we were moments away from the puck dropping, and my heart was in my throat. i didn't know what was in store, but i knew we would be ready.

i smiled at my team, standing in the doorway of the rink,"this is for hans."

i let them all skate by first, before joining the circle and touching my finger to the ice with them.

the announcer boy, started to explain what we were doing,"it appears they're paying homage to their departed friend and mentor: hans. it's a norwegian symbol of respect."

when we were done, i looked over and saw riley. he smirked at me and took something out of his pocket. it was my ring. he kissed it and held it up in the air.

i rolled my eyes and skated over to orion with the rest of the team.

"alright, let's go hunting for goose eggs, huh?" he instructed,"come on, hands in. on three quack. one two three-"

"quack quack quack quack quack." we all shouted.

"gooooooo ducks!" we ended and got into position.

"you're gonna wish like hell you'd stuck with us." riley told banks, as we got ready to play.

adam scoffed,"save the trash talk."

i went to adam's left, danny went to his right and as soon as the puck dropped, adam was shoved to the ground.

varsity stole the puck, but thankfully julie saved it.

they got the puck again, but goldberg used his skate to block riley's shot.

julie goes to get the puck, while everyone swarms her like vultures. the whistle is blown, and everyone backs away.

charlie got to center and shoved riley getting the puck. he passed it to me and i started to skate with it, only to be flipped over someone's back.

i groaned, as the figure stood over me.

cole shrugged simply,"should have stayed out."

i got up, spitting at him,"in your dreams, you shit head."

i watched as everyone swarmed to crowd fulton against the boards, so that he couldn't enforce.

another shot was made, but julie was too quick for it, and she saved us once again.

i skated by, smiling at her,"long live king julie!"

charlie got the puck, but was smashed against the boards by riley, and they passed it along, swarming to make another shot.

but julie just wouldn't let up. i got the rebound, shooting it as far away from the goal as i could, gearing something about how we could barely hang on from the announcer.

julie stopped to get some water, and i skated up to her, along with guy.

"you're doing great julie, i'm gonna kiss you if we win." i said causing her to laugh.

guy sighed,"these guys keep charging."

i shrugged, shaking my head at him,"we've gotta play a little defense."

i skated off to get the puck, only to get rammed into the boards. but they were gonna have to do more, if they wanted to take me down.

•

it was the beginning of the second period and we were all getting thrown for a loop. i had been checked, flipped, tripped, you name it. they were relentless.

i had just been piled up by a bunch of upperclassman varsity players, and my head was spinning.

guy and charlie linked arms and led me into the box, and i smiled when i saw coach.

"hey, coach!"

he nodded,"okay, gilinksy, let's take a seat."

i did as i was told, while russ handed me some water,"you doing alright?"

"i will be, when the room stops spinning." i replied, sipping the water.

i watched a guy took a vicious check to the boards, and didn't get up.

"call something!" coach yelled as everyone skated to guy.

guy managed to skate to the box, but he was hurting pretty bad.

"hey, guy," i tried to cheer him up, laughing slightly,"we're in the nosebleed section."

he chuckled, but grabbed onto his stomach, when it hurt.

charlie shot in a goal, but was beat by the buzzer. we were officially two periods down with no score.

we all went into the locker room to strategize.

"they're cheap shotting us to death." danny rolled his eyes.

"i know they are." i sighed, standing with coach.

"it's gonna take a miracle for us to hold on." averman nodded.

the doors busted open to reveal dean portman, and my face instantly broke in a smile.

he started to read off of his scholarship offer,"dean portman is awarded a full athletic and academic scholarship to the eden hall academy," he looked up at us and smiled,"i had this lying around the house in chicago. my attorney thought I should sign it. i agreed. it's official boys, i'm back."

coach and i shared a look, knowing exactly what attorney he was talking about,"bombay."

i pushed past everyone and jumped up into his arms, dean spinning me around.

he put me down and looked at the 'c' on my jersey,"are you-"

"she is." charlie smiled, clapping his shoulder.

"that's hot." dean replied, causing me to roll my eyes.

"hurry up and get in gear, we need you." i told him, going back to find his jersey.

