Disclaimer: I don't own the Mighty Ducks or any members of the Varsity team that show up here. They all belong to Disney. I only own my original characters.
Author's Note: To anyone reading my other fics, I have not given up on them. Do not worry. I just had to write this down before it got away from me. Enjoy the chapter :-p
Summary: A new girl with ties to Luis Mendoza comes to Eden Hall. What happens when members of the Varsity team try to make trouble for our favorite hockey team? Will the boy Ducks be able to save the day?
Together Again
Chapter One
Mili
The sun was setting on the lake at Eden Hall Academy. A group of boys and girls were sitting around laughing and enjoying the early evening when the ringing of a cell phone interrupted them.
"Mendoza speaking."
"Luis! Is that any way to greet your mother? Respeto! (Respect!)"
"Perdoname Mamita. No sabia que eras tu. (I'm sorry Mommy. I didn't know it was you.)"
"That's much better."
The look on Luis' face went from sheepish to happy even though his mother couldn't see it over the telephone.
"How is everyone in Miami? I miss them so much."
"We're all fine Mijito. And we all miss you too. I was actually calling for a reason."
His interest was peaked.
"De verdad? (Really?) What's that Mama?"
"Your prima is going to school with you. She was just given a music scholarship and will be arriving in the next week. Your Tia Magdalena and I are counting on you to keep an eye on her. Make sure she fits in."
"And not get into any trouble."
"That's right. I have to go. The baby's crying."
"Okay, give my sobrino a kiss for me. Te amo Mami. (I love you Mommy.) Adios!"
The line went died.
"What was that about?"
The question came from Dwayne Robertson, one of Luis' friends and teammates.
"Turns out you guys will finally get to met one of my cousins."
"Which one? Portia?"
"Nah Kenny. Portia's too young. My cousin Emilia."
The group was confused still.
"The one that sings."
Realization dawned on the faces of some but others still had no idea who he was talking about.
"Don't you have two cousins that sing?" Jesse Hall asked.
"Yeah, but only one of them is actually studying it. That would be Mili."
"I thought you said her name was Emilia?" Dwayne asked him.
"It's a nickname Cowboy."
A small sheepish smile formed on the cowboy's face.
"Sorry. Anyway, tell us more about her."
"She's the family talent. Whenever the family has some kind of get-together they always try to make Mili sing. She gets a little shy about it, like if she's put on the spot. But when it comes to being on a stage or competitions Mili has no stage fright whatsoever."
Dean Portman interrupted him.
"But is that all there is to your cousin or does she do more than just sing? No offense or nothing Mendoza."
"None taken. But she doesn't just sing. That just happens to be the thing that stands out about her. That and her being a smarty pants bookworm. Portia loves to tease Mili about that."
"Little sisters." piped in Julie Gaffney. "Can't live with them. Can't live without them."
"Ain't that the truth Cat Lady."
Everybody started laughing again.
"So what other things does she like?"
"Let's see," Luis scratched his chin to think for a moment. "Mils loves dancing, especially salsa. She likes listening to most kinds of music. Her all-time favorite song is 'Bohemian Rhapsody' by Queen."
"A classic," cut in the Bash Brothers getting another round of giggles.
"Most movie genres will get her too. She's a sucker for anything with John Cuasak but the two she watches the most are 'Say Anything' and 'High Fidelity'. Loves pizza. Candy is the food to give her if she's in the middle of cramming for tests or any kind of performance. But she has a major addiction for Junior Mints. Oh, and she drinks way too much coffee. She's my best friend and the sister I never had."
The look on Luis' face was one of pride and affection.
"Wow." Fulton Reed said. "You really love her don't you?"
"I'd lay down my own life for her. In a heartbeat. I'd do anything for Mili."
The mood started to get a little serious. Something needed to be done and fast to get the fun times rolling again. Just then someone's cell was going off. It was Luis' again.
"Hello? Mili! How's my favorite girl?"
"I'm good cousin. What about you? How's that school of yours treating you?"
"Everything's good here baby. How are you? Nervous about next week?"
He could hear her laughter on the other end. That laughter was enough to put a smile back on his face.
"Mili, hold on a sec. Ducks, say hi to my cousin Mili."
He turned the cell phone so that she could hear them through the receiver. She was still laughing when he came back on the line.
"Luis, I can't wait to meet them. They sound like a fun group."
