dad smiles.

"Of course it alright. Have fun!" Dad says and walks off. I notice Dean standing off to the side, waiting for me.

"Took you long enough." Dean says, and i playfully punch him. I loop my arm with his and we walk off.