AN: And here's another chapter for you all. I have the week off from work/college/etc so you'll probably see another update later this week. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Please continue to. I really want to know what everyone thinks.

To8JbFbAbM9, I'm glad to see you again! Glad to know I still have a loyal reader. Yes, I couldn't have Connie and Guy apart for too long. I think they're great together. But is it the end of Connie/Larson? Who knows. (Oh, right, I do!)

Center Of Attention
13. secret

Friday came way too early.

With his hands in his pockets, Adam began to wonder why he came. Of course, he'd been wondering this during the entire movie and the walk back to school too, but that didn't matter. Next to him was a pretty blonde who he'd seen in classes though had never spoken to. Unable to help but glance at her, he frowned as he realized he probably should have paid attention when the girls had introduced themselves about two hours ago.

He'd forgotten her name.

Again.

That, however, wasn't the only problem. Nameless was more shy than her counterpart (whose name Adam also didn't know) and hadn't spoken in about ten minutes. Meanwhile, Charlie and his date were chatting as if they'd known each other their entire lives.

As if she'd read his mind, Nameless turned to him. "So, Adam," she smiled at him, obviously uncomfortable. "How long have you played hockey?"

Oh, right, they'd been talking about ice hockey.

Before he could answer, Charlie did. "About eight years, right, Banksie?" He didn't even let Adam reply before he continued, "Yeah, his dad got him into it on an early age. He wanted Adam to play for the Hawks, like his brother, but we managed to snatch him up. Hey, how is he, anyway?"

Adam blinked as he realized Charlie was asking him about his brother. "Fine," he answered, a bit baffled his friend had just told some random girl his entire life story.

"He's a great guy. Like Adam, don't you agree, Karen?"

Karen. That was her name.

"Yes," his date immediately responded. Adam smiled at her, uncertainly. "Thank you," he answered politely. She beamed at him.

"Oh, we're back at school," Charlie's date piped up.

"Guess the date is over," Adam's date—shit, what was her name again, Kelly?—replied, looking at him pointedly. Adam wondered what she wanted when he noticed Charlie leaning over to peck his date on the cheek.

Adam held out his hand instead. His date stared at it before she shook it, uncertain. "Uh, I had a nice time. We should do this again sometime. Bye."

"Bye," he replied, lamely. His date looked at him for a while longer before she followed her friend inside.

Adam was well aware of Charlie staring at him. "What?" He asked, to which his friend shook his head and headed inside.

Glad that's over.

"How did the date go?"

Julie asked as soon as Charlie dropped into a seat next to her. He groaned in reply, placing his head in his arms.

"Not great?"Julie guessed, unable to keep from smiling.

"Horrible," Charlie's reply was muffled by his arms, and so Julie placed a hand under his chin to force his head up. Charlie batted her hand away before he continued, "He couldn't even remember her name. Karen, what's so difficult about that?"

"Guess you won't be going on a second one," Julie shrugged.

"Good guess, Gaffney." Charlie rolled his eyes. He'd be lucky if either of those girls would even consider talking to him in the nearby future. He sighed, taking a look around the cafeteria to see where the rest of his team had gone. He noticed Connie and Guy were at the same table, only a few seats away, staring into each other's eyes with a lovesick smile on both their faces. Disgusting, Charlie thought. He also caught sight of Luis near Mindy, but couldn't find any of the others. He wondered where everyone was ("Wait, it's Saturday. They're probably still in bed") before he felt someone poke him. He turned back to Julie.

"Look, Charlie." Julie scooted closer, and he watched as she looked around suspiciously. He raised an eyebrow before she turned back to him, leaning in. He noticed movement out of the corner of his eye and saw Linda, looking in their direction, not exactly pleased. He wondered why before he realized the position he and Julie were in almost made it look as though they were about to kiss. Charlie grinned, pleased with his ex girlfriend's reaction. 'Hey,' he wanted to scream at her, 'you're the one that broke up with me, remember? If I want to kiss Julie, I will!' Except he didn't want to, but that was an entire different story.

Julie hit him over the head. "Ow!" He reacted immediately, jerking away from her as he rubbed his forehead and glared at her. "Pay attention!" she commanded, motioning him closer again. He rolled his eyes before he obeyed, and Julie took another look around before she finally spoke, "Have you ever considered that," she paused, and Charlie stared at her, nonplussed. "Well. That Adam might like.."

"Brunettes?" Charlie supplied, when Julie didn't continue.

"No!" Julie shot him a look of irritation. "Boys. That he might like boys."

