flipped. charlie conway

35

"ancient greece was the beginning of western civilisation," ms mckay began to the circle of team usa on the grass, "see, in greece they didn't have professional sports or wheaties boxes. so, the athletes competed for another reason." the young woman informed, encouraging her new students to answer her proposed question on ancient athletes.

"falafels?" goldberg asked, eliciting a short wave of laughter from the group.

charlie rose his hand smugly upon noticing that the one overachiever sat listening intently. leah banks had a birdbrain, of course she wouldn't have a clue as to why ancient greeks competed.

"charlie?" ms mckay called once the laughter simmered.

"pride." he smirked, crossing his hands onto his knees and glaring at the banks girl when she gave her stupid smile of fascination and impression.

"that's right," ms mckay certified, "the various city-states waved their flags and wore their home colours proudly."

leah thought back to what it would be like competing in ancient greece, and was immediately sure she couldn't handle the barbarity.

fulton piped up from his place in the circle. "did america always dominate?"

a chorus of amused scoffs circled the small group. how stereotypically american.

"hey, that's a good question!" dean defended.

leah chuckled as her head fell into her hand. "your bandana must construct your skull a bit too much, portman."

"what's that supposed to mean?" the buff boy perked out of his seat defensively.

ms mckay released a light snicker at the group's joking chatter. "no, fulton," she began to answer his question, "america wasn't around back then. don't forget that compared to other countries, america is still young and still forming its identity. america is a teenager just like you."

"like us?" jesse questioned, ms mckay's analogy seeming to resonate with the young hall boy.

"you bet!" the young woman grinned, "a little awkward at times, but always right there on the verge of greatness." that comment resonated with leah most. she sure hoped that once they were done, adam and herself would be the greatest hockey duo they could have become.

later that day, the banks twins skated side by side as they trailed coach bombay's golf cart.

"i hate chants, they remind me of coach reilly and the hawks," leah scoffed to her brother, "especially in public." the girl grimaced as she was recalled her teammates chanting 'quack' down the streets of minneapolis not long ago.

adam chortled. "teamwork makes the dream work, lee! we gotta win, win, win!" the banks boy tut, purposefully mocking the corny virtue their old coach would never shut up about.

leah laughed after giving her brother a light shove, watching as he desperately tried to catch himself on his rollerblades.

their teammates chorused around them to yet another generic chant.

"y'all need some team spirit!" dwayne cut between the two, egging them on.

coach bombay shook his head from his presumptuous golf cart. leah scoffed, glancing down at her freshly scabbed knees and palms. "some enthusiasm please, banksies! i don't know, but i've been told?"

"i don't know, but i've been told!" team usa chanted cheerily, with leah and adam reluctantly agreeing to join in.

"team usa's gonna win the gold!"

"team usa's gonna win the gold!"

"listen up and listen good!"

"listen up and listen good!"

"we're all headed for hollywood!

"we're al headed for hollywood!"

"sound off."

"one, two!"

"sound off!"

"three, four!"

"bring 'em on down!"

"one, two... three, four!"

the team clapped joyfully, whistling and cheering at their growing excitement to play hockey together after so many months.

as leah clapped from her place beside julie, charlie swerved around the banks girl with annoyance. "i get that you can't be a duck, but you could at least try pretend you're good enough to be part of team usa." charlie jumped his eyebrows, trying not to roll too close to the girl at their high speeds.

julie's eyes narrowed. "who are you to say that?"

"team captain," charlie shrugged as if it were obvious, "just lookin' out for our team."

julie balled her fists as the conway boy glared holes into leah's head. "well, you should look out for—"

"thank you, charlie," leah bashfully thanked, holding an arm in front of the angered girl, "i'll do my best." the banks girl grinned, trying to control the blood flushing her cheeks and racing heart. with the breeze blowing through his shaggy hair, and his slick ease turning direction on his rollerblades, leah was in a mental scurry. however, charlie conway only rolled his eyes, diverting from the infuriating banks girl.

"she'll 'do her best'," charlie mumbled with a scoff, "best is far, far away from me."