TITLE: Purple Rain
AUTHOR: Erin E. Peters
CHARACTERS: All the Ducks from D3. Phillip Banks. Casey Conway. Linda. Female OCs.
RELATIONSHIPS: Charlie Conway/Adam Banks.
RATING: Teen – just to be safe. Rated for adult situations, language and slash.
SUMMARY: Charlie and Adam each deal with their own internal struggles during the summer between freshman and sophomore year; all the while standing by each other's side.
DISCLAIMER: I do not own the Mighty Ducks. I only own my own story scenarios. I do, however, own the ideas of the girls that Mr. Banks 'forces' on his son.
NOTES: Not sure if there's anything in this story that is outside the realm of the time period. I also think that I kept everyone in character well. But, if you do catch something, please do let me know about it. I welcome constructive criticism, as well as positive feedback. It will only help me as I write more about these guys. #inspiration
*This is the sequel to I KNEW I LOVED YOU (AKA SIMPLE AS THAT). I had to expand on the vibe that I got writing that story. So I bring you – PURPLE RAIN.
This is a chapter piece – more to come. As of right now I am on Four.
ONE
Charlie Conway relaxed into his lawn chair, closing his eyes as the warm June breeze danced across his bare chest.
"You're just delaying the inevitable, Conway."
Charlie squinted an eye open. Standing above him was Adam Banks, his boyfriend of four months, equally bare chest dripping wet. "Get out of my sun, man." He waved his hand in a gesture that said go away.
"But we only have an hour till Dad gets home." The blonde whined.
The two were spending the first week day of their summer vacation hanging out by the Banks' pool while Adam's parents were at work. His mom was working her regular shift at Abbott Northwestern Hospital and wouldn't be home until 10 at night. His dad, however, was working the normal 9 to 5 business day at his law firm.
"I happen to know, babe, you were begging me all spring to lay out and tan the first chance I got." Charlie looked down toward his chest and beamed at his olive skin. He knew that he was definitely gonna need to get a banging tan for the both of them this summer. My man's as pale as a ghost. He thought, looking up at the other's fair skin.
"Alright, you asked for it. Don't say I didn't warn you." Adam bent down and scooped his boyfriend up in his arms, laughing up a storm. "We don't have all day."
Charlie faked a protest, but loved it when Adam picked him up like this. The front line center was thin, a bit thinner than Charlie, but Adam was sure strong and muscular. The brunette was actually a bit surprised he was so easy to pick up. He had always thought of himself as a well-built guy, but his boyfriend, who was only taller than him by two inches, never seemed to have a problem carrying him.
"Put me down, Banks, seriously." Charlie pleaded, to no avail.
Adam just laughed the whole way over to the in-ground pool, as crystal blue as both their eyes, and tossed him in.
Charlie bobbed to the surface a second later, gasping for air. "Don't make me dump your ass. I'm this close." He sarcastically touched his fingers together.
"You wouldn't dump me. Whose homework would you copy next year? Sophomore year ain't gonna be a cake walk." Adam cackled mockingly, sitting down at the edge of the pool.
Charlie swam over to him and placed his hands on Adam's knees. "You've got a point, man." He leaned up, and Adam bent his head down to meet his in a short, sweet kiss.
"I know, dear. I'm the brains and you're the beauty, remember?" Adam lifted himself up on his hands, pushing himself in the water. When he came up to the surface, his mouth immediately found Charlie's again, his hands making their way into a huge mass of wet, brown curls. Adam could play in Charlie's hair all day. It was one of his favorite things to do.
Meanwhile, Charlie was taking his sweet time enjoying his favorite activity, which was running his fingers up and down the expansive mass of muscle on his extremely athletic boyfriend's back. "Oh, I remember." He cooed into the other's lips.
"See, it isn't so bad being in here, is it?" Adam said when he broke the kiss a few minutes later.
"Yeah, I suppose you can wait a bit for me to get all tan and sexy." Charlie giggled.
"Shut up, you already are sexy." Adam playfully splashed the other boy, and then hurriedly swam away down the length of the pool. "Come on. I'm Marco and you're Polo." He instructed.
…
The wet boyfriends followed each other inside the big house; towels hung low around their waists.
Adam glanced at the microwave as they made their way into the kitchen. Quarter after 5. "Well, I guess we should start acting like normal, unattached friends." He drawled out the last word sullenly.
"Yeah, I suppose." Charlie responded, opening the stainless steel refrigerator.
"Or," Adam smirked, "we could just come out to him when he gets home." He was, of course, completely joking.
Charlie shut the door and looked at the blonde in mock incredulousness. "I doubt the first thing your dad wants to see after a hard day at work is his son holding hands with another boy."
"I know. It just sucks." Adam looked down at the floor.
"What does?" The brunette asked, peeling a banana and popping it in his mouth. The other boy tried not to stare.
