I was at my house getting ready for Hans funeral. I was torn between doing my makeup or not doing my makeup because I look disgusting and well I want to look decent but I'm gonna cry a lot and none of my makeup is waterproof. I ended up saying screw it if I cry and get makeup down my face who cares. There was a knock at the door and when I opened the door I saw Charlie. We lazily smiled at each other and Charlie's mom brought us to pay our respects to Hans. Coach Bombay showed up and put Hans Ducks jersey on the casket.
"Every time you touch the ice remember that it was Hans who taught us to fly." He said.
***
I stayed across the hall with Luis that night. We were up until one in the morning talking. He was trying to keep my mind off the fact that Hans was gone but I somehow managed to loop everything he brought up back to something Hans did. Luis brought up a prank we pulled on Coach Bombay and I would start talking about how Hans used to pull little pranks on Charlie and I all the time when we'd visit him.
"I miss him Luis."
"I know you do. I miss him too." He kissed my forehead and we tried to get some sleep.
There was a knock at the door that woke us up. Luis got up and opened the door. Connie and Guy were at the door and they talked for a minute. Luis shook his head and and shut the door. He came back over to the bed and climbed on top of me wrapping himself around me. I smiled at him and hugged him. He started leaving a bunch of kisses all over my face and neck then, he was mean and got off me and started changing.
"Excuse me." I said.
"Yes my darling."
"Why have the kisses stopped?"
"Because we're all going to play street hockey at the basketball court before our game. Get dressed." He smiled.
I smiled back at him and gave him a kiss before sluggishly walking across the hall, because you know that's way too much effort in the morning, to get changed. Julie and Connie we're already changing when I walked in. Julie actually threw a pillow at me because she didn't have a shirt on yet when I opened the door.
"I'm sorry I didn't know." I said throwing the pillow back at her.
I put on a baggy t-shirt and some shorts and put my hair into a ponytail. I grabbed my rollerblades, pads, helmet and stick and we all skated to the court together including Banksie. The only person we were missing was Charlie but Coach was handling him. We started a game and before we know Charlie and Coach are at the fence.
"Hey Coach Bombay." Dwayne said.
"Damn Conway what took you so long?" Russ asked. "Get in the game."
"Yeah get in the game." Dwayne agreed skating over to the fence.
Both Coach and Charlie joined us. We were just messing around having fun. It was like everything was back to normal. Everyone was getting along. Banks and Coach was there. We even put Coach in one of the garbage can goals. That was really fun and then Charlie put the other trash can on Goldberg. Later we all got ready for our away game. We gathered on the bus taking seats, I sat next to Luis obviously, when Charlie walked on the bus. Coach Orion looked a little shocked.
"Conway?"
"I wanna be on the team coach. I wanna play two way hockey. Can I come back?"
"Take a seat. We're running late." Coach smiled.
Charlie went and took a seat next to Russ. "It's about time Conway." He joked.
We were about to take off when the Dean came up on the bus. He looked a little upset as he looked at us. "I almost missed you. Coach mind if I have a word with your boys."
"And girls." Julie added.
"Yes of course, and girls."
"I you can make it quick we're running late as it is." Coach said.
"I'm afraid this is improper. We have a board meeting scheduled for tomorrow and well, you all are on the agenda. We have to think about long term here and what's in your best interest. As hard as it is for me personally, because you kids have been a breathe of fresh air around here, the board is going to approve the withdrawal of your scholarships."
I looked at Luis a little worried. I didn't want to leave, I like it here, well except for the varsity team harassing us. I get to see him every day and if are scholarships get withdrawn he has to go back to Florida.
"Now you'll be welcome to stay until the end of the semester, but after that it will be necessary for you to enjoy other educational opportunities."
"Dean I need to a word with you."
"I think I've said all I need to say."
"No, now!" Coach and Dean got off the bus to talk away from us.
Dwayne leaned forward towards Charlie and Russ. "Other educational opportunities? What's he saying Russ?" He wondered.
"I'll put it in terms you can understand, adios amigo."
'Adios amigo.' Dwayne played the words on his lips while he thought for a moment. "Oh, I see." He said.
I looked at Luis and then I front of me to Connie. Luis got up and tapped Charlie. Charlie got up and everyone else followed. We all gathered around the open front door of the bus. We watched and listened as Coach tried to get the Dean to stop the board from taking away our scholarships.
"Ted I'm doing you a favor. With those kids gone you get to pick your own team. Let's face it, the Ducks are drowning."
"I got my team." Coach stated firmly. "Either they stay or I go."
I can't believe Coach Orion is willing to give up his job for us. We haven't been the nicest to him. We all smiled at him to show we appreciated him.
"Well miss you Ted." Dean said dryly before walking off.
"We're just pawn, puppets for the stage show. Heaters to entertain the king, barnacles on the bottom of-." Averman was rambling on like usual.
"Shut up!" Russ said slightly annoyed."
"Coach is this legal?" Goldberg asked. "I mean don't we have contracts or something?"
"I don't know what it is. All I know is we're gonna fight it."
"With what?" Dwayne asked.
"I think we know someone." Guy smirked.
"Who?" Dwayne asked.
"Are you forgetting Coach Bombay used to be a lawyer Dwayne?" I questioned.
"And a pretty damn good one too. He never lost a case." Charlie said smiling.
