disclaimer: i do NOT own The Mighty Ducks, Dean Portman, or the City of Chicago. i DO own Kelsey, Gracie, Lizzie, Toni, Ma (Maria), Rico, Sarah and any other originial character

a/n: hello everyone! welcome to the wonderful (or maybe, not so wonderful) world of Kelsey Gwendolyn007! we hope you enjoy your stay and whatever you may read. constructive critism is welcome, however, put downs are not. this first chapter is simply to show you the lifestlye of Kelsey and the Mendes family. Enjoy!

One year. That’s all it took. One year for my best friend to move away. One year for my best friend to change. One year for my best friend to completely forget about me. You would never imagine so much happening in one year, I know I didn’t. And to this day, I don’t know why I let my best friend take the one year.

Dean Portman was starting his sophomore year at Eden Hall Academy with all the Ducks. He moved from Chicago one year ago and finished the season with his team. Nothing could make him happier.

I, Kelsey Mendes was also starting my sophomore year at Harrison High School in Chicago. In one year, I had gone from an awkward tom-boy hockey player to an “exotic Brazilian” beauty…hockey player, by definition of my sister, Toni. But more than that changed, I got the privilege of starting my sophomore year alone. Nothing made me more miserable.

Summer was ending soon, too soon. I bladed through the rain to hockey practice. Arriving twelve minutes late.

“Sorry Coach.” I sighed upon seeing the death glare he gave her

“Don’t let it happen again, Mendes.”

She nodded lacing her skates. Peter, the left wing, skated over.

“Hey Mendes.” he greeted taking off his helmet to reveal his short blonde hair.

“Hey Pete.” I smiled.

“Uh, me and the guys were goin’ out for ice cream after practice…if you wanna come.”

“I’d love to, but I can’t. I gotta get home so I can take Gracie to ballet, Rico to soccer and-”

“It’s cool.” he smiled, his blue eyes glistening. “Maybe another time.”

I sighed finishing her lace and standing and hopping over the wall.

“Alright, let’s go guys.” Coach Paris demanded.

The team ran threw warm-up and twenty different plays in the two hour span of practice. I stood goalie the whole time. At the end, I was exhausted. I headed back home to my tiny, three bedroom house.

“Ma! I’m home!” I called walking in.

“Hey Kelsey!” Gracie welcomed

“Hey Gracie, you ready to go to ballet?”

“Yeah, hold on.” she said running off to hers and Sarah’s room.

“Rico!” I called

“Yeah?” my little brother’s voice came from the kitchen.

I walked into the kitchen seeing him cooking with Toni.

“Don’t you have soccer tonight?” I asked

“No, practice was canceled on account of the rain.” he stated

“Hey Kelsey?” Toni started “Can you ask Mom if we have cinnamon.”

“We don’t.” I answered.

“Oh.”

“Where is mom?”

“Her room, I think.” Toni replied

I nodded and walked down the hall passing Rico’s room, then Sarah and Gracie’s room, then the bathroom, and finally reaching my mom’s room.

“Ma?” I said entering her room.

“Sshh.” she said putting her finger to her lips, then returning to her phone call.

I looked to the ground and waited. And waited. And waited.

“What do you need, Kels?” she asked

“Huh? Oh, who was that?” I asked not answering her question

“David. Now what do you need?”

David was her boyfriend of the month.

“I was wondering if-”

“Kelsey?” Gracie peeked in. “We need to go.” she ordered placing a hand on her hip

For a seven year old, she had a lot of power and the attitude to go with it.

“Yeah, I’m coming.” I smiled standing and following her out.

I walked out of my mom’s room and followed Gracie.

“Kelsey?” I heard my name.

“Yeah?” I turned to see Sarah

“I got a boo-boo” she said, holding up her finger.

“Oh no.” I said taking her finger, a small bite mark was present on her tiny four-year-old finger. “How’d this happen?”

“There was a kitty outside, and I wanted to pet it..” she trailed off.