"This." Adam gestured between the pair, as Charlie had done in a conversation four months ago that Adam remembered quite fondly. He sighed.
"Dude, you're the one who's afraid to tell daddy." Charlie said, nonchalantly sucking on his banana. Again, Adam tried not to stare. "I don't know why."
Adam looked to the floor again, lost in thought. Charlie was exactly right. He had accepted his 'abnormality' within himself long ago, but was actually terrified for his dad to find out about it. If it took him that long to get over me switching teams when I was little, how long will it take for him to get over finding out I've switched teams now? He quietly giggled at his joke, referring to his hockey team transfer back in sixth grade.
He looked over at Charlie, happily eating his banana. Adam smiled widely at the way his boyfriend ate fruit. It was so adorable. Put a burger and fries in front of the kid, however, and it was a completely different story.
The taller boy heard a car pull up in the driveway. "Dad's home," He uttered. He could see Charlie frown.
…
Charlie lay on his bed at 6PM, playing catch with his hockey puck. He had come right home after exchanging pleasantries with Mr. Banks. Adam's dad had allowed him to have a friend over while he was at work, as some kind of a treat for achieving a perfect 4.0 his freshman year. If only he knew what we did in the backyard for half the day…Charlie laughed inwardly.
The brunette was jostled from his thoughts by a knock on his bedroom door. "Honey," Casey Conway timidly poked her head in the door. "It's time for dinner."
Charlie sat up in his bed. "Hey Mom? Can we talk?" He scratched at the back of his neck.
Casey sat down on the foot of her only son's bed. "Of course, what's going on?"
"Well," Charlie began, a bit timidly himself, "You know how last year I was a bit…moody?"
"Yeah." Casey let out a small laugh. Charlie had been tough to handle lately, that was for sure.
"And you know how I was frustrated with Adam getting bumped up to Varsity?" He continued. He didn't even know why he was having this conversation with his mom. It was just coming out. Yep, that's what I'm doing. He quipped to himself.
Casey scooted closer to her son and looked at him attentively. "You know he wasn't leaving you behind. It's not his fault. Kid's great at hockey." Her voice was calm as could be. It made Charlie so comfortable and set him at ease.
"Well, I thought he was, and thought he was turning back into the enemy, and I sort of lashed out at him at one point. We didn't speak for a week; just kind of shared a room."
"Honey, you know him better than that. Adam has been your best friend for a long time now." Casey said, maintaining her comforting composure and tone of voice. "And, he did come back in the end." She added.
"Anyway, after our big game at the end of the season we all had a party in Goldberg and Averman's dorm room." He looked at his mom tentatively. "Alcohol was involved."
"Charles Conway!" She raised her voice maternally. "You're fifteen years old." The boy looked at the ground shamefully. He knew he shouldn't be drinking yet. But the Bash Brothers had been so…gracious.
"Yeah, I know, but Fulton and Portman had fake ID's and snuck some in. Anyway, when we got back to our room, right away Adam passed out on my bed." He glanced sideways. Lightweight, he laughed to himself.
"And –" Casey prompted, curious to know where her son was going with this.
"I was really tired, and wanted my bed back, so to wake his dead ass up I…kissed him. Jokingly."
His mom softly gasped.
"And it was so good that I broke up with Linda the next day."
Casey looked confused. But she had a slight twinkle in her eyes like she knew where this was leading.
"I came back to the room, and I talked with Adam about everything. And" the brunette nervously scratched the back of his neck again, "we've been together ever since."
Casey put a comforting hand on Charlie's leg. "Honey, I've sort of had a feeling." Her eyes were warm and reassuring. "Are you, though?"
"I don't know. I mean, I still like girls. But…I'm in love with Adam."
Casey smiled. "Good." Charlie looked at his mom, shocked at her incredibly compassionate reaction. She continued. "I'm just so happy my amazing son found love. I really don't care who with." She squeezed his knee comfortingly.
"I love you, Mom." Charlie beamed, embracing his mother warmly. Why can't everyone be as cool as Mom? He wondered.
"So do your friends know?" Casey asked when Charlie pulled back. He glanced down at the floor.
"Mom, ever since I've been at Eden Hall people have called me a 'ladies man'. I can't easily tell everyone I'm in love with my roommate, can I?" Charlie explained. Adam and his daddy issues, and me and my damn reputation to protect. This sucks. He thought wistfully.
"Well, I'm glad you told me. I really like Adam. Good for you guys." Casey said warmly.
Again, why can't everyone be as cool as Mom?
"Anyway, come on, champ. Dinner's getting cold."
"Spaghetti?" Charlie looked up at his mom, who had risen from the bed. Casey grinned and nodded her head.
"Did I mention I love you?" Charlie bounced up, racing his mom out to the dinner table.