A/N: Thanks for the reviews! I'm glad you guys are liking my OCs. I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
"I can't watch your tryouts, Charlie," Linda explained, for what felt like the fiftieth time that day. "I have Science club, AND a debate team practice. There will be other tryouts; you don't need to get all whiny and annoying just because I miss one." She told him.
Charlie frowned. "But when I don't sign one of your stupid petitions you can bitch and moan at me for hours, huh?"
It felt like the hundredth time they had this fight, and Linda was now getting tired of it. "Whatever Charlie," She said, walking away, expecting him to chase after her like he usually did, but he didn't, and that scared her.
The Ducks played their best that afternoon at the outdoor basketball court at Eden Hall. Basketball season had not started yet, and since there was no ice yet, Coach Orion wanted to get a head start on the hockey tryouts so they practiced there.
The Ducks knew Coach Orion would never split them apart, but with Ken, Dean and Russ all back in their hometowns, he had to find replacements.
"Come on," Coach Orion shouted. "You Ducks are getting beat by a bunch of freshmen." He pointed out. "Where's you heard at, Gaffney?" He questioned, but Julie just shrugged sadly.
She had still been thinking about the phone call between her and Dean, and how it didn't go so well. "Sorry, Coach." She shouted, letting in another goal.
She sighed loudly as Fulton skated towards her. "Cat lady? Is that you?" He questioned, jokingly. "You okay?" She shook her head. "What's on your mind?"
She bit her lip. "We'll talk about it later," She told him. "Now go, before Coach gives you a beating!" She said, referring to the dirty look his coach was now giving him. He nodded and skated off, as the team continued taking shots on her.
After the tryout, Adam exited the locker room, expecting to see Anna waiting for him like she usually did, but was surprised to see his father standing there. His dad never usually came to any of the practices or tryouts, only the games.
"Dad?" Adam questioned, walking towards him. "What are you doing here?" He asked, setting his bag down on the floor.
"What the hell's-a-matter with you?" Philip Banks questioned, angrily. "You played horribly out there! Those freshmen kicked your ass. You can do so much better, Adam."
Adam looked at his dad, not knowing what to say at his sudden outburst. "Sorry, dad," He said, slowly. "I'll do better next time." However, he did not know how he could possibly to better next time. He was already the best player on the team, and no freshmen would ever take his place.
"Yeah, you better." He warned. "Be home by 8:00." He told him, as he spotted Anna, and left.
Adam shook his head and turned around. He saw Anna, which made him smile, and she greeted him with a kiss.
"What was that about?" She questioned, smoothing down the skirt of her cheerleading uniform. "I thought your dad never came to tryouts?"
Adam shrugged. "He wanted to come see how good I was, I guess." He told her. "Cheerleading tryouts?" He questioned, with a laugh. She nodded, but he just laughed again. "I don't know why you even do it; it's not even a sport."
"Cheerleading is a sport, okay?" She told him. "It keeps me in shape, doesn't it?" He nodded. "It requires team effort, and adrenaline, doesn't it?"
He shrugged. "I guess."
"So, therefore, it is a sport," She said, but he just continued laughing as the two walked back into the school. "I'm glad you're enjoying this." She told him. "You know, I don't make fun of you when you play hockey." She pointed out.
"I'm sorry," He said, placing an arm around her waist. "Good luck, I hope you make the team." He said, with a genuine smile. She smiled back, and kissed him gently on the lips.
"See you later!" She told him, walking away and he nodded, leaving the school.
Her debate team practice had just ended and Linda was so happy to go back to her dorm and sleep. Her fight with Charlie earlier had not been resolved but she could not care less at that moment. She wanted time to herself, to relax.
As she rushed to get to the front of the school, she accidently collided into someone else, dropping all her books.
"Shit," The oblivious male had said. "I'm sorry." He said, bending down to help pick up the books.
"It's okay," She told him, but grimaced when she saw his face. "Ugh, never mind. I don't need your help."
The man rolled his eyes. "Oh, little miss Charlie's girlfriend," He said, with a chuckle. "Why aren't you being nice to me? I helped pick up your books."
"Whatever, Rick," She said. "Can I have them back now?"
"Only if I get a kiss." Rick told her.
She scowled. "In your dreams!" She said, hitting him in the stomach and grabbing her books before he could react.
"That was a cheap shot!" He called after her, as she walked away from him.
"Whatever!" She shouted, angrily, walking to her dorm.
"This is nice," Livvie commented, as they walked into the restaurant. It was finally Friday, and she and Luis were on their date.
He smiled at her, pulling out her chair for her, as she sat down. "Yeah, I like it." He told her, as he sat down himself. "What do you want to order?"
Livvie shrugged as she looked at the menu. She rarely ate Mexican food, and when she did, it was usually tacos. "I think I'll have the Tortilla De Patatas," She said, hoping she had pronounced it properly. "And a Coke."
Luis laughed, and nodded. "I'll have the same." He told the waiter, who nodded and left. "So," He started. "How was your first week at Eden Hall?"
She shrugged. "It was good," She told him.
