❝ no one can make us quit before we're done ❞

•••

Sophie was a woman on a mission. She knew what she needed to do and she was going to do it no matter what. She had places to be and people to see.

She walked out of her room and down the hall to the elevators, stopping to wait for one. When one opened she smiled at Charlie who was in it.

"Where you heading?" Charlie as he stepped out of the elevator.

"To find that kid I was telling you about. Care to join me?" Sophie asked as she stepped into the lift.

"Let's go," Charlie smiled as he followed the girl.

The two left the building and began walking down the streets of Los Angeles. They knew who they needed to find. It was just a matter of figuring out who he was and where he spent his time.

After about an hour of walking around the two decided to take a short break and leaned against one of the buildings. Charlie and Sophie caught their breath after walking for an hour straight.

"You're the one who yelled at me at the hockey game, aren't you?"

Sophie turned around at the sound of the voice. She smiled at the boy before nodding. She didn't need to find who she was looking for because they found her.

"I've actually been looking for you," Sophie spoke as she walked up to the boy.

"Well here I am. What do you need?"

•••

Once Charlie and Sophie finished up their talk with the kid they were talking to, the pair began to walk back to their rooms where they would gather the team. From there they would tell them to change before heading to the track field where they would wait for their special guest.

Sophie walked into her room and saw both Julie and Connie. She smiled at the two other girls before explaining that they were heading out to practice. The two nodded before turning to their clothes while Sophie left to tell the rest of the team.

"Banksie my dear get ready. We're practicing soon. Make sure to bring your rollerblades and your hockey stuff. It's happening," Sophie said as she passed the boy in the hallway.

The blonde gave the girl a thumbs up before walking into his room. Sophie sighed as she walked to her own room and changed quickly and grabbed her things. She met Charlie along with the rest of the team at the elevators and waited. They split into three groups so that the elevator wasn't too crowded.

Once they were all in the lobby, Charlie and Sophie began to lead the team towards the track field. Everyone was talking amongst themselves as Charlie looked over at the girl out of the corner of his eye.

"You're positive this will work?"

"Almost a hundred percent positive. They'll get under everyone's skin and push them to do better. Besides didn't you see how well they played as a team? We need to be like that if we want even half a chance of winning," Sophie explained as they walked towards the entrance of the field.

The workers at the entrance asked for the group's pass causing Charlie to pull it out of his pocket. The workers let the team in and informed them of where the restrooms and water coolers were before leaving them on their own. Sophie and Charlie directed them towards the grass area where there was plenty of empty space.

"Alright guys let's get started. We'll do warm ups while we wait for my friend," Sophie instructed as she looked around at the team.

Adam and Charlie shared a look with the girl as she winked at the two. Everyone spread out a bit as Dean walked to the front of the group to lead their stretches. Sophie moved to stand in between Kenny and Fulton, smiling at the two of them.

"Can't wait to meet whoever this friend of yours is Soph," Kenny said as they went down into a stretch.

"Just you wait bubs."

The team had been stretching for around ten minutes and they were beginning to go restless. They didn't want to spend their day stretching. They just wanted to practice and then get to their game.

"If Sophie's friend isn't here yet then why do we have to be?" Connie asked as Dean continued giving instructions.

Sophie rolled her eyes at the girl. So he was a little late. He had to get passed the workers at the entrance. Cut the boy some slack.

"We have a game tonight. We have to work out," Dean answered Connie as he went to stretch the other side.

Multiple members of their team groaned at the idea of another game. It wasn't that difficult to notice that no one seemed to like their coach at the moment. When Goldberg suggested the idea of mutiny, Sophie had to hold back her laugh.

"Goldberg, I'm too tired for mutiny," Dwayne said as he stood up to look at the other boy.

Now Sophie may have had feelings for Dean but she had to admit that tank tops were a nice look on Dwayne. Sophie made a noise of agreement with the southern boy before leaning against her brother who had also stood up.

"Come on guys it's not like we couldn't use the conditioning," Julie said as she rested her hands on her knees.

"Speak for yourself babe."

Of course Dean had to open his mouth and make a remark. It's what he did. Before the girl could even process what she was saying, Sophie spoke up.

"Her name's Julie. Not babe."

"Yeah Dean. Why don't you try respecting women," Adam said as he stepped in front of Sophie.

"Don't tell me how to talk rich boy."

Sophie rolled her eyes. Of course. The boys are fighting. Kenny looked at Sophie and groaned as they watched Dean walk closer to Adam. When the taller boy shoved the blonde boy, Sophie ran in between them. She stood in front of Adam and kept him from retaliating as Fulton went towards Dean.

"Adam it's not worth it. Calm down," Sophie grabbed the boy's shoulders in an attempt to calm him.

Adam moved around Sophie quickly and shoved Dean back. At this point everyone began shoving each other and yelling in an attempt to get to the two boys. Sophie stood next to Dwayne who was towards the outside of the circle as she muttered about stupid boys. Dwayne slightly laughed at the girl's comment before pulling Fulton back from the group.

"Guys stop it!" Sophie yelled as she shoved her way to the middle. "Knock it off. Dean stop!"

Nobody seemed to listen to the girl as she tried to push the two boys away from each other. What snapped the team's attention elsewhere was someone else yelling at them.

"Team USA what are you doing today? A million jumping jacks?"

Dean rolled his eyes at the boy before turning back to Fulton. Sophie slightly shoved him back and grabbed his face to make him look at her. Meanwhile Jesse shoved his way to the front of the group to face the other boy.

"Hey man I'm getting sick of you!"

"And I'm sick of the USA represented by a bunch of whining babies," the boy shot back.

Sophie shoved her way next to Jesse and glaring at her special guest.

"Check yourself Tyler," Sophie replied with a scowl.

Jesse stepped closer to the boy and yelled at him once again. Sophie hid her smile as she watched the boy get under Jesse's skin. This is exactly what she planned to happen. Well minus the huge fight but you win some you lose some.

"Grab your gear and let's go play some schoolyard puck. Or maybe you forgot what it's like to play for real pride."

Sophie smiled as she grabbed her bag and began following Russ with Charlie and Adam trailing after her.