Disclaimer: I own nothing and the song title belongs to my future husband Jason Mraz (in my delusional world that is)

Author's Notes: I was kind of stuck on my previous MD story so I did the only thing I could…start another one haha…anyway, hope you all enjoy~

~*On Love, In Sadness*~

~*Chapter One*~

Adam's POV  

I pulled at my locker door several more times; it was stuck.  Figuring that this was Eden Hall and stuff, you'd think they'd have lockers that worked but I guess that was too much to ask.  Finally, the door opened.  My locker basically resembled everything else in my life: clean at first glance, spotless in a glance but messy if you dig a little deeper.  And unfortunately I had to dig to find the English book I had to read by today that I had forgotten to do. 

Finally I found it buried underneath my gym clothes.  I sighed with relief but as I picked it up, a note fell out of it.  I wanted to wish that it were from Charlie; the messy scrawl did resemble his.  I never liked to hope though.  And it was unlikely.  Even if things were almost back to normal with me back on JV, I wasn't sure if Charlie had completely forgiven me for playing on Varsity for awhile.    

I opened up the note but was shocked to find that it was from Charlie.  Letting a pleased smile grow on my face, I read the note: Hey Adam.  Yeah, it's me, Charlie.  I guess I just basically wanted to say sorry, you know, for being such a jackass to you when you were on Varsity.  I should have known it was because of your dad and stuff and pressure.  Well it's not important anymore, that's over.  And I'm sorry.  So you want to hang out Friday?  Don't tell me you're gonna work on some paper, Cake-eater, that's what the weekend's for.  Talk to you at lunch. ~Charlie formerly Captain Jackass

I couldn't help laughing softly to myself.  Charlie had no problem with calling out his faults but at the same time, he didn't have a problem showing off his good points either.  He was well rounded like that.  I was planning on reading The Great Gatsby during lunch in the library but I preferred the idea of sitting at the table of the Ducks again.  I couldn't wait to listen to Julie explain a complicated math problem, Dwayne and Averman fight over which was better: pudding or jello, and I wouldn't even mind hearing Connie and Guy fawning over one another.  And most of all, I couldn't wait to hear Charlie announce another brazen plan may it be a prank, a play in hockey, or something else outrageous. 

My locker door slammed shut, making me jump in surprise and drop the book on the floor.

"Hey there, Banks, let me get that for you," said an all too familiar voice.  It was Riley.  He bent down to pick it up and hand it to me.

"The Great Gatsby huh?  I remember reading that in freshmen year."  I uncomfortably shifted from one foot to another.  The halls were starting to empty now that it was well into lunch, which made me even more nervous.   

"Hi Riley," I said.  "What do you want?"  Riley chuckled.

"That's no way to greet a former captain is it?"   The last of the people in the halls left to the cafeteria, leaving just Riley and me.  His expression changed very rapidly from social and amiable to nasty.

"Just because you're back with the Ducks doesn't mean anything has changed, Banksie."  He said my nickname tauntingly.  "You get that, right?"

"Yeah, yeah sure," I said quickly.  I just wanted out of there and with the Ducks.

"Don't think your Duck friends can protect you anymore than they could when you were still on the real hockey team of this school.  If you say anything to anyone, you know what will happen, don't you?"  I swallowed hard; my throat hurt.

"Yeah, I get it."  Riley reached out and gripped my shoulder, hard.  His dark eyes bored into mine, searching, making sure I was telling the truth. 

"Hey Riley, come on, I thought we were going off-campus for lunch," said a new voice.  It took Riley a second to realize that he still had his death-grip on my shoulder.  He let go and his hand slowly returned to his side.  I tried to discreetly massage my shoulder as Scooter approached us.  His face was carefully masked; I could tell, I often did the same thing.

"Hey Banks," he said, carefully.  He was trying to read all he could in Riley and my expressions yet not share anything himself.  Obviously he thought it was odd for us to be talking outside of when it was completely necessary.  Finally, he gave up and he grinned at me.  "So you like it back on JV with your friends?"

"Yeah, it's like the old days," I answered, lamely.  I stopped rubbing my shoulder when I saw Scooter was watching. 

"So…you're friends…are also doing well?" Scooter said.  I nearly rolled my eyes.  Scooter was not the most discreet person in the world.

"Julie says you play well and she wanted to get some pointers," I said.  It was only the half-truth though.  I felt loyal to the Cat at the fact that I also didn't mention she nearly salivated when talking about Scooter's, "gorgeous hair and soulful eyes."  She also mentioned that he had "bedroom eyes."  I told her that in that case, he also had a bathroom nose and she proceeded to punch me very hard in the stomach. 

"Really?"  He lighted up so much that it was kind of funny.  "So you think she'd want me to, you know, offer to hang out on the ice or something?"  I nearly laughed this time.  It was only Scooter who would find practicing on the ice romantic.  Then again, Julie might. 

"Yeah sure, she'd be pleased."  Scooter smiled.

