CHAPTER SEVEN
"IN THE BALLS!"

THE DUCKS STOOD across from the Hawks, each team giving the other looks that could kill as they listened to the national anthem. Today was the state final, Hawks against Ducks. Reece caught McGills eye and sent him a sweet smile as she slowly lifted up her hand and gave him the finger. Coach Bombay (who was standing behind her) quickly grabbed her hand and placed it back at her side.

"Let's go, alright!" Coach Bombay shouts at the end of the anthem, ushering his team towards the bench.

"Welcome to the Minnesota State Pee Wee Championship! Have we got a game for you today! The Hawks, coached by Coach Reilly and the Ducks, coached by Coach Bombay."

"That is really annoying," Reece mumbled, rolling her eyes as the Hawks chanted 'Win!' along with half of the crowd. "It's not even original."

"Okay, Ducks," Coach Bombay clapped, getting Reece's attention. "Let's get fired up! Quack, quack, quack..." he starts chanting, the rest of the team joining in along with the other half of the crowd who are cheering on the ducks. "Go Ducks!"

"Hey Banks, don't forget what side your on." Jesse snaps, glaring at Adam. The ex Hawk glared back at him as he skates away, Reece following him.

The twins were playing defence, Reece right and Ty left. Coach Bombay said that they would play good defence because they're better at blocking then shooting. Reece knows that she has terrible aim and she's not afraid to admit it.

They watched as Adam went against McGill in the face off. Adam turned around and made eye contact with Reece, who sent  him an encouraging nod. When the ref dropped the puck, Adam went for it but got knocked down by McGill and another Hawk. McGill grabbed the puck and tried to get passed the twins, but he got knocked down by Ty. Reece quickly gained control of the puck and quickly passed it back to Adam. He quickly skated down into the Hawks zone, but he gets pushed into the boards by two Hawks. Loosing the puck to McGill in the process. When Reece tries to steel the puck from McGill he pushes her to the ground, passes Ty and scores. Making the Hawks in the lead 1-0. Reece growls lowly, pounding her fist on the ice before getting up and skating back to her position.

°°°

THREE HAWKS MADE THEIR way to the Ducks end and Reece quickly gets the puck, dodging the other two Hawks in the process and passes it to Jesse. Jesse shoots but the Hawk goalie saves it and passes it to Larson. Larson then passes it to McGill who dodges Reece and Ty, and when Goldberg tried to save it he ended up falling,  giving McGill a free shot. 2-0.

Reece sighed from her spot on the bench as a Hawk shot at the net and scored. The buzzer goes off signalling the end of the first period. Reece pouted at the score board that said 3-0 Hawks.

"Don't be scared of them, Ducks." Coach Bombay encouraged, "that's what they want. Keep your heads up, play proud. Let's fly." The Ducks cheered before skating back out onto the ice for Period two.

Reece snatches the puck from a Hawk and dodges McGill before passing it to Charlie, who passed it to Adam. Adam speeds down the rink and just as he shoots McGill pushes him down. The ex Hawk goes sliding into the net along with the puck, hitting his head at the same time. Though no one notices this because they're to busy celebrating their first goal to notice, except for Reece.

"Why aren't you happy?" Ty asked his sister, "we scored."

"Ty," Reece said slowly, "he's not getting up." The twins shared a look before speeding down the rink earning them a few stares.

"Adam? Adam are you ok?" Larson asked, genially worried about him. Though they're not exactly friends, he still doesn't want him hurt.

"Does he look ok?" Reece snapped, sinking to her knees so that she's beside her teammate, a concerned look taking over her features. "Adam? Cake Eater? Drama Queen? Wake up?!"

"What did you do?" Reece heard Larson ask. For a moment she thought he was talking to her but when she turned around, she saw him talking to McGill. No sign of regret on his face?

"My job," McGill says a small smirk making its way onto his face.

"What do you mean by that? Huh, Fucker." Ty spat, getting in McGills face. Reece pulled him back shaking her head, knowing full well that a fight won't help.

By now the crowd had noticed that he wasn't getting up and the paramedics where getting called in and McGill was put in the penalty box. When the paramedics arrive, Reece backs away from her hurt teammate so that they could strap him onto a stretcher. They just finished bandaging his head when the rest of the team and Coach came rushing over.

