Today was the day of the big game. The Junior Goodwill Association held the showdown earlier in the day. At breakfast, everyone was full of chatter, except for me. As every final showdown went, my anxiety was through the roof. All I did was stare at my breakfast. Connie and Julie tried to encourage me to eat something before the game but Coach came up to me.

"Hey, Vic." He placed a hand pn my shoulder, smiling down at me. When he saw my face, his dropped. "Are you ok?"

"Ya." I nodded.

"No, she isn't, she's a nervous wreck," Julie spoke out.

"She won't even touch her food." Connie frowned coming over, rubbing circles on my back before Julie got up and bent down to look at me.

"Well besides from you not eating Vicki, I was wondering if go you could stay here with Adam since he's still in bed and can't play."

"Ya, I'll stay with him." I nodded, picking up my breakfast that was on a tray, walking away without another word.

Carefully, I took the tray up the stairs to Adam and Charlie's shared room, gently pressing the tray against the door allowing myself to grab the doorknob easier to open it slowly.

Adam was all sprawled out in his bed, the sheets were all mangled around his body while he laid on his stomach. I was so tempted to crawl in bed with him and just lay with him. He looked so cozy. His bed looked so warm.

Smiling, I walked over quietly, on my toes, placing the tray on the desk nearby before taking the chair from the desk, putting it next to his bed.

Adam had his left arm and leg dangling off the side of his bed while his right was under his pillow as he laid on his stomach. Rolling my eyes, walking to the left side of his bed, I picked up his one leg and arm, putting it back on the bed before untangling the sheets from his body, smoothing it out neatly.

Adam the started stirring in his sleep, he flipped over on his side, fixing himself so that he was facing me.

"Banksie, what are ya ever doing to me," I mumbled to myself, clicking my tongue and shaking my head. Then a cold shiver went down my spine, making my body move in all sorts of directions. "Fuck it." I once again mumbled to myself.

Reaching down to the hem of my white sleeveless Lacoste dress, I pulled it all the way up, stripping myself before taking off my matching white shoes, discarding them on the floor before I rummaged around some of Adam's suitcases before I found his old Ducks jersey, slipping it over my body, and carefully slipping under the covers with Adam. Pulling the covers up to my face, I moved closer to Adam, playing with his hair as he slept.

When his eyes fluttered open, my lips curled at the corners, "Hey Cakesie," My voice was soft while his eyes dilated to my face. "I brought you breakfast and I got a little cold."

"Where's everyone?" He picked himself up and looked to find Charlie sleeping in his bed, only to be empty.

I huffed slightly, also picking myself up and rubbing his shoulder, "They left to go to the game. Coach wanted me to stay here with you." I then kissed where his face met with his ear.

"This doesn't change anything." He said lowly, getting out of bed, avoiding looking at me.

I caught his arm, forcing him to look at me, "Adam, this has nothing to do with Gunnar or Olaf."

"Well, why don't ya go sleep with them instead." He stabbed, making my heartbreak slightly. He fixed his grey sweatpants on himself, walking over to the desk where his breakfast was waiting for him.

Shaking my head, I also got up from his bed, "No Adam Banks, you listen to me right now!" I stabbed pointing a finger at his back, my voice shaky and hot from frustration. "I don't love them like I love you! I realized something when I was with them, yes, I was happy with them, but I never felt protected like the way I feel when I'm with you!" I stomped my foot on the wood floor. "I love you, Adam! Even though you are rich and way out of my league-"

Adam cut me off, "Don't talk about my money, Vicki." He glanced over his shoulder to look at me.

"I don't care!" Throwing my hands in the air, I let out a loud huff. "When I was at school, half of the time I would be thinking about you, Adam. You and only you. I said to myself that I've never hated a person so much in my life to love them this much and now I know why." I could feel the tears running down my face and my heart snapping into two pieces.

Sniffing my nose, Adam then turned around to see my crying. He walked over, shushing me, then cupping my face in his hands, slightly squishing and lifting my cheeks. "It's ok Vicki, I'm sorry for getting jealous, princess." He wiped the tears away from my eyes with his thumbs before rubbing my wet crimson cheeks.

He leaned in a planted a long sympathetic apology kiss on the skin in between my eyebrows before breaking away and pecking the tip of my nose, making me smile slightly.

