All or Nothing;5

For the third period, all I did was keep my eyes on Filppula's number. My dad was so right. He was amazing. Really good on his skates. We ended up losing 3-2. My dad had always called me his "good luck charm". I guess some things change over time.

Just as I was about to walk out, Marian stopped me. She wanted to talk more. I didn't want to be rude, so I had to stay. She went on and on about school, old stories, how my team was doing, you name it. Don't get me wrong, I loved her, but wow, she loved to talk. I checked the time on my blackberry, and noticed it had been a half hour since the game ended. I really wanted to talk to Val, so I sprinted down the hallway towards the locker room. I tripped over my own two feet multiple times, so much for being a volleyball player.

I pushed it open way to fast, almost nailing Ozzie right in the head.

"Jeesh, someones in a hurry."

"Sorry, but have you seen Val?" I looked around for him, but didn't see him.

"I think he just left, why?" He asked curiously.

I groaned, "Great, hes going to think I blew him off."

He laughed, "Kid stuff. Do you want me to tell him, tomorrow at practice, that you were here?"

"Sure, thanks Ozzie." He nodded and then left me standing there.

I couldn't help but feel super bad, but I snapped out of it as soon as I could hear Aaron and Meech somewhere in the locker room. They were so loud, I pushed the heavy door back open and quickly walked down the hallway. But I guess not fast enough, I heard Derek's voice right behind me. "Riley?"

I slowly turned around to see him standing there in a pair of sweats and a hoodie, with a tigers baseball cap on his head. "Hey Derek."

"Where are you headed?" He asked simply.

"Home, I think. You?"

Before I knew it he was standing right in front of me, "I was going to get something to eat. Want to come?" He had the hopeful sound in his voice, and I hated to tell him no, but i also didn't want to give him the wrong impression.

"Not tonight, my Dads waiting for me. Another night?" I took my Pearl out of my back pocket and handed it to him for him to add his number. After he got mine, I said good night.

But before I left, he brushed a curl out of my face, "You look really beautiful tonight. Plus, that jersey doesn't look to bad on you either."

I looked down at it and shrugged, "This old thing? Wow, thanks."

"Night Riley." He said softly.

***********************************************

Friday I had practice in the morning and a game, which we won again. I hoped coach would go easier on us, now that we were playing better. But practices just kept getting harder and harder. Finally it was Saturday, and there was another game which I planned on going to. I hadn't heard from Val of any of the guys from the team since Wednesday, which kind of bummed me out.

An hour before the game, my phone rang, I picked it up, not bothering to look at the caller ID, hoping it would be the one and only person I wanted to hear.

All or Nothing;4

Practice was extra long the next day, she said it was the game we played was so close. Couch Hazel had us doing suicides and wall sits for so long, I no longer had any feeling left in my legs. After practice was finally over, we all slowly limped into the locker room.

Every girl was completely pissed, including me.

"What a bitch!" Carly screamed, loud enough for the couch to hear in the next room, "My legs feel like jello."

I notched that just about everyone was rubbing their legs profusely. I was known for getting really bad cramps in my legs, and they were really starting to bother me today. I just hoped they wouldn't ruin my plans for tonight, because I was really excited.

My phone vibrate just as I was getting into my car. I thought it was a text, but it was Aaron calling me.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey, I heard you're coming to the game tonight, ready to see me kick ass?" He had that cocky tone to his voice, and it made me laugh.

"Yeah, Did my Dad tell you?"

I heard someone in the background, Draper maybe, say something to Aaron. I couldn't really make it out but I think it was something like, "Downey! Looking good..." And then the snap of a towel.

Aaron screamed in to the phone then said, "I gotta go, and by the way. I think somebody has a little thing for you on the team. And it's not just me...see you later?"

I tried my best to talk though my giggles, "Okay, bye."

On the drive home I thought about what he said, was I really that lucky and it was Val? Or was it someone else?

***********************************************************************

I limped around the house that night, but it didn't really bother me because I was so excited for the game. I hadn't sat up in the box with my dad for a long time, plus I was excited to see the guys, one in particular. I had on my Yzerman jersey, which only took me four hours to find. I even curled my hair so it looked extra cute.

"Are you sure you want to go? You don't have to, there's other games." My dad had been bugging me since I got home, and no matter how many times I told him, he still insisted I stay home and rest my legs.

"No, I'm going. I really want to, plus I'm fine. Just sore." I insisted.

He shook his head but didn't argue with me anymore. He knew I would win anyway.

Our drive to the Joe was short, seeing we only lived a few miles away. Once we got there my dad and I went straight to the box, where Mike and Marian Ilitch sat. They had so much to talk about, I was looking for any excuse to get out of there for a while.

At the end of the second period, we were beating the wild 4-1, my dad asked me to run down to the locker room and figure out who had left their cell phone at practice earlier. He tossed me a pretty expensive looking phone, and I left.

I knew the arena like the back of my hand, it hadn't changed since I was little. It was pretty loud in the room, so I decided I would ask Meech since I couldn't find Aaron, maybe he would know.

