A/N: Yay, reviews! Thanks to Sabercat7, fangirl and CloudyGumdrops for sending in their reviews. Totally made my day! I hope you enjoy this chapter. I had so many versions of it, but I liked how this turned out. Things will start picking up, you'll see! ;-)

Chapter 3

It was day 2 of mid-term week as Julie found herself being the first one in her class to have completed the Biology exam. She quickly glanced over at Charlie sitting in the back of the room as he looked up at her in disbelief before shaking his head and returning to the test. She smiled upon leaving the classroom, relieved to have finished her first exam for the day as she began making her way to the library to squeeze in some studying time before her next class. She entered the library, which was expectantly full of anxious students cramming restlessly during exam week. She walked in further pass the computer lab and up the stairs to the second floor, scanning a familiar face until she caught sight of Adam sitting at a corner table. Julie smiled, noticing his disheveled hair as she motioned towards him.

"Hey, Adam. Do you mind if I join you?"

He looked up from his history book, surprised to see her, this time wearing cheer warm up pants and a matching jacket, much to her satisfaction as he could see how comfortable and beautiful she looked in them. "Oh hey, Julie. No, I don't mind at all." He couldn't help but smile as the stress he had over his next mid-term slowly subsided. "What are you doing here? Don't you have a Biology test with Charlie?"

"I did, but finished early." She replied candidly, sliding into the seat across from him while taking books out from her backpack.

"That easy, huh?" He smirked as she gave a careless shrug.

"It was alright, nothing too difficult."

The two sat in comfortable silence with books laid out in front of them. Mid-way through the hour, Adam would occasionally glance over his textbook and notice the look of determination and focus behind her emerald eyes. He thought about how far they have come when they first started off as strangers during their stint in the Junior Goodwill Games to now running in to each other between classes and sharing a few words before going their separate ways. Not that he was complaining. He genuinely found comfort in her presence.

"So I've been meaning to ask you…" He was suddenly shaken from his thoughts as her soft, quiet voice cut through the silence. Her eyes were slowly traveling up to meet his as he looked up and saw a playful grin beginning to form on her lips. "How come you don't have a girlfriend?"

His eyebrows flew upward at the suddenness of the question. "Uh..." He opened his mouth to reply, but no words would surface as he felt the knot of tension in his stomach. Julie noted his discomfort as she offered him a faint smile in return.

"You don't have to answer. I just thought you should know that many of the cheerleaders are eyeing you." She admitted teasingly.

"Really?" He choked up in surprise causing Julie to roll her eyes at him.

"You're insanely modest and clueless, you know that?"

Adam smiled a little as his cheeks grew warmer at the thought. He never knew how to take compliments well no matter how often he received them.

"Anyway, the girls ask about you all the time and you wonder why I choose not to eat lunch with them." She shook her head irritably accompanied by an amused smirk. He then stared at her as though he wasn't entirely sure what to make of her.

"So how's cheerleading going for you?" He asked, not to intentionally change the subject but because he was genuinely curious. Did she like it? Was she fitting in? These were questions that kept lingering in the back of his head, but then there haven't been many opportunities where they could just sit down and talk about it till now.

She was caught off guard as she stared at him blankly, searching his bright blue eyes. "I just told you a bunch of cheerleaders are interested in you and the first thing that comes to mind is how cheerleading is going for me?" She spoke in disbelief, followed by a light chuckle that made his insides clenched. "You do have it bad for hockey…" she teased.

"I do care about you more than a bunch of girls I don't even know," was his reply as he felt his heart swelled when she gazed up at him intently and saw the look of awe residing in her eyes. His eyes fell back down on his book, embarrassed as he tries to re-focus his concentration on the exam he remembered he had to take in a couple of minutes.

"Thank you." Her voice was soft and sincere as he shifted his nervous gaze back at her, "and if you must know, cheerleading is...not what I imagine it to be."

He raised an eyebrow at the trace of uncertainty in her voice. "Okay…"

"Well, it's nothing like hockey." She laughed somewhat lamely as it made him laugh along with her. "But it definitely has its perks." Adam said nothing as she took it as an invitation to continue on. "The attention I've been getting can be weird and overwhelming at times, but it's nice…" she averted from his intent gaze and smiled, "it's nice to be notice for once."

