Allie- Thanks hun. I'm glad you like it. ::huggles lovingly::

Stef- ::grins:: Thanks for the review, Stef. Hee. Happy to hear that you like it. ::dances::

Meme- ::tackleglomps:: Hee. I totally feel privileged! ::faints from the rush of specialness:: Thanks though. :P Hehe...yeah. We should do that. We're kinda mean to them...::shifty eyes:: I'll be looking forward to it. ::grins::

Sarah- I'm happy to hear it. The "snapshot" thing is definitely different from my usual style, but I thought that it really fit with what I'm trying to do. You'll see how as you read. ::pretends to be mysterious:: :P Lol...thanks for reviewing, hun.

Banksiesbabe99- Whoo! I intrigued you! ::dances:: Yeah...I've been playing with this idea for about a week, and I decided now that Shattered Glass is over, I might as well go for it. :P And I even have a plan so there's no chance of writer's block, even if it'll only be, like, five chapters. XD Aww, you're so sweet. Hehe...::shifty eyes:: HOW DID YOU GUESS?! Lol...just kidding. I wish I was though. ::giggles::...::glances around nervously::...::hides::

Katie- ::glomps:: So nice to see you again, Katie! Now that is a compliment right there; I feel honored that I manage to make Charlie a lovable character for you. I'm so glad you like it! ::dies with happiness::

Adriana- ::giggles:: Yeah, I guess that is a bit of a shocker. I wasn't sure if I was capable of such a thing, but this doesn't have as much to build on storyline-wise. You'll see how I couldn't make 70 chapters out of it once I get a chapter or two more out. XD Lol...I might, I repeat might (not sure at all yet) do a related story after I finish all the other stuff I have loaded on my plate. I still haven't finished One Way Ticket and I have a separate Charlie/Connie story brewing for me and Meme's plan to convert the fandom to C/C fans. XD Uh oh. ::fears the voo-doo doll:: Lol...I hope you like my 5 short chapters.

Blonde-brain- I'm glad you like it. Thanks for the review!

Amber- Hee...w00t! ::dances:: Charlie angst is awesome. Yup. ::nods:: Yes, so I noticed. ::gives Amber a sad look and pets her Charlie angst chapter from "Life is a Soundtrack":: Anyway, I'm so glad you like it! ::bounces and grins::

Katie to the Second Power (Pure-Pen)- Heya, fellow RPG-er! ::grins:: Whoa, I actually recognize your screen name! ::makes connections in mind:: I ACTUALLY KNOW WHO PEOPLE ARE!! ::dies from excitement:: Hehe. It's a big thing for me to figure this kind of stuff out. XD Yeah...I'm gonna stop before I further degrade everyone's outlook on my sanity. ::smiles sweetly:: I'm thrilled that you liked the prologue. ::dances from happiness:: I hope you enjoy the chapter. :P ::continues dancing, muttering things about taking over the world and rebels without...errr...with a cause::

Disclaimer- I give you three guesses, and the first two don't count...

-Part 1-

Ten-year-old Charlie Conway skated out onto the ice, his gaze passing over the big black-jerseyed giants surrounding him and his teammates.

The Hawks.

He self-consciously pulled his helmet on tighter, unable to peel his eyes from their sharp, shining skates, brand new hockey sticks, expensive equipment, and oppressing black jerseys that said "we're better than you" more forcefully than any bright neon sign ever could.

The puck was dropped and like a picture brought to life, the giant black blurs ripped after it, knocking down the smaller opposing force. Black and red smeared across Charlie's vision as the puck slid down the ice with the Hawks; the red smear was the members of Charlie's team, District Five, being pummeled into the ice as they fruitlessly pursued the two untouchable sources of black: one being the puck and the other being the Hawk in possession of it.

Like clockwork, Charlie saw the puck fly past Goldberg and into the net with little to no resistance. It had come to be expected that the Hawks would win.

The Hawks always won.

And the simple fact was that District Five always lost.

The stands were filled with screaming parents clad in jet-black sports jackets, the sign of the hawk shining like a medal of some sort. A symbol of honor and worth in the peewee hockey league. To be a Hawk was to be the best.

And everyone knew it.

The Hawks knew it...any team within the state of Minnesota (and likely other states, for that matter) knew it...parents of said players knew it...everyone who paid even the most remote attention to peewee hockey knew it.

And that's why the Hawks' side of the stands were packed full with cheering fans while the lonely District Five side had a few parents scattered and the unfortunate Hawk fans who hadn't arrived in time to get the seats they wanted.

No one came to see District Five out of free will.

Charlie suddenly noticed the puck had been dropped again and was soaring in his direction. He felt his palms go sweaty and his heart race. The rhythmic pounding found it's way to his head as the small black object flew towards him, suddenly morphing into a shiny wire of hope. A hope that they may have a chance if he could just get it in the net.

The boy brought his stick to the familiar, yet foreign, object and took off for the Hawk zone. He felt the ice slide easily under his skates, and for a few seconds, he felt like he was flying. Soaring. Untouchable.

His heart skipped when he felt the presence of several Hawks behind him. He was on a breakaway and getting closer to the goal.

But then without warning, a wave of panic shot through his body like a knife through the skull. The presence of the opposing force behind him suddenly felt so much closer...so much more threatening. He felt suffocated and began wondering, What if I don't make this?

Feeling his hands begin to shake and the pressure seize him, a chill of fear took over the former warmth and he swung his stick, desperately hoping it would magically go in...

...but logically knowing it wouldn't.

It never did.

Time stood still for a split second while Charlie felt his body fall to the ice in slow motion, his mind racing. Did he hit it? He hadn't felt the puck on his stick when he swung.

Not much more time was given for thought before time regained its normal pace, hurling him against the boards head first. Deep down he knew he had missed. He didn't need supersonic hearing to hear the groans, snickers, and "I told ya so's" that were surely floating around the bench of his own team. For being his best friends, they weren't the most supportive group.

He weakly pulled himself up, trying to hold on to any scrap of dignity left in his small, tired body. Before he was even completely on his feet, he felt a body smash roughly into his, impressing him against the boards again before he hit the ice.

Cheering roared around in a noisy clamor, the crowd obviously amused by it all. The Hawks crowd, at least. The District Five side was silent, minus a few voices yelling "It's okay!" and other similar phrases.

He was half terrified to go back to the bench. His new coach's vibes of disappointment and disgust were so strong that Charlie could feel them come down on him before he even mustered the strength to stand again. Half of him was afraid he'd be knocked down again.

As he waited a short second longer to get up and return to his certain doom, he sighed and wished that this once he could have been enough.