"Derek, do you know whose phone this is?"

He looked it over and gave it back to me, "Uhm, I think it's Fil's, go talk to him." He smiled and winked at me.

"Oh, alright." I guess I wasn't really taking the hint that he was trying to set us up.

I quickly looked for Val's locker and went to talk to him, I wasn't nervous at all, until I saw him smile at me. I handed the phone to his, "This is yours, right?"

He laughed, "It is.. thank you." His accent was like nothing I had ever heard before, I loved it.

"No problem." I smiled once more and turned to walk away.

"Oh, I'm Val by the way..." I turned around and he was staring at his feet, he had to be shy.

"I know, I'm Riley." I couldn't wipe the stupid smile off my face, it was killing me.

"Everybody calls you Ry though right?"

"Yeah, nickname since birth." I laughed with him.

All the guys were filing out of the locker room, so he got up,"Can I talk to you later? After the game or something?"

"I'd love that." I smiled again. He shook his head, smiled, then went out to the ice.

Once I was a clear distance away, I was finally able to breathe again.

All or Nothing;3

I tried my best to concentrate on the game, but it wasn't working out very well. I kept thinking, What is he thinking, why did he give me that look when we saw eachother?

Couch had me serving alot of the time, my arm was starting to kill me, but I was getting through it. I felt like I was dieing, I knew I was wiping the sweat off my forehead every two seconds.

The game was about over, and we were up 17-20, game point. I served the ball, hoping It would be the last time, it went back and forth a few times until I set Whitney up to spike it, we had finally won. We shook hands, and I game Whitney a hug hug.

Afterwards I quickly changed and went to meet my parents outside.

My dad patted me on the back, "Good game kid." I frantically looked around for the guys from the team, but all that remained were Ozzie, Downey and Helm. After signing a few autographs, they came over too.

"Woo! Nice game Ry." Ozzie shouted.

I blushed, but only from being embarrassed, "Thanks."

Downey spend no time introducing himself, "Aaron Downey, I'm sure you've heard the name before." He held out his hand to me.

"Ohh! You're the fighter right? Love it." I gushed. That was by far my favorite part about hockey, the fighting.

"That would be me." He was obviously full of himself, but in a good way.

We talked for a while, before they left. Aaron hugged me goodbye, and I could tell he slipped something into the back pocket of my sweatpants.

After he was a good distance away, I took it out. Or coarse, his number. I laughed to myself, the guy was crazy. But I did but the number in my phone for safe keeping, he seemed like a fun guy to be around.

Later that night after dinner I decided I would talk to my dad about this Finnish guy. But I didn't want him to think I had a major thing with him, I didn't even know him, so I would have to be careful. I found him in my parents bedroom, going over some papers.

"Hey dad.."

"Hey hun, what do you need?"

I sat down at the edge of the bed, "Ohh nothing really. I just wanted to ask about a few guys on the team. I remember you telling me about the guy from Finland, who's he?" I was trying my best to act casual, and I'm sure I was failing.

"Oh you mean Valtteri? Valtteri Filppula? Well he goes by Val or Fil for short. Anyways, great guy, great player. Hes got it all really, good skater, handles the puck well. Scores. Plus, hes got a good head on his shoulders. He came in last year, but didn't get alot of playing time. Speaks great English though."

"Wow, he sounds pretty good." I was shocked at how much my dad had gone on about.

"Very good. Shy though, but the girls do love him, I've seen fans be all over him."

You aren't kidding. I don't blame those girls either, hes gorgeous. I thought to myself.

He snapped me back out of my thoughts, "Soo..tell me why you wanted to know about him?"

Oh shit... "Just thought I should get to know the guys better this season." I kept my voice as calm as possible.

"I'd love that, don't you like sitting up in the box?"

"Love it, best seat in the house. I'll definitely come to more games this season." I made myself sound excited, but I really was. I wanted to talk to this Valtteri.

"First game of the season's tomorrow, come with me."

It was hard for me to say yes, my parents had pushed me into hockey when I was younger, when my schedule was already full. I loved in until Junior high, when thinks started getting old. I was sick of being pushed into something I no longer had a love for. I wasn't that good anyway. My team was over crowed and I got no playing time, no matter how much my dad talked to the coach, nothing ever changed. I turned into more of a fan.

I finally told my dad I'd come and left the room after giving him a hug goodnight. It would be time to dig out my old Yzerman jersey from my closet. So I went digging. It would be hard to find with all of my Wings clothes, my dad had gotten me every shirt, sweatshirt, or pants you could ever want from the Joe. Of coarse my brother and his friends would have to barge in and annoy me the rest of the night though. It was so time to get my own place, apartment looking started tomorrow.

All or Nothing;2

"Oh my god..." I started to tell them. "My dads bringing some of the team with him..."

"Sounds pretty fun, I've never done anything with a hockey player before..."

"Shut up Whit, you've done stuff with everybody else." Chelsea joked.