"You're my princess and you'll always be my princess." He cooed, making me lean up forward and plant a kiss on the tip of his nose, returning the gesture.

There was an airy silence between the two of us, "Now, eat, eat, eat," I shooed Adam towards his food awaiting him on the tray that sat on his desk. "Before it gets cold."

Breakfast today was waffles, the big fluffy ones, and crispy bacon with orange juice. Even though I couldn't eat, I really wanted to but I knew that I would throw it all up.

Smiling, I hopped up on to the desk next to the tray of food. I was facing Adam with my bare legs crossed while part of my thighs was covered by his old Ducks hockey jersey.

He took a sip of his orange juice in the glass cup. Taking a piece of bacon from the plate, I ripped it in half, eating one half before feeding the other half to Adam. The light snap of the bacon being broke by his teeth made him take the rest.

"Crispy," He nodded his head slightly before setting his hand on my upper thigh, rubbing circles with his thumb on my skin. "You look really hot in my jersey, princess." He slightly leaned forward towards me while eating the crispy bacon.

Smirking, "And you look really hot too, Cakesie," I fixed his messy bangs, separating strands of his hair and putting them in place. "How's your wrist?" Gently I picked up his wrapped hand and touched his wrist.

"The pains gone."

"It's gone?" Gently I turned his hand over.

"Yeah, it's completely gone." He smiled widely, moving his wrist in every which way.

"Well, what are ya waiting for?!" I threw my hands in the air happily. "Shovel down your breakfast and get ready! We might be able to make it to the game in time!" After I said that, Adam started shoveling his breakfast down while I stripped off his old Ducks jersey to put on my all-white outfit.

Adam left the tray on his desk and he also started getting undressed and into his yellow Polo with khakis and his Team USA track jacket while I helped him gather up all his hockey stuff. Throwing essentials in a duffle bag before the two of us dashed out the door, running to the street to catch a taxi.

"Taxi! Taxi!" I half jumped in the road flailing my arms to flag down the yellow car which stopped next to me. The guy driving rolled down his window to the two of us.

"Hey! I know you two! Vicki Reed and Adam Banks! Team USA!" He smiled. "Where ya headed?"

"Arrowhead Pond, Anaheim," Adam responded before me.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah, hop in, you two ride free! Anything for my two favorite Team USA members!" He motioned us to hop in the backseat.

Adam kindly opened the door for me before piling in the backseat of the taxi. The driver took off flying down the road.

"Ya know, you're kinda cutting it close." He smiled in the rearview mirror at us.

"Ya, we had a change in plans." Adam then interlaced our fingers together, making me blush like an idiot.

The ride to the rink was long because of traffic, just trying to get into the parking lot was a pain. The driver kindly dropped us off at the front doors of the rink.

"Thank you!" The two of us said in unison, getting out the closest door to the sidewalk.

"Go kick some Icelandic ass!" He joked from inside the car.

"We will!" Again we responded in unison, running through the doors to try and navigate our way through the endless sea of people to try and find the team locker room.

It took us a few minutes before finding the locker room. Adam then dashed in with me behind him. His bag and stick in his hands.

"Coach!" He smiled, walking up to Coach Bombay and Ms. McKay in the locker room. When everyone saw Adam enter the room, they all said hello, but when I came up behind him, everyone smiled widely, standing up from their stools. "I woke up this morning and the pain was gone." Adam held his Christian stick in his hand, rotating his wrist causing the team to hoot and cheer for his recovery.

Coach had an upset expression washed over his face as he looked between the two of us, "Adam, I'm sorry, we already have a full roster."

Looking down the row of people, Russ and Charlie were side by side. Russ knew what he had to do, so he started taking his jersey off, only to be stopped by Charlie.

"He can have my spot," Charlie spoke up, his hockey pants scraping together as he walked towards the four of us. "Its what I can do for the team. Let me do it." Charlie looked between Coach, Adam, and I.

Adam looked down at the floor as he gripped his shoulder sympathetically.

"Charlie," Coach started with a small smile appearing on his face. "I need you on the bench, coaching right there with me." He then gave Charlie the gameplay clipboard causing everyone to cheer and continued to get dressed.

