AN: Hello reader! For dramatic effect please listen to Billie Eilish's song Lovely. This is only an option :D

After school, when Charlie and I got home, I finished my homework and went out to the pond where the Ducks met Coach Bombay with the limo on the ice. I was wearing a pink Coca-Cola sweater with light wash mom jeans, my Timberlands, and my winter wear with my school bag on my back. I sighed as I stared out at the ice. Flashbacks of my dad skating on the ice popped into my head, him trying to teach me how to skate but I kept falling down, me telling Charlie that I couldn't skate, and Fulton at Hans Sport Shop helping me pick out skates for me.

My feet dragged in the snow as I walked over to the same bench Charlie and I sat on before. My backpack was placed beside me on the bench as I started to untie the laces of my boots. Then I unzipped my backpack and took out my skates. Nike Bauer Supreme skates, turquoise laces. I sat them on my lap, staring at them for a moment before slowly slipping them on my feet. Since I had remembered Fulton told me to wear thick socks, they were already on my feet.

When I finished lacing my skates, I slowly stood up from the bench, I didn't wobble, yet. I let out a deep exhale before walking out on to the ice wobbling like a newborn baby deer. My legs and ankles started separating as I skated forward. When I looked down my legs started shaking again, so I started skating forward a bit, bending my knees slightly before falling on my face. I let a groan escape my mouth before I got up again. My legs continued to shake and my legs separated. I tried again, bending my knees, slowly moving my arms, kicking back and forth. I skated forward a bit with my baby steps s when I fell on my face again, sliding across the ice. I banged the ice with my fist, which hurt like hell, before pushing myself up off the ice. Then I fell down again, landing on my side. When I tried to get back up again, I only fell down. In frustration, I slapped the ice with my hands before taking a deep breath to clear my mind and calm my body down. I closed my eyes and deeply inhaled the cold air that burned my nose, then exhaled it though my mouth. When I picked myself up again, I didn't fall, my legs were steady as I held my arms out to keep my balance. Then, with confidence, I started skating forward in baby steps, then I tried to go a bit faster, bending my knees and moving my arms. Right as I was starting to go a bit faster, I fell straight on my face. The ice slammed the side of my cheek sending a sharp stinging pain to my face.

The cold frozen water started to turn my cheek red. Tears then started coming from my eyes. My throat burned and my lip quivered from me failing again. My eyes became red and puffy, tears escaped and rolled down my cheeks to the ice freezing them at the bottom. I could feel my face start to turn red from the ice and from me crying, my body gasped for air as I started choking out for air. When I picked myself up, I was on my knees with my face in my hands.

Uncovering my face, I looked to the sky, "Please help me. I wanna skate so badly, dad," I said to the setting sky. "Ya gotta help me!" I croaked out, my voice cracked and screamed, begging for help. "I wanna do it so badly dad! Please! Help me!" I then started banging the ice with my bare fists multiple times. I knew I was gonna have bruises from me banging so hard and that I was gonna regret it later but I didn't care. I looked back up to the sky, "DAD HELP ME!" I screamed as loud as my voice could go. I'm sure people were very concerned and could hear me screaming and crying from the pond. "Please-" I croaked in a normal crying voice as my throat burned. "Help me, Dad, I wanna be like you now more than ever," I mumbled before placing my forehead to the ice while the tears from my eyes streamed down my face. Then I placed my palms on either side of me, flat on the ice, sending the cold chill through me. "I wanna skate with my family, dad." My lungs gasped for air as my forehead was smashed against the ice.

"Vic?" Coach Bombay's voice called out from behind me. I snapped my head up to look at him. "Vic! Are you ok?" I heard his skates cut the edge of the ice, sending shavings behind him as he bent down to my level. "Vic, what happened? Are you hurt?" His voice was worried as he placed a hand on my back, rubbing comforting circles on my back.

Looking up at the worried Coach, "I can't do it, Coach," I croaked out, more tears streamed down my face. "I failed. I'll always be a failure."

"No, no, Vic. You're not a failure Vic!" Coach tried to comfort me as I laid on the ice.

I snapped my head, "Yes I am!" I croaked out, screaming, which took Coach by surprise due to his wide eyes. "I'm a hockey coach and I can't even skate! The daughter of a hockey player, surrounded by ice my entire life and I can't skate!" My mouth spilled out my embarrassing secret to Coach.

"I can teach yo-" Coach stuttered.

"No, I've tried all my life. My mom, private lessons, and me coming out here and doing it myself. For five years I've tried and time and time again I always fail!" I snapped at Coach.

"Well, let's get you off the ice at least." Coach then helped me up from the ice, he wrapped his arm around my shoulder as he dragged me over to the bench where my school bag was. Then he sat me down on the bench and started untying my skates. Occasionally, Coach would look up at my depressed face. "Vic please don't beat yourself up. This is the lowest I've ever seen you," Coach pleaded while slipping off my skates. "This isn't you. You can't stop being that happy bright motivated girl. Not now, not yet." He shook his head while putting my skates in my bag.

