A/N: The team, the names, maybe even some of the facts are all FICTION, meaning not real! Just to let you all know, I just got into hockey so some of my lingo may be wrong and I might say something that’s not completely true. Feel free to help me out just don’t be rude about it.

“I’m sorry Aidan but you’re off the team.” I stared at my coach mouth gaped open in disbelief. I watched as my other teammates skated past me and started to hit pucks into the open net.

“Excuse me?” I stammered, still not quite believing the words that Coach Larson had said to me.

“I warned you time and time again, you can’t be so physical.” He tried to explain to me.

“Like I have told you, if they can’t take the hits they shouldn’t be playing hockey.”

“Aidan, you broke a girl’s leg.”

“She got in my way.”

“You’re done Aidan.” Coach Larson skated away from me and called for the other girls’ attention. I looked down at my practice gear. Of course he waited to tell me I was off the team until after I geared up. The bastard.

I skated off the rink and into the locker room. I sat down on the bench and started to take of my gear and throwing it forcefully into my hockey bag. I changed into a pair of black Adidas sweats, sneakers, and my gray Cougars Women’s Hockey hoodie. I took a final look around the locker room, the same locker room where I had lead so many speeches before a game, the same locker room where I went over strategies during intermissions, and the same locker room where my team and I snuck into late at night and drank until we couldn’t walk straight. Letting out a wistful sigh I dug threw my bag and pulled out a sharpie.

The last thing I saw in that locker room was GOOD LUCK BITCHES written in permanent black marker across the row of lockers.

“I never liked that man!” My dad yelled angrily. He slammed his fist down on the table, shaking the plate in front of me. “I’m going to get him on the phone right now!” Dad flew up from the table and dashed toward the phone.

“Howard, calm down.” My mom said calmly, shoving a fork full of potatoes into her mouth. She was used to my dad’s random outbursts, she was a hockey wife after all.

“I think his mind was pretty made up.” I pushed my plate of food away from me.

Dad slammed the phone back down. “Can’t be so physical. It’s fucking hockey!”

“That’s what I said!” I exclaimed throwing my hands into the air. I was the most physical player on my team. I could rake up penalties like no body’s business. Girls on the other teams used to fear me.

“Don’t worry Dolly, I will get you playing on a team again in no a time. A much better team at that.” Dad assured walking into the living room.

“How are you going to do that?” I asked stalking after him.

“I happen to know that the Boston Bandits are looking for some new players.” Dad answers has he digs through some papers.

“Dad that’s great and all but the Boston Bandits are an AHL team.” Dad looked at me over the stack of papers he was holding.

“Yeah?”

“The entire team consists of guys, big, mean, tough guys.” I threw myself on the couch.

“What’s your point? You have been playing with the boys all your life.” Dad found the paper he was looking for and stuffed it into his pocket. It was true I have been playing with the boys my entire life. All my cousins were guys, twice my size and they all played hockey as well.

“My point? It’s nothing. Thanks for your help Dad.” I jumped up off the couch and ran up into my room.

I entered my room and was instantly surrounded by hockey memorabilia. I tossed my bag into its appropriate corner. My game jersey stuck out from my closet. I pulled it out and laid it gently on my bed, as if it might break. I traced the big white “C” that sat on the left shoulder. My best friend, Addison would probably become captain of the team now that I was gone. I tossed the jersey on my bag. I would have to return that tomorrow.

My dad came through with his promise and got me a position on the Bandits team. Of course it helped that Dad and the head coach played together in the NHL. I entered the arena and walked in the direction of the locker rooms. I knew this arena like the back of my hand. I quickly changed into my practice gear and headed out to the ice. The coaches and trainers were already out there, along with some of the team. My throat was instantly in my throat. What the hell was my father thinking getting me into this?

“Miss Wagner, welcome to the team!” Head coach Lewis greeted me. Sighing I skated over to him. I felt the heat of stares on me.

“Thanks for having me.” I tried to joke, mostly to get me to loosen up.

“I know this isn’t exactly normal but I’ve seen you play and I know you will be a great asset to the team.” He slapped me on the shoulder. Coach Lewis went back to talking to Assistant Coach Carter and the trainers. I took that as a sign I was dismissed. I started to stretch trying my hardest to ignore the stares from the other guys. I knew most of these guys and how they played. I had season tickets to all there home games. It was weird to me that I knew them but they didn’t know me. I laughed despite myself.

“So you’re the newbie.” I looked up from the ice and saw Mark Kane, the team’s captain standing in front of me.

“That would be me.” I stood up straight to try and seem taller. He towered over me.

“When coach said that a Aidan Wagner, star forward on their last team was coming to join us-”

“You assumed I was a guy.” I interrupted him.

“Yeah.” He shifted sheepishly on his skates.

“You dumb native boy.” I shook my head in a feigned disappointment. I smirked to let him know I was kidding.

“As captain I feel that it’s my duty to warn you that your welcome is going to be less then warm. Not all the guys are going to as nice as I am about you being a girl.”

