the scrimmage only further proved that ducks were just not on our level. i wasn't sure why they had been picked as the blueprint for this team, when it looks like they haven't played in two years.

i passed the puck to luis, expecting him to be able to hit it in and go. but, of course, his speed got the better of him and he rammed right into both the goal and the goalie.

luis slipped off his helmet, tapping the goalie with it,"thanks for breaking my fall."

he griped as luis got up and skated away,"yeah, anytime."

blondie got the puck and quickly made a goal against julie. he was the only one who seemed to be able to keep up.

"good one, adam!" coach called out to his apparent golden boy.

danny skated to my side, smiling,"how's it going? anyone better than you yet?"

i shrugged and tapped my stick on his helmet, not having any exact words for him. blondie could definitely give me a run for my money, but i wasn't too sure about the rest of the people here.

"everyone duck!" coach yelled abruptly.

i immediately dropped to the ground, wondering what the fuss was about. but i quickly learned as i watched the duck enforcer hit the puck.

it went flying around the rink, hit the edge of the wall and ran right into tibbles face, who had chosen the exact wrong time to come back into the building.

i looked at the man who had just been knocked out with concern,"shit, is he okay?"

i got up from the ground as we all skated over to see him. bombay hopped over the rink walls and went to investigate.

i felt someone's body pressed against me and glanced up to see the blondie. i was a little confused as to why he was so close to me, but i figured he was just trying to get a better look at the scene. he must have noticed my eyes, because he looked down and smiled.

danny turned my head forward as tibbles woke up. i silently thanked him, glad that he had done that.

tibbles clearly had some sort of concussion, because what he said was barely coherent,"uh, yes i'll have the cheeseburger and fries. and a milkshake."

we laughed before the lady standing beside him chuckled lightly and nodded,"i think you'll be alright."

don stood up, adjusting his blazer, and trying to grip onto any pride he had left,"this is ms. mackay. she's the teams tutor."

i frowned distastefully, the thought of school making me feel unenthusiastic at best. groans erupted around me.

"i don't need no school." dean grunted.

i knit my eyebrows, not sure that was entirely true. everyone had their various complaints, but i decided to keep my mouth shut.

the ducks goalie tried using his charisma to get out of this tutor situation,"ms. mackay, we're america's team here. shouldn't we focus on hockey? may i suggest optional attendance?"

we all nodded in agreement, feeling his words lined up with what we wanted.

danny leaned down to whisper in my ear, "school is easy, i don't know what everyone's complaining about."

i scoffed,"yeah, says mister four-point-six." i referenced his gpa.

danny shrugged,"you're a four-point-three, what's your problem?"

i rolled my eyes and shook my head. he was missing the point. it wasn't that i was bad at school, it was that school itself was bad.

when i tuned back into the main conversation, ms. mackay started,"goldberg, yes school will be optional," but just as we cheered she cut us off,"however, however! should you not attend, you will not be eligible to play."

i let out a breath from my nose, knowing it was too good to be true. optional school was for college attendees, not us.

"okay back to practice guys!" coach yelled and blew the whistle, right in my ear. 

"damn, dude." i muttered as i clutched my ear and skated off. it didn't seem like the whistle was entirely needed in that situation, but i guess half of a coach's job is to blow a whistle.

"everyone get in a bunch. time for some team building exercises." bombay instructed. we all molded together danny to my right, julie to my left, blondie behind me, and everyone else's position held little significance to me.

i wasn't sure where coach was going with this, but i wasn't excited to be this close to other people. i wasn't much of a touchy person.

coach grabbed a rope and tied us together. i wanted to question where he had even managed to get a rope, but i was too annoyed to even ask. the rope was too tight, and i could tell everyone else felt the same as me. 