We all laughed, except Whitney. She knew it was true, and we were tired of hearing all her stories.

"You're way lucky Ry, hockey players are hot! And you get to hang around them all you want." Kristy served the ball over the net and came right to me, easily hitting it back.

"Yeah true, but the Wings have a bunch of veterans, and alot are married. So I've never really dated one. I heard there were some new rookies coming in though, and a few new guys. My dad had a pretty busy off season. " I told her.

It eventually turned into a full out team conversation, even our coached were getting into it. "Oh you don't even know what I'd do to get my hands on that boy Crosby, damn!" I started cracking up, "I met him once, hes not as hot in person, trust me... cute but still has that baby face to him." I explained to them.

Practice finally ended around three, and the game was at four, I decided it would be best to shower and get redressed her instead of going back home first. As I pulled my hair back in a ponytail (couch would have a fit if we ever left it down) I noticed I was much more nervous than I usually am. Not like I hadn't played in front of important people, when tournaments came around I would be playing for a scholarship. So why was I so nervous now?

Kristy came over and handed me a bottle of her hairspray, "Bangs back remember? New rule."

"Ugh, I must have missed that too huh?"

She laughed, "You really should think about getting to practice earlier, you miss all the good stuff."

"Yeah, I'll try and remember that when my alarm goes off at nine o'clock."

Couch Hazel then walked in, about ready to give us our regular speech which many of us ignored anyway.

"Alright girls listen up! I want you all over here, cmon cmon. As we all know this game is very important, we play hard, then we party hard later. You have alot of people out their watching you, so lets get this done. I'll make sure we get some extra practice in tomorrow if this game doesn't go well.

There was the threat, we waited for her to go on but, wow, that was it? I expected much more.

We walked out to the court, my eyes went straight to where my mom usually sat. She was there, along with my dad. Wow, I thought when he said a few guys he meant four of five. There sat a few guys I did know, Ozzie, who was cheering me on. Draper, Datsyuk and Zetterbergh. And then I few I had only seen from watching them play but never talked to them before, Downey, Meech, Ericsson, and Helm.

Then there was someone who looked very unfamiliar.. maybe I had see him before but just never got a good look. Our eyes met almost immediately, his blue eyes were gorgeous. And his blonde hair only made them stick out even more. Then I got it, was that the new Finnish guy my dad had been going on about? Blonde hair and blue eyes, it had to be. Right?

All or Nothing;1

I sat the kitchen counter, just like It was a normal morning. Listening to my brother Brad and my mom bicker about whose turn it was to empty the dishwasher. Not that it really mattered, but it was a ongoing problem in the house.

Since hockey season was about to start up again, my dad was probably meeting with another manager, trying to get a last minute deal done.

Once I couldn't stand to her them fight about something so dumb anymore, I got a blue Gatorade from the fridge, took my moms car keys off the hook, and walked out the door. Practice was scheduled way to early this morning, I hated getting up early. We did have a pretty big game this afternoon though, which I'm sure my dad couldn't come to, just like many of the others. I was able to live with it though, hockey came first, the family second. It was hard to swallow, but eventually I got over it.

My phone started to vibrate, but it was in the bag behind me, so I let it go. I walked into the year, but I wasn't prepared for the look on everyones face. Complete and utter shock. I swore I saw Whitney crying. Jess was first to run over to me, "Where were you, you missed everything!"

"Sorry I don't get her 20 minutes early like all the rest of you suck ups... why what'd I miss?" My voice was much more calm then hers, she had to be overreacting.

"Ry, Coach says that if we don't win the last 8 games of the season, we can't compete in the tournament, this summer." Her voice started to fade, like she was about to start crying.

"Are you serious? Were the best team in the league right now, we have nothing to worry about."

"I know, but every other team has stepped it up this season, and their catching up to us, according to Coach Hazel..."

I kept heading towards the locker room, so i could get ready, while Jess was attached to my side, babbling on and on. And when I found out the locker room wasn't any better, I wasn't going to take it anymore.

"Alright guys listen up!" I shouted, "This is so dumb, we aren't freshman anymore, we've been in the situation before. Couch wants us to play hard, so we can be the best. Quit crying, it's not the end of the world. We'll finish the season on top, like we always do."

Nobody said anything, because they all knew I was right. All the girls starting heading to the court.

I did check the voicemail my dad had left me earlier though, "Hey Ry, I'm pretty sure I can make it to your game tonight. I hope you don't mind if I bring some of the guys from the team. I told them how good you are, so they wanted to see. I'll see you around four then I guess, bye."

I just about died, my dad would be bringing professional hockey players to one of the most important games of the season, wait til I told the girls about this.....

All or Nothing; Info

Info;

Riley Holland
Age: 21
-Dad is Red Wings GM Ken Holland.
-Had played Volleyball since she was little and is a star player of her team.
- Trying to get a scholarship while living in the heart of Michigan, Hockeytown.

Valtteri Filppula
Age: 25
- Plays for the Detroit Red Wings
- Play center and left wing.
- Very shy.