CHAPTER TWO

The Duck's practices were slightly on the barbaric side. As in Coach Orion, the man from before, seemed like an absolute brute. A loud noise sounded and I flinched, looking over to see Krysta and a bucket at her feet.

"Buckets do not like me," she stated, kicking it slightly, "Hey you okay?"

"Yeah," I muttered.

"You look like a scared rabbit," she sang and I laughed half-heartedly, "Seriously, Rae, something's off-."

"Everything's fine," I lied, standing, "I'm going to look around."

"If you're sure," she said uncertainly and I nodded.

"I'm just homesick," I reassured her but I knew she didn't believe me. At this point, I really didn't care. I just needed to get out of the hockey rink with her breathing down my neck. Walking out of the building, I noticed a theater nearby but shook my head. Those days were over. Briskly continuing, I found myself in the hallway to my room but my key wouldn't go into the door.

"Try putting it in the other way," a voice suggested before a warm limb covered my own, maneuvering my hand, and I froze, "There." The person moved back but I was cemented to my place. "Hey you okay?" His hand rested on my shoulder, restoring movement, and I jerked back, opening and slamming my door in his face. Sliding down the door, I rested my head in my hands, trying to calm down but couldn't stop myself from flinching as my tailbone hit the floor.

"Calm down, Raevin." After a couple of deep breaths, I stood again, lying on my bed but knocking on the door interrupted my plans to sleep.

"Rae, open the door," my cousin called and I rolled my eyes but obliged.

"What?"

"Jeez, grumpy, I was gonna invite you to dinner," she grinned goofily, ignoring her boyfriend, who was pretty much frenching her ear.

"Your boyfriend's horny."

"Yeah," she shrugged, pulling on my arm either ignoring or completely oblivious to the pout Dean sent her.

"She's like that sometimes," I muttered and he grinned, as if he knew. He probably did.

"Raevin Setyn these are the ducks," Krysta introduced them all by name but only two stuck out to me. Dwayne and Fulton. Those were two names you didn't hear everyday and with a cowboy hat and bandanna you weren't likely to forget them either. "Let's eat, I'm starving." There was a chorused response and I couldn't help but smile slightly. As we walked, they chatted amongst themselves and I just looked around, until I felt somewhat light headed. It happened regularly though and I was glad no one noticed until I stumbled back a little into Fulton.

"Whoa there," he smiled, stopping as he caught me but I pulled myself out of his grip, leaning against the wall beside me.

"Rae?" Krysta's voice made me look to the side, pointing into the window.

"That figurine reminds me of the time we went ice skating."

"And you fell flat on your face," she grinned, "Good times." Thankfully, she kept walking but Fulton didn't. He had a concentrated look on his face.

"I'm fine," I stated, standing straight again, following the group.

"You didn't look fine," he pointed out and I rolled my eyes, "You looked like you were gonna fall if I hadn't caught you."

"When someone tells you they're fine, just stop talking, alright, drop it," I snapped, storming to the front of the group. I had no idea where we were going but I just wanted to get away from that boy. Nosy boy. "Stupid bandanna."

"Can I help you?" someone asked me and I jumped back from the sound, only to jump away from the body I collided with. I must have looked like an idiot, cause I sure felt like one.

"We need a table," someone stated, the captain I think, oh I don't know.

"Rae-."

"I'm fine!" I was near tears, "Would you just stop?"

"Sorry," she muttered and I realized I had yelled at her. Dean was also glaring at me. Instead of getting angry with him, I decided to apologize to my cousin. I knew she didn't like people yelling at her, least of all me.

"I'm just tired," I lied. I had done that a lot lately but there really wasn't anything else I could do. I couldn't tell her about home or anything about home. She would, she just wouldn't think the same of me. She wouldn't believe me either. 'Uncle Chris wouldn't ever do that' or 'you probably did something', which wouldn't be a complete lie. I provoked him; therefore, I deserved whatever he dished out, so I just left. I didn't want to make him angry anymore. He didn't deserve a screw up for a daughter. Maybe he'd stop drinking now I wasn't there. Drink away his anger.

"Raevin?" My head snapped up to meet concerned eyes. "Are you gonna order something?"

"Yeah," I replied quietly before telling the waiter what I wanted and handing her my menu. Staring down at my plate, I told myself to stop thinking about it but I couldn't help the feeling gathering in the pit of my stomach: Guilt.

"Hey guys," someone yelled cheerily, letting me have a moment to wipe away the few tears that had fallen. Stop it, Raevin. "Sorry we're late." I looked up to see the boy from the hallway.

"Shit," I muttered, looking away again. It was in everyone's best interest that no one knew. The past was something that I couldn't change, I knew it, there wasn't any reason to tell anyone what had happened. They'd tell me what I already knew. I was being overly dramatic.

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A/N: So, i wrote this somewhat late last night...it might seem a little...off or whatever lol but i still hope you like it :-) Reviews are Love :-)