"Did it go in?" Adam mumbles.

"Yeah man," Jesse answered softly with a sad smile.

"Do me a favour?" Adam asked, his voice quivering, "Kick some Hawk butt."

The twins nodded as Jesse replied, "all right...Cake Eater." That was the last thing that was said before Adam was wheeled away.

°°°

THE TEAM WAS WAITING ON THE BENCH as Coach Bombay was arguing with Reilly. Everyone straightened up when Coach walked over looking very determined.

"Who do we go after Coach? Let me at them." Fulton spoke angrily as he quickly got to his feet.

"No, we're better then that," Coach said, making Fulton sit back down. "Look, look, it's time to play smart hockey. Duck hockey, Right?"

"Yeah!"

"Now we got the power play. We're gonna hit them where it hurts the most--"

"In the balls!" the twins shouted, cutting him off.

Coach actually laughed at that, "No." He points at the scoreboard, "Up there."

"That works to."

"Fulton your in."

"Coach, they'll be rushing him," Averman points out. Coach nodded slowly as he thought for a moment.

"Okay," he points at Averman, "Averman switch positions with Ty." They both nod before he continues, "Jesse, Ty make sure you give Fulton plenty of time."

Ty nods as Jesse said, "Right coach."

Coach claps twice, "Okay let's go." Just as everyone got up to go, he stops them. "Let's have fun out there."

°°°

JESSE DOES THE FACE OFF AGAINST LARSON, he gets the puck and quickly passes it to Fulton. Jesse and Ty push as many Hawks as they could, trying to give Fulton time to shoot. When he does everyone jumps out of the way except the goalie. The puck hits the goalie in the chest sending him and the net flying backwards— Scoring the second goal for the ducks.

"Yes!" Reece shouts as she punches the air.

"That's it!" Coach Bombay cheers as the whole team hugs. "More fun! More fun!"

°°°

THE HAWKS GET A BREAK AWAY , ONLY HAVING GOLDBERG  LEFT TO BLOCK THEIR SHOT. Reece eyes widened as she sees Goldberg fall, so just as they were about to shoot, Reece jumped in front of the net (falling into the splits in the process) and taking the puck to the shoulder. Charlie quickly snatched the puck and skated away from their net. She whimpers in pain, considering she's never done the splits before.

"Yes!" coach cheered happily. "Good block Reece!"

"You've never done the splits before, have you?" Averman asked as he helped the brunette up slowly.

"No," she whimpered and then fell again.

"Line change!" Coach yelled when he realized Reece was injured. She quickly switched off and Karp took her place.

"You okay Reece?" Coach asked as he crouched down in front of the girl.

"Yeah," She groaned, "I'm okay, but I'm never doing that again."

Reece watches as a Hawk pushed Karp over and scored, ending the second period at 4-2.

°°°

"GUYS, GUYS, GUYS LISTEN UP! WE HAVE GOT TO STAY FIRED UP, and we've got to stay focused all right?" Coach Bombay told his team. "Tammy, Tommy let's show these Hawks something really different."

When 3rd period starts Reece watched from the bench as Tammy started twirling to distract the Hawks. Tommy then passes it to Tammy who stopped spinning and scored— Making the score 3-4.

  As Tammy starts skating over to the bench, McGill comes up behind her and pushes her down, quickly skating off like nothing happened, which pissed Fulton off. Reece smirked when Fulton went over to McGill and literally picked him up and threw him over the side— he then started pushing all the Hawks. The ref comes and pulls them apart, pulling him out of the game.

"I'm out Coach," Fulton said as he sat on the bench.

"He barely touched him," Coach complained to the ref, who ignored him.

Reece snorted, "Yeah, and I barley swear."

"Work with me here, Reece."

"Sorry."

°°°

"OREO LINE!" Coach shouted getting Jesse, Guy and Terry's attention. "I want you to remember what we learned. Ducks stick together, right?" They nod in understanding, "So let's see it. Show me the Flying V. Ty, Reece I want you two there as well. Ok?" When they nod in understanding, he continues, "Line change!"

Reece and Ty quickly hop over the board and skate to their positions, waiting for their cue. Jesse gets the puck and Coach announces its time for the Flying V.

