Gongshow

It had been three weeks since Audrey had moved to her new school. Her car had arrived, but she still attended the practices with the girls. Mostly because she found someone on the team cute beyond words, and since he was off limits, she had to spend as much time watching him as possible. She told her dad they were watching for him to see who worked the best together, but that was only true for Danielle. She actually wrote down notes for Dustin. It was like she was team manager.

The team was looking a lot better. Dustin and the rest of the staff had shaped them into a great team. Their first game was the following night. It wasn't a home game, but it was still suspected that many fans would be making the trip. The guys were excited. The older guys were the only ones that remembered playing on a team this good. Their freshman year. The Falcons won their division championship, and then followed it up with cities. Provincials were a win for them as well. They fell short in Nationals to a Russian school. They hadn't even made it past divisions since. This year was the year.

Audrey looked away from the ice. On the other set of benches, sat a girl by herself. Audrey examined her. Her hair was bleached, her dark roots were obvious, and it turned into a darker ombré at the bottom. Audrey cringed at it. She had a Baby Phat jacket on with, were those Apple Bottom jeans? Audrey let out a laugh. It gained her friends' attention, and the blonde babe from 2009 down the rink. Audrey covered her mouth and turned to her friends. They three looked in confusion.

"Shawty has them Apple Bottom jeans." Audrey whispered, nodding her head behind her.

"Oh, that's Isabella Barry." Danielle rolled her eyes.

"Why is she in my swamp?" Audrey made a joke that Taylor laughed the hardest at.

"She's seeing Val, I heard." Holiday said, nudging Danielle with her foot.

Danielle rolled her eyes again. Audrey cocked a brow. She looked to Isabella and then to the ice. It looked as if the offense was just about to line up at her end. She smiled before she stood. Danielle growled as she saw her friend standing. There was no way of stopping Audrey. She walked her way down to the end Isabella was at. She could feel her eyes on her as she stood against the boards.

Nathan and Jo looked to Audrey. She waved her fingers as flirtatiously as possible. Nathan winked before his turn came. Audrey looked over her shoulder at her. She gave a smile and sat near her. She examined Isabella's face.

Over drawn eyebrows, bad blue contacts, a poor attempt at eye makeup: clunky eyelashes, smokey eyes that looked like they should be set on fire, possible winged eyeliner. Bright pink lipstick sat on her lips. Her foundation was way too dark and her contouring was pathetic. Audrey gagged. Isabella looked at her.

"Who are you here for?" She quizzed.

"My dad. He's the coach." Audrey explained.

"Right, you're the new girl." Isabella nodded to herself.

"Audrey Brown." Audrey extended her hand.

"Isabella Barry." Isabella shook her hand. "You and MacKinnon looked friendly."

"I'm friendly with all the boys. They play better if they think the coach's daughter is interested. Gotta compete for her heart." Audrey shrugged. "So, Val?"

"How did y,"

"I know a lot about the boys." Audrey informed her.

Silence fell amongst them. Audrey watched the boys do their drills. Val skated past. He looked up and threw his head back. An evident groan escaped his lips. It added to Audrey's smug attitude. He skated over to Michael and Nick. They were both unaware of the Audrey and Isabella scene.

"Why is Auds doing me so dirty?" Val whined.

Nick and Michael both looked over. The only dirty thing occurring was the girl sitting beside Audrey. Everyone on that ice was aware of the downgrade Isabelle Barry was compared to Danielle Sayers. Everyone in their school was aware. Everyone in the school district was aware. Danielle was a regulation hottie, and it was natural. Isabella on the other hand? Not so much.

"Is she doing you dirty or doing you a favour?" Nick grimaced.

"Yeah, really, Val. Isabella Barry? I thought you loved yourself." Michael frowned before skating off.

Audrey saw the exchange. She knew it was time to say something. Isabella was now on her phone. Audrey smiled to herself and stood back up. Isabella's eyes followed her. Audrey leaned against the boards before she turned to face the blonde. She leaned her elbows on the boards while she stared Isabella down.

"So, Val and Danielle dated before." Audrey began.

"I guess." Isabella inhaled.

"You kiss her ex, how her pussy taste?" Audrey spoke.

"Excuse me?" Isabella gasped.

Taylor and Holiday broke into a fight of laughter. Danielle sat with her jaw dropped. Isabella stared at Audrey wide eyes. Audrey cocked a brow, smiled, and walked back to her friends. She sat down as if she didn't say a word. Val watched Isabella walk out. He banged on the glass near the four girls, Audrey looking. He threw his arms out as if he were asking 'why?' so Audrey blew him a kiss.

