Dogdaysareover: Thanks for your review! I hope you like the next chapter.
LTJM: Thanks for reading and reviewing!
Skyler1510: Thanks for your review! I am definitely continuing this and I'll update as often as possible.
NellieBly413672: Thanks for your review! I'm glad you like it so far, and thanks again for the shout out.
A/N: Thanks to everyone else who read the beginning of the story. Like I said before, I'm going to update about once a week. If anyone has any comments or suggestions for the story, let me know. The team will be making an appearance this chapter, and things will be picking up soon. Please review if you can! Reviews usually inspire me to write. One more thing… if there are any readers here that haven't checked out the story "Dream On" by NellieBly413672, you should. It's really good so far, and some parts are really funny.
Chapter 1: Small Town
On a sunny June morning in Colorado, Herb Brooks was in a hockey rink, watching college hockey players tryout for his Olympic team. The USOC set up the tryouts for a week, but Herb knew he wouldn't need a week. Herb barely needed a day to pick his team. For the most part, he already knew what guys he wanted on his team.
Once the tryout was over for the day, he gave his assistant coach, Craig Patrick, the list, along with some tests for the guys to take. It was just a little thing Herb wanted to give them to see how they would answer. He had a feeling he could guess how most of them would answer certain questions, but he almost took pleasure in doing it anyway. He wanted to make sure he was picking the right players, the ones that could handle the stress and rigorous schedule and training.
The guys that were picked for the team were ecstatic, as would be assumed. OC and Rizzo were clearing out of the stands like the other players and picked up their "homework" on the way out. They guessed that it would be another form to fill out. They already filled out their name and all the basics, but now that they were actually picked for the team, they were guessing they needed to fill out other information, like emergency contacts, health information, and other important details.
"Did you look at the packet?" Dave Silky asked, walking up behind them.
"Not yet," Rizzo answered.
"It's a fucking psychology test," he said in almost a whisper. He didn't want anyone to hear him. Especially not Herb Brooks. Silky decided he was sort of scary, and Silky wasn't scared of many people.
"A psychology test?" asked Rizzo.
"Yeah right," said OC. "Why would he give us a psychology test?"
"I don't know, but want to answer the questions together later on? I think a bunch of guys are going to that bar we passed on our way here. The one that's a few minutes down the road."
"Count me in," Rizzo said. "How 'bout you, OC?"
"I don't know. I think I'll pass."
"I'm sure the bar's big enough to steer clear of the Minnesotans," Silky said, immediately knowing his reason for 'passing'.
"I'll see, okay. I'm not making any decisions now." Silky knew that was that. OC was as stubborn as hell, and no one could change his mind about anything. OC had to make opinions and change his mind all on his own.
As the guys were clearing out, Mac stopped Rizzo, who he just met earlier in the locker room. "Hey Rizzo, congratulations on making the team."
"You too, Mac." They learned their nicknames through talking before.
"Everyone's going out to celebrate later tonight at that Paluzzi's Place or whatever it's called. You and your boys in?"
"Sure Mac," Rizzo said, not bothering to tell him that they were already planning on going. He wanted the conversation to end before OC came back over from talking to Jimmy and had something to say about Rizzo talking to Mac. Rizzo didn't really care if OC got mad, but he tried to keep the peace at all costs.
Later on at the bar, most of the guys were having a good time. There was clear regional segregation, but the guys were still starting to get to know each other. Aside from playing against each other, most of the guys from different Minnesota schools didn't know each other well yet.
"So, you're Harrington, right?" Verchota asked Bah at one point in the evening.
"Yeah, but you can call me Bah. You're Verchota, right?"
Verchota nodded, and then asked, "Why Bah?"
"It's a long story," Bah said.
"It's not long," Mark Pavelich, known as Pav, said.
"Maybe not, but it's boring." Pav just gave Bah a look, as if to say it wasn't boring.
"Fine," Bah said. He would tell the story. "My brother couldn't say John when he was little, and it sounded like Bah."
"Man, I thought it was because you look like a sheep," Verchota said, and cracked up laughing at his own joke.
"Like I haven't heard that one before," Bah said, rolling his eyes, while Verchota was still laughing.
"Looks like someone's laughing at their own jokes again," Mac said, walking over to where the three guys were standing with Mark Johnson and Mike Ramsey. "You know what they say about people that laugh at their own jokes, right Verchtota?" Verchota stopped laughing.
"No, what?"
Mac looked confused and then shrugged. "I actually don't know. I just said it because I've heard it before."
Now everyone began laughing.
"What's so funny over here boys?" Buzz Schneider asked walking up to his friends.