"They are Mils. They can't wait to meet you either. Were your ears burning by any chance?"
"So it was you that was making them itch like that! Its' okay. There must have been lots of questions after Tia Pilar called to give you the good news. It's fine. Better to get them over with now instead of them bugging you all week and driving you crazy. Anyway, I was gonna ask if there was anything you wanted me to bring you from home that you might need."
"Nothing important that I might need. But now that you mention it, go through my cds and see if you can find me some good salsa music."
"Yay! The great Luis Mendoza is granting little old me permission to touch his precious cd collection."
"Muy chistosa Emilia. (Very funny Emilia.)"
"Primo, relax. I was just kidding. I have to go. Tia Pili needs me to look after the baby. I'll tell him his Tio Luis sends him a kiss."
"Okay Mili. I'll talk to you later. Email or text me the flight info so I can meet you at the airport."
"Okay. I'll do that when the baby takes a nap. Love you primo. Hasta luego."
"Bye Mili. I love you too."
"Aww. How cute."
"Shut up guys. Like I said, she's like my sister."
"Don't listen to the boys Luis." Connie Moreau told him. "I think it's' really sweet."
"Thanks Cons."
"Anytime."
One week later…
The airport was packed. People getting on planes going somewhere. People getting off planes. Luis Mendoza stood nervous by the gate waiting for the plane coming in from Miami.
"How long has it been since you last saw her?"
"What?" he asked his companion. "Oh, since the middle of summer. She had to go to some music camp in the middle of July and I left Miami before she came home. But we talk everyday either through the cell or Internet. By the way, thanks for coming with me Tammy. Goldberg's car was too little to fit all of her stuff in it. And I know Fulton wouldn't let me drive his truck."
Tammy Duncan, one of the girls on the Ducks and one of the team's figure skaters, laughed at his comment.
"Don't mention it. That thing is like his baby. Only let's Portman or one of us girls drive it. He would've driven you himself but he had that test to study for and Julie wasn't gonna let him off of helping them study."
Tammy looked at her watch. "What time does the flight get in?"
Luis looked down at the paper with the information he needed.
"Should be any minute now. Mili said eleven thirty. And the board says the plane's on time."
The two teen-agers waited on nearby chairs. Half an hour passed when they heard the flight number they were waiting on.
"What does she look like?"
"The last time I saw Mili she had medium brownish hair. Might've been straight or curly. Don't really remember. Not too tall but not too short either. Five foot two or three. Cute little chubby girl with a round face."
Tammy saw a girl motioning to Luis when he wasn't looking. She put her finger to her lips signaling to Tammy not to say anything. Luis turned his back for two seconds to scan the people that had passed by them. Then he felt a pair of hands cover his eyes.
"Hola primito."
Luis unmoved his eyes, spun around and gathered the girl in his arms.
"Mili!" he said twirling her around. "I've missed you."
"Me too." She smiled at Luis and the girl that was with him. "Hi, I'm Emilia but please call me Mili. You can also call me Mils or Em." She stuck her hand out to the other girl. "You must be Connie, Julie or Tammy. right?"
"Tammy. Nice to finally meet you. We've heard a lot about you."
"Same here. The Ducks are all Luis talks about when he's home. Well, that and the girls he's met at school."
They all laughed before heading to the baggage claim. They made small talk while waiting for the bags to come around the carrousel.
"So what grade are you in Mils?"
"The same as everyone else. Sophomore. Our moms were pregnant together. So we were practically raised like brother and sister instead of cousins."
"That is too cute." Tammy saw the look forming on Luis' face. "Don't worry Mendoza, your rep won't be in danger." She turned back to Mili who was getting the last of her bags off the carousel. "You feel like getting pizza after we drop your bags off at school? I'm sure everyone else will be waiting to meet you."
"Sure. But I'll have to go straight to the Dean's office as soon as I get to campus so I can register for classes and find out where I'll be living." She adjusted the strap on her backpack while her, Tammy and Luis each picked up a suitcase to take to the car. "Let's go."
Author's Note: Okay, I'm gonna leave it there for now. Before I forget, I don't own Queen or John Cuasak. I also don't own the movies 'Say Anything' or 'High Fidelity' or the song 'Bohemian Rhapsody'. Feedback would be wonderful but if you don't want to leave it I won't force you. Hope you liked this chapter.