~House of Gold~

"Yes mamá! It's in my backpack!"

After living in Miami for 15 years, we are finally moving. Mom said that she found a job that paid more than her old job here in Florida. Gotta say, it's going to be weird adjusting a new environment, but it'll pass.

I grabbed my last pair of shoes and opened my suitcase to see my cat Nico laying inside, sleeping soundly.

"Nico, I have to put my shoes inside" I giggled as I gently picked him up and put him aside.

I put the shoes in my suitcase and made sure I had grabbed everything from my room. I noticed there was a picture in the back of my desk, I grabbed it. My heart warmed up as it revealed a picture of my best friend Luis Mendoza and I, holding new hockey sticks we got for Christmas.

Although he moved, he usually called every once in a while to check up on me and my mom. I still miss him a whole lot, we used to play street hockey with all the kids in our neighborhood and then grabbed ice cream. It was the same routine until it wasn't. I wish I can see him again...

"You all set my love?" Mom asked as she helped me zip my suitcase

"Yeah, yeah I'm ready" I sighed

"Wow, you still have that picture" she smiles as she examines the photo

"Yeah, I totally forgot about it" I crack a smile "I really miss Luis"

"Oh darling, someday you'll see him. C'mon, let's put your bags in the taxi"

I helped mom with the bags as she grabbed Nico and put him in his cage. I looked at the house one last time, remembering all the good memories I made with mom, Nico and Luis. I grabbed Nico's cage and went inside the taxi with my mom by my side.

****

"Now arriving at Saint Paul, Minnesota. Hope you all have a wonderful day"

I followed mom out the airplane, grabbing our luggage and making sure Nico is comfortable after that long airplane ride. I was excited to look around and see the place, maybe it'll be fancy? Or western? Who knows. We got a taxi and started driving at the new house.

"Nai, since it snows here, there might be a chance there is a hockey team here. What do you say?"

"You think people would want me?"

"Of course my love" She reassures me as she kisses my forehead "Who wouldn't?"

I was excited, maybe I can look for a great team. The team back in Florida weren't so... well good since they only cared about was every other sport instead of hockey.

The city was really big. Reminded me of Miami, only that there was less crazy cars passing by along with so many drunk people each day.

We stop at a grey house, it almost looked antique, but livable. I quickly helped mom with our luggage as she pays for the taxi.

"What do you think?" She asks as she looks up at the house

"It's perfect" I responded "Can we go inside?"

"Sure!"

As we went inside, I unlocked the cage for Nico to look around, he got comfortable real quick. Mom and I looked around the house. It was beautiful, it had three bedrooms and two bathrooms. I picked the room farthest to the stairs since it was the smallest room and started unpacking.

"You could've chosen the other two rooms" Mom said

"That's alright" I assured her "We can use the last room as a guest room or an office"

"Alright. I'm gonna go unpack as well. Make sure to feed Nico"

As I finished unpacking, I went downstairs and I poured some food for Nico in his little bowl. I grabbed my roller skates just in case, with my hockey stick in hand.

"Mamá! I'm going out!"

"Ok! Be home before it gets dark!"

I grabbed my sweater and headed out the door, feeling the cold breeze past through my cheeks, kinda tickling my nose.

"Where to first?" I thought as I started walking down the street.

I didn't know what to expect so I just let the wind take me. The neighborhood was calm and comforting. There were some kids here and there, but none of them seemed to have an interest in hockey.

The city was really nice. There were some restaurants and big malls. There were even a bunch of parks, but none seem to interest me.

I stop on my tracks as there was a basketball court with kids, most likely around my age, playing street hockey. I started to get excited and ran over there. It was a one and one game so I watched as they pass the puck back and forth.

"Ha! Guess I won again! Who's next?!" A boy with a green jersey announced as everyone shook their heads.

"I-I'll go!" I spoke up as I quickly took off my shoes and put my roller skates.

He started to laugh, along with some other kids "You? You're a girl, you'll just get pushed around, now run along little lady"

"I said I'll go!" I repeated proudly

"Alright squirt. Let's see what you got, your puck" he chuckles as he tosses it in the ground towards me.

I was used to the negativity so it didn't bug me much, but let's see if he can talk with his stick instead of his mouth.

I started going low, playing slow and steady. He started to charge towards me and I spun past him and quickly make a shot in the trash bin, scoring.

"That's one point for me" I cheer

"Big deal. We're going up to five points" he scoffs as he passes me the puck.

I changed my skill and decided to dribble the puck. He tried to grab it but I was too quick with it. I quickly scored two more times.

"Wow, so that's, what? Three?"

He rolls his eyes "Just shut up and play"

I hit the puck between his legs and shot it in the bin again, just barley. Everyone seemed to be fascinated by my moves and actually cheered for me as the boy started to get irritated.

"I guess it's just one more point before is over" I sighed as I played with the puck with my stick.

He dashes towards me as I cut to one side to the other, breaking those ankles like celery (I didn't injure him, so don't worry). I gently put the puck in the bin and went over to help him up, to show some gratitude for letting me play against him. However, his friends did that for me.

"I'm fine! Let go of me!" He huffed as he threw his stick down.

"Hey, umm, you played good" I smile awkwardly

He took some deep breaths as his friends told him to. He sighed as he smiled back at me.

"You're pretty good yourself. Sorry I got all mad and said all that crap to you" he apologized

"It's ok. I've been called worse" I noted "Sorry I didn't do my all"

"Wait... you didn't even try!?"

I shook my head "You were kinda easy to read. I can read anyone's move by the way they skate or hold their stick, like a book!"

"Wow! That's impressive! Ever think about joining a team?" One of his friends asks

"Yeah!" Beamed "But I just never found any-"

"You could join the ducks!" They all blurted out

"The... ducks?"

"Yeah! We are all in it!" His other friend smiles as he shows his green uniform, looking exactly like the boy I went against.

"Names Goldberg, and these are my friends Charlie, Adam, Lester and Jessie"

"I'm Nairobi" I greeted "Nai for short"

"We'll tell our coach about you Nai" Charlie said "It was nice meeting you. Let's get going guys"

I waved goodbye as they skated away. I wanted to scream with joy, I finally have a chance to make some friends and join team! I was so excited that I went home to tell mom.

"Mamá guess what?!" I jabbered, almost falling from excitement "I finally found a team I could join!"

"Wow my love, that's amazing!" She congratulated me

"I hope I get in. There were some kids that were in the team and told me about it! They were really cool people!"

"Just pray you will. Then it will happen. Now let's eat, you look famished"

I stuffed my face with food, I guess I was too excited that I forgot to chew when eating. I helped mom with the dishes, it was the least I can do. After that I took a quick shower and went to my room.

"Gosh, my first team? I wonder if Luis has a team yet?" I thought as I laid down on my bed "He can probably be in a really good club, or the Olympics!"

My eyes started to get heavy and I went to sleep...

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