~000~
"Well I'm sure things will be fine with the two of you rooming together, I mean you're best friends for crying out loud! Everything has always been great between both of you for the most part… expect for ya know last year when he was put on varsity and put against us; and well when he first joined the ducks all the way back in our District 5 days… but that's beside the point! You guys know everything about each other Charlie, it'll be fine I'm positive!"
Charlie groaned, "Yea, but that's the problem Haven…" I raised my eyebrows in question wondering what he meant by that, "We do know everything about the other and with knowing everything it can sometimes cause tension between us…"
I sighed moving to the side to lean against one of the two desks in the room. My hip popping out with one leg bent at the knee, "But I mean you guys haven't had any problems since we were like fourteen whenever this ahhh thing started…" It was always uncomfortable for me talking about this weird one sided love triangle thing between us, unless it was in a joking playful manner of course. But talking about it seriously always made me slightly uncomfortable, like I didn't want to say the wrong thing or come off too forward or seem completely put off. It's a tricky thing when you're in this type of situations with two of your best friends.
it can be hard to handle at times.
And to be honest I don't know when this had even really started, all I know is that when I first joined the District 5 team the rest of the team would constantly tease Charlie about his crush on me. From the way Goldberg describe it to me during our first game (against the Hawks when Adam had checked Charlie knocking him down) was that Charlie had sworn that as soon as he laid eyes on me that he was going to marry me one day, that there was no other girl that could ever compare to me.
Charlie; when we had first met in the beginning would stutter and trip over his feet or skates whenever I was around going completely red in the face before turning and walking away like a silly little boy. It was actually so bad that the first few weeks of playing on District 5 my dad wouldn't allow Charlie or me to be on the ice at the same time in fear of someone getting hurt. It took Charlie until the end of the season to not flush red and stumble on his feet when he came near me. It was actually kind of adorable how fluster he would get back then, but as time went by and with more team outings with each other it got better and we started to develop a good sturdy friendship which eventually turned into me showing up at Mickey's Diner (taking two different subways to just get there from my part of town) at least once a week to hang out with Charlie and the other Ducks to play a pick-up game or to just skate around. And sometimes if Charlie was already out with some of the other Ducks, I'd sit and hang out with his mother until they'd eventually wondered back to the diner for some food then after they were done with their food I'd take off with them causing crazy havoc around the city like the little devils we were.
Then two and half years later right before the Goodwill Games Adam had accidently spilled the beans to both me and Charlie while we were at the mall watching a movie about liking me as well. He hadn't meant to say anything to me or Charlie because he knew how much Charlie liked me but he literally just blurted it out without even realizing it when the three of us were eating ice cream in the food court after the movie had finished.
It was a little weird between the three of us after that. Charlie and Adam's friendship had become a little strained...,and me, well I just sort of stayed away for a few weeks not knowing how to act around the two when we were all together. But after elven or twelve days of no speaking to either of them they had both showed up at my skating practice together saying they missed me and promised that nothing would change between us. And thankfully nothing did…, well unless you counted the silent competition Charlie and Adam had with one another with trying to win my affections. But it was never hostile or mean spirted. It was usually playful and silly, but still a competition none the less… And that competition between them was still intact to this very day, only it had been upped from what it used to be when we were thirteen/fourteen years old.
~000~
Before either Charlie or I could say anything else on the subject of he and Adam someone popped their head into the doorway making us both jump at least a foot in the air and nearly making me piss my pants!
Like, are you for real!
Was that really necessary to do? There is such a thing called knocking for a reason, and it's exactly to prevent things like this happening! Or like walking in on someone changing or on them getting in on, but this is just as high up there as those!
"Look who I just stumbled into on the way back from the car Charlie!" Mrs. Conway said with a bright smile and rosy cheeks, her eyes went from her son over to me and then an even wider smile stretched onto her face, "Oh Haven! Didn't see you there sweetie!" She exclaimed marching up and wrapping me in a warm motherly hug not even noticing my frazzled condition of her practically giving me a heart attack that could have killed me! "How are you sweetie? I barely got to see you at all this summer with how much you been training! Charlie says you doubled your practices and training which was why you barely got to come by the diner or apartment. And I don't how you found the time to do all that training along with getting three proper meals and right amount of sleep in a day! Oh, and look at you girl…., I swear you are getting more and more beautiful as each day goes by!" I felt my face heat up in embarrassment at her comments but thanked her graciously for them anyways. Casey Conway was honestly like a second mother to me always stepping in and filling the mother role when my grandma wasn't able to. It was no secret she didn't care for my own mom and didn't approve of the way she acted as a parent, so I think she just took it upon herself to show me what a mother should be acting like towards her child. But she did it in a way where she wouldn't step on my grandparents toes either…, in fact Grams has started to even stop by in the diner for coffee and brunch every few weeks to talk and see how Casey was doing and Gramps would sometimes get take-out form the diner picking it up on his way back from the office. I'm pretty sure they were doing it in a form of thanks for Casey taking me under her wing and treated me like she did Charlie.