"Verchota," Rammer answered.
"Me?" Verchtoa asked. After the laughter died down, Buzz asked them if anyone wanted another beer.
"It's on me, Verchota," Buzz answered when he noticed that Verchota was trying to determine whether he wanted to spend more money. "Consider it a congratulatory gift for making the team."
"Sure, Buzz, as long as it's on you," Verchota said with a big grin. "Thanks."
Pav spoke up next. "Are you sure it's not just because you want to talk to that hot girl over there?" Everyone was silent. "Did I say something wrong?" he then asked.
"No, but I'm married," said Buzz, chuckling a little. "So, I legitimately want to go over there to get another beer."
"Oh, sorry man, I didn't know," Pav said, looking a little guilty.
"That's okay. If you want to get the beers though, feel free," Buzz said, tempting Pav.
"I'll let you," Pav said. "I can always buy her a drink later."
"With the money you're going to save by not buying beer now," Rammer said.
"You got that right," Pav responded.
The guys from Minnesota were all having a good time meeting and getting to know each other, while the guys from the Boston area were having a little more difficulty, because there wasn't as many of them. The table of Boston guys consisted of Rizzo, Silky, and OC, until OC got mad about the '76 playoffs and left. Ralph Cox, also from Massachusetts, who went to New Hampshire for college, also joined that table, being that that was where the regional divide put him. The guys at that table were taking the psychology tests.
"This is so stupid," said Silky, groaning.
"You've already said that Silky, and we've already been over it," reminded Rizzo.
"Why didn't Jimmy come out tonight?" asked Cox.
"He doesn't get out much," replied Silky. "Ever since his mom died…"
"Even before that though, he never really went out. Only occasionally," said Rizzo.
"Yeah, because she was sick," said Silky, needing to get the last word in.
"Well, we should change that," said Cox. "Ya know, get him to come out with us occasionally.
"Anyone want anything?" asked Silky a minute later. "I'm heading up to the bar."
Both Rizzo and Cox replied that they were good and didn't need anything.
"Suit yourselves," Silky said, heading up the bar.
"He's going up there to get that girl," Rizzo told Cox, pointing to a tall blonde girl wearing a fitted shirt and tight jeans that showed off her curves.
"Are you sure?" Cox asked. "I mean, does he go after every girl like that in bars?"
"And everywhere else," smirked Rizzo. "I've known Silky for four years, and he's always been like that. And the girls fall for him every time."
"She is hot," said Cox.
"Yeah she is," agreed Rizzo. "Way out of my league though. Besides I have a girlfriend."
"You do?" asked Cox. Then he covered for his almost surprised tone by saying "I mean, I'm not surprised, I just…you almost seem like the good guy that never gets the girl. So many girls fall for the bad boy like Silky."
"Yeah," Rizzo laughed, and then continued, admitting "My girlfriend went on a date with Silky first."
Cox began laughing. "There has to be a story about that."
"There is." Rizzo laughed again before continuing. "Silky asked her out, knowing that I liked her, and she said yes. He took her out to a really nice restaurant and laid the charm on thick all night. Then he took her back to his room and, well, let's just say they really didn't have the same idea on what they would be doing."
"Oh man," interjected Cox, laughing at the thought.
"She got really mad and left crying. Then I came to the rescue," finished Rizzo with a smile.
"That's great. I'm surprised she didn't use the line, 'All hockey players are the same'."
"She did actually. Before she actually agreed to go out with me, I really had to prove I wasn't like Silky and another guy on our team that she knew from high school." Rizzo took a sip of beer. "It was tough."
"How long have you been together?" asked Cox.
"Eight months."
"Wow, a while then. Is she coming to visit at all?"
"Hopefully. She's trying to get off of work. She just graduated and found a job, so it's a little hard for her to get off right now. She's in real estate."
Silky came back to the table and sat down taking a long swig of beer. It was enough to interrupt conversation.
"No luck?" asked Cox.
"Nah," said Silky. "She's taken."
"That her boyfriend?" asked Rizzo seeing her exact opposite standing next to her. He looked like a professional football player.
"I don't want to talk about it." Rizzo and Coxy just laughed.
"Scary."
"So, how is Pammy doing these days?" Silky asked, knowing they had been talking about Rizzo's girlfriend.
"Silky, you know she hates that."
"Well, she's not here."
"I hate it too. Could you call her Pam? Or Pamela? No one calls her Pammy."
"Except for me," said Silky with a smirk.
Rizzo pushed him. "Silk, come on."