"Thanks, man.  Hey Riley, so you coming or what?"  Riley looked almost confused at this exchange between Scooter and me but recovered.

"Yeah, let's go."  Riley gave me one last long look. 

"Don't forget," he said. 

"Forget what?" Scooter asked, as they walked away.

"It's nothing," I heard him answer.  If only that were true.  

~*~

Charlie's POV

I waited and let my friends talk for once and not contribute to the conversation, keeping my eyes on the door, waiting for Adam.  Where was he?  Did he not get my note?  Knowing Adam, he might be in the library or something finishing a paper three weeks ahead of time.  I smiled at the thought but I was still impatient. 

Finally, I got up.  Maybe I'd go check at the library or by his locker.

"Hey guys, I'm gonna go find Banks, see where that guy's gotten to."  There was a chorus of "sure," "yeah," and "see you later"'s.  I picked up my tray, still filled with lunch seeing as how today was macaroni and cheese, which was a little too gluey for my taste.  I scraped as much of the food into the garbage can and left it on the tray pick-up counter. 

I walked outside, enjoying the silence after the cafeteria's continual buzzing.  I rounded the corner, unconsciously knowing where Adam's locker was.  When we had still been fighting, or I had been, anyway, I had figured out where his locker was to walk by it even at unnecessary times to see if Adam would be there.  I don't know why.

"Banks?"  I saw him on the other side of the long hallway, leaning against the row of lockers, rubbing his shoulder, looking lost. 

"Adam," I said, which got his attention. 

"Oh, oh hey.  I was just about to go to the cafeteria," he said.

"What's wrong with your shoulder?" I asked blatantly.  Adam blinked several times, putting on that innocent act of his.

"Nothing," he said, eyes wide.  I pressed my lips together, contemplating on whether or not I should push it further.  Finally, I decided that our friendship was already on fragile grounds without me interrogating him on every little thing.

"So did you get my note?" I finally said.  Adam nodded.

"Yeah, thanks Charlie."

"It's cool.  I meant it too.  I was going to say it in person but I thought maybe you wouldn't listen.  Or wouldn't let me say everything I wanted to.  Or I was just too much of a coward."  I laughed slightly, at myself.  "So you want to watch a movie or something on Friday?"  Finally, there it was, the trademark Adam smile.  It was a genuine smile that made the corners of his eyes crinkle up and a slight dimple form on his right cheek. 

"I don't know, your pick in movies are pretty bad," he said, laughing.  "You're too into chick flicks."  I threw up my hands.

"Fine, you can pick," I said, in my most altruistic voice.

"Geez Charlie, don't sound like such a martyr."  I laughed.  It was just like it used to be, before this crazy JV/Varsity mess.

"Come on, aren't you hungry?  It's macaroni day."

"Yum," he said, sarcastically.  He pulled out a brown paper bag.  "I brought my own."  I eyed the bag hopefully.  Adam laughed.  I missed the sound. 

"Let's go," he said.  We started walking in perfect step with one another; I had to look away from Adam, to keep him from seeing the big goofy grin on my face from being so happy.  Unfortunately, that also kept me from seeing Adam's look of pain as he rubbed his shoulder as we walked to the cafeteria.   

~*~

Riley's POV

"So Riley," said Scooter, carefully.  He was driving and I was changing the stations on his radio, trying to find one song that was playing that wasn't so shitty that I thought my ears were going to bleed.

"What."

"So why were you and Banks talking today?" 

"What?  Can't even talk to a former teammate without getting a goddamn interrogation?"  Scooter knew better than to apologize when I was pissed off because that would just piss me off even more.

"Nah, you guys were never tight, that's all."

"Just checking up on the little guy, you weren't the only friend he had on Varsity, you know," I snapped.  I checked the dashboard compartment and found a medley of condoms and c.d.'s.  I carefully selected a burned c.d. and stuck it in the c.d. player.  I also took out a small, crisp package out with a sly grin. 

"So what?  Sleeping with "the Cat?"" I asked using the ridiculous nickname for the girl that Scooter had it bad for.  Now, why he was so into her that I didn't get.  Scooter turned bright red.

"No way.  She's still a freshman."

"So what?" 

"You're real sick sometimes, Riley.  You might not have a problem with freshmen but I do.  Besides I really like her." I didn't understand his reasoning there.

"Then what are all of these?"  Scooter shrugged.

"Some of the guys need them sometimes."  It was just like Scooter to play mommy for us all the time.  The one who advocated we didn't drink so much; the one who kept extra condoms to stop something as scandalous as pregnancy.  I shook my head and rolled down the window.  It was such a relief to get away from that tightass Eden Hall.  There was only one thing keeping me sane until graduation, only one thing that kept life interesting enough.  More like torturing a certain one person. 

I smiled to myself.  Adam Banks was more important than he'd ever know.

~*~

a/n: so what's this secret/threat that Riley has against Adam?  Why is Adam so important to Riley?  What's up with Charlie and Adam?  I have no idea…haha, just kidding, stay tuned and you'll find out.  Thanks for reading, please R&R on your way out!