The preseason ended, and now it was time for the real thing to begin. Megan was sitting at her locker next to Val. "This is your first real NHL game. You ready for it", he asked. Megan shrugged. "I'm a little nervous", she replied. Val smiled and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Just think of it as a practice. You're just playing against more players", he said. Megan smiled. "Thanks, Val". Val ruffled her hair. "No problem. Pav and Hank will win it for us, just like they always do". Megan giggled. "Yeah. Everyone will be so surprised by what they do; they'll just quit the league. Then, the NHL will be called the 'Euro Twins show'", she replied. Hank sent a glare her way, while Pavel smacked her lightly in the head. "Be nice, smart mouth. You don't want to mess with us", he scolded. Val and Megan burst out laughing. "I mess with you guys everyday anyway. This isn't any different", Megan retorted.
Val stopped skating long enough to look at his teammate. She still looked nervous, but not as nervous as before. He noticed Perry giving her some looks as he warmed up on the Ducks side. He went to find Dallas Drake, who was one of the toughest guys on the Wings team. "Do you see what I see? Perry's giving Meg some weird looks. We might want to keep an eye on him to make sure he doesn't, you know", Val whispered. Dallas nodded. "I know. Thanks for telling me", he said.
Megan chewed her lip nervously as she watched the Ducks warm up. Some of their players were giving her looks, and fear started gnawing in her stomach. –What if these guys try to go after me? I'm smaller than them. I shouldn't be here- she thought. She felt a hand on her arm and she turned and saw Dallas standing behind her. "You look nervous. You alright", he asked. Megan shook her head. "Dally, what am I doing here? I can't play against these guys! They'll try and get me out of the game before it even starts", she replied. Dallas wrapped her in a hug. "Don't worry; I don't think that they'll do that to you. Hank and Pav will give them enough to worry about". Megan smiled. "Thanks, Dally", she said. Dallas patted her helmet. "Nothing to it. I'm gonna kick their butts if they try and hurt you".
Megan got ready for the face-off after the Ducks scored to make it one-nothing. She wasn't nervous; all she was now was ready to win. Suddenly, she felt a stick placed on her back and someone shoving her onto the ice. Laughter came from behind her and she was only vaguely aware of Val kneeling next to her. "Meg? Are you okay", he asked. Megan came out of her trance and looked at Val. "I'm fine. Just a little humiliated, that's all", she replied. She was helped up by her teammate and took several deeps breaths before getting into the face-off circle.
Megan tapped her stick on the ice. "Val", she yelled. Her line-mate passed it to her and she took a shot. THE PUCK WAS IN THE BACK OF THE NET! "Yes! Yes! Yes", the young forward shouted as Val tackled her to the ice. Their other line-mates swarmed them. Megan felt relief run through her body and she smiled at Val when he tapped her on the butt with his stick. "Nice shot, Meg! The goalie didn't even see it", he said. Megan laughed. "Great pass, Val! Thanks for the setup", she replied, tapping Val's helmet.