"Fine, fine," Silky said, digressing. He only called Pam, 'Pammy,' because she hated it so much. And because it also bothered Rizzo to end and Silky loved how easy it was to annoy Rizzo.
The morning after packing up, Riley woke up early after having a rough night sleep with the sound of the moving truck pulling up to their house. Today's the day, she thought. The day my life is ruined. She got dressed and went downstairs, not saying a word to her brother or sister sitting at their kitchen table one last time. Kyle was ten and Erin was seven, and they were talking about moving like it was the best thing ever.
"I'm so excited to see our new house," said Erin.
"Me too. I can't wait to see Uncle Herb, Aunt Patti and Danny and Kelly," Kyle said, also far too enthusiastic. Riley just rolled her eyes, wishing they would stop.
"Riley, aren't you excited?" Erin asked. Riley decided to be bitchy. After all, I have every right to be, she thought.
"No. You two are acting like it's great that we're moving. News flash - we are moving to a rural area with nothing to do. We're also moving into an apartment, not a house. So no, I'm not excited." Riley knew she was being nasty, but to her it didn't matter. Especially because her mom, the only person that would actually care how she talked, was outside.
"Riley, you could at least keep an open mind about moving. You don't need to be mean to your brother and sister," her mother said disapprovingly, proving Riley wrong about being out of earshot.
"Whatever," she said indifferently, not really caring what her mother thought.
"Riley," she started in a warning tone, "I really don't need this from you right now."
"And I would like to not move right now, but I guess we can't always get what we want," Riley shot back. She knew her mother wouldn't do anything about it, and she was right – her mother ignored her.
About two hours later, everything was packed and in the moving truck, so Riley went upstairs to get her last few bags to put in the car. Walking upstairs to her room, Riley realized she would never be in this house again, and started to lose it. I'll never walk up these stairs, or sleep in my room, or sit on the porch with Jenna, or camp out in my backyard. Tears streamed down Riley's face as she shut her bedroom door, and then sat on the floor. Riley pulled out a folded up piece of paper from her back pocket of her jeans and began to read.
Dear Riley,
I hope you never get this letter, but if you're reading this, it means I've lost my battle. I know it's hard, it's hard for me to write this, but you'll make it through. Take care of things for me - your mom will need help with Kyle and Erin. I know things will be hard at first. Just remember to always go for your dreams and never give up. Live everyday to the fullest and never live with regrets. I'll always be watching over you, so you better make me proud. Even though I won't physically be there to see your graduation, I won't be able to walk you down the aisle, and I'll never meet your kids, I'll be there. I know you think you're strong, but remember, it's okay to cry. I love you so much and you'll always be my little girl.
Love,
Dad
Reading the letter made Riley start to tear up, just like it always did. Dad, if you only knew how hard things would actually be, she thought sadly.
"Riley, are you ready to go?" her mom yelled up the stairs. Quickly, Riley wiped the tears from her eyes, hoping her eyeliner was smudged, and then folded up the letter, sticking it safely back into her pocket. She stood up, took one last look at her room, and turned around to leave. Walking out the front door one last time, Riley hoped that maybe her mother was right for once and Minnesota wouldn't be that bad.
The family of four arrived in St. Paul late that afternoon. It was different than Riley expected it to be. First of all, they were in what appeared to be the suburbs, not on a farm like she thought. Riley was also impressed that she could occasionally see some skyscrapers in the distance depending on whether or not the view was blocked. That made things a little better, a little more like Chicago, but she still wasn't happy.
Riley's mom had rented an apartment about five minutes away from Uncle Herb ad Aunt Patti's house. She promised it was only until they could find a house. Before they went to the apartment though, they were stopping by their aunt and uncle's house. The moving truck was a few hours behind them, so they had time.
As soon as they pulled in the driveway, Patti came out to greet them, as if she was waiting for them. Kyle and Erin immediately ran out of the car to give their aunt a hug.
"Hi Aunt Patti," Erin said, clearly excited to be there.
"Hi sweetie. Hi Kyle," Patti said to Riley's brother. By this time, her mom had made it out of the car too.
"Hi Mary. How are you doing?" Patti asked, hugging her sister-in-law as well.
"I'm doing okay. Things are starting to get better."
When Riley got out of the car, she noticed her mother whisper something to Patti. She figured it must have been something about her, because Patti looked over.
"Hi Riley."
"Hi Aunt Patti," Riley said, with her best effort to fake a smile. After all, Riley wasn't mean and had no reason to be mad at her aunt, she was just bitter toward her mother and siblings.
