I started to wake up as I felt kisses going up the back of my neck. They were so light I barely felt them, but I knew Charlie was trying to wake me up. It doesn't take much. I'm such a light sleeper; especially after extremely rough practices.

I made Varsity Warriors as a freshman a month ago when the season started. Most people were not happy about it besides my father. He was ecstatic. My father only cares about hockey though. He is the only parent I know that would get mad at his son for being injured instead of being concerned. I was in trouble after my initial wrist injury because I couldn't hide the pain enough. I told him to imagine how having a hockey stick broke in half over your wrist would feel. It resulted in a yelling fight between us which eventually ended up with shoving, pushing, and "knocking some sense into me". He wants me to go to the pros and be the best hockey player in the nation. I want to go pro, but I want to do it for me. Not him.

The ducks weren't so into the idea of me being on a different team either. We had been together for years and had been through a lot. Charlie and I had our first big fight that night. He was mad that I was leaving him behind. It wasn't even my choice to be on varsity, but he was still mad at me. We didn't share a bed for two nights after that. We barely even talked to each other.

Flashback

"Charlie. Please. Just talk to me," I begged.

"No. I can't deal with this right now," Charlie snapped.

"What can't you deal with? It's not like I intentionally made Varsity. They are going to hate me. Charlie, I need you to help me and make me feel better. Not make me feel like an ass for making Varsity."

"Why couldn't you have screwed up a bit during practice instead of being flawless like usual?! Why couldn't you do that for me? You must have known there was a chance you would make Varsity and leave me behind. How dare you just leave me behind!" Charlie yelled while throwing a book in my direction.

I picked the book up and put it back on the shelf. I walked up to him leaving only a foot of space between us. "I'm not leaving you. If I was leaving you I wouldn't be here right now would I? I didn't know there was a chance of being bumped to Varsity. I don't like the idea of being on Varsity just as much as anyone else does. What can I do to calm you?"

Charlie looked me in the eyes, "Go sleep in your own bed." Then he turned around and lay down in his own bed with his back to my side of the room.

I felt like I had just been smacked in the face. I went and changed my clothes. Then I crawled into my own bed and cried myself to sleep.

End Flashback

Varsity was not happy that I had made the team either. The captain was trying to get all the ducks scholarships taken away and now he was landed with a duck on his team. Luckily, the scholarships were not taken away, but that gave Rick and Cole more reason to hate me. Rick Riley and his enforcer Cole were always gunning for me on the ice. Yesterday was no different. I personally lost track of the legal and illegal checks they did behind coaches back. However, my body could certainly probably be the indicator. I hurt everywhere. Opening my eyes a little, I could see in the sunlight that my bad wrist was swollen and bruised.

Why did the Goodwill Games have to be televised? Why did everyone have to see my wrist injury on television? Everyone knows my weakness. My wrist.

I was pulled from my thoughts to more kisses. This time I rolled over more towards Charlie. He smiled and kissed my cheek. Then he raised his hand up to stroke my cheek which I winced at. Bruise number one has now been accounted for.

"Shit. I'm sorry Adam." Charlie said quickly.

Yesterday, I came back to our room moving slowly and collapsed on my bed. Charlie crawled onto my bed rubbing my back. I didn't have the heart to tell him that it hurt due to the potential bruises on my back. After all he was just trying to comfort me.

"I forgot about the bruises," he muttered again taking me away from my thoughts.

"It's fine. It's not your fault everything hurts."

"How's your wrist?" He asked concern written all over his face.

I rolled over completely and let him look. He gracefully ran his fingers over my wrist. I winced at his touch. Good thing we don't have practice today. I wouldn't have survived another battering like yesterday. Coach gave us today off since we won our game 11-2 against Blake's varsity team and we had really good practices this week.

Charlie slid out of bed and got something out of the refrigerator and a towel. He came back with an ice pack wrapped in a towel and laid it on my wrist.

"That wrist isn't looking good today Adam. You should go get it looked at," he said as he laid down next to me again. Charlie looked more worried now than he had last night when I came home.

"I can't," I answered simply while adjusting the ice pack.

"What's the excuse this time?" I can't say his response is surprising. I always make excuses to not get my injuries looked at. Especially if they were at the hands of varsity. I don't want anyone on varsity to know that the beatings are actually as bad as they are. I guess it also has to do with my pride. Then again, they could be worse because they think they aren't phasing me.

"I have homework to do and I would rather spend my day with you," I said while flirting lightly and pulling him closer to me.

"Adam. Getting your wrist looked at won't take long. Still time for homework and me." Charlie stared at me trying to read me.

"It's just a bruise. I'm going to go shower." I grabbed my towel and went into the bathroom and locked the door. We normally allow each other privacy during showers, but I wouldn't put it past Charlie to come peek to see my bruises.

I looked in the mirror at myself. There's the bruise on my cheek from where my face met ice due to my helmet being flipped off. Thank you Cole. My right collarbone and shoulder have one long slender bruise from being hit with Cole's hockey stick while I was down. Bruises are here and there on my arms and chest. I turn and see two big ones from Cole's fist on my back. Even through my equipment I have this many bruises. No wonder I hurt everywhere.

The hot water makes me feel better. I take my time since my muscles aren't as sore right now.

Finally I get out and dry off. That's when I realize I didn't bring clothes in with me. I usually just wear my towel into the room and then get dressed. However, today I know Charlie will see the amount of bruises and be pissed.

Well too late now. I walk of the bathroom, not fully ready to defend not going to the hospital. I immediately see Portman, Fulton, and Charlie all with the same concerned look.

"What the hell are they doing to you man?" Portman yelled. He was fuming.

I avoided eye contact. "It's not that bad. I can barely feel most of them."

"Dude! You're covered in bruises," exclaimed Fulton.

Charlie looks down at the floor. "I didn't realize you had that many," he manages to squeak out. Looking me in the eyes he begs me to go get looked at.

"Everyone, I'm fine. Really. I will take two of my painkillers and relax the rest of the day. Nothing strenuous," I reasoned.

"You ran out of your prescription yesterday and you are out of refills," Charlie points out. I can tell he has all of my expected excuses planned out.

"Dude! You can't just keep popping pain pills like you do. You're going to get addicted one of these day," Fulton said.

"Sorry Fulton. I'm going to keep taking them. But, I don't take as many as I used too," I reasoned. I understand where his concern comes from. At the goodwill games I was taking the max allotment everyday.

"Let me take you to urgent care so you can get more pain killers. Then I'll take you to lunch. My treat," Charlie said trying to convince me.

I sigh. I'm not going to win. "So is this your idea of asking me out on a date," I breathe out.

All three of the guys bust out laughing. Portman and Fulton just look at Charlie who nods. I know I meant it to be funny, but they are blowing this out of proportion.

I moved towards my closet getting my clothes. I honestly need my pain killers. Especially with the varsity gunning for me.

I finished getting dressed and grab my jacket off my chair. "Okay Charlie. It's now or never."

He immediately hopped up because he knew that wasn't a joke. The Bash Brothers follow us out and Charlie locks the door. We all say good bye and head down the dorm stairs