Note: The lyrics are from Matchbox 20's 'Bent'

"Ring……….ring……….ring"

The phone was like countless other phones that Charlie had seen in his life. Small, beige and unobtrusive, while at the same time not adding anything to the room. It sounded like all the others too. Usually, it was one of Ducks, mainly Fulton or Guy. Sometimes it was Linda, Charlie's girlfriend, or a call for his mom. This time he didn't know who it was a frankly he didn't care. He didn't feel like talking to anyone and fought the urge to hurl the phone into the wall. He had just got home from the impromptu JV versus Varsity game. Needless to say JV got their asses kicked and on top of that, Charlie managed to blow up at Coach Orion and quit the team as well as school. He had also blown up at Adam, but even before that their friendship was deteriorating, ever since Adam made Varsity. Deep down Charlie had always resented the fact that Adam was better than him, hockey, school, as well as monetarily; but Charlie always pushed it aside, and was friends with Adam because he was a cool guy and great to hang out with. However, after Adam made Varsity, Charlie became more distant and deep down resented the fact that once again Adam was better than he was.

Today, though, don't ask why, but something compelled Charlie to answer the phone, an inner instinct perhaps. Little did he know that this conversation would be unlike any he had ever had before.

* *

"Hello?" He answered somewhat distractedly.

"Charlie..."

It was his first impulse to hang up just from hearing that single word. He liked to consider himself a forgiving type, but Adam had betrayed the Ducks, or so Charlie thought, he wasn't about to forgive him so soon, if ever.

"Yes, Adam?" Charlie sing-songed sarcastically, "What can I do for you?"

"Just listen to me, Charlie," Adam began in an uncharacteristic beg. "You're the only one who has ever really listened to me before and I need to talk to someone. Please, listen to me."

"Okay," Charlie began, completely focused on that weak, pleading voice on the other end of the line. Forgetting about the animosity he held towards Adam. "Talk to me, Buddy. What's going on?"

"Everything's going on," Adam said, sounding completely overwhelmed. "My dad doesn't care about me. Its always hockey this and hockey that with him. He won't give me the time of day unless it has to do with hockey. I'm on the outs with the Ducks. You and I are fighting. Varsity wants me to be one of "them" People want this and that from me, that I never have any time for me, Adam Banks. God, I am so confused, it all hurts inside. I'm so confused, Charlie. You've just got to listen to me, please."

Charlie opened his mouth to answer, but Adam's voice cut him off. He listened as Adam half sang/ half sobbed softly over the line, his voice stuttering as though he couldn't quite remember the words.

*****I started out clean but I'm jaded Just falling Just breaking the skin Start bending me It's never enough 'Til I feel all your pieces Start bending me Keep bending me until I'm completely broken in*****

Actually, the first time Charlie had heard that song, he'd thought about Adam. Adam seems to have it all but really he was nothing more than a mere hockey puppet for his father who never got to fulfill his dream of making it to the NHL due to a career ending back injury. Though he dare not speak as Adam began to talk again, his words tumbling over each other, as though he didn't have enough time to get them out.

"God, Charlie, I can't do this any more. You don't know what it's like. I'm being pulled in different ways. I can't stand it. If I try to do something that just me, just Adam, they find some way to take me away from it. They always need me do what they want me to do. It's so tiring. I don't want to do this--"

"I miss the Ducks," Adam began abruptly. "I remember when the team was still District Five. I would sneak away and watch you guys practice at the pond. Laughing at your lack of skills but crying at the same time because you guys were having so much fun and I wanted that. I wanted the fun, to not have to worry about winning. The day I first became a duck, I was so happy but I hid it because my dad wanted me to be a Hawk. I felt like I could finally be myself and finally have fun with hockey and I did. I had the time of my life as a Duck. Then I became friends with you. It was great Charlie; it was great. We became best friends then, Charlie ... right? Best friends?"

"Best friends," Charlie confirmed, his voice choking a little. Why was Adam bringing all of this up? He sounded so strange.

"Ever since I became a Duck, you guys were my friends" Adam told him with utter certainty. "We were best friends and the Ducks were my only real friends. You only wanted to be around me for me, not because I was great at hockey just because I was cool to hang with. That's all I'm good for now, hockey. People just bend me, break me however they need to and I'm going along with it because it's my job. I've forgotten how to be Adam Bank, the one who used to be friends with you. Maybe you could teach me again, but it's too late."

"What do you mean 'it's too late'?" Charlie demanded, worry churning in his gut.

"I'm just so tired, Charlie." Adam whispered. "Tired of being what everyone needs me to be. My dad doesn't love me. You hate me. "Who am I, Charlie?"

* *

"You're my friend, Adam," Charlie began desperately. "You've always been my friend, ever since you came to the team and I don't want anything to happen to you. I don't hate you, Adam. Why don't you get away from hockey for a while..."

"There's no getting away," Adam whispered. "My dad would never forgive me, Varsity would be out to get me. It's everywhere; it's everything and it's choking me."

"Get away from hockey," Charlie repeated desperately. "Fuck your dad, if he doesn't care for you unless it's about hockey then you don't need him. You can sure in the hell fuck Varsity. You're not one of them; you're a duck, regardless of if you play hockey. Take a break from hockey, do something else. Take some time to go find yourself, the true Adam Banks. The rest of the team and I, we'll be waiting for you if and when you decide to play again. It doesn't matter who you are to us. You're our friend and you always and forever will be."

"Always--" Adam echoed, sounding delirious and somewhat incoherent. "Forever. Charlie forever sounds so nice."

"Ducks till the end, Adam." Charlie managed to get out. He fought back tears, afraid of what Adam was going to say next. However, he was compelled to stay on the line. Hopefully, he could talk his friend out of this deep depression. There was silence on the other end of the line for a long, long time.

* *

"I took some pills, Charlie."

"Oh, Adam! No, come on--"

"I d-did. A whole handful. Right now, I'm lying on the bed in my dorm room and I have the phone on my shoulder. Listening to your voice. You sound so healthy buddy. You must be doin' real well, huh? I wish I were doing that nice. Just so tired of it all this."

"Adam, let me get you some help, please. Don't end it like this!" Charlie was screaming into the receiver, feeling utterly helpless. Adam was too smart and too strong a person. He would not let this happen. He could not let this happen!

"So tired of being twisted around like this, Charlie." Adam murmured sleepily. "Doing what everyone wants me to do. Being who everyone needs me to be."

"Adam, don't do this, please," Charlie pleaded. "If we were ever friends... call some help okay, you've got to!"

"I just wanna talk to you for a little while, longer." Adam said, not hearing his friend's words. "It's so nice to hear your voice again. Everything's so light now, Charlie. I can feel myself floating..."

"Adam..."

Then the song resumed. Only this time it was much more disjointed and barely understandable.

*****Can you help me I'm bent I'm so scared that I'll never Get put back together Yeah, you're breaking me in And this is how we will live With you and me bent...****

"Adam, Adam... please, man. C'mon, answer me!"

But there was only silence.