Disclaimer: I don't own the Mighty Ducks Disney does.
Charlie's POV:
"You know I'm nervous about try outs," I admitted to Jesse Hall Wednesday afternoon as we walked back to the dorm from our last class.
"Why, you're a good player," Jesse told me. "You'll do fine. Its not like you're going to have me or Adam there to make you look bad."
I elbowed him playfully in the side. "Thanks a lot," I told him. We were quiet for a few moments. To break the silence I asked him, "So how is basketball practice going?"
"Pretty good," Jesse said. "The coach works us hard but it's also a lot of fun. We have our first game next Tuesday night. You coming."
"Yeah sure. Its not like I'm going to have some hot date to go on," I told him. I hadn't heard from Linda since she told me she was coming back to Eden Hall on Sunday. I had called several times and left messages but hadn't gotten any replies. I was starting to think this long distance thing didn't even have a chance.
"Linda still hasn't called huh," Jesse said.
"No, I'm starting to think she isn't going to," I told him.
We had reached the dorms by now and as I walked up the steps in front of Jesse the door to the building came flying open. I quickly stepped out of the way as I saw Fulton and Portman come running out of the building. Not far behind them Julie came running out covered in white, presumably flour.
"Those two really need to find something to occupy themselves with this semester," I commented as walked into the dorm building. I looked down the hallway and saw Connie and Guy cleaning up flour off the floor outside of the girls room. A bucket was still hanging from a rope above the door.
"I think they have," Jesse said. "Practical jokes."
"That isn't good for us," I told him as we headed upstairs to the room I shared with Guy. We both had an hour until we had to be places, practice for Jesse and try outs for me, so we had decided to get a start on our economics project that we had been assigned.
We spent most of the time arguing over which of the ideas that Mr. Recon, our economics teacher, had given us that we wanted to explore. In fact that was the only thing we accomplished that afternoon before Jesse left my room to head for practice. After he had left I grabbed my roller blades and protective gear and stick and headed downstairs. On the front steps of the building I found Connie, Guy, and a now clean Julie already there lacing up there skates. I sat down behind Julie and started putting on my roller blades.
The others were ready before me but they waited for me. I hurried up lacing my skates and stuffed my sneakers in my bag. The four of us started skating toward the roller hockey court. There was still patches of snow on the ground here and there but the sidewalks and all the courts were cleared.
"So did you ever catch Fulton and Portman," I asked Julie as we skated.
"No, but I'm going to get even, I just don't know how yet,"she said. I could see the determination in her eyes and was glad I wasn't the one she was out to get.
"Come on, Julie it was just a joke," Connie said.
"Oh, so you're telling me that if it had been you covered in flour you would have just laughed about it."
"Yes," Connie said. Beside her Guy put a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing and I know I couldn't keep the smile off my face.
"We'll see," Julie said, "because I don't think those two are done with their pranks.
By this time we had reached the roller hockey court. There was a lot of kids already gathered. Some of them I recognized as varsity hockey players and a few others from my classes. There were also kids that I had never even seen around the school before. Part of me wondered just how good the could possibly be. As we went through the gate in the fence we saw Russ, Averman, and Dwayne gathered together in one of the corners and we went to join them. As we skated over to them I glanced around the court and saw Scooter in the middle talking with a girl who I assumed was the other student coach. I know she hadn't skated with Varsity this past season because I would have remembered a girl being on the team and I silently wondered just how much she could possibly know about hockey. Still she looked familiar from someplace but I couldn't place her. I probably have just seen her in the halls I told myself as we joined the others.
"So where is Goldie?" I couldn't help but ask Averman with a smile. I had known he wasn't going to show up.
"He said the chess club was more to his liking," Averman told me.
"Are you serious?" Russ asked. "Goldberg's joining the chess club."
"Yeah, what's wrong with that," Averman said. "If I don't make this team I'll probably join the chess club myself."
"Well, you'll definitely have less bruises that way," Julie said.
Before anybody could say anything else though we heard a whistle. I turned around to see Scooter holding a whistle and motioning to us to join them in the center of the court.
"Well, here goes nothing," I said as we all headed to center court. I still had my doubts as to whether or not I'd make it or not. It wasn't my ability that I was doubting. I was just afraid that after fall semester and my attitude during hockey season if Scooter would want to deal with me on the team.