Charlie looked at her as if he had no idea what the hell she'd just said. Finally, he snorted. "No way. He would have told me if he did."

"Would he?" Julie asked, still quietly. She gazed over at Connie and Guy, who were still too caught up in each other to notice anything else. "Maybe he doesn't want anything to know."

"He'd tell me." Charlie repeated, stubbornly. It couldn't be true, right? Adam would have told him, Charlie knew he would.

"It would explain some things," Julie said, as if she hadn't heard him. "Why he's never dated. Why he doesn't even look twice at a pretty girls like the rest of you idiots. The way he dresses."

"He's dressed like that since he was ten!" Charlie protested, as Julie continued, "And his hair!"

"Whose hair?" They were interrupted by Larson, who took a seat opposite them. He took a look at Connie and Guy who were a few seats away and grimaced at their public display of affection. Charlie pointed a finger at him, "Larson's got ridiculous hair and he's not gay!"

Larson blinked. "Are we talking about Adam?"

"Yes," Julie ignored her team captain and directed herself towards the Hawk. "Have you ever seen him with a girl?"

"Besides you, Moreau and Conway over there?" Larson grinned as Charlie glared at him, "No. More interested in his hockey stick than anything."

"Maybe he's asexual," Julie mused. Charlie threw his hands up, "Why are we discussing this at breakfast?"

"Bad date?" Larson guessed, to which Julie nodded. Charlie scowled, "Couldn't even remember her name. Karen, it's not that difficult!"

As Charlie grumbled the name again, Larson exchanged a look with Julie, who shrugged. "He's kind of stuck on her name," she explained.

Charlie rolled his eyes before he turned back to Larson, irritated, "Don't you have other friends you can sit with?"

Larson smirked, "Other friends?" he asked, "Does that mean we're friends, Conway?"

"I was referring to Julie," Charlie lied, though couldn't deny Larson had got him there. Despite the fact he still couldn't get on with him, he was slowly beginning to see Larson as one of them. Damn, where had his brain gone? He couldn't possibly trust a Hawk, right?

"To answer your question, McGill isn't over the fact you broke his nose and banned me from sitting with them for the time being." Larson didn't look that upset, which Charlie had to comment on. "You're not bothered?"

"Nah," the Hawk answered. "He'll come around."

"How do you know?" Charlie asked, interested and glad to have another topic of conversation.

"He's been my best friend for years." Larson answered, as if this explained everything. For Charlie, it didn't. "That supposed to mean anything? He's an ass."

"It should," Larson replied, looking him straight in the eye. Charlie frowned and had to look away; turning to his left, he noticed Adam was heading their way. At the same time, Julie stood up from her seat. "I'm going to find Scooter. I'll see you later. Hi, Adam!"

"Hey," Adam greeted, smiling as the girl pecked his cheek before she hurried out. Charlie raised his hand for a half-hearted wave before he turned to his best friend.

"You suck."

Adam sat down, "Good morning to you too." He replied, briefly glancing over at Larson who was looking at the two of them amused.

"Good morning nothing. What the hell was that last night, man?" Charlie asked, irritated.

"A date?" Adam guessed.

"A date? A date, he says! Banks, you couldn't even remember her name. You asked her thrice."

"I did?" Adam shrugged, he couldn't remember. "Does it matter? Ellie said she had a good time."

"Karen," Larson piped up, unable to hide his smile.

Adam raised an eyebrow, confused. Charlie was tempted to hit him as he stared at his friend in disbelief. "Her name was Karen."

"Oh," Adam didn't really know what to say to that. Fortunately for him, Larson burst out laughing at that moment.

"That's fucking hilarious," he said. "Man, I wish I could have been there."

"No, you don't." Charlie immediately answered. He shot Banks another glare.

"It wasn't that bad!" Adam protested.

"You shook her hand!"

By now, Larson was trying to stop laughing by coughing extremely loudly. "Allergies," he told a random passerby who asked if he was okay.

"I told you I wasn't interested!" Adam tried to defend his actions again.

"You could have at least acted like it! I had to answer for you!"

"Who asked you to?"

"When someone asks you a question, you answer!"

"I was about to, when you did!" Adam was vaguely aware noticed people had begun to stare.

"What's this, a lover's tiff?" Both Ducks came to a halt when they heard a laugh, and they turned to see Rick Riley and his posse.

"Shut up and leave, Riley," Charlie scowled, not in the mood. Adam wisely kept his mouth shut, but looked as if he wanted to say the same. Larson, though still amused, was eyeing the Warriors warily.

