Lyla Mitchell's POV
It was a nice, cool Monday morning in my families garden in Edina, Minnesota. Our garden was flourishing, and was bursting with any kinds of greens and plants you could imagine. We grew everything from vegetables, and fruits, all the way to succulents, cactuses, and flowers. Our garden was one of the best in Edina, and we took pride in our luscious jungle of plants. Gardening was one of my favourite hobbies to take part in, and it was a way for me and my mother to bond together. We enjoyed basking in the nice hot sun while getting our hands dirty in the cool, grainy dirt.
While I was planting some new dahlia's that I got from the farmers market, I could sense a figure behind me. I turned around and gazed up to see Adam, my best friend, standing behind me with a smile on his face. I couldn't help but smile too, and stood up, now squinting a bit by the sun in my eyes.
"What's up banksie?" I say as I bend back down to continue planting my flowers.
"Those are pretty ones, huh? Let me guess, there dahlia's?" He said, pointing to my flowers, aware of my hobby for gardening.
"Ding, ding, ding!" I say while I finished patting down on the rich soil with my gardening gloves. I then stood back up and grabbed Adam's hand, taking him by surprise. I dragged Adam with me to the front of my garage and grabbed my stick, gloves, and roller skates as Adam looked at me with confusion.
"Come on, Adam! Let's go play some hockey! Can we go to your driveway, though? It's like, ten times bigger than mine." I say as I see Adam's face light up. I knew he would never back down from being able to play hockey. He loved it. I loved it too. That's how we bonded, by playing hockey anywhere and everywhere we could.
We ran across my neighbours lawn, which had permanent foot marks in the soft green grass, produced by me and Adam. My neighbours never minded, though. They were hardly around to see their house. To busy with work trips and parties.
We got to Adam's driveway and he ran in, grabbing his gear too as I sat down to put on my skates. Adam's house was huge, it was the size of two of my houses, plus two of my neighbours. He was fortunate enough to be born in a rich household, and I envied him for that. But I wasn't the one to be jealous and hold grudges, so I quickly got on my skates as Adam walked out with his on, too.
"Ready to get beat up?" I sneered as Adam rolled his eyes playfully. Since summer break, he seemed to hit puberty or something, because he was... good looking, to say the least. His hair was parted in the centre, and his piercing blue eyes were the most beautiful of blues. But, Even though he was attractive, I've always thought about us as siblings, so I quickly shooed the thought away and grabbed my stick.
All of a sudden, Adam quickly swooped in a grabbed the ball, heading to the net. He commentated as he went, causing me to laugh and follow him.
"He's comin across the goalie, between his legs— score!" He says as he puts up his hands in celebration. I chuckled and took my chance by swooping in a stealing the puck away, causing him to re route his attention to me.
"Ooo nasty steal by Mitchell! She's nearing the net, dekes out the goalie with ease! She shoots, she scores! Top corner!" I commentate with laughter as Adam laughed too. Suddenly, in the distance, I heard a familiar call. The duck call.
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Charlie Conway's POV
Coach put me in charge of rounding up our team, the Minnesota ducks. Ever since we have won the championship last year, every one has gotten closer, many friendships formed, and some I was a little less happy to hear about then others. Turns out, dumb Lyla Mitchell became friends with literally everyone on the team. I mean, did they forget that she was once our sworn enemy, a hawk? Me and Lyla still fought, and our rivalry felt like a never ending rollercoaster. I managed to convince myself that my feelings I had at the final games last year against the hawks were only out of pity and niceness, because in truth, they were. Since then I've hardly even talked to her, I even forgot what she looked like to be honest.
Soon enough I had almost everybody on our team, except for banks and Mitchell. Maybe I could pretend to forget her, and we skate by her house, and have the best time without her. I thought, as we skated to the banks' property. My hopes were soon crushed as I heard laughter and sounds of roller blades hitting the concrete getting louder. I sighed and continued. Avermann and guy noticed my sudden change of attitude.
"Maybe it's just his cousin?" Guy suggested. He was also friends with Lyla, but he and Averman also knew about my undying hatred for the girl.