Walking up to the two boys, I pecked Charlie on the cheek, "Thank you," I nodded my head, looking between the two boys. "You're the best brother, Charlie." He then wrapped me in a hug, rubbing circles on my back before Adam joined in on the hug, kissing my cheek.

Breaking away, I playfully shoved Adam to go get changed into his gear before turning to walk out of the locker room. Charlie lightly gripped my arm before I left the room, "Where ya going?"

"I have to take care of some things before the game." Charlie let go of my arm so I could leave the locker room.

I was sneaking around the hallways to get to the Iceland locker room when I rounded a corner and saw Gunnar and Olaf walking right for me.

"Gunnar! Olaf!" I yelled, running towards them, they also did the same. The two were in their bulky hockey gear, running towards me in their white socks.

I then jumped into their arms, squishing my face into their shoulders that touched, "Thank God we found you." Gunnar said in a hushed voice.

"Ya, same here, I wanted to apologize to you both-" Olaf set me down gently on my feet.

"Nei, this wasn't your fault Vicki." Olaf started.

"This wasn't anyone's fault." Gunnar finished.

"Well we all have acts to uphold the today," I shook my head, placing my hands on my hips, looking up at the two Icelandic boys. "Whatever happens between now and after the game, I don't blame you guys for anything," The two nodded their heads before I glanced at a clock down the hallway behind the two boys. The game was about to start. "Ok, I'll see ya both later. The game is about to start."

"Bye." They said in unison bending down, giving me a hug, I kissed their cheeks before walking back to the locker room to reunite with the team.

Everyone was walking out of the locker room when I arrived to meet up. Coach tossed me my whistle, so I could put it around my neck. We were walking through the dark tunnel. I could see bright lights and thunderous roars of hundreds of thousands of people in the stands cheering on their favorite teams.

"Alright guys, take a deep breath," Coach yelled over the screams before we stepped in the light of the rink. "Here we go!" The double glass doors of the rink opened up, allowing us to step on to the ice.

Iceland was already out and practicing, going through drills, on the ice already when we arrived. Fans on the railing cheered and held up signs. The paparazzi taking pictures of us coming out of the dark tunnel and stepping on to the ice.

I had the team warm-up and do the usual drills on our half of the ice while Coach, Charlie, Ms. McKay, and I stood in the benches coming up with backup ideas.

Stansson and Marria were staring at me. Marria just had a blank expression wiped over her face while Stansson glared at me with his jaw clenched.

On the ice, I saw Gunnar and Olaf doing their drills, then I looked over and saw Adam taking a few practice slap shots at Goldberg, making me clench my necklace that hung from my neck.

Then the two teams were called to the ice to have the national anthems sung in front of the two flags. Once again, I stood in the back, in the middle, just like before at the Ducks vs Hawks game. The crowd sang our national anthem first, then a choir and band played the Icelandic national anthem with the whole Iceland team singing along.

Their national anthem was quite different than ours. It was a bit longer and probably had more history and meaning behind it.

Being called to the benches by the refs, Coach brought us all in for a team chant, "Alright, heads high. Stand tall. Fly straight." He started.

"USA!" I screamed while our hands were all in the middle of the circle.

"ALL THE WAY!" The team screamed back before breaking away.

Averman took the opening face-off against Gunnar. Immediately when the puck dropped, he was shoved down and Gunnar passed the puck to Begumann. Guy tried to intercept but he was checked into the glass. The puck was in Olaf's possession as he tried to slap the puck into the goal but Goldberg saved it and cut the puck off behind our net where Dean was coming in not to receive it but Gunnar also checked him into the glass, passing the puck to Heglason, who attempted to shoot the puck into our goal but Goldberg made a stick save, sending the crowd nuts. Gunnar snagged the puck, faking out Goldberg, sending him on his side, before passing the puck to Olaf who skated around our goal, scoring a point as Goldberg threw himself in front of the goal trying to save it but the siren sounded.

Olaf, Gunnar, and other Iceland players tackled each other into a group hug. Olaf then took off his helmet, skating towards Goldberg, "Too slow, big boy!" He taunted, chuckling maniacally before skating away.

Goldberg was about to go after him but was stopped by Ken and Dwayne, "Hey don't listen to him!"

"Yeah, besides that guy will kill you!" Ken added.

