MD 4: We just wanna play hockey
A Mighty Ducks fanfiction
4.7.2009
Emilia
CHAPTER 1: THE FUNERAL AND THE PAST
"He just came to us and asked us to join his team. You know that I want nothing to do with ice hockey but ever since mom made Tommy figure skate with me, he has wanted to do something boyish." Tammy told her best friend. Her best friend was smiling brightly while trying to hold her laughter. She nodded; trying to look understanding.
"Anna! It's not funny! I have to wear some horribly shirt and some gears. I look terrible in those gears. I swear if anyone we know sees me…"
"…then they'll never know it's you. Tammy, you know that everyone in our class knows you figure skate. They would never guess that you play hockey. And what's so terrible about that shirt? It's kind of cute." Anna gave a little smirk. Tammy glared at her. Even thought she had known Anna Emily Wilkinson since they were five, there were times when Tammy wondered why she even knew this girl. Anna was sarcastic and really girly girl. She got along well with boys even though no one knew why. Anna also skated. She had dark green eyes and curly blond hair. Anna was an orphan and she lived with her grandfather Hans.
When Tammy had met her she had immediately been drawn to this positive girl who couldn't help smiling and laughing. Anna was a mystery to most of the people but Tammy and Tommy knew her well. Anna liked to keep things to herself which was why only Tommy, Tammy, Hans and Gordon Bombay, who had been her father's friend, knew her well enough to tell her mood.
"But Anna… I'm worried. I just got Amber to ask me to her party and Johann flirted with me. I don't need them to find out." Tammy was slightly boyish but very interested in popularity and boys. Her blond hair and beautiful face brought her many admirers but Anna and Tommy often told them to go away which led to Tammy being mad at them. Unlike Anna, Tammy liked wearing jeans and big sweaters. Anna wore skirts and tops.
"They won't. I'm not gonna tell them and neither is Tommy." Anna reassured her. Then Tammy smiled; she had a plan.
"But I have to go now. Grandpa will be really worried if I'm not home in time. I'll see you tomorrow in school!" Anna said while she put on her brown jacket. She was putting on her shoes when Tammy said:
"Anna, will you also start playing with me?" Her friend froze. "I haven't been in any practice yet and I need my best friend with me." Tammy knew that she was practically blackmailing Anna, but when Anna nodded Tammy knew that she had done it; Anna was coming with her. Now the worst thing that could happen was that they were discovered.
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Anna Emily glared at her best friend. During their ice hockey time, Anna had asked boys to call her Emily but Tammy and Tommy still called her Anna. It had been three years since Emily and Tammy's first practice. Emily had changed to a boyish girl who loved her sarcastic self. Tammy had gotten more girly and was one of the most popular girls in their school. The girls were still best friends. After the Ducks, the ones who had made it to the USA team, had left the rest behind had Emily and Tammy gotten closer with the Rest, as Emily called them. Tammy, Tommy, Karp, Emily, Peter and Terry were the Rest. Fulton, Averman, Charlie, Jesse, Connie, Guy, Adam and Goldberg were the Ducks. The ND (new Ducks, as Tammy called them) were Dean, Russ, Luis, Ken, Julie and Dwayne. Emily and Adam wrote each other e-mail every weak so the Rest was well-informed of the Ducks.
"Tammy, I love you and all, but I'm not putting on that black dress to my grandfather's funeral. Uncle Jan would have a heart attack and right now I'm not in a mood to have another dead relative to grieve for." Hans had died two weeks ago. He had had a heart attack and died immediately. Emily had found him when she came home and still had nightmares about it. Even thought Emily didn't tell it to Tammy she was afraid what was going to happen to her now. Her closest relatives lived in California and she had no desire to move there. She enjoyed living in Minnesota. Emily took out a black skirt, white top and black jean jacket. She put on her nice shoes and her hair into two ponytails. Around her neck was a golden cross.
