I woke up to the sound of my foster mom's harsh voice. "Get up, brat. I'm taking you to your hockey lesson", she shouted. I got up, got dressed, grabbed my bag and came out of my room. She drove me there and grabbed my arm before I got out of the car. "I won't be picking you up after your lesson. You'll have to walk home, you little brat. Do you hear me", she hissed practically in my face. "Yes, mother", I said. She released me and I walked inside the building. I saw my skating coach standing in the hallway outside the locker room with two other people. I recognized them and my eyes widened. My coach must've seen my expression, for he laughed. "Yes, Lizzy. The Euro-Twins are going to be coaching you. I won't be coming here anymore; your skating is good and I think you'll be good. They are going to be teaching you stickhandling and there's another Red Wing in the locker room-Nicklas Kronwall-who will be helping you skate backwards", he said. It was going to be such an amazing experience to be taught by three Red Wings, but I felt sad that my coach was leaving. I had grown really close to him over the month and a half that I had been with him. I set my bag on the floor and went to hug him. "Thank you, coach, for everything", I said. "You've been an amazing student. I've felt really privileged to work with you. I won't be surprised if I see you playing in the NHL", he said. I picked up my bag and smiled. "NHL, huh? I'll think about it", I said. My coach walked down the hallway and left me alone with the Euro-Twins. I introduced myself to them and shook both of their hands. "It's nice to meet you both. I've wanted to meet you guys for some time, you're my favorite players", I said. They exchanged glances, grinning. "Don't let Kronner hear you say that. He'll be jealous", Hank warned. I smiled at that and shook my head. "I like him, too. Who wouldn't want a big hitter like that on their team? But, I mean, come on, you guys are the Euro-Twins. Everyone in Detroit loves you", I replied. "I think Kronner's getting impatient. He hates waiting, especially when it comes to hockey", Pavel announced. We went inside and I smiled when I saw the big defenseman sitting at a locker. He looked up and grinned. "Am I to assume that you're the young lady your coach was telling me about", he asked. I stood in front of him and shook his hand. "Yes, I am. My name is Elizabeth, but you can call me Lizzy. Almost everyone does", I said. I went into the weight room and changed into my gear. I came out and noticed that they all had their gear on, too. "You ready", Pavel asked me. "Yes", I said happily.

"Thanks for working with me, you guys. I really enjoyed it", I told them as we stood outside the locker room. Nick wrapped his arm around my shoulder. "It was fun for us, too. It's not every day that we coach a young player like you. We're the ones usually being coached", he said. Pavel was looking concerned. "Won't it be hard on you when we go out on a road trip", he asked. "No. Even I need a break sometimes and I'm just learning how to skate and use my stick", I said. They all smiled at that. "I have to go. I'll see you guys tomorrow", I said quietly. "Okay, Lizzy. We all look forward to coaching you again", Hank told me. I smiled and skipped down the hallway with my bag over my shoulder. I just couldn't wait until tomorrow!

"Will you quit staring and tell us what your problem is", my foster mom snapped. I frowned. "I don't have a problem. I'm just dreaming", I replied. My foster parents rolled their eyes. "Dreams are for losers", my foster dad said. I shook my head. "No they're not. Everyone has a dream. Mine is to play hockey", I answered. My foster mom laughed. "Play hockey for a job? That's a laugh. You're probably so bad your coach laughs at you", she said with a sneer. "No! My coaches say I'm good and they're professionals", I said angrily. "NHL players? You lie. You're not coached by them", my foster dad snorted. I stood up from my chair, my eyes flashing with anger. "I am, too. The coach I had before left and some NHL players from Detroit are coaching me now. You're liars too if you don't believe me", I snapped. My foster mom came over, shoved me to the floor and smacked me hard across the face twice. "Don't you dare say that again, you ungrateful wretch. Go to your room right this minute", she said. I went and closed the door behind me. I jumped on my bed and buried my head in my pillow. They had been treating me like this for a long time and I didn't understand why. I wanted to get out of here and I had to wait until the next day. This was going to be a long night.