“TONI!” I called and my older sister came rushing into the living room.

“What?”

“She got bit by a stray cat.” I stated “Can you take care of this?”

“Yeah,” Toni nodded “Come on Sarah, lets get you cleaned up.” she said picking up the tiny girl and taking her into the bathroom

Gracie stood with an annoyed expression on her face. “Keeelllsseeeeyy!” she whined

“I’m coming!” I laughed.

We walked the few blocks to her ballet studio and entered silently, late.

“Alright girls, keep stretching. 1 and 2 and 3 and 4.” Miss Caroline, the dance instructor ordered “Hello Gracie, Kelsey.”

“Sorry we’re late,” I apologized. “We had some problems at home.

“As usual.” Lizzie Hobbs, Miss Caroline’s assistant and Harrison High School’s drama queen, sneered.

“That’s alright.” Miss Caroline smiled at me. “Why don’t you go join the girls, Gracie.”

My sister smiled and went to the bars. Miss Caroline had a serious expression on her face as she looked back to me.

“Kelsey, I know it isn’t your fault.” she started “But if Gracie is late again, we’re going to have to remove her from the class.”

“Of course, I understand.” I smiled looking from Grace to Miss Caroline.

“Good, we’ll see you at 5 then.” she said

I nodded and turned to leave, only to be stopped by Lizzie.

“Mendes.” she called

“What?” I sighed annoyed.

“All I have to say is, you better watch your back this year. Don’t think because you got and extreme make-over that you’ll actually be popular.” she smirked evilly

“Yeah, thanks.” I scoffed. “Because I SO wanted to be an airhead like you.”

She stood, mouth a-gape and I walked out.

Ten minutes later I was at my house. I headed straight for the basement where mine and Toni’s room was. I plopped down on my bed and sighed.

“Kelsey?” my mom called down the stairs.

“Come in.” I replied

“What did you want to talk about, sweetie.” she asked taking a long drag of her cigarette.

“Ma, can you NOT smoke in here.” I pleaded.

“Fine. Now talk.”

“Well, I was thinking…we could…maybe move. Away from Chicago, I mean. It could be good for us.”

“We don’t have the money.” she shook her head

“Maybe if you laid of the cigarettes we would, Ma!” I said

“My smoking has nothing to do with this family’s money condition.”

“But, Ma. Gracie’s on the verge of being kicked out her dance class, Sarah’s getting bit by stray animals on an almost weekly basis now, and I’ve got absolutely no friend since Portman left.” I cried

“Since when is Gracie getting kicked out of her dance class?”

“Today, she might be. If she’s late again. Because we always have ‘family problems’. Problems Toni or I always have to take care of because you’re always on the phone or with whatever arm candy you have that month. And I don’t think Sarah has an un-scared part on her body!”

“Don’t bring David into this!” she said “I am trying the best I-”

“Kelsey?” Sarah’s timid voice called

“We’ll finish this later.” my mom stated, standing to leave.

“What did you need, Princess?” I asked smiling.

“Mayor Teddy Bear got a boo-boo now.” she said holding up her tiny bear in a sweater.

“Oh did he now?” I said observing the bear. “Well, I think he needs to check into Dr. Kelsey’s Hospital for Bears!” I smiled

I took her bear and carried him to the small table that held a sewing kit. I stitch up the bear’s “boo-boo” and kissed his nose.

“He’s all better now! But I think he needs at least 24 hours of rest.” I said in a deep voice.

“Alright Doctor Kelsey!” Sarah saluted.

I laughed and picked her up. She giggled as I spun her around. Then there was a knock at the door.

“Yeah?”

My mom peeked her head in. “I’m going out. Toni’s making dinner. Don’t forget to pick up Gracie.”

Then she closed the door. I sighed and set Sarah down.

“You wanna come with me to get Gracie?” I asked.

Sarah nodded and ran up the stairs to grab her lady-bug rain jacket. I laughed to myself and followed behind her.