"Anna, are you sure you're up for this? You know we don't have to go there. The Ducks might be there." Tammy, with Peter and Terry, was angriest with the Ducks. She hated them for leaving them and herself for believing that they would always "fly together". Tammy carefully examined her best friend and sighed when she noticed that Anna had closed herself off. Now, when Hans was dead, Anna rarely smiled and often stared into distance.
"I'm sure, Tamsie." A rare smile. "But please, if they are here, don't start a fight with them. That's the last thing my grandpa would have wanted." Tammy nodded.
"Tammy! Anna! We gotta go now! The funeral is going to start in few minutes!" yelled Tommy from downstairs. He had matured well. He was now taller than her sister and quite muscular. His hair turned to dark brown but it was still the same length and his brown eyes full of jokes and ideas.
"We're coming!" Tammy yelled as she and Emily went downstairs. Tommy was surprised how cute Emily looked. She hadn't showed her girly figure in a while. Emily was too distracted to notice the boy's admiration and Tammy was too busy with fixing Peter's, who was now her boyfriend, tie and reminding Karp to be nice. Karp and Peter had grown close to Tommy and they admired Emily and Tammy. Peter had also gotten taller but his signature attitude was the same. Karp had dyed his hair to black and also lost some weight. Emily liked calling him cute and he always blushed when she said that. They went to the cars where Terry was waiting with his twin Jesse, who had decided to say with his twin instead of going to Eden Hall Academy. They went into the car and were readying themselves for the funeral.
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"Ok, now I understand what you meant by the terrible looking gears. I am so not gonna have any evidence after this season about this hobby." Anna complained. She was wearing the gear and looking at the mirror. She shook her head and tied up her hair into a ponytail.
"I told you so. But come on. Connie must have already gone since the dressing room is empty. I don't want to be late."
"Anxious?"
"Not." Both girls started laughing and went to the ice. Every boy turned around and for a while Tammy enjoyed the attention. Then it stopped when Anna said:
"Don't you people have anything else to do than to stare at us?" Coach Bombay recognized the voice and smiled; if he remembered correctly she had said that she would never step on the court. He turned around and examined her. Anna wore a scowl and he knew that she tried to be as secretive as possible since Hans hadn't called to inform him. Gordon noticed Charlie and others looking surprised when Anna teased them.
"I'm sorry, Coach Bombay, but when my best friend found out that I was starting ice hockey she also wanted," Anna rolled her eyes and glared at Tommy who was snickering, "to start playing. I couldn't say no since she knows all my secrets and who knows what she would do." Now Anna glared at Tammy and muttered:
"Well at least I know that I shouldn't tell her that she's gonna be late from the party." Tammy heard Anna muttering something and asked:
"What?" Tammy noticed Anna's sly smile and she was terrified when she said with polite voice:
"Nothing, shall we start then?" Gordon nodded and when he skated past Anna he whispered to her:
"You'll learn to love it." Anna snorted but followed him while glaring at the boys who were smiling happily.
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When the practice was almost over, Tammy decided to open her big mouth and asked:
"Coach Bombay, could you introduce all these people? I unfortunately don't know all of them." Tammy smiled sweetly hiding the little insult in her sentence. Anna caught it and rolled her eyes; of course Tammy had to rub it in that she was quite popular while these guys weren't. Anna herself didn't honestly know them but that was because she always had music playing and a book in her hands so she wouldn't have noticed if a bomb went off next to her.
"I apologize for not introducing them earlier. Boys, line up." The boys followed their coach's orders and went into a line. First there was the goalie. He was little chubby and maybe quite slow and not too good skater but it seemed that in this team it didn't matter. Anna admitted that he was good goalie.
"My name is Goldberg."
Anna smiled a little and moved her gaze to Tammy who was nodding; so she had known his name. Next to Goldberg there was a boy with eyeglasses and red hair. Anna tried to place him into the practice and realized that he was the one telling strange jokes… Well strange to everyone else but him and Anna.