He tilted his head to the side as confusion fell upon his features.

"Julie…what makes you think you're not being notice? You're the star goalie in the JV team, not to mention one of the best female athletes in the entire school." He admitted as she felt her breath slightly hitched at the kind words.

"That's just it. I'm Julie Gaffney, the star goalie…tomboy, and athlete." She frowned, sighing as she lowered her gaze solemnly. "I feel like that's all I will ever be…"

He paused, regarding her carefully. He knew she was more than just a talented hockey player. She was also smart and beautiful who carried herself in such a way that was captivating, not just on the ice but off as well. If no one could see that, he certainly did. "Is that why you joined the team?"

She nodded her reply. "Not sure if it's even worth it anymore." Julie said with a lighthearted chuckle. "I have nothing in common with the girls. All they talk about is boys, hair, make-up...clothes," she made an annoyed face as she spoke, "it drives me crazy especially when I live with a roommate who talks about the same things, besides hockey of course which makes her tolerable."

"I bet." He snickered as a grin clung to his lips.

"Please don't say anything to the other guys." She pleaded as her emerald eyes softened in his gaze. They were barely getting to know each other, but there was just something about Adam that made her feel comfortable and safe. He was trustworthy and she couldn't help but share things with him she would normally reveal to Connie...and only Connie. "I know they are being so weird about it…and I don't want to make it even weirder than it already is." She explained as he nodded and offered her a reassuring smile.

"I understand, Julie. I promise I won't say anything."

"Thanks, Adam." Smiling, she gathered her books together. Adam quickly glanced over at the wall clock and saw they only had a few minutes left before their next class as it prompted him to do the same. "I'll see you in practice." She said once they stood outside in front of the library where they were met with the crisp breeze that rustled through their hair.

"Yea, see ya. And good luck on your exams." He weakly smiled before turning around in the opposite direction, his mind now focused and determined to ace his History exam.

Adam arrived in the Eden Hall Academy arena half an hour earlier than scheduled, as he often did to get some alone time on the ice before the rest of the ducks showed up for practice. He survived the toughest part of his mid-term exams with only a paper and a math test to worry about before the upcoming winter break.

Once he was dressed in full hockey gear, he stepped onto the ice, leaving a trace of snow behind him as he began to lose himself around the rink and find comfort in being alone with his thoughts.

His mind then drifted aimlessly with his eyes fixated on the ice as he skated with grace and increasing speed unaware of the person that suddenly stepped foot on the ice.

"Hey, Banks—whoa, watch out!"

Adam immediately looked up at the sound of a familiar voice, but his late reaction made it impossible for him to stop on time as he collided with someone who appeared to have a smaller build than he was. Limbs were flailing as he lost his footing and fell back on the ice causing the petite figure to fall right on top of him. He let out a disgruntled groan, internally grateful for the pads underneath their uniform providing extra cushion to lessen the blow. He then removed his helmet and looked up to see the beautiful blond smiling down on him.

"Julie?" He gasped in surprise, his head spinning at the thought of having her so close to him and on top.

"We need to stop meeting in such awkward circumstances, Banks." She teased, reminding him of the the locker room incident from months ago. She slowly got up and offered him a hand. Adam's heart began to race uncontrollably at the contact as he stood up in front of her with a tentative smile.

"Sorry, I thought I was alone..."

"I figured I find you here by yourself." She replied, casually falling into step with him as they began skating idly around the ice rink, leaving their helmets and sticks on top of the goal net.

"Hmm, coming to me twice in one day?" He spoke lightheartedly. It was surreal to have Julie's undivided attention to himself and to be able to talk to her so easily. "I'm beginning to think you're falling for me." He grinned causing his female companion to roll her eyes at him. They skated in silence for a few moments as he glanced over at her and frowned, noting the discomfort that settled behind her emerald eyes. She appeared nervous and uncertain, quite the opposite to how she was earlier in the library.

"You alright?" He asked curiously, breaking the silence that stretched between them.

She bit her bottom lip as though she was not entirely sure how to begin. "Look, I was going to wait until you finished your mid-terms for the day."

There was hint of nervousness behind her wavering voice as he swallowed thickly. He figured it must be something real important for her to wait and arrive a few minutes early to catch him alone on the ice. "Okay..."