Julie's POV:
"Well, here goes nothing," I heard Charlie mutter as we all headed toward center court. I didn't have time to question him about the comment though as Scooter started addressing the group as soon as we had all gathered.
"Thank-you for all coming out to try-outs," Scooter said addressing us all. "As you can tell from the number of you here not everyone is going to make it. Even if you were on the team last year I won't guarantee you that you'll be on the team this year."
"For those of you who don't know us let me introduce us. I'm Scott Vanderbilt, you can call me Scooter. I'm the goalie for the varsity ice hockey team. This is Alex Paris. She played on the varsity team last year when she was freshman even though she couldn't play this season because of family issues."
"This is how try outs will work. We'll be holding try outs for the next three days. Official practices won't start for a few weeks still but for those of you who might want to try a different club or sport this semester if you don't make the team we wanted to get the team formed. Being students, Alex and I realize that we're not going to get the same respect from some of you as you would give an adult coach therefore we won't be selecting people for the team simply based on your skating ability. We will be taken into account your attitude both toward us and other skaters," Scooter said. I couldn't help but notice that he looked right at Charlie when he said that. I glanced over and saw Charlie look down at the ground. I put my hand on his shoulder trying to reassure him. "We'll also be looking at which skaters play well together as a team. We want a good team but we also want this to be fun. If we can all get along, have fun, and learn something through this semester than I don't care if we win all our games or lose them. Knowing that you can depend on your teammates no matter what is what makes a good team not how many goals or scored, or games won."
"Some of you might be cut today or tomorrow depending on how things go. Try outs will consist of some drills and some scrimmages. How you perform in everything will be taken into consideration. If you're not so good at one thing but good at everything else then you still have a chance at making the team. For those of you who make it to Friday the final list will be posted on the student bulletin board by Monday morning," Scooter told us and then Alex took a step forward and addressed us.
"Now even thought this isn't considered by the school as an official sport we still expect you to take this seriously. If you're going to be on this team we expect you to be at all practices on time and at all the games. If some kind of emergency comes up please let either Scooter or myself know. Our faculty advisor last year was Mr. Gubbine and as most of you know he took a very hands off way of supervising, he was there to offer Scooter and I advice but let us handle everything on our own. As most of you know Mr. Gubbine took a job elsewhere this semester. We have yet to get the official word as to who the faculty supervisor will be this semester but Dean Buckley has assured us that there will be one even if he has to take over the role himself. How much our new advisor will get involved I don't know but for now we're going on with things as planned."
"For those of you that are interested, we also like to make a list of alternates. The alternates are not required to be at practices or games but are welcomed to come to practices if they want. However, if someone should not be able to continue with the team for whatever reason then one of the alternates would step in and everything that we expect from the other players will apply so if you plan on doing something else if you don't make the team please let us know so we know not to put you on the alternate list. Also if for whatever reason you don't want to be considered as an alternate let us know that too. It won't affect your chances of making the team," Alex told us.
"Okay, we're going to get started by splitting you all into two groups and getting names and then start with some drills," Scooter said. He took the easy way of doing it and had us count off by twos. I ended up in Alex's group with Charlie and Averman. The only other one I recognized in the group was Kilpatrick from varsity.
"I think I'm in trouble?" Charlie whispered to me as Alex started getting peoples names.
"What are you talking about," I whispered back to him.
"I don't think Scooter wants me on the team. He looked right at me when he said they'd be taking attitude into account to,"Charlie said.
"You're overreacting," I told him quickly. Alex was right next to us now writing down Averman's on her list.
"Would you be able to be an alternate?" Alex asked Averman.
"Actually I was thinking about doing something else if I don't make it," Averman told her.
"Fair enough," Alex said making a mark on her paper.
"Name?" she asked turning to me.
"Julie Gaffney," I told her.
"You were the goalie for junior varsity last semester right?" she asked as she wrote down my name.
"Yeah," I said surprised that she knew who I was.
"You willing to play any position or are you just interested in being goalie?" she asked.
"Um, I'd play wherever you put me," I told her, "but I've only ever played goalie."
