((Disclaimer: No, I don't own them. Not the characters, locations or movies. The quotes on this page are directly from the movie, so no I don't own those either. I do however own the historical backgrounds on the characters. ))

((a/n: I have no idea what to put in here so I'm just gonna fast forward to the next practice.))

Dean's POV

This is ridiculous. How is tying up thirteen teenagers gonna do any good?

"I don't know how to make this any clearer. You are a team. And to win this thing, you have to work as one. Now as one, skate."

A full twenty minutes later, we're finally able to "move as one." This is possibly the stupidest training exercise ever. I take that back. We're now being chased by a cowboy on skates who is trying to fucking corral us. Three hours of practice and then a photo shoot for our sponsors. Finally we're allowed to leave. Only to come back in two hours for lunch and some surprise from Tibbles. Fantastic. Why bother even going back to the hotel. Taking a hot shower in the locker room. Borrowed Fulton's clothes and its already time to meet in the cafeteria. What could this big surprise possibly be?

"Ta-Da!" Wow, Tibbles, you're officially the biggest fag I know. A Wheaties box bigger than me and Fulton combined sitting in the front of the room. With the exact picture we took three hours ago, wearing all red, white and blue. I look really messed up in that picture. Probably because I felt really messed up in that picture. Wait let me pretend to be excited about this…no, can't. Well at least we get new jerseys. Getting my jersey out of the box and I accidentally bump into Julie. I like when she wears her hair down. And I can't help but laugh because Charlie's shirt is way too big for her and she looks so funny trying to find her jersey. Whatever. I'm not her type anyway. Rumors are already flying about her and Banks. Classic rich kid scenario. Thank god we're heading to L.A. in just three more days. Along with jerseys we get work out gear and clothes. All red, white and blue and big letters spelling out U.S.A. And tomorrow after practice is our first tutoring session with Miss MacKay. Still don't know why we need tutoring anyway but whatever.

End POV

Julie's POV

((The next day, after practice and before tutoring))

Showered and changed. The whole team is about to go sit by the lake and have class. We all have to wear our "swishy" outfits as I call them. You know the windbreaker material. What? It makes a swishing sound when you walk in them. Not really looking forward to that. Being with the team right now is like being subject to rumors and stares. God forbid I speak to Adam because apparently we're expecting out first child any day now. Everyone thinks there is something going on between us because I went to his house for dinner last night, at the request of my father. I love how quickly rumors spread on this team. I quickly put my hair up in a ponytail and grabbed a purple button-down shirt from my locker. I'm looking for Charlie to return the shirt he let me borrow yesterday. Maybe he is in the locker room.

End POV ((this is so hard to write in POV so just bear with me))

Julie entered the locker room and directly in front of her is Dean, shirtless.

"Oh my god." Julie thinks. He hadn't noticed her yet because he had been in the middle of taking off his practice shirt. As soon it was off he noticed Julie standing there staring at him.

"Hey. Um sorry, I was just looking for Charlie. I have to give this back to him." Julie said nervously holding up the shirt.

"I'm the only one in here."

"I see that. Sorry I bothered you."

"Don't sweat it." He said turning his back to her and grabbing the cut off shirt he was about to put on. Julie couldn't avert her eyes. Instead of leaving, she sat down on the stool that was two feet in front of her. She put her bag next to her.

"So, how much do you work out?" Dean had just pulled the shirt over his head.

"What?"

"I mean you're like really built. It must have been a lot of work."

"Yeah well when I want something I don't give up." Julie nodded and bit the side of her lip like she always did when she was nervous. Just then Bombay came by.

"Be outside in ten minutes guys."

"Okay, Coach." Dean started rummaging through his bag. He couldn't resist the opportunity to ask about Adam. "So what's going on between you and Banks?"

Julie sighed. "What do you think is going on?" She said a little bitterly. "What's the latest you heard?"

"Something like you two are getting married the minute you turn eighteen. But I don't buy it."

"Good because none of it is true. Me and Adam just met. We're just friends if anything. I went over his house because our fathers know each other."

"So you don't really like him?"

"No. Friends."

"Oh."

"C'mon, Dean. Don't tell me you bought that crap."

"I wasn't sure. I mean he does sort of look like your type."

"Oh, and what type is that?"

"Jock, blonde, trust fund kid." She laughed a little.

"It's not like at all. For either of us. That's what our parents want. My type happens to be the exact opposite."

"Oh really?" Dean sat down on the stool opposite her.

"Yeah really. I mean I guess I sort of like jocks. But that's because I like sports anyway. And I don't really like blondes all that much. I don't even like my own hair being blonde. Its such a stereotype."

"You're way different then I thought you were gonna be." She smiled. From outside the locker room they heard Bombay again. "Let's go!" Julie got up from her chair and grabbed her bag. Just as she walking out, Dean stopped her.

"Julie."

"Yeah?" He caught up with her by the door.

"Put your hair down."

"Why?"

"You may not like your hair, but I do." Then he stepped ahead of her and went outside. Julie smiled to herself and pulled the elastic band out of her hair.

-

Outside Dean was seated with his back against an upturned canoe. Julie was about to sit next to Connie when Dean motioned her over. She sat next to Dean on top of the canoe and was surprised at how she wasn't nervous around him anymore.

"Ancient Greece was the beginning of Western Civilization. See in Greece they didn't have professional sports, or Wheaties boxes. So the athletes competed for another reason. Anybody?"

"Falafels?" Golburg suggested. Everyone laughed.

"Oh, Greg."

"You wish, Golburg." Connie said sarcastically. Charlie raised his hand.

"Charlie?" Miss MacKay said with a smile.

"Pride."

"That's right. The various city-states waved their flags and wore their home colors proudly."

"Did America always dominate?" Fulton asked.

"Fulton…" Jesse complained.

"That's a good question!" Dean piped up. Julie smiled. How did she guess that Dean and Fulton would be best friends by day two.

"No, America wasn't around back then. Don't forget that compared to other countries, America is still young, still forming its own identity. America is a teenager. Just like you."

"Like us?"

"You bet. A little awkward at times but always right there on the verge of greatness."

The rest of class went on pretty much the same way. Once they had been sitting in the hot sun for three hours Bombay came along in a golf cart. He told the whole team to grab their gear and that this was the last part of training before we leave to L.A. tomorrow.

Skating along a private road adjacent to Adam's property they team sang loud and proud.

"I don't know but I been told, Team USA's gonna win the gold. Listen up and listen good. We're all headed for Hollywood. Sound off: 1,2. Sound off: 3,4. Bring 'em on down: one, two, THREE, FOUR."

And so it was. The next day at five o'clock in the morning, Team USA boarded a plane heading to Los Angeles, California.