She took a deep breath, one she held for quite some time as Adam found himself feeling just as nervous. "I was hoping you can do me a huge favor, and I mean it's HUGE like you'll either love me or hate me for it."

"What kind of favor are we talking about?" He asked skeptically as they made a sharp turn and skated around the goal.

"You know when I told you about having a hard time fitting in with the rest of the girls on the team?"

"Uh huh..."

"Well..." she pressed her lips together, pausing in mid-sentence, "the captain of the JV squad really wants to go on a date with you, and I told her that I would mention it to you...so I kinda promised her I would set the whole thing up..."

His eyes sprung open in disbelief. "You what?!" He exclaimed, stopping abruptly on his skates as he turned around to face her.

"Look, this will give me huge brownie points, not to mention how awesome I'll be to the team if I manage to pull it off." She had a full on smirk, one that made his knees go weak.

"Julie..."

"Oh, please, Adam. It's only one date. I promise." She begged, pursing her lips with the puppy dog expression he never saw her use before till now. "And who knows? Maybe you'll end up liking her..."

"I don't even know who the hell this girl is!"

"You will after today..." She said with pleading eyes he could not resist. He lowered his gaze and breathed in a deep sigh.

"You do realize I never been on a date, let alone go up and talk to a girl before." He said lamely as the thought terrified him.

"You talk to me and Connie."

"That's different." He groaned. "We're on the same team, which requires team building and communication. I kind of had no choice," he added jokingly with a hint of frustration in his tone.

She bit her lip and smiled innocently at him. "There's a first for everything?"

"Argh, Julie..." he shook his head in dismay as he brushed his un-gloved hand over his face with exhaustion in thinking about it. "I can't believe I'm letting you talk me into this..."

"Does that mean you'll do it?" She asked hopefully, smiling brightly at him.

He looked at her, struggling internally to find the words between his thoughts, his emotions, and what he needed to say...or didn't want to say. But as he stared fixedly at the beautiful female standing in front of him, begging for his help...Adam just couldn't find it in himself to say no to her face. "Sure," he nodded hesitantly, followed by an exasperated groan. "For you, I'll do it."

"Oh, Adam!" She grinned happily. "Thanks! You're the best!" She leaned upward with her hand resting on his shoulder and planted a soft kiss on his cheek. His eyes flew up in surprise as he turn to look at Julie smiling sweetly at him.

Her deep emerald eyes stayed locked on him, seemingly lost in the sea of blue. She could feel him breathing deeply and his cheeks turning a lighter shade of red as they stood like that for what seemed like ages. The silence floated around them, everything frozen in mid-air. He searched deep into her eyes as the atmosphere between them changed, charged with an electric, exhilarating anticipation. She felt her throat constrict as her eyes flickered down to his lips, willing him as he slowly leaned towards her.

Distinct voices and laughter of the occupants filled their ears, breaking the hold between their eyes as they snapped their heads back and turn frantically to the direction of the other ducks filing from the locker room. Julie and Adam acknowledged their presence and waved carelessly at them as they stepped onto the ice and began skating idly for warm-ups, seemingly unaware of what was going on. Julie reluctantly turn back around to face Adam as their eyes met in an intense stare, mixed with a look of shock and confusion on both parts. Julie shifted uncomfortably on her skates, unable to directly look at him as the wave of tension washed over them.

"I'll um...give you directions, the time and place for your date tonight." She murmured quietly as Adam grimaced at the look of regret and worry that crossed her face. He certainly knew this changes things for them as he lowered his gaze, feeling the turmoil swell over him.

"Uh yeah...sure." He replied nervously, rubbing the back of his neck as she turned around to join the others. Adam caught sight of Charlie from across the rink, staring at Julie and then at him with a perplexed expression on his face. 'Damn it,' Adam thought with utter annoyance, looking down to avoid his questioning eyes as he grudgingly started doing laps around the ice rink.

But as time went on, he grew nauseous, letting his mind dwell on the moment he almost kissed Julie Gaffney, and how badly he wish to go back and change it. They were in a good place, getting to know each other and talking more only to be set back because he was too caught up in the moment...too caught up in her lips beckoning him, wondering what they would feel like against his own.

Adam let out a frustrated sigh and then felt his stomach churn when he remembered he also had a date later that night. 'Fuck.'

A/N: Don't forget to leave a review! Thanks =)