"Okay," she said writing something down. "If you don't make the team do you want to be considered for an alternate position."
"Sure," I said secretly hoping that it wouldn't come to that. I really wanted to make the team.
"Great," she said and then turned to Charlie.
"Charlie Conway," Charlie said without her having to ask for his name. "And yes I'd be willing to be an alternate if it comes to that."
"Okay, thank-you," she said moving on to the next person.
"Suck up," Averman whispered to Charlie from his place on the other side of me. Charlie just stuck his tongue out at Averman.
A few minutes later Alex put her clipboard down on the ground on the side of the court and got us started on a shooting drill. She had Charlie take a kid named Allen, and a girl named Marci, and me off to the side and make sure we understood the drill. I was assuming the other two were also goalies. She had Bill Furches, who was the back-up goalie for varsity take the goalie position.
After a few minutes I got the hang of the drill even though I still wasn't that good at it. I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to get the shot anywhere near the goal.
"You guys ready?" Alex asked coming over to us. Allen, Marci and I nodded. The other two looked more confident than me though. "Okay, Gaffney you can go next."
"Okay," I said uncertainly as I got the puck and headed toward the goal like Charlie had showed me. Bill didn't even have to try and stop the puck from going in as it went wide of the goal. I could feel my face turning red as I heard a few snickers around me, Bill among them.
"Cut it out," Alex told them. "Gaffney, try it again," she said turning to me. "And this time take it slower. Speed will come with time."
I just nodded as I retrieved the puck from the side of the court and started over. "You can do it Julie," I heard Charlie say from the crowd as I started toward the goal again. I did what Alex had told me to do and took it slower. As I shot the puck toward the goal this time it actually headed toward the goal and to my surprise went in.
"Nice job," Alex said. "Okay, Gaffney take Bill's place. Kilpatrick you're up."
It took me a couple of minutes to put my goalie mask and gloves on and then Bill and I traded sticks as he went to join the others waiting. I took my place in front of the goal and glued my eyes on Kilpatrick as he headed toward me with the puck. I stopped the puck from going into the goal. In fact I didn't let one person score. I kind of felt like I had redeemed myself a little bit.
As Allen and I switched places again I rejoined the group ended up right behind Charlie. "Nice going Cat Lady," he said as I came to a stop.
"Thanks," I said watching as Averman took his turn at the drill and scored.
On Charlie's second try at the drill, he had taken one shot while I was being the goalie, Alex, now with a hockey stick in hand instead of the clipboard skated defense against him. Charlie was still able to score. Charlie wasn't the only one that Alex skated defense on but I wasn't sure how she was choosing which ones to skate defense against.
We tried a few other drills before Alex and Scooter called a break. As they got together and talked quietly the rest of us took the opportunity to get a drink.
"Nice way to show up the coach, Charlie," Averman said.
"Oh be quiet," Charlie snapped.
"Hey I was just joking," Averman said.
"Sorry," Charlie said. "I guess I'm just a little wound up."
"You really want to make the team don't you?" I asked.
"Yeah, I guess I do," Charlie said.
Scooter and Alex called us back and staying in the same groups we had before we started a scrimmage game for the rest of try outs. Bill and Simon Malone, a freshman I knew from one of my classes who had been in Scooters group were put in as goalies.
The scrimmage went uneventful until Murphy tripped Charlie up with his stick on a play. The two started arguing and Scooter had to break them up. He sent them both to the sidelines. As Charlie came over to where our team was standing I could tell he was furious. On the other side I could see Murphy still arguing with Scooter. Alex put Averman in to replace Charlie and then walked over to Charlie.
"Conway," I heard her say quietly because I was standing right next to him. "I want you to take a break and go calm down."
Charlie just nodded although I could tell in his eyes that he thought that he had blown all chances of making the team. I watched as Charlie made his way of the court and skated down the sidewalk a little bit. Part of me wondered if he'd come back.
I went back to watching the game. Charlie did come back shortly and he seemed much calmer. A few minutes after he came back Alex put me and Charlie into the game for the last few minutes.
"Nice job today everyone," Alex told us as they called an end to the first day of try outs. "I'll expect to see most of you back out here tomorrow."