First is Jesse at the front with the puck, Guy and Terry behind and then Reece and Ty as they skate down the rink. Jesse passes the puck to Terry, who then passes it back to Jesse, who goes for the shot as the rest knock down the Hawks. Jesse shoots and scores making it a tie. The next goal wins and there's only 23 seconds left in the game.

Reece chases the Hawk that got by her to the net, trying to get the puck away from him. She holds her breath as the Hawk shoots, but instantly relaxes when Goldberg saves it. She quickly snatches the puck and passes it to Charlie, who has a breakaway. Reece cheered as he got closer to the net, but booed when McGill lifted his stick and hit Charlie's arm, making Charlie lose his balance and fall.  The buzzer went off signalling the end of the game, but the Ducks had a penalty shot.

Coach calls everyone on the ice over. "Alright Ducks, who should take it?"

"I think Guy should take it," Connie suggested making Guys eyes widen.

"Me?" Guy questions.

"What about Ty?" Averman offers but Ty instantly turned it down with a 'fuck no'. He didn't want the weight of the game on his shoulders.

"What about Charlie?" Coach asked making everyone stop talking and look at him in confusion.

"Are you sure Coach?" Connie asked, looking unsure with the idea.

"Let's let him finish what he started."

"Coach we have a chance to win. I--" Charlie started to object, but coach cut him off.

"Damn straight we do, come here." Coach pulled Charlie to the side and away from the rest of the ducks.

"I really need to pee," Reece sighed as she leaned against the wall. "Go Charlie!" She shouts when she spots him skating over to the centre of the rink.

The whistle blows and Charlie starts to skate in circles. Reece grabbed her bothers hand and squeezed it out of nervousness, he squeezed back. She held her breath when Charlie started skating towards the net, he fakes out the goalie and shoots and scores.

Reece is frozen in shock for a moment before a grin quickly makes it way onto her face and she faces the Hawks "SUCK A FAT ONE HAWKS!" She laughs at their shocked faces before hopping over the boards and skating over to Charlie and tackling him into a hug. The rest of the team following suit. Reece let's out a small scream as she's lifted up and hugged from behind. She whipped around and saw her Grandma, Betty and her mom. She pulls them all into a group hug as they celebrate, Ty joining as well.

Someone skates over handing Coach Bombay a big gold trophy, making them cheer louder. As everyone chants 'Ducks'. The Ducks just one the state championship, and Reece couldn't be happier.

°°°

THE DUCKS STOOD AT THE BUS STOP, SAYING THEIR GOODBYES TO COACH BOMBAY WHO HAS A TRYOUT WITH THE MINORS. "Look, don't take any bad dives ok?" Peter says to Gordon as they shake hands.

"Just remember, keep your head up man." Jess smiles and gives Gordon a nod, and he nods back.

"Cake Eater," Adam smirks shaking hands with Coach.

Now it was the twins, "kick some ass." They say at the same time, making Gordon grin and let out a small laugh. Reece pulls him into a quick hug before letting go and standing beside her brother once again.

"Remember, strength not concentration," Fulton spoke, shaking Gordon's hand as well.

"Right" Coach smiled.

"And for gods sakes, soft hands," Averman said shaking his hand also.

"Right, anything else?"

"Yeah," Charlie steps forward, "Have fun coach." He pulls him into a hug before letting go and stepping back in line.

"I must be crazy. Tryouts with the Minors. I'm gonna be going up against kids half my age."

"Just have a good tryout Gordon," Charlie's mom smiled, stepping forward. "One step at a time."

"Yeah, your right." Gordon murmured, before they both kiss. Reece gags and everyone else cheers.

"Get some Bombay!" Ty shouted, making Reece elbow him in the gut.

The Ducks all shout their goodbyes as he climbs on the bus. The doors close but then open again, Coach sticks his head back out. "Hey Ducks, no matter what happens we'll see you next season. We got a tittle to defend." Then the doors closed and thee bus drives away.

"I can't believe I'm gonna say this, but I'm gonna miss him." Reece sighs as she walks with Adam and Ty.

"Yeah," Adam mumbled before remember what Jesse told him about the game. "Did you really tell the Hawks to suck a fat one?"

"Uh...no, possibly, maybe, yes."

Edited – September 20th 2020