"maybe she's out of town or something?" Averman continued as I shook my head annoyingly.
"No, I can tell who's annoying voice that belongs to from a mile away. She's not out of town." I groaned as we all came to a stop in front of Adam's house. All of a sudden, I could hear a weird sound escape from Averman's mouth as I turned to look at him. He looked like he was in utter shock.
"And boy, am I glad she's not." He managed to say as guy's and his mouths were both gaped open, along with basically all of my teammates. Connie quickly elbowed Guy in the ribs, causing him to yell in pain and tore his eyes off of wherever he was looking at. I stood in confusion, looking at Averman as my teammates greeted the two.
"Why so shocked?" I managed to say before Averman grabbed my cheeks and turned my head to face Adam and Lyla. My heart soon skipped a beat when I layed my eyes on her.
Her chocolate coloured hair was blowing lightly in the wind as she turned to look at me. I couldn't take my eyes off of her beautiful hazel ones. She was utter perfection- what the heck, Conway! Snap out of it! Holy crap! I thought as I snapped out of my daze. Spring break must've had its work cut out for it. Thankfully, Jesse spoke up to banks and Mitchell, re routing their direction to him.
"Hey cake-eaters! Wanna play some real hockey?
"Yeah!"
——*•+..+•*——
Lyla Mitchell's POV
As me and Adam were messing around, I heard the duck whistle. Me and Adam's faces immediately lit up as we only knew one thing about the sound. It was the ducks! As they turned the corner, I couldn't help but feel every pair of eyes, on me. I squirmed a bit in my spot as I noticed avareman and Guy practically having their mouths hanging on the floor. The worse part was that I didn't know why all eyes were on me. I couldn't help but stifle a laugh as Connie elbowed guy in the ribs, causing him to yelp and look to her.
I then caught a glimpse of him. Ugh of course him. I thought. Then again, why am I not surprised. He's their leader, and they follow him around like lost puppies. As the team said hello to us, I looked back at Conway, and saw him staring directly at me. Avermans hand was still attached to his jaw, as he dare not look away from me. It felt sort of weird to see him so, distracted. He quickly snapped out of it as Jesse spoke to me and Adam.
"Hey cake-eaters! Wanna play some real hockey?" He asked as everyone looked hopefully at our reaction. Me and Adam looked at each other, glowing with excitement. We then looked back at our teammates.
"Yeah!" Adam responded, and I couldn't help but giggle at his voice crack. He looked a bit embarrassed as we continued skating away with our team. Connie skated beside me, and practically threw herself on me with excitement.
Me and Connie have been friends even before I was on the ducks, and we got along like sisters. All the way through last year she told me all about her crush on guy, and all the way through last year I told her about my hatred for Charlie. For some reason, though, she always doubted my words and convinced herself that we would date soon. As if! We are enemies! All though, even if we are enemies, I still found him slightly, i mean, slightly, attractive. He hit a growth spurt, and grew even taller. His green eyes were still electric as his hair grew out a bit, but that's it! Nothing else is remotely good looking about him! He has an ugly personality, anyways. An immediate turn off to be honest. Anyways, back to Connie, jeez!
"Oh my gosh, Lyla, girl! Your stunning! Spring break treated you good, huh! Tell me your secrets!" She said with her usual ear to ear bubbly grin pointing my direction. I couldn't help but smile and laugh at her compliment.
"Aww thank you so much, Connie! And stop talking cause your literally glowing!" I complimented as she only playfully rolled her eyes.
"Please Lyla, literally every one was looking at your like you were a goddess! Especially Charlie!" She said, nudging me lightly. "He couldn't take his eyes off of you!" She exclaimed as I sighed. I knew he never found me attractive, I mean, I guess I shaped up a bit, and I got rid of my braces and a bit of acne, but I was just an average girl. Besides, would enemies find each other attractive?
"Connie, come on, we hate each other! He was probably staring at something else, or trying to think of something insulting to say." I answer truthfully. She just stared at me like I was and alien.
"Girl, I love you and all, but you are oblivious." I just laughed as we continued skating through the town. Suddenly, Adam spoke up.