As Charlie, Averman, Russ, Guy Connie and I headed to over to where we had left our stuff I saw both Scooter and Alex approach a few people. From their reactions I had a feeling they were being told not to come back the following day. I noticed that one of the people that Alex had talked to was Bill Furches and as I picked up my bag I saw Scooter across the court talking to Murphy who definitely was not happy with what Scooter had told him. Then Scooter started heading toward us. From the look on his face I had a feeling it wasn't just to see me, even though we were going out to dinner that night.
"Here it comes," Charlie said and I knew exactly what he was getting at. However halfway to us Alex stepped in front of Scooter and started talking to him. The others and I watched wondering what was going on.
Alex's POV:
As I got finished talking to the last kid I had noticed laughing at Gaffney on her first try at the drill, I noticed Scooter heading toward Julie and her friends. I knew exactly who he was going to talk to and why. I hurried over to him and got in front of him before he reached them.
"Scott, don't do it. Give him another chance."
"Why, he isn't going to change. He has to much of a temper." Scott told me. "Look, I like Conway, really I do but I don't think he's going to work out on this team. He's going to cause problems."
"Why?" I asked him. "After you broke the two up Conway didn't give you or me in problems. I saw Murphy over there arguing with you."
"And Murphy has been told not to come back tomorrow. And anyway if he wasn't giving you any problems why did he leave the court."
"I told him to take a few minutes and calm himself down."
"His temper is just going to keep causing problems," Scooter said.
"I remember a time when people thought that about me too. Remember my freshman year after making it on Varsity. I kept getting into arguments with Riley and a few of the others during practices and even one of the games. If I remember correctly it was you who defended me to Coach Wilson and kept him from kicking me off the team. You even helped me to learn ways to control my temper. Give Charlie a fair chance."
"Okay," Scott told me with a sigh. "But I still think it's a bad idea."
"So noted," I told him with a smile. Instead of headed over to where he had been heading before he walked over with me to gather our stuff together.
"I got a date to get ready for," Scott told me. "Can we get together later and discuss today's tryouts."
"Sure, how about at eight. I'll meet you down in the common room of your dorm," I told him.
"Okay, see you then," Scott said heading toward Julie who was now waiting at the gate for him.
"You about ready?" I heard a voice ask. I turn around to find one of my best friends standing nearby. We were lab partners in Chemistry this semester which was his first at Eden Hall. He had just transferred over from Jefferson Academy. We hadn't quite been able to finish up the lab earlier this afternoon as we had some trouble getting the experiment to work out right. We had finally gotten through the experiment but now had to complete the lab questions.
"Yeah," I said picking up my stuff and leaving the court with him.
Charlie's POV:
I let out a sigh of relief as I watched Scooter walk over to the side of the court with Alex instead of heading back in our direction. Even though I didn't know for sure what had just gone on I had a feeling I had just dodged a bullet.
Julie said good-bye to us and headed over to the gate to wait for Scooter. I went back to gathering my stuff together. I was just finishing stuffing my skates in the bag when I felt Guy put his hand on my arm.
"Hey Charlie is that who I think it is?" he asked me pointing over to where Alex was now standing with a blonde haired guy. I took a good look at him. Although he was taller and more broad shouldered than when I saw him last I realized who it was. Before I could say anything though Connie spoke up.
"Is that Shane Larson?" she asked standing beside Guy.
"It sure is," I said. I then it dawned on me why Alex had looked familiar when I first saw her. "And Alex use to be a Hawk," I said.
"Are you sure?" Guy asked.
"I'm positive," I said. "I remember her playing the year before Bombay took over and then she was with them the following year too. I don't think she played the year Banks joined us."
"You're right," Averman said in support of my statement. "She's the Hawk that Banks was talking to after one of the games. I think they were still friends," Averman said.
"Think she remembers us?" Connie said.
"If she does, I hope she forgot about the problems our two teams had or none of us are making this roller hockey team," Guy said.
"I don't think we have to worry about that guys," I told them as we all started walking off the court. If that was true I probably would have been told not to show up the next day. I made a mental note to have a talk with Adam later that night though I find out if he and Alex were still friends and if he knew she was going to Eden Hall or not. I wasn't sure if I should mention Shane or not.