They were paying it forward in a way I guess you would say…
"And your hair! You dyed the top half of it, when did you do this? I like it though, it suites you." She continued on patting the side of my cheek lovingly before stepping back from greeting me. Shaking her head with a smile she snapped her brain back to what she was going to say before getting sidetracked with me, "Oh yes, right where was I? Oh, yea that's right, the Banks are here!" She turned to face the door her eyebrows crunching together in confusing at not seeing anyone behind her, "Huh, I swear they were just behind me, where did…– oh, ahh there they are!" She nodded in triumph as Mrs. Banks first appeared in the open doorway with a large suitcase dragging next to her and a tote with two pillows resting on top followed by Mr. Banks who had two suitcases, and then lastly Adam himself with his oversized hockey bag; a forest green Nike backpack; and another pillow.
"Banksy!" I greeted with a smile bouncing up to him like a little puppy dog. I first let him set his hockey bag and pillow down before attacking him with throwing my body at him, my arms going tightly around his neck and just like Charlie had he wrapped his long lean arms around my shoulders and waist squeezing me up to him. He didn't attempt to twirl me in a circle, maybe because his parents were here or maybe not, not too sure. "Oh, and Mr. and Mrs. Banks! It good to see you as well, it's been a while!" I smiled stepping up to them giving them both friendly hugs.
"Yes it most certainly has been! How has your skating been this summer? Think you got a shot at going for the Gold this winter?" Mr. Banks asked kindly, excitement filled in his eyes at the potential possibility of the upcoming Olympics coming up.
"Ah, it's been going…" I laughed making a face up at them, "I've been working extra hard this summer trying to get all my best skills put into my routines. I've also been working on a few new skills too, so that's exciting! And my coach and new trainer think I've got a good shot at it, so if that counts for anything...But really, I'm just glad to be back at school and be able to play some hockey and have some fun!"
A few more minutes of small talk went by before Adam's dad excused himself to grab the mini fridge from their truck with Adam going along to help. Charlie and his mom had brought the TV and microwave that was a little older and outdated then what most students brought, but it was still in wonderful working condition so who cared! The TV was practically brand new, it was a 30 inch flat screen with a built in DVD player and access to wifi that Charlie had found on clearance one day for only $139.99 buying it right away for a right-good-steal with some of the money he had saved up from working at Hans the previous summer. (I'm making it so in this story Hans didn't pass away the previous year; he just suffered from a heart attack that left him in the hospital for a few weeks but still managed to be enough to get Charlie to get his head back on straight and rejoin the ducks.)
Thirty minutes later with the mini fridge now securely in place and working properly Mrs. Conway and the Banks said there farewells needing to get back on the road before rush-hour traffic hit with everyone leaving work hitting the highway to get home by dinner time.
~000~
Instead of standing around the now much less crowded room like a bunch of clueless freshmen I grabbed Adam's arm gaining his attention, "So Mr. Cakeeater let's get you and Charlie fully unpacked eh? If we don't do it now you two won't be unpacked till it's time to leave next spring. Which bag is your bedding in?"
He pointed to the one closest to the door; I nodded getting off to work with first pulling on the pillow cases to his three pillows then placing his mattress pad on before working on the fitted sheet. I should have realized why it had suddenly gotten so quiet and that no other unzipping or shuffling noise was being heard as I struggled with getting the fitted sheet of the upper corner against the wall on, pulling and tugging at the material on my hands and knees using my body weight as leverage. "I swear if both of you are staring at my ass right now I'm going to shove my foot straight up the both of your asses…" I grunted out tugging forward one last time finally getting the sheet in the right place before flipping over to sit on the mattress getting off my hands and knees.