“Oh gee, thanks for the warning.” Mark nodded his head in response and skated away.

A less then warm welcome was an understatement. Practice was, how should I put it…rough? No rough wasn’t the word. Anyways Mark was right when he said the team wouldn’t be nice. They were down right mean. Especially one by the name of Logan Harper. Before I joined the team Logan was my favorite player. We were a lot alike in the way that we played. Both Logan and I were physical players, we weren’t afraid to drop our gloves. However Logan took being physical to a whole new level. Within the first ten minutes of practice he slammed me up against the glass so hard I swear I blacked out for a second or two. The rest of the team just isolated me. I mean totally and completely treated me like I wasn’t even there. Except for Logan who found the need to check me into the glass every time he had the chance.

I parked my red Jeep in my normal spot in my driveway. I left my bag of gear in the back, deciding that I probably wouldn’t be able to carry it in.

“How was practice?” Mom asked as soon as I entered through the front door.

“Great.” I hissed as I slipped off my coat. It fell onto the floor. I tried to pick it up but failed so I just kicked it off to the side.

“Were the guys rough on you?” She asked as I stiffly walked into the kitchen.

“No, no they were great.” I answered sarcastically.

“I told your father this was a bad idea.”

“No mom it’s going to be fine.” I grabbed a bottle of water. “All I need is a hot shower.”

I got up early for a morning run the next morning. I hadn’t been on a morning run in forever but I figured since I was playing with the big boys now I needed to be in the best shape ever. At first I was going to run around the block but then I decided I really wanted a chocolate chip muffin and the best place for them was the café about a half a mile from the arena and the arena was only five miles from my house. So it worked out perfectly. I left a note for Dad to drop off my gear at the arena on his way to work.

I slowed down to a walk about a half a mile from the café. I entered the family owned café and walked up to the counter. I pushed some sweaty hair out of my face.

“Chocolate chip muffin and a water please.” I asked the sweet old lady behind the counter.

“You coming to practice today?” I heard someone ask behind me. I turned to see Logan sitting at the table with two other members of my new team. He smirked at Mike and Brian.

“Why wouldn’t I?” I asked.

“Well after yesterday, I thought you might go home, cry, then quit.” Logan took a sip from his coffee.

“You don’t know me at all Harper.” I accepted my order and paid.

“How’s your back?” He asked. I knew it wasn’t because he was concerned but because he wanted to celebrate his hit. Sick weirdo.

“It’s great thanks.” Truth was it wasn’t great. There was a huge bruise on it, thanks to him. I took off the wrapper of my muffin and crumpled it in my hand. I tossed the wrapper in the general direction of Logan’s coffee cup. It landed with a satisfying splash. “See you at practice.”

The rink was completely silent. I was about two hours early but that was the point. I had a thing about getting to know my home rink, every inch, and every piece of ice. I skated in circles just thinking about everything.

“You’re a little early.” I heard someone call out to me. I turned sharply to see Mark standing there, also with his skates on.

“So are you.” I countered.

“I come here for my morning think session.”

“Your morning think session?” I tried my hardest not to laugh.

“Don’t mock me.” He skated over to me. “What are you doing here?”

“I like to get to know my rink.” I stated.

“So I’m not going to beat around the bush, what the hell are you doing here, on the team I mean?” Mark asked me. I knew that question was coming sooner or later.

“I’m not going to lie. I’m here because of my Dad.”

“Howard Wagner, pretty famous NHL player.”

“Yeah. I got kicked off my girl’s hockey team for being to physical, which totally sucked because I was basically one league away from going pro. So my dad got me a position here because it was my only option and I need to play on a team. I just have to.”

“You have to?”

“I have been playing hockey since I was two. It’s in my blood. My dad played, my uncle played, my cousins’ play. I know every trick and every dirty secret. When I’m not playing hockey I don’t feel normal. You know my dad wanted me to be a boy. My parents only got one shot to have a baby. Dad had dreams of his little boy carrying out his legacy. The doctors told my parents I was a boy up until the day I was born. I was suppose to be named Aidan Ross Wagner. They had the name already written out on the birth certificate. Then surprise I'm born and not a boy. That Ross got changed to Rose last minute. I still don't know how they changed that last "s" to an "e" but that's beside the point. I just want to carry out my dad's legacy. Now tell me is that wrong?”

Mark shook his head. “No there’s nothing wrong with that. How tall are you?”

I laughed a little. “I’m 5’8 and before you ask I weigh 157 pounds.” I swear I saw Mark grimace a little.

“You’re a little small for men’s hockey.”

“I’m not native, I know that I’m going up against guys who are six foot or taller, that weighs anywhere between 190 to 250 pounds or more. I am going to get my ass kicked I get it. This is my only option. Here’s the thing though I know that I’m good enough and that I have enough fight in me to kick some asses back.”

“I must say you have more heart then any other guy on this team, myself included.”

“I think I have to.”

“A little word of advice, you prove yourself and this team is going to welcome you with open arms.”

“Thanks.” I skated away to get ready for day two of practice.