Charlie's POV:
"You know I'm nervous about try outs," I admitted to Jesse Hall Wednesday afternoon as we walked back to the dorm from our last class.
"Why, you're a good player," Jesse told me. "You'll do fine. Its not like you're going to have me or Adam there to make you look bad."
I elbowed him playfully in the side. "Thanks a lot," I told him. We were quiet for a few moments. To break the silence I asked him, "So how is basketball practice going?"
"Pretty good," Jesse said. "The coach works us hard but it's also a lot of fun. We have our first game next Tuesday night. You coming."
"Yeah sure. Its not like I'm going to have some hot date to go on," I told him. I hadn't heard from Linda since she told me she was coming back to Eden Hall on Sunday. I had called several times and left messages but hadn't gotten any replies. I was starting to think this long distance thing didn't even have a chance.
"Linda still hasn't called huh," Jesse said.
"No, I'm starting to think she isn't going to," I told him.
We had reached the dorms by now and as I walked up the steps in front of Jesse the door to the building came flying open. I quickly stepped out of the way as I saw Fulton and Portman come running out of the building. Not far behind them Julie came running out covered in white, presumably flour.
"Those two really need to find something to occupy themselves with this semester," I commented as walked into the dorm building. I looked down the hallway and saw Connie and Guy cleaning up flour off the floor outside of the girls room. A bucket was still hanging from a rope above the door.
"I think they have," Jesse said. "Practical jokes."
"That isn't good for us," I told him as we headed upstairs to the room I shared with Guy. We both had an hour until we had to be places, practice for Jesse and try outs for me, so we had decided to get a start on our economics project that we had been assigned.
We spent most of the time arguing over which of the ideas that Mr. Recon, our economics teacher, had given us that we wanted to explore. In fact that was the only thing we accomplished that afternoon before Jesse left my room to head for practice. After he had left I grabbed my roller blades and protective gear and stick and headed downstairs. On the front steps of the building I found Connie, Guy, and a now clean Julie already there lacing up there skates. I sat down behind Julie and started putting on my roller blades.
The others were ready before me but they waited for me. I hurried up lacing my skates and stuffed my sneakers in my bag. The four of us started skating toward the roller hockey court. There was still patches of snow on the ground here and there but the sidewalks and all the courts were cleared.
"So did you ever catch Fulton and Portman," I asked Julie as we skated.
"No, but I'm going to get even, I just don't know how yet,"she said. I could see the determination in her eyes and was glad I wasn't the one she was out to get.
"Come on, Julie it was just a joke," Connie said.
"Oh, so you're telling me that if it had been you covered in flour you would have just laughed about it."
"Yes," Connie said. Beside her Guy put a hand over his mouth to keep from laughing and I know I couldn't keep the smile off my face.
"We'll see," Julie said, "because I don't think those two are done with their pranks.
By this time we had reached the roller hockey court. There was a lot of kids already gathered. Some of them I recognized as varsity hockey players and a few others from my classes. There were also kids that I had never even seen around the school before. Part of me wondered just how good the could possibly be. As we went through the gate in the fence we saw Russ, Averman, and Dwayne gathered together in one of the corners and we went to join them. As we skated over to them I glanced around the court and saw Scooter in the middle talking with a girl who I assumed was the other student coach. I know she hadn't skated with Varsity this past season because I would have remembered a girl being on the team and I silently wondered just how much she could possibly know about hockey. Still she looked familiar from someplace but I couldn't place her. I probably have just seen her in the halls I told myself as we joined the others.
"So where is Goldie?" I couldn't help but ask Averman with a smile. I had known he wasn't going to show up.
"He said the chess club was more to his liking," Averman told me.
"Are you serious?" Russ asked. "Goldberg's joining the chess club."
"Yeah, what's wrong with that," Averman said. "If I don't make this team I'll probably join the chess club myself."
"Well, you'll definitely have less bruises that way," Julie said.
Before anybody could say anything else though we heard a whistle. I turned around to see Scooter holding a whistle and motioning to us to join them in the center of the court.
"Well, here goes nothing," I said as we all headed to center court. I still had my doubts as to whether or not I'd make it or not. It wasn't my ability that I was doubting. I was just afraid that after fall semester and my attitude during hockey season if Scooter would want to deal with me on the team.