"Well, at least hold me back like I'm gonna kill him. Come on, man! Let me at him! Let me go! You want some of this? Let me at him!" Goldberg struggled in Dwayne and Ken's grasp as he yelled at Olaf's back.

"LINE CHANGE!" Calling out to our players, the new line of players came in. "Guy, Jesse, Russ." I named off. Coach and I bent down next to Russ who sat nervously awaiting his turn to play.

"You ready?" Coach smiled.

"Yeah." Russ nodded his head before hopping the wall, getting on to the ice.

Stansson watched Russ get on to the ice and gripped two of his player's shoulders, "That's the shooter!" The two hopped off the bench and chased after Russ.

Gunnar and Olaf pinned Russ to the glass, "HEY MAN GET OFF ME!" He squirmed under their weight until they finally let him go. Russ then skated to an open spot, slapping the ice with his stick. "Over here, man. Gimme the puck!"

"SHOOTER!" Stansson screamed from the benches, pointing at Russ.

"Watch out, boy. Its knucklepuck time," Russ brought his stick back getting ready to do his famous knucklepuck. Then an Iceland player jumped out in front of him, landing on his stomach as he slid across the ice with the puck, making him fall on his face. "Aw, man, I messed up." Russ then went back to chasing the puck around the ice.

Uberjavik headed for Goldberg with the puck in his possession. Dwayne then jumped in front of him, making him get bucked off his feet, passing the puck to Olaf who lined up with Vries, slapping the puck in the goal making the Iceland team go wild in the benches and the fans in the stands cheer.

The next play, Guy started in the middle, heading for the Iceland goal when two of them sandwiched him into the glass behind the goal, making him fall and snagging the puck away from him.

"We can't make it. Iceland's bigger, stronger, faster. They got more facial hair." Averman bounced in his seat on the benches from anxiety.

"Not really Averman, I kissed two of them," I added in before looking to Coach who came up behind Adam.

"Banks your on!" He tapped his shoulder, Adam briefly looked over his shoulder while getting up from his seat, going out over the wall.

I came over to him, "Adam!" He looked into my eyes. "Be careful out there." I placed a kiss on his visor.

Adam smirked, "I'll try not to." He winked then jumped over the wall.

Tnorisson tried to make a goal, but Goldberg made a stick save allowing Adam to grab the puck and skate off with it. I was practically on my toes, clutching my necklace, bouncing up and down slightly while watching Adam. Uberjavik came up beside him, hitting his wrist, Adam tried to push him away but he kept doing it. Olaf was coming straight for Adam so he cut his edge, trying to spin around drastically but Olaf slammed his stick into his wrist, causing Adam to let out a scream and tip over.

Everyone in the benches shot up, yelling at Olaf, Charlie's face got really red, "Sit down. Sit down." Coach pushed everyone down back into their seats.

"Hey, Ref, why don't you call something?! He almost took his arm off!" I screamed, gesturing to Adam laying on the ice, clamping down on his wrist.

One of the refs finally escorted Olaf to the penalty box, "That'll be two minutes."

"Two minutes?" Olaf unhooked the chin strap. "Well worth it." He retorted, stepping into the penalty box.

"Get in the box, you big goon!" Ken said while skating past the penalty box.

Two refs also escorted Adam back to the benches, Adam came and sat down by Coach and I, "I'm okay." He tried to reassure us. Coach took his helmet off his head while I slipped off his glove.

"Ya sure, Adam?" I looked at his wrist on a worried expression lightly touching it as he moved it all around.

"Yeah, I'm fine. They just hit the pad," Adam looked down at his wrist before looking back up at me. "Really." He finished.

"You'll be okay, Banks." Julie smiled from the other end of the benches,

"Way to hang in there, Adam. Great playing." Coach slapped his shoulder before getting up and walking away.

I sat with Adam like a worried mother, making sure his wrist was alright, "I should really put ya in a plastic bubble so nothing like this happens."

Adam then laced his bad wrist fingers together with mine, kissing my forehead, "You know that I'd do the same for you if you were playing, except I wouldn't let you play."

"I know Cakesie." Nodding my head I got up and walked behind Coach when I saw Stansson turn his head to look at us when I clenched my jaw together and shook my head in disgust and shame.

