Sophomore Year Duck Style
I sighed as I plopped down next to Dad on the couch in the living room. It was Thanksgiving Break and like usual Mom was stuffing being a debutante down my throat.
"Dad!" I whined placing my head on his shoulder as he set down the paper.
"Could you please get Mom to stop forcing me to be a debutante?" I begged looking up at him as he sighed wearily.
"Su, dear, I wish I could, but you know how stubborn your Mom can be, that's were you get it from."
"But Dad, why can't she just understand I don't want to do this? She knows I hate girly things like that." He placed a comforting arm around my shoulder as I leaned into him.
"Well when she was pregnant with you and she figured out you would be a girl she was so excited. She started planning all these things, like painting your room pink and buying you all these dresses and shoes and girl nonsense. But then you came and well…you never really acted like a girl. You came out loving sports, being loud, getting dirty and being a tomboy. And your Mom had always put up with it hoping that someday you would want to act like a girl and you never have." I sighed; I never knew Mom felt that way.
"And well she wants you to be a debutante because she was one when she was your age. She thinks if you do this you'll start liking girl things, and she also wants to bond with you." I quirked an eyebrow.
"Bond? We bond all the time." Dad looked down hard at me.
"No you don't. She tries to bond with you, go to your hockey games watch sports with you and you shut her out. You get so engrossed in those things you don't even notice her anymore. Su just do this for her, make her happy, make her proud of you." I narrowed my eyes.
"Why can't she be proud of me for what I've already done? I've been to the Junior Goodwill games; it's like the Olympics for kids. And besides that I won! I was on the winning team, the best in the world Dad! You know what? She didn't even care; all she cared about was that I looked good in my uniform." I finished bitterly as he held me close.
"I know Susie but you're Mom will never see past that. She only sees what she wants to see. And she wants to see you be a debutante." I sighed nodding.
"All right. I'll do it…only for her though." He squeezed my shoulder.
"That's my girl, why don't you go and tell her." I nodded standing up wiping some tears from my eyes. I smiled weakly at Dad before heading up the stairs to my parent's room. I knocked on the door and it opened quickly.
"Su, dear what can I do for you?" Mom asked leading me in as we took a seat on the king size bed. I sighed hugging myself.
"I want to be a debutante." I said quietly staring ahead. I vaguely saw Mom smile as she hugged me.
"I knew you would! We're going to have so much fun! You made the decision just in time the first meeting is the day school gets back in. Aren't you excited?"
"Yeah," I said numbly, "Ecstatic."
--
I got out of my brand new car and smoothed my short skirt down. Stupid meetings making you dress up! I swore under my breath as I looked myself over. I was in a light blue skirt with a matching blazer and silver high heels. My hair was down and blowing in the wind as I walked into the country club where the meetings will be taking place.
I had to leave school early just to get here.
"Mom!" I called out as I saw her talking to a woman. She waved me over placing an arm around my shoulder as I stood in front of the woman.
"And this is my daughter Susanna, I was just telling you about her." I wrinkled my noise at my name, great she's now calling me Susanna. The woman smiled at me as we shook hands.
"Nice to meet you Susanna we shall be seeing a lot of each other. I am in charge of the debutante ball." I fake smiled.
"Great." I stayed still as Mom and the lady walked off. I turned to the door and gaped as I saw who walked in…Tracy. Her eyes widened as she saw me then her face turned into a scowl as she marched over.
"You've got to be kidding me! What the heck are you doing here Granger?" I smirked flipping my hair back.
"Same as you Fuller." She stopped and laughed.
"Wait…you're going to be a debutante?" I nodded slowly as she started laughing loudly.
"You a debutante? Is this some kind of joke? Are there like cameras around?" She asked looking around as I sighed.
"Funny enough as it seems, I am serious. I am going to be a debutante…against my will mind you but I'll be one." She stopped laughing and sighed.
"Susanna time to go in…why hello Tracy." Mom said appearing as I sighed. Tracy smiled broadly as her and Mom chatted.
"Why I haven't seen you in forever, you're going to be a debutante as well?" She nodded.
"Yes it's always been my dream to be one." Mom patted me on the back.
"It's always been Susanna's dream as well, right Susanna?" I sighed and muttered through clenched teeth.
"Yep." We said goodbye to her as we walked into a large room full of tables. Mom and I sat down at one in the front as I fiddled with the napkin in front of me in a bored manner. Mom swatted my hand as the woman from earlier came on stage and started droning on and on about the art of being a debutante.
I looked around the room to see a lot of girls there all sitting watching the woman mesmerized. I rolled my eyes leaning back into my chair, weirdoes. I looked at my clock and my eyes widened.
Hockey practice started five minutes ago. I leaned towards my Mom.
"Mom I've got to go to hockey practice." She glared at me and whispered back.