Julie's POV:
"Well, here goes nothing," I heard Charlie mutter as we all headed toward center court. I didn't have time to question him about the comment though as Scooter started addressing the group as soon as we had all gathered.
"Thank-you for all coming out to try-outs," Scooter said addressing us all. "As you can tell from the number of you here not everyone is going to make it. Even if you were on the team last year I won't guarantee you that you'll be on the team this year."
"For those of you who don't know us let me introduce us. I'm Scott Vanderbilt, you can call me Scooter. I'm the goalie for the varsity ice hockey team. This is Alex Paris. She played on the varsity team last year when she was freshman even though she couldn't play this season because of family issues."
"This is how try outs will work. We'll be holding try outs for the next three days. Official practices won't start for a few weeks still but for those of you who might want to try a different club or sport this semester if you don't make the team we wanted to get the team formed. Being students, Alex and I realize that we're not going to get the same respect from some of you as you would give an adult coach therefore we won't be selecting people for the team simply based on your skating ability. We will be taken into account your attitude both toward us and other skaters," Scooter said. I couldn't help but notice that he looked right at Charlie when he said that. I glanced over and saw Charlie look down at the ground. I put my hand on his shoulder trying to reassure him. "We'll also be looking at which skaters play well together as a team. We want a good team but we also want this to be fun. If we can all get along, have fun, and learn something through this semester than I don't care if we win all our games or lose them. Knowing that you can depend on your teammates no matter what is what makes a good team not how many goals or scored, or games won."
"Some of you might be cut today or tomorrow depending on how things go. Try outs will consist of some drills and some scrimmages. How you perform in everything will be taken into consideration. If you're not so good at one thing but good at everything else then you still have a chance at making the team. For those of you who make it to Friday the final list will be posted on the student bulletin board by Monday morning," Scooter told us and then Alex took a step forward and addressed us.
"Now even thought this isn't considered by the school as an official sport we still expect you to take this seriously. If you're going to be on this team we expect you to be at all practices on time and at all the games. If some kind of emergency comes up please let either Scooter or myself know. Our faculty advisor last year was Mr. Gubbine and as most of you know he took a very hands off way of supervising, he was there to offer Scooter and I advice but let us handle everything on our own. As most of you know Mr. Gubbine took a job elsewhere this semester. We have yet to get the official word as to who the faculty supervisor will be this semester but Dean Buckley has assured us that there will be one even if he has to take over the role himself. How much our new advisor will get involved I don't know but for now we're going on with things as planned."
"For those of you that are interested, we also like to make a list of alternates. The alternates are not required to be at practices or games but are welcomed to come to practices if they want. However, if someone should not be able to continue with the team for whatever reason then one of the alternates would step in and everything that we expect from the other players will apply so if you plan on doing something else if you don't make the team please let us know so we know not to put you on the alternate list. Also if for whatever reason you don't want to be considered as an alternate let us know that too. It won't affect your chances of making the team," Alex told us.
"Okay, we're going to get started by splitting you all into two groups and getting names and then start with some drills," Scooter said. He took the easy way of doing it and had us count off by twos. I ended up in Alex's group with Charlie and Averman. The only other one I recognized in the group was Kilpatrick from varsity.
"I think I'm in trouble?" Charlie whispered to me as Alex started getting peoples names.
"What are you talking about," I whispered back to him.
"I don't think Scooter wants me on the team. He looked right at me when he said they'd be taking attitude into account to,"Charlie said.
"You're overreacting," I told him quickly. Alex was right next to us now writing down Averman's on her list.
"Would you be able to be an alternate?" Alex asked Averman.
"Actually I was thinking about doing something else if I don't make it," Averman told her.
"Fair enough," Alex said making a mark on her paper.
"Name?" she asked turning to me.
"Julie Gaffney," I told her.
"You were the goalie for junior varsity last semester right?" she asked as she wrote down my name.
"Yeah," I said surprised that she knew who I was.
"You willing to play any position or are you just interested in being goalie?" she asked.
"Um, I'd play wherever you put me," I told her, "but I've only ever played goalie."
