Megan was driving with Nick to practice two weeks later. "It will be so good being back out there. I missed playing", she said, a smile playing on her lips. Nick smiled. "We missed you out there. We did okay when you were out, but we're better with you on the ice. You know, when we played the Penguins last Friday, Crosby asked where our 'girlfriend' was", Nick said. Megan rolled her eyes. "Of course he did. Are we playing them tonight"? Nick sighed. "Yes. I can't wait to knock Crosby on his butt. We nearly killed him after that comment". Megan smiled and touched her friend's shoulder. "I watched that. I wish I could've been there". Nick pulled into a parking spot and the two teammates got out of the car. "I can't wait to see the guys again! I feel like it's been years", the girl remarked. She was nearly tackled from behind and someone yelled "Megan! I can't believe you're back". She started laughing as she was spun in a circle. "It's good to see you too, Hank", she said, hugging her friend. "You're going to help us beat Crosby, right", Hank asked. Megan grinned and exchanged a high-five with Nick. "I'm going to knock him onto his butt", she replied. They heard footsteps behind them and turned. "Val", Megan yelled. Her friend hugged her tightly. "I'm glad you're back, Meggie. We need help beating Crosby", he said, resting his hand on her shoulder. "I plan to do just that", Megan agreed. "Do you have a strategy for doing it", the three boys asked at the same time. Megan thought for a minute. "Well, first I'm going to get a hat trick. Then, I'm going to hold him down while you three beat him", she finally said. "Let's go put that plan into action, shall we", Val asked. The four friends made their way inside, laughing. –This is perfect, just perfect-Megan thought.
Megan took a deep breath as she skated behind Val during warm-ups. She felt a little nervous, but she knew it was going to be fine. She was suddenly stopped by Crosby. "So, you're back. It's too bad you play on another team. We could use your skill", he said. "I wouldn't play with you if someone offered me a billion dollars. I'm fine right where I am", Megan answered. Crosby smiled and shook his head. "This team is too old. You'd do better on a younger team", he said, touching Megan's arm. Megan sneered and pulled her arm away. "This is my hometown team, Crosby. It's been my dream to play here and I am. So, enjoy being a crybaby while I'm here on one of the most successful teams ever", she replied before skating away. Val smiled and lightly smacked her butt. "Nice one! I'm sure that put him in his place", he said. "I hope so", was her reply. She glanced over her shoulder and noticed Crosby glaring at her. She shivered and nervously bit her lip. "He's going to try something on me during the game. I just know it", Megan said. Val wrapped a protective arm around her shoulder and sent a glare back in Crosby's direction. "I'll kill him if he does. The whole team will".
It was the middle of the second period and the Wings were winning four to two. Megan already had two goals and she was looking for her third. She was in the corner getting the puck when she was slammed hard into the boards. She fell and saw double. Val came and knelt in front of her. "Meg? Can you hear me, squirt", he asked, waving a hand in front of her. Megan blinked and slowly raised her head. "Yeah. I can hear you", she said weakly. Val helped her up and kept a hand under her arm. "Who hit me", the girl asked, even though she had a feeling who had done it. "Crosby. Dally's taking care of him", Val replied, gently turning his friend in that direction. The young hockey player smiled. "I hope he learned his lesson", she said as her teammate and Crosby went in the direction of the penalty boxes. "Are you ready to play", Val asked as they made their way to the bench. "Yes! I'm ready", Megan replied, her voice full of determination, pride, and a little bit of sass. Val just smiled and shook his head, loving his friend for her little quirks and her personality.