I shook my head rolling my eyes at the two idiots in front of me who were standing shock –stiff staring at me with wide eyes and open mouths. Charlie was by the dresser with a pile of socks stuffed in his arms as two pairs fell to the floor with no notice from him. Adam was unpacking his hockey gear holding onto one skate and a pair of shin pads. "Ah…ah…ahhh…," Charlie grabbled out as few more socks fall from his arms.
I scoffed, "Oh for God's sake like you've never seen me on my hands and knees before! Jeez that's a quarter of the conditioning moves we do!"
Adam cleared his throat, "Yea well…then you're wearing thick pads with everything covered up, here you're in a pair of short – "
"– Very short!" Charlie piped up.
Adam coughed awkwardly clearing his throat, "Um yea, very very short-shorts. Which, ah, I might add only got shorter when you were um, doing that and…ummm…well yea." He coughed again the tip of his ears turning pink.
I rolled my eyes again at the two buffoons getting up on my knees, "While I was like what Adam?" I question letting a playful smirk appear on my face making the two of them loudly gulp. They both knew how I could be with them after I caught them staring or off in daydream land. I was a tease to the two of them and I knew this, they knew this, and the team even knew this, but I was a playful tease nothing too serious or mean, just all in good fun (if there was such a thing,) "Like this?" I laughed rolling back over onto my knees lifting my ass up in the air and leaning forward onto my elbows showing off more then I really realized trying to control my laughter when I heard Charlie mutter 'Shit', and Adam's skates and pads splutter to the floor with a loud clunk.
I fall to my side laughter hysterically; these two were like two uncontrollable horny puppies. It was just too much at times and way too tempting to not constantly tease them when I could. "Fuck Haven…, you can't just do that!"
I finally gathered myself together enough to stop my laughing, "Ha and why not Charlie? I find it very entertaining and so would the two of you if you could see what your faces had just looked like!"
Adam gulped, "Well you can't expect us to not react after something like that! You were practically putting the pictures in our heads for us!"
I sighed dramatically rolling onto my back still fully on Adam's bed, "Ahhh…" I hummed with another small giggle laying a hand on my stomach, "You two keep me greatly amused and entertained." I snorted, "That's for sure!"
"While keep lying on Banksy's bed like some girl from a porno and Banks here is going to need to go run a cold shower…, that's for sure!" Charlie snorted back nodding to my legs that were bent up towards the ceiling and spread widely apart. Huh, hadn't even realized that I rested my legs that way, oops…
I snapped my knees together cringing, "Ugh guys come on!"
Charlie held his hands up playfully, "Only stating the facts!" He chewed his lip looking deep in thought, "But if that's too disturbing for you then you're more than welcomed to take a good lay down on my bed!"
I laughed loudly, "Oh my God! Charlie!" This boy was ridiculous sometimes.
"What?" He squeaked out throwing his hands out in front of him, "It was just a suggestion.
I couldn't help the giggle and rush of red that flew to my cheeks, "You two are impossible." I muttered shaking my head jumping up from the bed picking up the flat sheet and comforter to finish the bed.
"Psh. Yea, you call us the impossible ones," scoffed Adam playfully as he and Charlie got back to what they were doing before the little escapade happened. I laughed again shaking my head finally finishing making the bed, moving on over to hooking up their TV set to the cable outlet.
"How much do I have to pay for this exclusive unpacking service, huh Haven?"
My head snapped up, "Russ!" I shouted in greeting running and hopping into his arms wrapping my legs around his stomach like a baby monkey. He was my brother from another mother…and ah father too I guess...
"Ah sorry man but I don't think Charlie and me really want to let our best mover go, good help is hard to find these days, I'm sure you understand."
Russ mocked with a snort, "Are you sure you aren't talking about some other kind of help there…?"
"Shut it Cali boy," Charlie threw back, "We're getting work done here can't you see? Tons of progress being made! Tons!"
"Right." Russ smirked, "I'm just going to pretend that I believe that."
"Okayyyyyy, so anyways how was your flight?" I asked trying to change the subject, it's wasn't like it made me uncomfortable with what Russ was referring too since I knew everything was being said was in a teasing manner but still… "Do you know if anyone else is here yet? I know Goldberg texted me saying he was, but I'm assuming his mom and dad are fussing over him causing him enough embarrassment without the added audience there to whiteness it all."
"Ha yea! They're back in his room, passed by it on my way here to see if anyone else had gotten here besides you guys when I spotted his mom practically drowning him in tears as she hugged the stuffin' out of him. And as far as I know I think it's just us and Goldie so far. Not sure when anyone else is supposed to get here, but I'm sure they'll get here before the last dinner time slot."