"Okay," she said writing something down. "If you don't make the team do you want to be considered for an alternate position."
"Sure," I said secretly hoping that it wouldn't come to that. I really wanted to make the team.
"Great," she said and then turned to Charlie.
"Charlie Conway," Charlie said without her having to ask for his name. "And yes I'd be willing to be an alternate if it comes to that."
"Okay, thank-you," she said moving on to the next person.
"Suck up," Averman whispered to Charlie from his place on the other side of me. Charlie just stuck his tongue out at Averman.
A few minutes later Alex put her clipboard down on the ground on the side of the court and got us started on a shooting drill. She had Charlie take a kid named Allen, and a girl named Marci, and me off to the side and make sure we understood the drill. I was assuming the other two were also goalies. She had Bill Furches, who was the back-up goalie for varsity take the goalie position.
After a few minutes I got the hang of the drill even though I still wasn't that good at it. I wasn't even sure I was going to be able to get the shot anywhere near the goal.
"You guys ready?" Alex asked coming over to us. Allen, Marci and I nodded. The other two looked more confident than me though. "Okay, Gaffney you can go next."
"Okay," I said uncertainly as I got the puck and headed toward the goal like Charlie had showed me. Bill didn't even have to try and stop the puck from going in as it went wide of the goal. I could feel my face turning red as I heard a few snickers around me, Bill among them.
"Cut it out," Alex told them. "Gaffney, try it again," she said turning to me. "And this time take it slower. Speed will come with time."
I just nodded as I retrieved the puck from the side of the court and started over. "You can do it Julie," I heard Charlie say from the crowd as I started toward the goal again. I did what Alex had told me to do and took it slower. As I shot the puck toward the goal this time it actually headed toward the goal and to my surprise went in.
"Nice job," Alex said. "Okay, Gaffney take Bill's place. Kilpatrick you're up."
It took me a couple of minutes to put my goalie mask and gloves on and then Bill and I traded sticks as he went to join the others waiting. I took my place in front of the goal and glued my eyes on Kilpatrick as he headed toward me with the puck. I stopped the puck from going into the goal. In fact I didn't let one person score. I kind of felt like I had redeemed myself a little bit.
As Allen and I switched places again I rejoined the group ended up right behind Charlie. "Nice going Cat Lady," he said as I came to a stop.
"Thanks," I said watching as Averman took his turn at the drill and scored.
On Charlie's second try at the drill, he had taken one shot while I was being the goalie, Alex, now with a hockey stick in hand instead of the clipboard skated defense against him. Charlie was still able to score. Charlie wasn't the only one that Alex skated defense on but I wasn't sure how she was choosing which ones to skate defense against.
We tried a few other drills before Alex and Scooter called a break. As they got together and talked quietly the rest of us took the opportunity to get a drink.
"Nice way to show up the coach, Charlie," Averman said.
"Oh be quiet," Charlie snapped.
"Hey I was just joking," Averman said.
"Sorry," Charlie said. "I guess I'm just a little wound up."
"You really want to make the team don't you?" I asked.
"Yeah, I guess I do," Charlie said.
Scooter and Alex called us back and staying in the same groups we had before we started a scrimmage game for the rest of try outs. Bill and Simon Malone, a freshman I knew from one of my classes who had been in Scooters group were put in as goalies.
The scrimmage went uneventful until Murphy tripped Charlie up with his stick on a play. The two started arguing and Scooter had to break them up. He sent them both to the sidelines. As Charlie came over to where our team was standing I could tell he was furious. On the other side I could see Murphy still arguing with Scooter. Alex put Averman in to replace Charlie and then walked over to Charlie.
"Conway," I heard her say quietly because I was standing right next to him. "I want you to take a break and go calm down."
Charlie just nodded although I could tell in his eyes that he thought that he had blown all chances of making the team. I watched as Charlie made his way of the court and skated down the sidewalk a little bit. Part of me wondered if he'd come back.
I went back to watching the game. Charlie did come back shortly and he seemed much calmer. A few minutes after he came back Alex put me and Charlie into the game for the last few minutes.
"Nice job today everyone," Alex told us as they called an end to the first day of try outs. "I'll expect to see most of you back out here tomorrow."