Her eyes met her father's. She froze and he shook his head. He blew the whistle, bringing the guys in for the scrimmage break up. He divided them into teams and then handed to pinnys to Jamie and Phil. He skated to the door near the girls and stepped out. The entire team watched. He took a deep breath and looked at Audrey. She had a guilty look on her face. She knew she was in trouble.

"Aud," He tilted his head towards the changerooms.

"Can we not do this here? It's embarrassing." She whined.

"Kinda like what you just did to that girl." He crossed his arms.

"She was in Baby Phat, Dad!" She defended. "And shouldn't you be watching your team, not me?"

"I wouldn't have to watch you if you weren't being a brat." He stated. "Your car is taken away; you leave the school when I leave or you walk. No going out until I feel you've earned it back. And, the cherry on top, you will be at every practice, ready for an equipment issues or laundry needed done. Understand?"

"Yup." She slouched down, crossing her arms.

"You're not a bad person. Don't act like one, Audrey." He sighed. "It's hard enough dealing with a team like these guys, I don't need my family acting worst. Just be good, for me, and the punishment will lessen, fair?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry." She apologized.

He stepped onto the stands gently to avoid damaging his skate blades. He kissed the top of her head and ruffled her hair. She groaned and he laughed as he went back on the ice. Audrey watched him and caught sight of the boy that made her heart flutter watching. She let our an airy sigh. This intrigued Taylor.

"Who are you sighing about?" She quizzed.

"It doesn't matter. He's off limits." Audrey frowned, resting her head in her hands and her elbows on her knees.


The practice ended shortly after. The red team beat the white, so the white had to do two laps for each goal scored on them. Dustin laughed as he watched the kids circle. The score had been 7-2, so that meant 14 laps. The boys on the white team all waddled off, panting and in pain. Mark pulled his helmet off as he stepped off the ice. He walked to the side to get out of the way of his teammates. Dustin tapped Malcolm on the back as he was the last to walk off. Mark stepped forward.

"Uh, Coach. Can I talk to you?" He scratched the back of his neck.

"Yeah, of course." Dustin nodded, walking over to the side with him.

"I kinda have a problem and I don't know what I can do about it so I thought I'd come to you." Mark explained.

"Yeah, no problem, bud. What's up?" Dustin crossed his arms.

"I have to get a 75 average for my parents to let me play, and right now, my English mark is really bringing me down so if I can't manage to get it up, I just wan,"

"Why don't you get a tutor?" Dustin cut him off.

"I can't find anyone that'll tutor me." Mark frowned.

"Audrey!" Dustin called, his daughter's head shot up. "You're good in English, right?"

"Yeah." She furrowed her brows.

"How would you feel about tutoring Mark to get out of your punishment early?" Dustin grinned.

"I would but I'm failing math." Audrey smacked her hands on her thighs as she stood and walked over. "But do I still get out of my punishment early if I find him a tutor?" She gave him a matching smile.

"If it's a good tutor, yes." Dustin crossed his arms again.

Audrey walked over to her friends. She grabbed one by the wrist and pulled her along. Danielle stumbled behind Audrey as she dragged her over to her dad and Mark. He looked disappointed? Danielle took a deep breath as they stopped across from the men.

"Danielle's the smartest girl I know." Audrey spoke in confidence.

"What are you failing?" Danielle asked.

"Not failing, just doing terrible in English." Mark pouted.

Danielle nodded. "I'll help."

"You're my hero." Mark sighed, pulling Danielle into a one-armed hug.

She pushed him off and he walked into the change room. Dustin smiled at the girls then walked into the change room. Audrey turned to Danielle and smiled. Danielle glared. The two walked back to the other girls. Audrey smiled and dropped down. Danielle wasn't as thrilled.

"Dani just got me out of my punishment early." Audrey sang. "But she has to tutor Scheifele in English.

"Oh, just do it at my house." Taylor shrugged. "He's always over, hanging with Jacob so we might as well."

They finished making their plans and went their separate ways. Audrey walked out to her car, typing away on her phone. She looked up as she approached it only extended the automatic starter to unlock it. It beeped and she looked up. Her mother was sitting in front of the car with her hand extended for the keys. Audrey growled.

"You're kidding me."

"Nope. I don't need you being a bitch to your peers just because you think you're better because of who yor father is." Nicole Brown explained as she took the keys.

"Mom, I don't think I'm better than anyone. She's dating my friend's ex, I h,"

"You need to mind your business, Audrey! I get you want to be a good friend but that's unexceptable!" Nicole shouted.

"How did you even getting here?" Audrey cried.