Megan was skipping with joy as she made her way to her car. She had gotten the hat-trick like she wanted and her team had won. She was about halfway to her car when she felt someone tapping her shoulder. The girl whirled around and came face-to-face with Crosby. "I bet you're sore from that hit, aren't you", he asked. Megan felt her anger flaring, but she managed to keep it under control as she responded. "I'm fine. Either go away or made it quick, I'm going home", she said. Crosby smiled a little and took out a piece of paper. "We were thinking about having you try out for our team. If you sign on the dotted line, we can arrange something", he told her, waving the paper in her face. Megan took the paper from the boy's hand, sneered at it, and tore it into a million little pieces, throwing them on the ground. "Nope. I'm fine right where I am. I don't need to leave, I don't want to leave and my teammates don't want me to leave. I trust all of them and I love them all. So next time, thanks but no thanks", she said, taking a couple steps back. "Well, if you won't sign, will you at least go out on a date with me", Crosby asked, coming an arm's length away. Megan stared in surprise, shock and anger. "No, no and no. I don't want a date and I don't need a date. I can get one myself, thank you very much. No date with you, Mr. Crosby. You're not my type. You cry about everything. Goodbye", she said. Crosby came closer and touched her hand. At that point, Megan's anger came out of her. She tore her hand away and smacked him as hard as she could across the face. "Don't touch me, Crosby", she snapped, backing away. She saw the anger in Crosby's eyes. "You won't get a hat-trick the next time you play us. You won't get a point at all", he hissed. Megan turned around and ran all the way to her car. She climbed into the car and slammed the door behind her. Her head rested in her hand and her entire body was sore. She got out her phone and found Nick's number. She called it and waited for her friend to answer. "Megan! Where are you? I thought you were coming out", came Nick's voice. Megan's eyes began to water. "No, Nicky. I'm scared Crosby's going to be there", she answered. "Crosby?! What's he got to do with anything", her friend asked. Megan sucked in her breath and told him of the incident that had happened. "What an idiot! I'm so going to kill him the next time we play them", her friend said angrily. The only thing Nick got in response was sobs. "Meg? Are you okay", he asked softly. "I'm going home, Nicky", Megan replied. "Megan, you don't sound like yourself right now. What's going on? Tell me", Nick said. Megan took a shuddering breath. "I've been thinking about quitting. I love you guys but I feel like I'm not helping this team. So many things have happened in what seems like such a short amount of time and I just can't take it anymore", she said, tears in her eyes. There was silence for a minute. "Meg, if you're in the car, get out and wait by it. I'm coming to pick you up. There is no way you're going to be alone right now", Nick said quickly before he hung up. Megan did as she was told. She saw her teammate's car pull up a few minutes later and he got out along with Val. She lowered her head, not wanting them to see her tears. She heard someone stopping in front of her and she felt a hand under her chin. Someone gently lifted her head and she raised her eyes to look. "Meg, don't quit. I don't want you to quit, none of us do. We all know that you're having a rough time, but we're always here for you. You're playing great hockey and we're doing great with you here. It's just some things that have made it rough for you and things like that are going to happen. Don't let that stop you, Meg. Don't let that change who you are or how you play. We've only known you for a few months, and yet every single one of us considers you a sister. Just as families get through things together, so do teams. We need you and your family wants you to be here. Please, Meg, don't quit", Val said, taking her hand in both of his. Megan lowered her eyes and was quiet for several minutes. "I won't quit", she finally said. Val wrapped her in a hug. "You'll get through this, Meg. Right now, I think it's best if we took you home", he said as his friend went hug Nick. Nick and Megan agreed and all three of them went to the car. Megan and Val went in the back seat and Nick got into the driver's seat. Megan felt so bad for acting this way. "Thanks for doing this for me, you guys, but I wish you didn't have to. I shouldn't let things like this affect me, but I've had a long history of people that I've played against doing this to me. I feel like such a weakling", she said. When her friends heard that, they felt sympathy for her. "All the players have done this to you", Val asked, rubbing her hand gently between his. "Not everyone. Just some superstars or players like that on other teams", Megan replied. Val nodded and then sneered. "If Crosby thinks he's getting away with this, boy is he wrong. The next time we play them, he'll get hit so hard and we'll score on him so much, he won't even think about doing it again", he said.