Their cousins, Danny and Kelly came outside next, excited to see everyone. The last time the family had been together was at Riley's father's funeral, and even though that was only a month ago, it wasn't the best time to see everyone and enjoy the company.
"Kelly, Danny, why don't you take Kyle and Erin inside and get them something to drink," Patti suggested. Happily obliging, the four kids disappeared into the house.
"Where's Herb?" Mary asked, wondering why her brother hadn't come outside yet.
"You won't see Herb until later this week. He got the job coaching the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, and he's in Colorado for the tryouts."
"Oh, that's wonderful! I bet he's excited," Mary said, as they made their way to the house. Riley always thought the Brook's family relationship was strange. Her mother and Uncle Herb were two years apart in age and despite growing up together were absolutely nothing alike. Riley always thought her mother and Aunt Patti should have been the blood relatives. They talked more that Mary and Herb ever did, and they had so much in common. They could have easily been mistaken for sisters.
Riley walked inside, following her mother and aunt, but drowning out their conversation. The four kids were playing in the family room, having fun.
Why do they seem so happy to be here? Riley thought with bitterness. She still didn't see why they needed to be here. Sure, their family lived here, but when her dad was alive they didn't live near them, so why now? Maybe because mom continually tries to forget everything that happened. She thinks it would make forgetting easier if we lived near her family instead of dads.
Aunt Patti had offered for Riley's family to live with them for a while, until they could find a house and get settled, but lucky for one thing, Riley's mother declined. At least she had the decency to rent the apartment, I guess. An apartment will be better than living with four other people aside from my immediate family. In reality, the apartment was the least of Riley's concerns anyway. The part that sucked most was leaving her friends. Since her dad died, there hadn't been too many people she could talk to, and her friends were the only ones that got her to survive the last month. The truth was, if Riley's dad could come back, she would give up everything and gladly even live in a studio apartment.
Now that her dad was gone though, and they left Chicago, Riley had no one to talk to. No one seems to understand, she thought. My mom definitely doesn't. She almost never mentions dad, and avoids talking about his death like the plague. My brother and sister are too young to completely understand, being only 10 and 7. They just know our dad died, and now we moved where they would be with cousins they loved but rarely got to see.
That night, after they met the moving truck at their apartment and moved everything that they could in, they took the rest to storage and went back to their aunt and uncle's for dinner. The food tasted good, but Riley really wasn't in the mood to eat anything. She wished she could talk to Jenna more than anything, but long distance calls were too expensive.
After dinner Riley's family went back to the apartment. Of course, her mother had something optimistic to say about it.
"This isn't so bad, and it's nothing we can't get used to for the time being." With only one bathroom and two bedrooms, though, Riley thought otherwise.
"Yeah, you're not the one sharing a room," Riley mumbled.
"Riley, cut the attitude. This is hard for everyone. And the apartment is only a temporary thing," Mark snapped. Riley rolled her eyes. She knew that until her mother found a house, she would have to survive very close living quarters with her family. And at times like this when a fight was brewing, which was much more frequently recently, Riley wouldn't even have a place to go cool down.
The next two days were not much better. Riley spent her time walking around town and hanging out at her aunt and uncle's house. It proved to be the most boring two days of her entire life thus far.
If this is how my life is going to be, I may as well shoot myself, Riley thought dryly one afternoon, watching cartoons with her siblings and cousins. Her mom was out house hunting, and now Riley wished she would have gone. Although, being with her mom for an extended period wasn't something she desired to do. And, since she opted to stay back and Aunt Patti went instead, that meant that unfortunately, Riley was stuck watching the kids. She wished more than anything that something exciting would happen. Just when she was thinking she couldn't take anymore of the stupid cartoons, the front door opened.
"Hey everyone," Herb said, dropping his suitcase by his feet. Within seconds, the TV was forgotten as all four younger kids ran over to greet him. Riley got up too, wanting to say hi.
Riley was surprised to even see Uncle Herb today, because Patti said he wouldn't be home until Friday. She soon found out that Herb picked the team early, and the guys were coming to Minnesota to practice sooner than expected.
Maybe I'll get to meet them, Riley secretly hoped, knowing they were college aged guys, and probably hot. She'd seen enough hockey players in her day to know the typical type.
Following Herb into the kitchen he asked, "How have you been doing, Riley?"
"I've been okay. It's just hard with everything changing right now," she answered.
"Yeah, especially leaving your friends right before your senior year."
"Yeah," she agreed.
"I heard you don't want to finish high school here," Herb said. Riley nodded her head, wondering where Herb was going with this. "Well, it would probably be better for you to be doing something. It'll probably get boring sitting around all day."
