𝐂𝐀𝐊𝐄 𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑, a.b.

(TWENTY SEVEN)

The whole team got ready in their gear before practice started. Harvey wore her ducks jersey because she never got to wear it during the Iceland game. Once they were finished, they walked into the rink and they were in awe.

"You know, I bet they even have their own snack bar here." Harvey chuckled as she walked up to the glass with Luis. They watched the varsity skate around the ice, practicing and working hard.

"They look pretty good." Harvey walked up closer to the front, standing next to Adam and Dwayne.

"You okay?" She looked up at Adam and smiled, nodding her head. "You sure?"

"I'm fine, Banks. Just afraid I won't make first line." He threw an arm over her shoulder and chuckled, confusing the girl. "What?"

"You're probably one of the best players here and I'm not just saying that because it's you. I actually mean it." She smiled and turned back to the rink. "Come on." She followed her team as they made their way to the ice, opening the doors just as the Varsity knuckleheads skated towards them.

"Well if it isn't Captain Ducky?" Harvey moved in between Fulton and Charlie as the tall brunette captain lightly pushed Charlie.

"Get you hands off of him, asshole." The blonde that was sitting behind them during the ceremony smiled. He was a definition of a dumb blonde, but a guy.

"Look it's the bash babe, and the bash bro. I'm so scared." The boys behind them chuckled.

"You were scared when I almost broke your hand this morning. Last I checked, your little girlfriend was talking more than you, asking me to let go. It's cute how your girlfriend speaks for you." The blonde glared at her and moved towards her, making her and Fulton move towards him, but they were held back by Charlie and the rest of the guys.

"Break it up. Come on, men, let's go." The varsity team skated away from them as Harvey and the team skated to the other side of the rink.

"How bout it, cowboy, round up?" Dwayne smiled and nodded his head, tightening his grip on the rope. Everyone smiled and agreed, except for Connie and Harvey.

"Hey Charlie, shouldn't we wait for the new coach before we mess around?" Harvey looked at the girl and nodded.

"Yeah, he probably won't like us messing around." Charlie looked at the two and chuckled, shaking his head.

"This is how we practice." Harvey let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, laughing softly. "Duck hockey, girls. You'll have to get used to it sooner or later." Harvey and Connie looked at each other and smiled before skating off to get away from Dwayne and the rest of their team.

"C'mon rancher Dwayne, it's time to catch some strays." Dwayne smiled and turned to the team.

"Yee haw. Round em' up, doggies." Everyone skated away from Dwayne as he sat down his gear. Adam and Luis skated on either side of Harvey, wanting Dwayne to catch her first because as of today, she hasn't gotten caught yet. "Here I come, y'all." Harvey turned around and faced the two boys before watching as Dwayne swung the rope over his head.

"Hey Lu, guess what?" He looked at his very smiley sister and shrugged his shoulders as Dwayne threw the rope in his direction. She smiled and pushed Luis backwards, right into the rope. "You're out." She laughed as they all skated around the rink, laughing and smiling. Just as Dwayne threw the rope at Harvey, she pulled Guy's jersey and pushed him in front of her, letting Dwayne catch him. "Sorry, Guy." He glared at her, but couldn't late at her long before smiling. Cowboy once again swung his rope over his head and Harvey skated away, right towards Adam. "Adam!" He looked at her and smiled as she skated straight into his arms, giggling as he caught her.

"Yee haw!" They looked at each other and their eyes widened as they saw Dwayne skating towards them. They both tried to push each other towards him, but Adam failed miserably when Harvey finally got out of his grasp and escaped the rope for the third time. "Banks, you're out, partner." He saw Harvey laughing in the corner next to the boards, because he got caught and she didn't. "Whoa, Charlie, you're done, boy!" He roped Charlie right before he dove, landing right in front of their new coach.

"My name is coach Orion."

...........

"Somebody get a shovel and bury me right here." Harvey chuckled and threw her stick, helmet, and gloves into her locker before fixing her hair and throwing it into a very messy bun. "Harvey, please. Just kill me, I won't be mad." She shook her head and watched her teammates groan.

"Harvey, why are you smiling? That was horrible." She shrugged her shoulders as her smile fell.

"Hockey gives me energy. Why do you think I stay up so late after our games or practices?" They all nodded, thinking it was a good answer and went back to complaining.

"I will teach you to play like what? Starts with a W." Harvey winced and cringed as her friends limped into the locker room. "Wussies! That's right. Wussies on offense and defense." Harvey started to take off her skates, sighing as they finally came off.

"Defense, defense, defense." Harvey watched as Russ weirdly rammed into the lockers, making Harvey almost smile as the doors burst open, catching the whole team off guard.

"Eden Hall requires you to maintain a C average to compete. I believe that's a bad rule." While everyone agreed and smiled, Harvey sat there quietly, knowing there was something to come after that. "I don't want any C players on my team. I want B's or better, or your going to be riding the pine pony." There it was. She sighed along with the rest of her team as he pinned a paper up on the board. "Now you got fifteen minutes after each practice. You've got homework to do. Oh and one more thing, stay clear of varsity until we play them in the JV-varsity showdown. You got that?" Everyone nodded their heads as their new coach slammed the door on the way out.

"Fifteen minutes, I cannot move." Harvey silently agreed as she pulled on her sweats.

"Hey guys, look. He posted our positions." Harvey watched as Fulton, Russ, Connie, and Adam got up to check the paper. She continued to get changed, hoping she would at least be on second line. She saw Fulton and Russ walk away, mad at the roster.

"I'm not even posted." The girl looked up as her boyfriend confusingly looked at the board.

"Yes you are. Adam Banks, third line, center. Varsity?" Harvey's head snapped up as she looked at Adam. She knew he was good, just not that good. She was absolutely happy for him.

"Banksie, where'd he put me?" She watched as his finger landed on her name and slid to the positions side of the paper. "Banks?"

"You did better than me Harv?" She questioned him as she stood up, getting the attention of whoever wasn't paying attention before. "You did better than me, babe. Harvey Mendoza, second line, left wing. Varsity." She walked up to the paper and saw it herself. Her name with the word varsity next to it. She turned slightly and looked at her brother, as if she were watching for a look of approval.

"I'm on varsity with those knuckleheads? Shit."

^^^
Sorry for the wait, I had lots of work to catch up on. I'll try posting 28 tomorrow if not the next day.