LA and I skated around the rink a few times and came back to stand in front of the group.

"So you're the chick that checked Banksie!" Portman yelled.

"My name, is not chick," I dropped my stick, backed up, and skated towards him as fast as I could. Then pushed him into the wall.

"Wow, someone has an anger problem," Charlie muttered. "Just like Devil," he added. Both Shea and myself chucked helmets at the captain.

"Ow, ow! Fuck that hurt!" Charlie yelled.

I rolled my eyes, "Stuff like that shouldn't hurt if you play hockey."

"Ya know, Spazway, she's right." Connie quipped.

Charlie glared at the girl, "Will you stop calling me that?! I'm not that bad anymore!"

"Whatever you say…Spazway," I said grinning. He made a sound in his throat and came charging at me. I just ducked and he went right over me, sprawling on the ice. Skating over to him I kneeled. "Tag, you're it," whispered and skated away, giggling, as he got up.

That eventually led to everyone on the team skating around the rink, whooping in joy. But the festivities were soon ended when a whistle blew.

"Hi Ted!" I waved, once I stopped.

"You know him?" Russ asked, confused.

"Yeah, my dad's best friend, and my mother's sister's ex-husband," I explained, putting an arm around his shoulders. That really didn't work, considering the fact he was at least six inches taller than I was.

He shrugged my arm off and blew the whistle, right into my ear too…oww? "Okay, since you already warmed up, let's see what you can do. Did you practice over the summer?" he barked.

"Ya know, I knew we forgot something…" Averman quipped.

"Just do it…" Ted said, while rubbing his temple in frustration.

I was shooting for the goal when I aimed wrong and put a little too much strength into hitting the puck when I broke the window. "Devil!" everyone, except for LA and myself, turned to Shea who just shrugged.

"Wasn't me this time!" she defended herself.

"It was me," I confessed.

"It looks like we have another Shea Portman on the team then…" Kenny remarked.

"Damn, this is going to be a long year," I heard Portman mutter I just skated by him and shoved him. I guess Shea had the same idea because after I did it, she did too, and that time he fell down.

After practice I skated up to Ted. "Uncle Ted?" I asked softly. I didn't want anybody to hear, even if no one was in the rink at the time.

"Hmm?" he asked, looking up from his clipboard.

"Could you do a favor, and ya know…not say my last name. I want people to except me for me, not for someone's little sister," I told him.

"That's fine with me Dawn," he used my real name and I grimaced, it was too girly for my like, "but do you know what you're doing?"

I just shrugged, "No, but don't you trust me?" I gave a pert grin.

"Not in the bit, but are we still on for Saturday? Emily Elizabeth is looking forward to seeing you," he spoke of my cousin, his daughter.

"Yeah, but I may be a little late, LA and I are going to have a study lunch at Mickey's Diner," I told him.

"Study lunch, sure…but I'll see you tomorrow. The list will be posted tomorrow," he told me. I nodded and skated off to the locker rooms.

The next day after practice, as he promised, Ted posted the roster. Portman shoved his way to the front and screamed in anger. "Second string? How the hell am I on second string?"

"What do you mean second string?" Charlie asked.

"Look!" Portman pointed.

"D. Portman…9th…female…2nd string," Shea read off.

"Dude, is there a few things you aren't telling us? I mean, the 9th grade thing I can see, ya know, coming at the end of the year, but female? Dude…" Fulton started to ramble.

Portman scanned the room and his eyes fell on me. "Who are you?" he asked, his voice low, his eyes narrowed.

"DC," I said, taking a step back.

"What's your name…your real name, your whole name," he asked again.

"Dawn Claire Portman. Happy?" I snapped and turned on my heel and left.

"Portman?" Kenny mused.

"Yeah, our little sister. When our dad skipped town, she went with him," Shea said, just as shocked at her brother.

Portman punched a locker in frustration; "She had to come back now, huh? Right when life was getting good. While she was off getting pampered like a princess, we were living in a dump," he shouted, punching the locker again.

Adam looked for his little brother, hoping to find answers, but LA had already left, probably to follow his girlfriend.

"What's all the noise" Coach Orion came in.

"Why didn't you tell us? You're supposed to be our coach and not to mention Devil's and mine's uncle!" Portman shouted.

"Why don't we go into my office to talk about this," Ted offered, and looked pointedly at the other ducks, "alone."

So the three walked into his office and sat down.

"Why'd she leave?" Shea asked softly. Don't get her wrong, she was pissed at her father for leaving them, but she wasn't going to take it out on her little sister.

"Because if she hadn't, she would be dead," Ted stated. "You two do know that your mother was a heroine addict, right?" he questioned. They both nodded. "Well, you mother, while high frequently told your younger sister that she was a mistake, that she was never to be born. The only reason she was born was because they couldn't raise enough money for an abortion. So the day your father was going to leave, Dawn was home sick. Your mother didn't even bother to tell anyone, him or the school. So he took her. If you two had been home, he would have taken you too," he concluded.

Both Devil and Portman sat there in shock. "How do you know this?" Portman finally sputtered.

"I was a close friend of your father's. I frequently stayed at their apartment while your father was away on business," he explained.

"You said you were a close friend of our father's. What happened?" Devil asked.

"He died, of a heart attack. That nearly sent Dawn off again. Langston found her chugging down Aleve after the two of them found out. So that sent her off to more therapy," Ted answered.

"Again? Another round of therapy? You mean she's tried to kill herself more than once?" Portman asked, dumbfounded.

Ted Orion nodded, " She had, and still has inner demons that she needs to get rid of. Langston and myself are helping the best we can, but I fear it's not enough. So I'm going to ask you two this. Even if you have things against her, please, please help her. She needs you two. She needs her older bother and sister," he finally concluded.

When Portman and Shea stepped out of his office, they were still dazed with the information they received. Thankfully no one was in the locker room to see his or her stupor.

I know corny. But it'll get better, promise. I already have the next scene set up in my head, and it's really funny…well the people who heard it thought it was funny anyway….

Much love and that shit,

Elizabeth