•

we skated onto the ice with dean, the crowd erupting into cheers. portman had changed our whole vibe, and i felt more optimistic than i had during the second period.

i got to center, and riley smiled,"finally, we meet face to face."

i returned the smile, though it had a deceiving undertone,"i'm gonna wear you as a coat."

the puck was dropped and cole kept going for dean. as they neared the boards cole jumped and dean ducked, flipping him over his back and sending cole straight into the audiences, effectively shattering the glass board.

i gasped, excitement filling me as i yelled, "that's what i'm talking about!"

the bash brothers were hitting varsity left and right, and i couldn't help but smile.

averman passed me the puck, i faked and gave it to luis who missed and ran into the boards.

i got the puck again, only to be checked and knocked into the ground. i got up as quickly as i could, unfazed by the actions.

dean got called for hooking and was sent into the box. i skated over to him, to see how he was doing.

i sighed, shaking my head,"always knew i'd see you behind bars one day."

he laughed,"don't sweat, babe. i've got this."

with only two minutes left of the game, and dean getting his two minutes for hooking, he didn't seem to mind. he started to cheer, and i watched in awe as he even started to strip.

adam skated over, covering my eyes with his gloved hands,"nope, skate away, scarlett."

"damn it, banks." i griped, skating away.

i saw luis get pulled because there were too many men, and kenny sent to the box because he left to early.

orion called a time out and called us over. the penalty meant we had to play a few players short. it wasn't ideal, but i felt confident that banks, conway, and i could hold it down. i mean, if i'm right about who coach will pick to stay in.

"now listen to me. the pressure is all on them. all we gotta do is hold our ground," he looked between us, deciding who to play,"okay, conway, banks, gilinsky, and... goldberg. i'm going with you."

i looked at goldberg with shock, as he asked, "me, coach?"

he was just as surprised as any one of us.

coach nodded,"you, goldberg. you earned your spot out there. okay, here we go."

we got into position, and i saw that the net was open and went to block the puck. charlie and riley were neck and neck. charlie moved causing riley to fall, charlie passed the puck to goldberg.

two players charged at him so me and adam did the best we could to enforce, but we were no bash brothers.

i hit the ground again, landing weird on my knee. goldie fell but he had already hit the puck. the pain in my knee hadn't yet reached full affect, because all i could see was the puck go into the goal.

"Fuck yeah, Goldie! You won!" i yelled, excitement bursting from my seams. i tried to get up, but i seemed it wasn't my time, as the pain shot through my body,"0h, nope. not yet."

adam skated over, kneeling to me, as our team got on the ice to celebrate,"are you okay?"

i shrugged,"probably, help me up?"

he grabbed both my arms and lifted me up, while i pushed all my weight to one side.

adam leaned down and kissed me in the middle of the rink. cheering erupted from the crowd and i felt fireworks in my stomach.

"i love you." adam smiled once he pulled away.

i grinned, adrenaline pumping through my veins as i replied,"i love you too."

our lips met again, but averman was quick to pull us apart,"okay, enough of that. with charlie and linda, and luis and that cheerleader, and guy and connie, i've had enough."

i smiled,"i love you too, averman."

i saw riley about to leave and asked adam to help me skate to him.

i reached him, and shooed adam away, while riley looked down at me. i held my hand out, putting minimal pressure on my knee,"my ring please, sir."

he smiled flatly, digging in his pocket,"you deserve it. congrats."

he dropped my ring in my hand, along with another one.

i knit my brows together in confusion,"what's this?"

he sighed, choking through the words,"an apology. i shouldn't have threatened you. i'm sorry."

i smiled in amusement,"i can tell this is killing you."

he nodded quickly,"it is, it really is."

i laughed,"i'll see you in women's studies, riley."

i hobbled back to adam, who asked me,"what was that?"

i shrugged,"um, riley apologized to me and gave me another cartier ring."

i slipped one on each of my middle fingers as adam looked at it quizzically,"is it engraved?"

congrats captain duckie

i raised my eyebrows in surprise,"wow."

we made our way back to the locker room, with the rest of our team, ready to revel in our glory.

this was only the beginning for us ducks, we have many more trials and tribulations ahead of us. but we're gonna see them through and win each time. you see, ducks fly together. forever.

the end