"I'm Averman."
This time Tammy frowned; Anna took it that her best friend wasn't too fond of him, well too bad because he seemed like a lot of fun. Next to Averman were two black boys. Anna narrowed her eyes when she realized that they were twins.
"Jesse and this is my twin Terry."
Anna had seen Jesse. He was good. About Terry Anna wasn't so sure but time would tell. Tammy had a raised eyebrow which told Anna that she was little surprised. Anna wondered why and decided to ask her after practice. Then Anna's eyes moved to dark haired boy next to Jesse. He was quite short. Next to him was a boy with brown hair. Anna thought she had seen the two before but she wasn't sure.
"Peter and the idiot is Karp."
Anna smirked. The little guy had spunk. From Tammy's frown the two were pranksters. Quickly Anna whipped her smirk off since it wasn't appropriate for her as her grandmother had lectured her. Next to Karp was a cute boy who was smiling cutely. Anna glanced at Tammy whose eyes told her that the boy had accidentally stolen Tammy's heart. Little frown touched Anna's lips but she waited for his name.
"I'm Charlie."
Anna closed her eyes and when she opened them she avoided looking at Charlie. Next to Charlie was the team's only girl. Next to her was standing a boy who had a scarf over his head. They were standing awfully close and judging by Tammy's smile they were together or at least getting there.
"My name is Connie, but you already knew it."
Connie smiled and Anna smiled back. The tomboyish girl was fun to be around even though they had just met. Anna just knew that they were going to become good friends.
"Guy. That's my name."
After the couple Anna's eyes met Tommy. Gordon already knew that they knew each other so he told Tammy and Anna to introduce each other:
"My name is Tammy Duncan. I'm Tommy's big sister. I also skate." Anna smiled when she saw her best friend looking at Charlie but didn't look to the boy for his reaction.
"I'm Anna." Anna thought that she could just say her name but Tammy and Gordon had a different idea. They both wanted Anna to get new friends. So Gordon asked Anna to tell more about herself.
"I'm Hans' granddaughter and I skate with Tammy." A little smile with a lot of sarcasm thought Gordon. He knew her and knew that if they wanted more information they would have to ask her. Anna noticed Gordon opening his mouth and said to Tammy:
"You're going to be late." Tammy looked at the clock and shrieked:
"Why didn't you tell me earlier?!?" Anna smiled and followed her best friend when she skated to leave. She turned around and waved her hand:
"Ciao!"
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They arrived to the cemetery and Emily stepped out of the car. Terry and Jesse walked on each side of Emily while Peter held Tammy's hand. Karp and Tommy were quiet. They noticed Gordon Bombay standing by the church door and Charlie walking past him with the Ducks who all ignored their old coach. Emily who had overheard Gordon telling Hans about his and Charlie's fight understood what was going on and when they reached him she smiled at him while walking in. When they got in Emily was immediately pulled to Jan's side and all their relatives said their condolences to her and Jan. Emily smiled politely but her eyes were getting wetter. Tammy noticed her best friend's situation and saved her by taking Jan's hand and pulling him to the front row. Emily excused herself and walked to the coffin with a red rose. She put the rose on top of the coffin and whipped away her tears.
While she was staring at the coffin, the Rest noticed the Ducks. Peter was already standing up with Tommy and Karp but Tammy shook her head; Emily had asked them to leave the Ducks alone. Jesse stood up and walked towards the Ducks with Terry glaring at him. Charlie's mother was hugging Charlie while his new stepfather stood next to her. Adam was standing there staring at Emily who was now holding the picture of her grandfather in her hands. Goldberg was whispering with Averman and Connie was holding Guy's hand. Fulton looked slightly out of place but still stood there. When Jesse reached them they all smiled and shook his hand. To the Rest's surprise Jesse pointed at them and then at Emily and clearly asked them to stay away from them. They noticed how Adam firstly shook his head with Charlie and they took a step towards Emily. Then Jesse put his hand out to stop them. He shook his head and told them to sit somewhere away from them.