I released a deep sigh, "This has sucked every ounce of happiness and motivation out of me." I mumbled while putting on my boots again.

"Vic, listen to me," Coach placed his hands on my knees, looking up at me with pleading eyes. "It doesn't matter if you can skate or not, you'll always be the best coach I've ever seen. To coach hockey, you don't need to skate, you have to have patience and motivation to be one."

My insides started burning and hurting from a mix of happiness and depressed sadness. Once again, my body choked out for air as I stared at Coach, "Hey, I'll walk ya home." He smiled and sat next to me on the bench, untying his skates, then slipping on his tennis shoes before helping me up from the bench, carrying my backpack in his free hand.

We were probably halfway back to the apartment, "I'm gonna go to Hans." I mumbled, Coach stopped dead in his tracks, turning to me.

"Are you sure you'll be ok, Vic?" He placed his hands on my shoulders.

I sniffed and wiped my nose with the side of my hand, "Ya, I'll be ok." I mumbled.

"Ok," He nodded. "Just don't stay up too late tonight. You'll wanna get some sleep for tomorrow's game." He patted my shoulder before giving my backpack and walking away.

I stood there in the middle of the sidewalk, watching Coach walk away, "Coach!" I croaked before running up to him.

Coach turned around, surprised to see me running up to him and embracing him in a sympathetic comforting hug, "Thank you." I whispered.

"No problem Coach." He whispered back, I could feel him smiling slightly at my action as he embraced me.

When we let go, the two of us parted ways. I walked to Hans shop, the sky was in between light and dark when I arrived. When I walked up to the front door, I tugged on the gold handles, it was locked. Letting out a huff, I then went around the building to find a door. I walked by a long row of windows where I saw sparks fly from a machine. Hans was sharpening a pair of skates. Walking up to the door, I opened it, stepping inside the warm back room.

Hans then turned off the machine, taking off his glasses, "Hello Gordon." He said without turning.

"Actually, I'm not Coach Bombay." Hans head perked up when I spoke. He turned in surprise to see me standing by the door.

"Hello, Victoria." He gave a small smiled to me.

"Why did you think I was Coach Bombay?" I adjusted my backpack on my back.

"Only one person can open a door so sadly and quietly." He sighed, setting down the skate next to its twin.

"Oh," I mumbled.

"I sense that you've come here for advice."

"Your senses serve you well, Hans." I half chuckled.

"Gordon told me that Riley thought you were a joke." Hans crossed his arms.

Scoffing at Hans's comment, I rolled my eyes, "I bet he does think I'm a joke."

"Well then prove to home that your not! Show him that you're a Duck and you shouldn't be pushed over!" He threw his hands in the air.

"I dunno Hans-" He cut me off.

"You're not just worried about Riley, you're worried about Adam Banks, aren't you?" Hans picked up the pair of skates and walked past me, out into the main shop.

"Ya," I said in guilt, following behind him.

"I wouldn't blame you. He is a charming kid." His accent popped.

"How would ya know that?" Hans walked up to the men's skates and sat the skates down on the rack.

"Because I watched him grow up. Him and his brother," Hans sighed. My eyes went wide for a minute in shock but softened. "I remember when Mr. Banks came in here with his first son, Maxwell. He was about yea high," Hans gestured to his knee with his hand. "I remember when Maxwell picked out his first pair of skates with his father. The two looked so happy. Then when Adam came along, Mr. Banks did the exact same thing, he brought him here to pick out his first pair of skates. As Adam kept growing he came back to have his fathers and his own skates sharpened. Then he came to get hockey equipment when he was old enough. He was such a charming kind boy before he joined the Hawks. Riley turned him and Maxwell into someone they weren't," The room went silent, then Hans looked up at me. "If your worried about Adam, I would be worried about what is going to happen to him tomorrow at the game. Hawks don't play nice to traitors." He said lowly which made me even worse.

"I've seen part of what they can do already Hans."

"Then you'll know that they'll be difficult to beat." Hans then walked away.

"Ya." I nodded my head before following him again.

"Then show them that the Ducks aren't a joke. Show them that you aren't a joke. Show them you're a Duck!" He smiled and lightly banged his fist on the counter.

"Your right. Your absolutely right Hans!" I smiled at Hans. "I do need to prove myself to everyone and myself that I'm not a joke," My face brightened up. "Will you be at the game tomorrow night?"

Hans chuckled, "Why wouldn't I be? I wouldn't want to miss the Ducks big win against the Hawks."

"Thanks for everything Hans." I smiled before taking off for the back door of the shop, leaving Hans behind me.