Nicole pointed to their minivan. The windows were rolled down to reveal Audrey's grandmother and younger siblings. Her brothers taunted her. She just rolled her eyes. Her grandma waved and she returned the gesture. Audrey sighed as her mom climbed into the driver's side. She opened to passenger's seat. Audrey shook her head and slammed it shut.

"No thanks. I'm mortified enough." She hissed before she began walking.

She got two blocks from the school before she realized she had never walked home. She had no idea where she was going. She let out a scream before she dropped to the grass. She sat with her head in her hands until she dropped onto her back. A car pulled up and she felt herself tense. She attempted to play dead.

"Audrey, I know that's you." A familiar voice chuckled.

She sat up and caught a glimpse of who it was. "Nathan, don't you live like," She pointed the opposite way.

"Yeah, I had to drop Jo off at home first." Nathan explained. He leaned across his car and opened the passenger's door. "Get in."

"No," She sighed and stood up. "I can't. I'm in enough trouble as it is."

She began walking and he drove slowly beside her. She didn't say a word and neither did he. Nathan felt for her. He couldn't imagine his dad being a Stanley Cup champion, Olympian, and your school's hockey team's coach. He frowned at the girl. She looked really upset.

"What are you in trouble for?" He asked, trying to break the silence.

"I cussed out Isabella Barry and my parents are mad because it makes me look like a brat." She explained.

"Isabella Barry? It's about time someone did!" He laughed.

"Yeah, well, I'm not allowed because it makes me look like I think I'm better than her because of my dad." She mocked her mother. "I can't believe that. Out of all the schools I've had to go to because of him, not once have I even made it known that he was my rather unless people already knew."

"I wouldn't have known if you didn't showed up with him." He admitted.

"Exactly!" She exclaimed. "And, the dumbest rule of all, I'm not allowed to go for guys he coaches. I could find the love of my life that is my honest and true soulmate and it wouldn't matter because my dad coaches him."

Nathan stopped his car and opened the passenger's door again. "Auds, c'mon. You need a break." He pleaded.

She rolled her eyes but climbed in. She ranted the rest of the drive, but Nathan let her. He could tell she needed to get a lot of her chest. He intentionally took the long way so she could vent more. They pulled up to her house and she took a deep breath. She looked at him with a smile.

"Thank you for letting me bitch."

"Hey, my pleasure. Now you might wanna get inside before your dad comes home and flips." He smirked.

She nodded and climbed out. She walked up to the door, turning to wave. He saluted before he drove off. Audrey looked and saw Sam Reinhart walking his dog. She remembered that he lived right behind her. He looked and waved. She waved back walking down her walk way to talk. She really just wanted to pet his dog.

"Mojo, who's that?" He called in a baby voice to his dog.

The dog ran over to Audrey, wagging his tail. She squatted down to Mojo's level and pet him. He flipped onto his back so she would rub his belly. Sam and Audrey both laughed. Sam squatted down too. There's was no need to leave Audrey down there looking crazy. He pet Mojo as well as she did. Mojo was loving it.

"So, how's Drill Sargeant Dustin treating you?" She questioned while she scratched Mojo's stomach.

"Good. He's a good coach." Sam nodded, looking at her. "He's a really good guy. I admire him."

She rose her eyebrows with a chuckle. "Someone has to, right?" She said, looking up at him.

"He's your dad. You have to admire him in some way." He argued.

Audrey rose, rubbing her hands on her legs. Sam copied her actions. They both watched Mojo sniffing around. He could probably smell Audrey's dog. Sam let the leash go longer. He watched his dog. Audrey was examining him. Sam was a cute kid. Him and his brother were very attractive. She knew she couldn't get involved in that. It was still nice to look.

"Currently, I resent my father." She told him. Sam looked to her. "I'm not allowed to go out, my car has been taken away, and I'm on laundry duty for the team."

"Ouch. Dustin did ya dirty." He pointed out. She nodded. "But what did you do to get that?"

She smiled innocently earning a laugh. "I said some shit to Isabella Barry that was kinda mean."

"Kinda?"

"Really mean." She admitted. "But she was there for Val who is Danielle's ex."

"But Danielle's over Val, everyone knows that." He scolded Audrey. She shrugged with a frown. "Don't be a mean girl to the mean girls. It doesn't do anything for you."

"It just makes me look like I think I'm better than them. I know." She rolled her eyes.

"No, it makes you look just as shitty as them and you're not." He clarified.

She nodded. "I'll see you tomorrow. I need to go inside before my parents get home and flip."

"Are you ready for the math quiz?" He smirked.

She shook her head. "Furthest thing from it."

Notes