As Charlie, Averman, Russ, Guy Connie and I headed to over to where we had left our stuff I saw both Scooter and Alex approach a few people. From their reactions I had a feeling they were being told not to come back the following day. I noticed that one of the people that Alex had talked to was Bill Furches and as I picked up my bag I saw Scooter across the court talking to Murphy who definitely was not happy with what Scooter had told him. Then Scooter started heading toward us. From the look on his face I had a feeling it wasn't just to see me, even though we were going out to dinner that night.
"Here it comes," Charlie said and I knew exactly what he was getting at. However halfway to us Alex stepped in front of Scooter and started talking to him. The others and I watched wondering what was going on.
Alex's POV:
As I got finished talking to the last kid I had noticed laughing at Gaffney on her first try at the drill, I noticed Scooter heading toward Julie and her friends. I knew exactly who he was going to talk to and why. I hurried over to him and got in front of him before he reached them.
"Scott, don't do it. Give him another chance."
"Why, he isn't going to change. He has to much of a temper." Scott told me. "Look, I like Conway, really I do but I don't think he's going to work out on this team. He's going to cause problems."
"Why?" I asked him. "After you broke the two up Conway didn't give you or me in problems. I saw Murphy over there arguing with you."
"And Murphy has been told not to come back tomorrow. And anyway if he wasn't giving you any problems why did he leave the court."
"I told him to take a few minutes and calm himself down."
"His temper is just going to keep causing problems," Scooter said.
"I remember a time when people thought that about me too. Remember my freshman year after making it on Varsity. I kept getting into arguments with Riley and a few of the others during practices and even one of the games. If I remember correctly it was you who defended me to Coach Wilson and kept him from kicking me off the team. You even helped me to learn ways to control my temper. Give Charlie a fair chance."
"Okay," Scott told me with a sigh. "But I still think it's a bad idea."
"So noted," I told him with a smile. Instead of headed over to where he had been heading before he walked over with me to gather our stuff together.
"I got a date to get ready for," Scott told me. "Can we get together later and discuss today's tryouts."
"Sure, how about at eight. I'll meet you down in the common room of your dorm," I told him.
"Okay, see you then," Scott said heading toward Julie who was now waiting at the gate for him.
"You about ready?" I heard a voice ask. I turn around to find one of my best friends standing nearby. We were lab partners in Chemistry this semester which was his first at Eden Hall. He had just transferred over from Jefferson Academy. We hadn't quite been able to finish up the lab earlier this afternoon as we had some trouble getting the experiment to work out right. We had finally gotten through the experiment but now had to complete the lab questions.
"Yeah," I said picking up my stuff and leaving the court with him.
Charlie's POV:
I let out a sigh of relief as I watched Scooter walk over to the side of the court with Alex instead of heading back in our direction. Even though I didn't know for sure what had just gone on I had a feeling I had just dodged a bullet.
Julie said good-bye to us and headed over to the gate to wait for Scooter. I went back to gathering my stuff together. I was just finishing stuffing my skates in the bag when I felt Guy put his hand on my arm.
"Hey Charlie is that who I think it is?" he asked me pointing over to where Alex was now standing with a blonde haired guy. I took a good look at him. Although he was taller and more broad shouldered than when I saw him last I realized who it was. Before I could say anything though Connie spoke up.
"Is that Shane Larson?" she asked standing beside Guy.
"It sure is," I said. I then it dawned on me why Alex had looked familiar when I first saw her. "And Alex use to be a Hawk," I said.
"Are you sure?" Guy asked.
"I'm positive," I said. "I remember her playing the year before Bombay took over and then she was with them the following year too. I don't think she played the year Banks joined us."
"You're right," Averman said in support of my statement. "She's the Hawk that Banks was talking to after one of the games. I think they were still friends," Averman said.
"Think she remembers us?" Connie said.
"If she does, I hope she forgot about the problems our two teams had or none of us are making this roller hockey team," Guy said.
"I don't think we have to worry about that guys," I told them as we all started walking off the court. If that was true I probably would have been told not to show up the next day. I made a mental note to have a talk with Adam later that night though I find out if he and Alex were still friends and if he knew she was going to Eden Hall or not. I wasn't sure if I should mention Shane or not.