Connie, Dwayne, and Luis were on the puck. Connie, received the puck, passing it back in between her legs to Luis who got tripped by an Iceland player. Dwayne was about to be ganged up, but he did some stickhandling tricks to try and ovoid the puck being stolen from him. Then he got rammed into from behind, getting the puck stolen by Amselik.

"Get'em, Luis!" I yelled out to Luis who was fighting to try and keep up behind Amselik. Luis went to try and steal the puck but accidentally tripped Amselik, sending them both down, crashing into the goal, sounding the siren, and taking Goldberg down with them. I slammed my hand on the wall, running my one hand through my hair in anxiety.

The game was 3-0 in favor of Iceland, Coach and I decided to pull out the Flying V, "K, guys, Flying V." I shooed the members of the Flying V out on to the ice.

Coach and I looked over at Stansson who exchanged a look with us before sending some different players on to the ice, he was watching us on the ice and on the benches.

Jesse and the rest of the Flying V came out behind the net with the puck. Connie then passed up the puck too early to Jesse because Gunnar was leading all the guys to the V where they all collided like a car accident. Gunnar, Olaf, Begumann, Tnorisson, and Heglason started all running together with Gunnar who had the puck. It was a 5 break for Goldberg. Gunnar slid the puck over to Tnorisson who slapped it in the goal. The boys all skated over to each other, piling in for a hug. Ken went over to Goldberg who took of his helmet, letting a huff of exhaustion escape his lips, looking up at the scoreboard, then exchanging a look with Ken who just shook his head in defeat.

At the beginning of the second period, Ken was in his line when Olaf came up behind him, getting in position. The bruiting blond chuckled lowly at Ken, "Oy vey." Ken gave off one of those worried smiles.

Averman took the face-off between Gunnar and got knocked down immediately.

The puck went flying everywhere, people were falling on their faces, that's when I called in Dean and Fulton to bring in the heat, "Go hot and heavy guys!" I patted their shoulders.

The two Bash Brothers looked at each other, doing their handshake before putting on their bandanas and jumping off the bench.

"PARTY!" The two screamed, slamming Gunnar into the glass, making us all stand and cheer for them.

Steiogrsson was headed straight for the two Bash Brothers when they plowed into him, sending him on his backside, Fulton stole the puck from him. The two chuckled before screaming at each other, ramming their helmets together like rams.

Uberjavik stole the puck, trying to make a goal, but was saved by Goldberg. Ken took the puck behind the goal, making his way up the center, he was going to split the defense.

I was so nervous, I closed my eyes, "I can't watch." Adam rubbed my shoulder, while I cracked my fingers to see everything happening. Weyden and Bajer were watching Ken's every move. Ken started his triple areal.

"Get'em!" Stansson yelled from the benches.

Ken was spinning in the air before landing in front of Seggi, the Iceland goalie, who looked utterly confused.

Fulton stopped in front of Weyden and Bajer, "Pretty cool, huh?" He smirked, sending the puck to Ken, slapping it in through the side putting us on the board 4-1 in favor of Iceland.

Everyone on the ice tackled each other with small Kenny Wu in the center while we on the benches all sprung to our feet, Adam and I hugged each other violently before he turned and high-fived Jules who sat next to him. Looking over at the Iceland benches, Stansson was looking down, shaking his head in shame while scrunching his lips.

"What did ya think of that? Pretty sweet, huh?" Ken taunted the goalie, skating off. Seggi was coming up behind him.

"Ken watch out!" I screamed, which got his attention in time for him to turn around.

"Hey, you wanna piece of me?!" Ken threw down his stick and gloves, tackling Seggi, bending him over and pulling the back of his shirt up over his head, punching him in the gut.

I was laughing my guts out at the sight of the ref pulling the small Kenny Wu off of the giant Iceland goalie, Seggi.

Gunnar and Olaf went to the bench so the new line of players could come in, "What are you doing there?! Huh?" Stansson slammed them down on the benches, gripping their shoulders. "Wake up! Don't think about her!" He yelled, pointing clearly at me as the three stared over at me. I smugly smiled, wagging my fingers at Stansson, I knew Gunnar and Olaf couldn't stop thinking about me.

Ken was taken to the penalty box for two minutes, "Two minutes? Well worth it."

Dean and Fulton looked at each other before screaming again, skating over to the penalty box where Ken was sitting.

"All right, Ken Wu!" Dean screamed.