"Meet anyone interesting?" He questioned. "Besides me, of course." He joked.
"Ha-ha." She said, sarcastically. "Everyone at Eden Hall is interesting in their own way," She told him. "Well from what Connie told me, that is."
He nodded. "What did Connie say about me to make you want to stay away so badly?"
Livvie nervously bit her lip. She hoped Connie wouldn't mind her telling Luis about what she had said… It wasn't as if it was anything bad, just the truth. "Well, it wasn't only Connie," She pointed out. "It was basically the whole team." He chuckled, shaking his head but urging her to go on. "They told me you were kind of a player," She explained. "And that you dated Charlie's sister, Anna, last year," Luis cringed when Livvie said Anna's name. "And basically broke her heart… They didn't want to see that happening to me, I guess."
Luis nodded. "Well, I'm so glad to hear the team thinks so highly of me."
Livvie raised both eyebrows. "I'm sorry; maybe I shouldn't have said anything."
Luis chuckled. "It's okay," He told her. "I deserve it. They were telling you the truth, anyway."
"What happened between you and Anna?" She questioned. "If you don't mind me asking…"
Luis sighed. "It's long and complicated." He told her, as the waiter brought them their food.
"You can tell me." She urged him.
He nodded. "I joined the Ducks three years ago, that's when I met Anna. I was only twelve at the time, but we became close friends fast and last year, when the Ducks started here at Eden Hall, that's when we started dating," He explained. "I was just getting used to being in a relationship but I guess I couldn't handle it so I cheated on her, and I hurt her, a lot. I pretended I didn't care about her, and ignored her," He told her. "I really hurt her… And Livvie," He said, looking up into her eyes. "I regret every minute of it, and I wish I could take it back." Livvie nodded, understandingly. "Just because I like attention from girls, doesn't mean I like hurting them."
Livvie nodded again. "I believe you." She told him.
"The team had a right to tell you to watch out for me," He told her. "But I don't want to hurt you, or anyone, like I hurt Anna, okay? I promise I will never do that again."
Livvie smiled. "I know." She said.
He smiled, taking a deep breath. "Well, I'm officially embarrassed." He said.
She giggled. "And why is that?"
"I just told you something I would never tell any other girl on a first date." He explained, as he took a bite of his food.
"Well, like I told you before," She smiled. "I'm not like any other girl."
He nodded smiling. "I know."
"Fulton, you know I hate shopping, why must you take me here?" She questioned, as they walked into the mall.
"It's my mom's birthday soon; I need to buy her a gift." Fulton explained. "And you need to tell me why you were so upset at practice."
Julie sighed loudly. "Do I have to?"
"Yes," Fulton said, as they walked into a store. "You do, now tell me." He demanded.
"I called Dean." She confessed.
Fulton gasped. "What did you say to him?"
Julie shrugged. "I told him I was single and that I missed him and he just hung up… Like he didn't want to talk to me or something."
Fulton gave her a sympathetic look. "Jules," He started. "I'm sure that's not the case, maybe he was just busy or something."
She shrugged. "Maybe." She said. "Find anything your mom might like?" She questioned.
"Nah," He said, shaking his head. "Let's go somewhere else." He said, as the two left the store.
Fulton stopped dead in his tracks when he spotted someone familiar. "Fulton?" Julie turned around, as she waved her hands in front of his face. Fulton was still searching the crowd. "Fult? Hello, earth to Fulton!" She shouted. "Snap out of it, you freak! What are you looking at?" She turned around to find what he was staring at but just saw a crowd of people. "Fulton, you're starting to scare me…" She told him.
He finally snapped out of it, and shook his head. "Sorry, I thought I saw someone I knew…" He said. "But it's impossible," He told her. "Come on, let's go." He said, as the two walked away from the scene.
Livvie felt as though she was gliding instead of walking as she entered her home. She had decided earlier that week that she would spend the weekends at her parents, as Connie did, instead of all alone in their dorm.
"Hi mom, hi dad," She said, happily as she walked into the kitchen.
Vanessa raised an eyebrow at her daughter's silly grin on her face. "Hi sweetie," She said, kissing her daughter on the cheek. "How was your date?"
Livvie sighed happily, as she rested her chin on her hand. "Perfect."
"Did he try to kiss you?" Jimmy Simms demanded, angrily. He didn't like the fact that it was only Livvie's first week of school, and she was already going on dates.
"No!" She told him. "He's not like that, dad."
"When do we get to meet him?" Vanessa asked, excitedly.
Livvie shrugged. "We're not even together, Mom," she pointed out. "It's a little early to 'meet the parents.'" She explained.
Vanessa chuckled. "Oh, okay," She said. "It's getting late honey, why don't you go sleep and we'll talk about your day in the morning, okay?"
Livvie nodded and smiled; she missed her mother even though they still lived in the same city. "I missed you guys." She said, hugging her parents closely.
"We missed you too, baby girl." Jimmy said. "Now, go to bed."
Livvie did what she was told and hurried up the stairs, knowing she was going to have sweet dreams that night.