I nodded, "Well last time I checked Connie and Julie were stuck in traffic near the airport, Avermen thought tomorrow was move in day but his mom I'm assuming is making him hustle to get him here by tonight so he doesn't miss any 'important' team meetings or school stuff, and ah…." I trailed off pulling my iPhone out to see what new messages I had since getting to Charlie and Adam's room. The guy's picked up their own conversation then knowing that I'd get distracted with my phone as I went through my new messages.
It was common knowledge throughout the team that when my phone was in front of me I lost all contact with the world that was actually surrounding me letting myself get soaked up into the world of texting and social media.
From Adam😍: 'Just pulling up to campus now, where are you?! And yea my face is something to miss😉it has that effect on lots of people, even though I'm sure I was missing your face and other things of you much more😉.'
I flicked my eyes up towards Adam holding back a smile. I shrugged one shoulder and decided to reply to the message even though he was in the same room.
I mean why the hell not?
Tons of people texted each other while they're in the same room together.
It's basically the new way to talk while you're out in public…
To Adam😍: 'Oh, and what are these other things of mine that you claim to be missing soooo sooooo much my dear Mr. Cakeeater?😉'
I bit the inside of my cheek as I heard Adam's phone beep signaling a new message. He pulled out his own iPhone flicking a glance over at me real quick before entering his passcode to read the message. I continued to chew on the inside corner of my cheek as I watched Adam's face scrunch up with a laugh before turning into a smirk as he typed back a response. As I waited for his text I went through the rest of my unread messages.
From Russ👽: 'Hey Bambi. Finally just getting out of the hell that's otherwise known as airport traffic. Be there soon though.'
From Fulton!💀: 'Hey shut it you little shit! Both of us are all packed and ready to go; just taking our good sweet time before freedom is fully taken away from us. And Portman said to personally say from him, fuck you :)'
From GUY😈😈 : I hate you.
From Luis: Landed not too long ago. Just waiting for my things at luggage claim now😑, Dwayne's plane landed about the same time as mine. We're going to catch a ride to the school together, be cheaper that way.'
From Dewayne: Howdy there pretty little lady, just sitting here waiting for the luggage and got Luis here to keep me some company. Reckon we'll arrive soon though :).'
I hummed typing out all my responses.
To Fulton!💀: 'I don't appreciate this attitude I'm sensing from you Fulton! It's not very nice ….and freedom, ha, yea sure ;P. Tell Portman I asked when and where baby😉.'
To GUY😈😈: 'OMG GUYYYYYYYYY! HOW COULD YOU SAY SUCH A THING!😭😭I'm offended! But it's okay I forgive you, because I know that deep down you love me more than anything in this world😘!'
To Luis, Dwayne: 'Okie dokie, see the two of you soon😋!'
My phone vibrated with a notification of a new message from Adam.
From Adam😍: 'Don't need to be getting you too worked up by telling you this vital detailed information, I honestly don't think you'd be able to handle it if I did😉😋.'
I felt my face flush at reading his words. I glanced up at the only other blonde in the room and found him sneaking glances over at me to see what my reaction would be. At seeing my reddened face he smirked in satisfaction. He nodded once making direct eye contact before turning back to listen to Charlie and Russ talk about something or the other.
I sighed in good humor. Those two were certainly getting a lot ballsier when it came to their flirting techniques. And I'd be a flat out lair if I said I didn't return any feelings for the two. And Adam and Charlie aren't stupid, they both knew they were starting to get to me and that I was starting to cave finally after three years (Five years on Charlie's part).
I feel like my life is starting to turn into some corny lifetime flick. The kind where the girl has almost everything and more that she could want, including two very attractive boys that were sought after by many others girls, both younger and older. And there was also the part where there was a strained mother-daughter relationship; a mean step-father; rich loving grandparents; the birth father showing up late in her life; oh and the pressures of being a teenage professional athlete...
Ha yea, my life was definitely a lifetime movie.
A cheesy one at that too!
But if I could just fast-forward to the ending to see if the movie had a happy ending or a sad one then that'd be amazing!
To Adam😍: 'Oh I think I can handle it. The real question though is can you? 😼 Because I don't think you can Adam, I mean I seemed to remember you getting a semi last spring when I sat on your lap because there wasn't enough seats on the subway😉, and that was a completely innocent move by me😂😂.'