"Our little Bash Brother! He's our man!" Fulton pointed at Ken in the box who started banging his hands on the glass

"Yeah! Get up! Come on! Get up!" Dean and Fulton threw down their helmets and sticks, encouraging the crowd to scream and go wild for pride.

"Hey, you guys, come on, get- Let's play hockey!" Coach yelled out to the two Bash Brothers who were still going nuts.

"Yes, let's hear it for the three Bash Brothers entertaining the crowd." Goldberg lightly slapped his helmet.

Dean and Fulton went down the line, giving us all high-fives and hitting the helmets of the Iceland players before teasing and taunting them. Stansson and Marria tried to hold all of them back as they screamed and taunted the team. The ref blew his whistle, escorting the two to the penalty box.

"Come on! Let's go, come on!" The ref yelled over their two obnoxious screams.

"Way to go Bash Bros!" I yelled to Fulton and Dean who turned around, giving me cheeky grins and two thumbs up before stepping inside with Ken and still going wild inside the box.

My head snapped at Stansson yelling, "OLAF!"

"Ja?!" He shot up from his seat.

Stansson gripped his helmet, hyping him up, "Destroy!" Olaf hopped off the benches and on to the ice.

"Connie, be careful, their gunning for you." I heard Charlie say from behind me.

"Don't worry, I'll be fine." She snapped back, hopping off the bench, making me turn around to say something but it was too late.

Connie was already on the ice and Olaf was coming for her. Connie was skating the edge of the far wall by the Iceland goal when Olaf slowly closed in on her, making her fall backward. She had a small window to pass the puck before dropping and thankfully she passed it. As Connie laid on the ground, she snapped her head up when she heard maniacal laughs come from Olaf who slowly skated away. He then went past the penalty box, scraping the stick against the glass, making clink sounds, taunting Dean and Fulton inside. The two boys slammed themselves into the glass, wanting to throw hands with Olaf for being mean to Connie.

Uberjavik shot the puck, Goldberg stick saved the puck sending it to the back wall where Connie intercepted. She was struggling to get the puck from off the wall. Nearby, Olaf shoved down Ken and bolted straight for Connie.

"Get it outta there Connie!" Coach yelled.

"CONNIE LOOK OUT!" I screamed from the benches, she briefly looked over her shoulder to see Olaf coming right for her.

"Yeehaw! I'm coming, Connie!" Dwayne hopped off the bench without his helmet and his lasso in his hand.

Looking at Dwayne, my eyes went wide, "Dwayne! No!" Coach and I tried to stop Dwayne but it was too late.

He started swinging the rope around over his head, closing in behind Olaf who was screaming. He was so close to Connie, Dwayne threw the rope and stopped Olaf from plowing into Connie, making her into a sandwich in between the glass. Dwayne then jerked the rope backward, causing Olaf to fall on his backside as he dragged him over. Connie smiled widely at Dwayne's gesture before coming over.

"Get up here!" Dwayne pulled Olaf up by his collar as he struggled in the rope. "Where I come from we treat ladies with respect!" Dwayne stabbed a finger at Olaf.

He clenched his jaw, "The only lady I respect is your coach!" He retorted, then Connie pushed between the two, looking up at Dwayne.

"Thank you Dwayne, but I'm no lady," She started. "I'm a Duck!" She snapped her head, growling at Olaf before shoving him down. Olaf frantically fought against the rope, trying to get up. "Come on!" She snapped at Olaf, whipping her braid at him, skating away.

"I'll get you for th-" Olaf stuttered before falling on his face.

Rolling my eyes and shaking my head, I watched as Dwayne was escorted to the penalty box, hooting, and cheering.

"This isn't a hockey game," I heard Coach start, making me turn my head, with my eyebrows raised. "It's a circus!" He scoffed.

I went back to looking at the scoreboard, I knew we didn't have much time left, as I watched the nanoseconds count down to zero, sounding the buzzer, signaling the end of the second period.

Halftime started and both teams went to the locker rooms, leaving Coach, Ms. McKay, and myself the only people on the benches.

"Coach what do ya expect, Dwayne is a gentleman, he'll stick up for a lady when she is being pushed down," I spoke out, walking out of the benches behind the two, closing the gate.

Stansson and Marria were in front of us away, talking, well they looked like they were arguing because Stansson kept pointing to his clipboard and Marria kept throwing her hands in the air.