"Yeah, but changing schools is too hard. I'll probably just get my GED or something. I don't know." The truth was, Riley did know, and had a plan set. She hated school to begin with and the thought of changing schools and having no friends was even worse. The day after Riley found out her mom was making the move to Minnesota, Riley threatened to leave and never come back. The runaway threat was all talk, because Riley would have never really left, but her mom thought she was serious. Their fight ended with Riley's mother almost crying, and begging her not to leave, promising she wouldn't have to finish high school in Minnesota. Riley knew her mom would keep her promise, because she was so desperate, and Riley decided she would get her GED and find a job. Riley didn't know why her mother cared so much though. Most parents would call their kid's bluff before giving in, but after Dan died, nothing Riley's mom did was predictable or normal.
"You have always been pretty stubborn," Herb continued. "But you know, you wouldn't have to go to school to do something with your time."
"I don't know anyone here to hang out with though." Riley said, still unsure where Herb was going with this conversation. If it was supposed to make her feel better, it wasn't working too well.
"If you're interested in working at all, I could use some help with the team. I know you love hockey." She smiled at the thought of helping with the Olympic team.
"Uncle Herb, that would be amazing. I'd love too," Riley said, with a real smile lighting her face for the first time since she got to Minnesota.
"Okay. You can come with me to the rink tomorrow then."
A few minutes later, it dawned on Riley that helping out with the team meant she would be surrounded by guys all day. Maybe Minnesota wouldn't be so bad after all, she thought hopeful.
Later that night, Riley got even more exciting news. Herb said that since she was helping with the team, he thought it would be best if she stayed in their guest room. That way, Herb wouldn't have to pick her up every day for practice. To Riley, that meant she wouldn't have to be cramped in the tiny apartment with her family anymore. And Riley would have to be with her mom constantly. Luckily, Riley's mom agreed, with some convincing on Herb's part of course.
Although Riley would be helping out with the team, and she got to stay at Herb's house, things were far from perfect. Later that night, she was bored to tears sitting at the house. No matter what, she knew she could never, and would never, call Minnesota her home. Even if she grew to like it, it wouldn't be the same as her little suburban town of Skokie. Ever.
Finally, because Riley was so incredibly bored, she decided to go out for some ice cream. It wasn't a far walk from the house, so she left and told everyone she'd be back later. Not that anyone cares anyway, she thought.
Tiffany's Sweets was pretty crowded with mostly teenagers. Riley got a hot fudge sundae and sat in a booth by herself, trying not to look like a loser for being alone. It didn't take long for people to notice her though. A group of guys that looked about high school aged walked over and crowded around Riley's table.
"Hey, I don't think I've seen you around here before," one of the guys said. He looked like he was from the boondocks with his straggly long hair, facial stubble, and plaid shirt. At least he's not wearing overalls, Riley thought. But can't he afford a razor, or a comb?
"I just moved here," Riley said, incredulously. How in the world did they know I was new here, she wondered. Oh yeah, everyone knows everyone else in small towns like this, she thought dryly.
As if the guys could read her thoughts, the one said, "We know you're new because Tiffany's is the local hang out. Everyone that lives in Bloomington comes here at some point."
"Especially teens," another guy added.
"Are you going to Jefferson or JFK?" a third guy asked.
Riley gave them a questioning look.
"High school – Bloomington Jefferson High or Bloomington Kennedy High?"
"Or are you going to a private school?" another guy asked, gauging from her expression that she didn't know what they were talking about.
Riley wanted to laugh at their interest in her, but held back. These guys are weird, she thought. I'm glad I'm not going to school with them.
"I'm actually done with high school," Riley said.
"Oh wow, you're in college then. I didn't realize…" the one guy said, speaking for all of them and trailing off.
"Yeah," Riley continued with her lie. "I'm older than I look."
"Where are you going to college?"
Riley sighed and took a bite of her melting ice cream. She thought they would have left by now. "I'm not yet. I'm helping my uncle with a hockey team."
"I heard the Olympic team was practicing here. It's not for that team is it?"
"They would get guys to help with that. Girls don't know enough about hockey," one of the other guys commented.
Riley heard this comment and snapped. "Actually, it does happen to be for the Olympic team. And I do know a lot about hockey. Probably more than you if I had to bet. Now, do you mind – I'd like to finish this before it's ice cream soup," Riley said, waving the guys away. The guys left, but didn't stop glancing over to her table every minute or so.
Riley quickly finished her ice cream and left the shop, giving the guys a death stare as she left. She hated it in Minnesota, hated the people, and wished like hell she could go back to Skokie.