"somebody better watch their hands." the only female duck member warned.

i frowned, wondering why anyone would take this opportunity to grope another team member.

but i didn't have any time to mull over it, because suddenly a terrible smell filled the air.

i had no idea who had done it, but it would seem the ducks did, because they all yelled in unison,"goldberg!"

he looked around in shock,""it wasn't me!"

"no, it was me!" dean held up his arms in victory and we all tried to skate away, falling on each other. danny propped his head up on his hand while still on top of me and exhaled.

"how's it goin' bestie?" he asked casually, finding our position amusing.

i groaned and pushed him off of me, growing tired of this practice. i saw someone stick a hand out, offering it to me. i followed the arm up to see blondie's face. i wish i knew his name, blondie was not a sufficient thing to call someone.

i smiled politely and took hold of his hand, pulling myself up with it.

"thanks." i told him, taking my hand away from his.

he grinned, letting his hand drop,"no problem. i'm adam, by the way."

i was going to respond with my name, but i was given no time when another duck started to yell.

"adam, stop flirting and get back in the group!" the curly haired, glasses wearing guy exclaimed.

i rolled my eyes and we went back to our places. once again, we were tied up like cattle, and i got the sudden urge to hit myself over the head with my skate. it would be a quick way to put myself out of my misery.

"everyone go left." dean instructed us.

we started to move, but there was a power struggle, which definitely would not end well,"who made you boss? everyone go right." the ducks enforcer commanded.

like i predicted, it ended badly and once again danny broke his fall with me, and if my stomach wasn't completely bruised tomorrow it would be a pleasant surprise.

i felt the anger burst inside of me, and i glared at the boys who were both trying to be the alpha,"you guys are idiots! this time, why don't we move in the same direction? can you do that?"

dean looked at me and rolled his eyes, staring sarcastically,"yes ma'am."

i sucked my teeth, wanting to respond. but i didn't and instead went back to my position. the sooner we could get this done, the sooner i could get away from them.

after much trial and error, we finally had it down. coach smiled triumphantly and untied us.

i was relieved to be away from all the team members, noting that i would no longer take personal space for granted. we took a knee in front of coach before he started to speak again.

"now, hockey should also be fun," he plastered a sky grin on his face,"rancher dwayne, rope me up some stray cattle."

dwayne took hold of the rope and grinned devilishly. i quickly realized what bombay's words meant, and skated away as quickly as i could.

i felt the rope wrap around my waist and i groaned. my time in this game was very short lived.

"gilinksy, you're out!"

i sighed, nodding,"i know, i know."

i made my way to the sidelines, watching the rest of the game play out. little by little, people were caught and hence, out of the game.

once the final person was left standing, coach ended practice and left us to our own devices. i yawned, watching as danny skated over to me.

"you like it here?" he looked down at me.

i shrugged, unable to give him a definitive answer,"it's the first day, i don't know enough to answer."

"good point." he admitted.

i watched as the captain of the ducks skated to us, smiling politely,"hey, guys."

"hey, man," danny nodded,"what's up?"

the boy clasped his hands together,"well, the ducks and i wanna get to know everyone, and since we haven't introduced ourselves yet we were wondering if you guys wanted to hang out at this diner nearby."

danny and i shared a look, mulling over the options. i wasn't totally opposed to the idea of getting to know these guys, i just wasn't sure if danny was up for it.

"um, i'm in if danny is." i answered, looking to danny to make the decision for us. 

"we'll be there, but we have to change first." he answered.

"sure, no problem. you guys are staying at the hotel right?"

i nodded,"uh huh."

the boy smiled,"got it, we'll meet you all there."

i watched him skate away to inform the other members of the team.

"we should get going. gotta figure out what to wear." danny told me, trying to get me to leave with him.

i nodded, trying to get under his skin,"and you've gotta fix that hair of yours."

to be honest, i found his messy, post-practice hair, to be kind of attractive, but i would never give him the validation.

danny chuckled,"yeah, as soon as you fix yours."

i rolled my eyes and pushed him. i think this whole experience will be very interesting.