"What did you just say, Conway?" Riley sneered, and Charlie stood up from his seat. Riley was taller by an inch, but he didn't care at that moment.

"I think he told you to shut up and leave, Riley," came another voice. Charlie smiled when he saw Fulton, with Portman a few steps behind. Riley's sneer increased, but he wasn't dumb enough to go up against the Bash brothers, even with Cole by his side.

"Let's go," he told the Warriors, before he turned to Charlie. "This isn't over, Captain Duck."

"Sure it is," Charlie replied easily. He sat back down when the Warriors left, this time with Portman and Fulton next to him.

There was an uncomfortable silence before Adam cleared his throat.

"I'm sorry I ruined your date, Charlie."

Charlie shrugged, "It's okay, Banksie. Doesn't matter."

"After all that, that's it?" Larson sounded somewhat disappointed. Charlie didn't bother to hide his annoyance and flipped him off.

"What're they fighting about now?" Fulton asked him. Larson grinned, "Their date."

Portman looked delighted, "You went on a date?"

"Double date," Charlie answered. He was suddenly reminded of his conversation with Julie and couldn't help but glance at Adam, who seemed lost in his own thoughts. He couldn't like boys, Charlie was sure of it. Adam would tell him.

"Yeah?" Fulton seemed interested now, "How'd it go?"

In reply, Charlie groaned and Adam sighed. Larson was all smiles.

"That good, huh?" Portman laughed.

"Let me tell you a story," Charlie began, sarcastically. "Once upon a time, there was a girl named Karen."

"I think I'm in love with Billy."

Julie choked in the water she had just consumed, which caused her to have a fit of coughs. With tears in her eyes from shock, she managed to squeeze out, "What?"

Connie quicky patted her friend on the back, though this didn't do any good with the amount of pads Julie was wearing. As soon as she could breathe properly again, Julie stared at her friend and repeated, "What?"

"I think I'm in love with Billy," Connie said, again. Julie didn't know what to say.

"But," she finally managed, "What about Guy?"

"Guy and I broke things off," Connie said, with a shrug. "He knows how I feel."

"But you just got back together!" Julie wasn't sure why she was reacting so heavily. Something about this didn't sit well with her.

"It wasn't working out," her friend replied easily.

"But," Julie stuttered, not sure what to say.

"But what?" Connie looked at her, as if she expected her to say something. Julie opened her mouth again, but nothing came out. To her luck, Guy skated over at that time, saving her from further embarrassment.

To her surprise, Guy leaned over and kissed Connie quickly before he smiled at Julie, "Coach said to hurry up. We're starting again." With that, he put on his helmet before he moved back to his spot.

Julie stared at Connie, her mouth in a thin line. "Connie Moreau," she huffed.

"Okay, " Connie started out, slowly. "So I lied."

"Why would you do that?" Julie wasn't sure whether she was angry or relieved. Maybe a bit of both.

"Because it's so easy to see that you like him, Julie!" Connie exclaimed a little too loudly, and Julie winced when she noticed about half the team staring at them. Connie shrugged, "I just wanted you to admit it."

"I don't like him. I'm with Scooter." Julie told her sternly. Connie was about to protest when Julie held up her hand, "Look, Con, I can't give up the guy I'm with for a silly crush, okay? It took Scooter long enough to ask me out and I'm happy with him."

"What if you could be happier?" Connie tried, but Julie shook her head, not wanting to hear it.

"If you really want to play matchmaker," Julie began, as the two of them skating back onto the ice slowly—Coach Orion looked as if he was about to pull them by their ears if they didn't—"How about starting with those two?"

Connie followed her gaze to see Charlie and Adam, standing near each other and talking quietly. "What, you want me to set Charlie or Adam up on a date? I don't know if you heard, but the last one went horrible."

"Trust me, I've heard." Julie rolled her eyes. "But that's not quite what I meant."

"Julie Gaffney," Connie mocked, "What's going on in that head of yours?" Before Julie could answer, Orion interrupted. "Gaffney, Moreau, are you quite done?"

"I'll tell you after practice," Julie promised, skating to the goal. Connie nodded, confused as she skated to her position for a scrimmage.

What're you up to, Jules?

AN: Dum, dum, dum! What's Julie up to? Is she planning to murder them? Probably not. Also, just wanted to explain the reason why the "date" was so short: I got bored. Ellie, I mean, Karen wasn't really that fascinating to begin with. Please review!