"Susanna this is very important and I won't have you missing it. Hockey will just have to wait." I pouted leaning back into the chair crossing my arms over my chest sulking. Coach Orion is going to kill me.
--
"Su where were you the other day?" Charlie asked as we all got ready in the locker room. Everyone turned to me to wait for the answer. I sighed lacing up my skates.
"Yeah Su Coach was piss when you never showed." Luis said leaning against his locker.
"I was just busy you guys."
"With what?" Portman asked as I resisted the urge to glare at him.
"I was at a meeting."
"For what?" Goldberg asked as I looked down.
"For how to be a….a….debutante." The locker room was silent for a split second before everyone broke out laughing.
"You….you a debutante? Are you kidding me?" Guy laughed out as Connie giggled next to him. I felt my cheeks heat up as everyone continued to laugh. I gripped my hockey stick tightly making my skin appear white. I did not like being laughed at.
"Great joke Su. Seriously where were you?" Russ asked as I sighed agitated.
"I just told you! I was at a debutante meeting!" The locker room quieted down as everyone stared at me.
"Su it was a funny joke, now it's getting old."
"Guys I'm not kidding. I'm really going to be a debutante!" I cried out, great they don't believe me and they laughed at me. Some friends.
"But you can't be! You're…Su." Dwayne called out as all the male Ducks laughed. Connie and Julie glared for my sake even though I knew they were both thinking the same thing.
"What's that suppose to mean Dwayne?" I said through clenched teeth still clutching my hockey stick. He looked scared as he backed away from me so Portman answered instead.
"What he's saying babe is that you, rough and tough Su can never be a debutante. This is stuff that girls do." I raised an eyebrow.
"Are you saying I'm not a girl?" He shook his head.
"No you're a girl you just act like a guy. So you being a debutante is just like a guy being a debutante completely ridiculous." I turned away from him to face my locker so no one could see my face. The words had stung more then they'll ever know.
"Su are you ok?" Connie gently asked placing an arm on my shoulder. I shrugged it carelessly off. I turned back to everyone laughing weakly.
"You're right Portman…me being a debutante is ridiculous." I looked down willing tears not to come.
"I mean come one, just look at me, I clearly am not cut out for being a debutante."
"Exactly." Dwayne announced not realizing I was on the brink of tears. Everyone glared at him.
"Guys let's just go to practice." Charlie said shattering the tension that had found itself in the locker room. Everyone nodded and started heading towards the door, except me.
"Su you coming?" Julie asked as I nodded.
"Yeah just give me a minute." She nodded leaving me alone. I wordlessly sat down on the bench and allowed a few tears to except down my cheek.
"Su." I looked up to see Adam at the door. I stood up quickly wiping at my tears.
"Hey, I was coming you know. I just needed a minute." He walked over to me cupping my cheek carefully.
"I'm sorry for what the guys said. It was out of line." I shook my head.
"No they're right. Me being a debutante is ridiculous. Can you even imagine it? I can't and I'm the one that's in it." I sniffled looking into his eyes.
"I just thought maybe you guys would understand." He wiped the tears out of my eyes saying softly.
"I understand, I know I may not be the whole team but I understand."
"Thanks Adam that means a lot." He nodded leaning down to kiss me tenderly on the lips. He pulled away smiling slightly.
"Come on we should get on the ice." I nodded as he grabbed my hand leading me out of the locker room into the rink. The Ducks were already working on laps. Coach spied us and yelled.
"Banks, Granger start skating." We made it onto the ice and started skating with the other Ducks. As he blew his whistle he called us to all take a knee.
"Granger mind telling us where you were yesterday?" I sighed looking down.
"I was at a important meeting." He raised an eyebrow.
"For what?"
"A debutante meeting." He looked at me confused.
"Granger are you…"
"Joking? No I'm dead serious." I deadpanned ignoring guilty reactions coming over the Ducks.
"Well…just don't miss another practice without telling me again. Especially for a hobby." I sighed and at the worst time my watch went off. I had set it so I could leave for my meeting. Everyone looked at me as I clicked it off. I pulled the note on Mom had written for me.
"Coach I've got to go." I said handing him the note. He read over it briefly before glaring at me.
"Fine, I expect to see you tomorrow." I nodded quickly skating to the side of the rink. I hurried to the locker room and changed into a black skirt with a green long sleeve top before placing on black heels and putting my hair up into a bun. I put lipstick, blush, mascara and eyeliner on before checking myself in the mirror. I winked at myself, not looking too shabby.
I grabbed my hockey gear and headed out the door. I walked past the ice rink and looked to see the Ducks scrimmaging. I stopped to watch them for a moment, how I wish I could be down there with them.
I turned away and headed to my car, debutante time.
(Please R and R! I do not own the Mighty Ducks.)