I shuffled over to Charlie's bed flopping down with a whoosh. Charlie; Adam; and Russ all glanced over at the noise before going back to their talk whatever it was because I wasn't paying attention to anything they were saying at the moment. With my head resting peacefully on the pillow I lifted my phone up over me opening up my Instagram checking all the new likes and comments on my most recent post. The last one was of this morning with me standing in front of a full length mirror with a peace sign and the caption, 'The start of #SopmoreYear. #EdenHall here I come.' The post so far had 7,837 likes and over 60 comments, I began scrolling through some of the comments answering back to a few here and there to be nice and friendly. Surprisingly when you're a professional athlete who's gearing up for the Olympics people seemed to actually care about what you do and say. Something I started to discover over the last year or two…not that I really minded (as long as it stayed on my social media account and didn't travel into my actual everyday physical life I was okay with it).
Clicking the icon to take a new picture I continued to hold my phone over my head tilting my head to the side to get the right angle I wanted before snapping a picture. After picking a filter and writing a caption, 'Taking a little break from helping CharlieConway and A_Banks99 unpack and settle into school ;P' a new notification for a text popped up at the top of my screen.
From Adam😍: 'Is this a challenge you're proposing'
Closing my app and going back to my messages I began to type.
To Adam😍: 'And what if it is😏?'
Adam's answer came a lot faster this time.
From Adam😍: 'I'd say instead of telling you, why don't I just show you instead…😉'
'Wait…..! Was Adam suggesting what I think he was?
Holy shit, holy shit, holy shit!
My chest and neck starting to turn pink at the thoughts and images that began to flip through my head. 'No,' I scolded myself, I'm sure he means something completely different; get your mind out of the gutter Haven! I mean this is Adam we're talking about! Wonderful; sweet; gentle; caring Adam Banks…, the perfect gentlemen! Not Dean Portmen!
To Adam😍: 'What do you mean by show me? Do you mean like actually show me or…?
From Adam😍: 'If you don't want to you don't need to do anything! I'd completely understand if you don't because you're too scared and already know you won't be able to handle it. So if that's the case then you can brow out graciously now with a forfeit admitting your defeat 😏.'
I narrowed my eyes at my phone; my lips tighten in determination.
To Adam😍: 'Oh it's so on now Banks! Name the time and place and I'll be there ready to dominate👊! You better pack you're A-game Cakeater because you are so going down!👎!'
From Adam😍: 'Don't get too cocky there Hav, because I have a feeling that by the flush state of your face and chest that I'll be the one dominating this one, not you😉!''
I gulped.
Fuck.
My cheeks were seriously starting to feel as if they were on fire now.
"Are you two texting each other right now?" Russ asked Adam and me, whipping his head back and forth between the two of us.
I laughed a little running my hand through a few locks of my hair, "Yea, didn't want to interrupt your important conversation about the latest draft or whatever it is you guys were talking about." Instead of waiting for a reply I stood from Charlie's bed stretching out my arms above my head purposely making my already mid-drift crop top raise even higher off my high waisted-shorts triggering the boys' eyes to lower down to the exposed skin. Russ scoffed turning his head away not viewing me in any kind of sexual way; after all I was his little sister from another mother and father… remember? Adam and Charlie through attempted but failed to look away. I smirked in their direction flipping my hair over my shoulder trying for the dramatic effect heading for the door calling over my shoulder, "I'll be in Gregory's room if you need me!"
"What about helping us unpack?" Charlie called back.
I shrugged, "I think you guys have it covered, I have faith in the two of you." I licked my lips trying to wet them and keep them from drying up, "But if you two really are that helpless I'll be back in a little to properly organize your bathroom so it looks at least semi decent especially if other people end up using it, everything else shouldn't be too hard for you guys it just hanging and putting your cloths away in the closets and dresser."
Once out in the dorm hallway I leaned my body up against the wall closing my eyes taking a few deep breaths in and out. I had to calm my racing heart and get myself back together. It was beating like a crazy mofo inside my chest.
Ugh, does anybody even use the word mofo anymore?
Anyways… who knew Adam had that kind of side to him. He was such a sweet innocent baby still.
Like a baby rabbit!
Yea! An innocent little baby rabbit with soft white fur.
Oh. Shit, no wait. Fuck. Scratch that!
Bad reference! No not a rabbit! Very bad reference!
He's a chipmunk! Yea…, a baby chipmunk, like Theodore!
~000~