Finally Emily was done with the coffin and went to her place next to Gordon and Jan. The Rest sat behind them and Emily had her hand in Tammy's who was already crying. Jesse stared right ahead when Terry hit his back and smiled at him; it was his way of saying thanks. Jesse nodded; he hadn't understood why the Rest were so mad at them but when he noticed how tight the group now was without Charlie and the others he knew that when they all were together they had all been even tighter.
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They had just won the Hawks and everyone was laughing. The dressing room was full of laughter. The girls had already changed and come back to the boys' dressing room. Tammy was wearing a pink top and jeans. She also had a white college and her hair was pulled into one ponytail. Anna was wearing a jean skirt, a black top and over the black top she had a ducks college. Her hair was pulled into two pigtails. Connie had her hair braided and she was wearing jeans and dark blue top and sweater. They were all talking about Tammy's goal and how they hoped that Adam was okay. Coach Bombay had driven to the hospital soon after the game and had promised to be back soon to tell them how Adam was. Anna was laughing next to Averman when he told her bits of the game in his own style. Tammy was sitting next to Charlie and talking with Connie while glancing at Charlie from time to time. Guy was sitting next to his girlfriend and smiling happily. Fulton was talking with Jesse and Terry about how the Hawks were bastards and Karp, Goldberg and Peter were planning another prank but this time on their enemy, the kitchen lady. Tommy was talking with Charlie and sometimes laughing. Hans was watching his granddaughter and Lewis was taking pictures. Then Gordon came in. Anna turned to him and smiled:
"How's Banksie?" Banksie was Charlie and Anna's nickname to Adam. They had been first to accept him; Charlie because he trusted his coach and Anna because of his eyes. The three had become close although Anna still refused to be alone with Charlie. She knew her best friend liked him and knew better than break her friendship because of some boy.
"He's fine. He just hit his head pretty badly. He has to stay at the hospital the night." Everyone nodded and continued their conversations. Averman joined Karp, Goldberg and Peter in planning. Anna stood up and studied her team's new player. While Fulton wasn't good skater, his shots were amazing. Without him they wouldn't have made it. Anna smiled; he was funny too. When they went skating all around the mall he had made her laugh so much that she had accidentally went down the stairs with him. Anna walked to her grandfather who put his arm around her. She winked at him to tell him that she was fine. She had hurt her hand during the game but only Hans was aware of it. Gordon walked to them and grinned at Anna:
"Told you that you would enjoy it." Anna grimaced and shot back:
"So you know me well enough to tell when I act. Well good. Then you know that I want nothing to do with-"
"Anna Emily." The warning in her grandfather's voice was clear. Anna hung her head and said:
"Sorry grandpa." Anna was silent for a while and then asked her grandfather and coach:
"Is it possibly to get some food and drive to hospital? I really wanna see Banksie." Gordon and Hans glanced at each other and nodded:
"You and I are going to get food and the rest will drive with Gordon to the hospital." Anna smiled brightly:
"AWESOME!"
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When they arrived to Adam's room he was surprised to see all the food and smiles on everyone's faces. His best female friend ran to him and hugged him tightly. He hugged her back but noticed how his father scowled. Adam knew that his father didn't like the Ducks since they took him away from the Hawks. Anna let go of him and smiled happily. Adam smiled and teased her:
"You missed me already, Em? It has only been two hours." Anna glared at him and opened her mouth:
"-"
"Of course she did. You should have seen her after they took you away. She almost walked to coach Reilly and screamed at him. Tammy and Tommy had to hold her back. And when we were in the dressing room she was almost crying because you weren't there." Charlie and Jesse teased. Anna turned her glare at them and walked to Charlie while talking to Adam:
"Says the boy who was so disappointed that his rival didn't see him scoring the final goal." Anna and Charlie looked into each other's eyes. Adam noticed Tammy's slight frown and interrupted the moment:
"We won?" Everyone turned to him with wide eyes and then Averman said to the coach:
"You didn't tell him?" Gordon grinned sheepishly:
"Must have slipped my mind." Everyone started telling Adam how the game went and got closer to him. Anna smiled happily until she felt someone next to her. She turned to remind Goldberg that she didn't appreciate his nearness when she met Charlie's eyes once again. He was looking at her with tender eyes. This time she ripped her eyes away from the boy and started looking for Tammy who was standing by the window staring outside. She left Charlie's side and went to Tammy without noticing Adam and Charlie glancing at her and then at each other. While they were close to Anna she still hid many things from them.