Getting inside the locker room, everyone was chatting to each other with their jerseys off, to cool down.

Adam and Luis were talking to each other, while Adam moved his wrist around in front of Luis.

"Did you all enjoy that?" Coach asked everyone.

"Yeah!" The team responded with grins on their faces.

"So did they, because they're still three points up and we're one period away from defeat." Coach kinda killed the happiness in the room because everyone frowned, sitting down on their stools.

"If we can't beat them, we might as well keep our pride," Jesse spoke out, everyone agreed.

"Jesse, that's not pride," Coach started, shaking his head at Jesse. "Sure, when Dwayne roped that big oaf, part of me cheered. But, guys, I've been there. I know how you feel," Coach then started walking down the middle. "I wanted to cream that jerk that busted my knee when I played in the minors and I really, really," He emphasized. "Wanted to go after Stansson for that cheap shot. But you know what? My knee will heal and if I become someone I'm not," He walked back towards the front where Ms. McKay and I were standing. "If I sink to their level well, then, I lost more than my knee. You understand?"

Everyone looked at each other, "Yeah."

"We're not goons. We're not bullies. No matter what people say or do, we have to be ourselves." Smiling lightly, I exchanged looks with everyone in the room, nodding my head.

"You. Who are you?" Coach pointed at Dean in the back, he looked a bit shocked for a minute.

"Dean Portman." His voice was shy and a bit quieter than usual.

"From where?"

"Chicago, Illinois." Dean nodded.

"You." Coach pointed at Guy

"Guy Germaine. From St. Paul, Minnesota."

"You." Coach pointed at Jesse.

"Jesse Hall from Minneapolis, Minnesota."

"Who are you?" Coach pointed at Jules.

"Julie Gaffney from Bangor, Maine." Jules smiled confidently while saying her name.

Luis slowly stood up from his stool, "Luis Mendoza. Miami, Florida."

Goldberg shot up with his towel wrapped around his neck, "Greg Goldberg. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania."

Averman smiled, "Les Averman. Brooklyn Park, Minnesota." Patting Goldberg on the back as the two grinned at each other.

Fulton shot up, "Fulton Reed! Stillwater, Minnesota!" Smiling confidently, then Dean stood up, patting his back.

"That's right!" He smiled.

"Russ Tyler. South Central Los Angeles." Russ stood.

"Charlie Conway. Minneapolis, Minnesota." Charlie stood with Russ, as he wrapped an arm around his shoulder.

"Ken Wu. San Francisco, California."

"Connie Moreau. Minneapolis, Minnesota." Connie beamed, half laughing at me as she said her name.

"Adam Banks. Edina, Minnesota." Adam smiled widely before I blew him a kiss. He caught it in the air and pressed it to his heart.

"Dwayne Robertson. Austin, Texas." Everyone was now standing up in the room.

"Michele MacKay. Duluth, Minnesota." Ms. McKay half threw her arms in the air, also joining in.

"Vicki Reed! Grand Rapids, Michigan!" I grinned like an idiot while Ms. McKay and I side hugged each other.

"And I'm Gordon Bombay. Minneapolis, Minnesota," Coach finished off, causing all of us to applaud him. "We're Team USA, gathered from all across America and we're gonna stick together. You know why?"

"Because we are Ducks," Jan stepped into the locker room, grinning, making the three of us in the front, turn to see him. "And ducks fly together." He finished.

Coach smiled, pointing at Jan, "That's right, Jan," Coming to his side. "And just when you think they're about to break apart-"

"Ducks fly together!" We yelled one voice.

"And when the wind blows hard and the sky is black?" Ms. McKay raised her brow, waiting for a response.

"Ducks fly together!"

"When the roosters are crowing and the cows are spinning circles in the pasture?" Dwayne spoke out, making us all looked at each other, confused, except for me.

"Guys!" I groaned while laughing. "Ducks fly together!" I smiled.

"Um. Okay." Coach chuckled,

"Ducks fly together!"

"And when everyone says it can't be done," I said in a hushed voice, just loud enough for everyone to hear. "Ducks fly together."

"Now, new Ducks," Jan stepped forward, taking to the team. "And old Ducks must unite under a new banner and I thought perhaps something like this..."