"Guys, it's an international competition. It's us against the world!" He exclaimed as I soon remembered what he was talking about.
During the spring break, Bombay was approached and asked to coach this years USA team for the junior goodwill olympics. Since he is coaching, the ducks got to represent America in the competition! I was ecstatic when i heard the news, because I could finally show the world what I could do, and I can grow further in my hockey career and future.
Halfway through my day dream I was interrupted by a hand pushing me forwards. I almost lost my balance, but regained it as I grabbed a hold of Goldberg, causing him to yelp in surprise. I apologized and turned to my side to see the cause of the sudden disruption. Conway was laughing beside me, with his usual devilish smirk that only I grew to know. I sighed as he spoke up.
"How are you doing, loser?" He asked in a rude tone, I also noticed his voice grew deeper too. I rolled my eyes at his remark.
"Better before you showed up." I say.
"I could say the same thing." He responded.
"Then why don't you brush off, weirdo."
"Gladly." He finished as he skated forward towards the group. I sighed deeply, annoyed by the interaction and even more annoyed by the boy. I just hoped he would trip on a stick and fall off a cliff, but life wasn't that easy. I was too distracted to notice that Goldberg wasn't with us, and found out that he stumbled down a hill, right into someone's picnic. I chuckled.
As we were skating down the sidewalk, I noticed something, or rather some people hanging around on a tree. We soon realized it was McGill, Larson, and king tied to the tree wearing nothing but their underwear. They were yelling and complaining for their clothes back, as I laughed out loud, and the rest of the ducks followed with me. I saw Fulton beside them, holding the hawks' clothes. Man, he was the best!
"That'll teach ya to mess with the ducks! Yeah!" Fulton exclaimed as we laughed at the crying hawks. I skated over to them.
"Hey guys! How's it hanging?" I say as the ducks laughed behind me. McGill only stared at me with pure fascination. Ever since he saw that I had a 'glow up' he's been head over heels for me and frankly, it was disturbing.
"Better now that your here, Lyla." He said as he smiled toothily at me. I cringed in disgust and backed up.
"Get over yourself dude." I say with disgust lingering in my tone as McGill grumbled.
"Cmon Mitchell! Ditch banks and come with me! I know you wanna." He said, smirking as I gagged a bit.
"Ya, I think I just threw up in my mouth. No way in hell, mcfish." I say as we continued on our journey, this time accompanied by Fulton. I was still shaken up by the encounter, as I noticed Conway looked a little too quite. He seemed a bit mad and his jaw was tense, but I just shrugged it off and continued to joke around with the team.
As we turned a corner around the street, we saw a figure standing on the sidewalk. We soon approached it, and it turned out to be coach Bombay! We cheered and skated around him, chanting 'ducks' over and over again till our throats grew soar. Even after we still cheered and yelled, making a big ruckus in the middle of the sidewalk.
"Welcome back, ducks! I really missed you guys. Are you ready to fly?" Bombay asked as we cheered even louder. It was an absolute joy to be apart of this team, and I don't regret anything one bit.
As we were cheering, a horned suddenly honked making us turned to the direction it came from. We turned to see a limousine pulling up, making us ooo and aww with admiration. It stopped right in front of us, as a stubby, chipmunk looking man stepped out of the vehicle.
"Hey guys!" He exclaimed in a high pitched voice, making me giggle. He really was a chipmunk, huh? "I'm don rubbles, Hendrix hockey apparel. We're your official sponsors!"
I was confused for a second. Sponsors? We needed sponsors? I quickly shrugged off the strange feeling as he offered the ducks some cards. I took and looked at the card, impressed by it. It seemed legit. But why wouldn't it be. Coach entered into the limo as we stayed outside, saying our thoughts out loud.
"I wonder what their talking about."
"Hendrix? I've never heard of Hendrix, have you?"
"Did anyone else think that he looked like a chipmunk?"
"What do you say we steel the limo?"
"I'm hungry. Let's get something to eat."
"Ok!"
——*•+..+•*——
-I had literally no motivation to wright this chapter but I did for you guys so be grateful 🥹-
Word count — 2562