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Anna spent the night with Tammy and Tommy. After Tommy had gone to his room Anna turned to Tammy with slight smile. Tammy shook her head and whipped away the tears that had threatened to fall all day:
"Why doesn't he notice me, Anna? I made a goal today and he only shook my hand like the rest." Now the tears were falling. Anna hugged her best friend and tried to make her feel better but Tammy continued:
"He teases you and stands by your side. When I'm next to him he doesn't even notice me. WHY, ANNA? WHY CAN'T HE GIVE ONE CUTE SMILE? Why, why, why…" Anna was crying with Tammy and whispered to her ear:
"Cause he's so stupid that he doesn't realize that someone might like him." Anna closed her eyes and promised with broken voice:
"I'll stay away from him, Tamsie, but you must stop trying to woo him. Be his friend, make him laugh with you and care for you as a friend." Tammy looked up to her best friend and saw the pain in there.
"But-"
"Tomorrow, Tammy, tomorrow during the picnic."
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The Ducks met in Goldberg's restaurant. Anna and Tammy had said that they wanted a picnic but since it was winter outside they decided to keep inside. Everyone had brought something and Adam had brought a camera. Jesse had seen it and said that he would own it for today. Adam had tried to get it back but Jesse had been quicker since Adam was still slightly hurt from yesterday's match. Anna was sitting between Fulton and Averman and laughing her heart out. She loved Adam like a brother but it was fun to see him suffer from loosing his camera. Jesse discovered how to take pictures and started taking them.
CLICK! Anna leaning into Averman while Averman was taking hold of Fulton's hand so they wouldn't fall. Fulton looking surprised and falling with them.
CLICK! Tammy screaming at Tommy and Peter because of the pizza in her hair. Goldberg trying to get the pizza out of her hair.
CLICK! Terry helping up Karp who had fallen down on Charlie and Adam.
CLICK! Connie and Guy flirting while Charlie, Karp and Peter were making faces.
CLICK! Anna, Tammy and Connie singing into ketchup while Peter, Karp and Tommy dancing behind them.
CLICK! Jesse's face and Adam's hand.
CLICK! Anna sitting between Charlie and Adam laughing.
CLICK! Goldberg throwing food with Tommy at Karp and Peter.
CLICK! Tammy hugging Charlie who looked surprised.
CLICK! Fulton looking scared when he saw the broken window next to him.
CLICK! All Ducks running away from the restaurant with smiles on their faces.
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The minister started. Emily was once again staring into space trying not to listen to the minister's words. The first tear dropped when the minister spoke about heaven. Tammy was leaning into Peter, Tommy and Karp were hiding their faces and Jesse and Terry were looking anywhere else but the coffin. Finally it was time for them to carry Hans' coffin out. Gordon, Charlie, Jan and a strange man started carrying the coffin. Emily was first to stand up and follow them. Next to her came Adam who put his arm around her waist. Emily leaned into him and stepped outside. They laid Hans' coffin into ground and Emily threw some land into it. Finally she broke down but before Adam had a chance to comfort her, the Rest and Jesse came around her and hugged her. Adam walked to Charlie who was also looking at their old friends and feeling like an outsider. All the Ducks looked at the grave for a while and then at their old friends and left; hopefully Emily would be alright.