Free Roller Hockey Rumble by Matt Christopher, Stephanie Peters Page B

cranked up another notch a moment later. Frank won the face-off and immediately fired a pass at Savannah. Savannah, caught off guard, bobbled the puck. It rolled on its edge until Charlie swooped in, scooped it up, and shot it straight into the goal.
    Frank skated over to Savannah. “Whatsa matter with you?” he bellowed. The way he loomed over her, he looked like a grizzly bear standing on its hind legs.
    Savannah shrank back. “S-sorry,” she stammered. Frank rolled his eyes and skated back to the face-off circle. “‘Sorry,’ she says. Oh, brother.”
    “Give her a break. She’s still learning how to play hockey,” Bizz shot back.
    “That right?” Frank draped his hockey stick across his shoulders and rested his arms on it. “Well, maybe she shouldn’t be out here, then. Maybe none of you should. You oughta leave the rink open to people who really know how to play.”
    “People like you, you mean?” Bizz finally let her anger out full force.
    “Yeah, me and my team,” Frank said.
    Bizz spread her hands wide. “Team? What team? I don’t see anybody here but you.” By now, the others had gathered behind her. “You, and my buds here, that is.”
    Frank drew himself up tall. “Oh, I’ve got a team, all right. And we’d
crush
you guys in a heartbeat!”
    “Ha!” Bizz let out a harsh laugh. “Wanna bet?”

    Frank slowly smiled. “Sure, I’ll bet,” he said in a nasty voice. “I bet we beat you guys in a game next Saturday. Ten o’clock. Winner takes all.”
    “Takes all of what?” Charlie wanted to know. Frank looked around at the rink and nodded. “This place beats where my team’s been playing. So let’s say whichever team wins gets to use this rink whenever they want. The losers clear out when the winners show up, no matter what. Deal?”
    Bizz didn’t hesitate. “Deal!” she cried, sticking out her hand. Frank spat on his hand and shook hers. Bizz pulled her hand away and wiped it on her pants. “Gross,” she muttered.
    Frank laughed, gathered up his gear, and skated away. “See you next Saturday, lo-o-o-o-o-o-sers!” he called over his shoulder.
    “What a jerk,” Bizz said, turning to look at her friends.
    They were all staring at her.
    “Uh, guys? Is something wrong?”

CHAPTER FOUR
    “Is something
wrong?
” X repeated. “Yeah, there’s something
wrong!
”
    “You just bet the roller hockey rink!” Jonas exploded.
    A hot flush crept into Bizz’s face. It suddenly dawned on her that her friends might have wanted to talk over the bet before she agreed to it.
    Then she shook herself. “What are you guys worried about?” she asked, filling her voice with confidence. “We’ll win, and that guy won’t bother us again!”
    “But if we lose, he’ll be in our faces all the time,” Charlie said, shaking his head.
    Mark agreed. “Guys like him rub your nose in it when you lose.”
    Bizz picked up her hockey stick. “Well, then we’ll just have to be sure we don’t lose. Now, who’s ready to play?”
    But no one seemed to have much interest in playing anymore. After ten minutes, Mark called it quits.
    “Yeah, I’m done, too,” Charlie said, popping out his mouth guard. The others started to take off their pads and helmets.
    Bizz felt awful. Then she had an idea. “Listen,” she said excitedly. “How about if we come up with plays to use on Saturday?” The others looked up.
    Encouraged, Bizz went on. “We can practice them all next week. Meet me at my house tonight, okay?” When no one replied, she added, “I’ll make dessert!” There were enough nods and murmurs of “yeah, all right” to convince Bizz they were on board.
    When her friends arrived that night, Bizz handed them each a brownie, a glass of milk, and a sheet of paper covered with plays she’d come up with that afternoon.
    “Okay, here’s the plan,” she said. “Jonas and I will be forwards. Charlie, you and X are our defensemen. Mark, you’ll be goalkeeper.”
    “What about me?”