Disclaimer: I don't own the Mighty Duck series...

Adam and Connie

It was great to be back, thought Connie as she lugged her heavy case up the stairs back to her dorm room. Christmas break had ended and school started on Monday, so she had three days to settle back in to school life before she was bombarded with homework, coursework and deadlines. With a frustrated sigh Connie jabbed her heels into the stairs and pulled her suitcase up on to the next one. Repeating the same process until she had reached the first level floor.

"Curse living on the second floor," she muttered as she eyed fifteen or so more steps waiting for her to ascend. "Curse the stupid lift," the said lift had been declared unsafe over the winter break and a large 'Do Not Use' sign was posted across the doors.

"Need some help," came a deep voice from behind her. Turning her head Connie beamed up at Dean Portman who was already descending the stairs to meet her. Without another word he gripped hold of the case and lifted into the air carrying it two steps at a time.

"Thank you, I don't know if I could have handled over a dozen more steps," she said following behind him with two overnight bags stuffed with more clothes hung over her shoulders.

"Why didn't you ask for help before you tackled the first lot, I'd have come and helped you." He told her as he set her case on to the ground. He pulled the handle up and walked side by side with Connie as she informed him that she hadn't known of him returning to Eden Hall today.

"Yeah, my plane came in four hours ago, to be fair I've only just got my shit in my room. I was going to the shop to get a few drinks to put in the mini fridge. I forgot we emptied it before the break."

"Well my afternoon is me unpacking and relaxing. How was your Christmas?" Portman shrugged, as he stopped.

"Nowt special, a few gifts from my Ma and Pa and I saw a couple of my buds from my old Hockey team but that was it. You have a good one?"

"Yeah, like you a few presents from my Mum and I hung out with Tammy a previous duck and then Mum and I went shopping on Boxing Day. All in all it was a nice relaxing Christmas. But Portman why have we stopped in the corridor?"

"Simple, give us a bag. Those things way a ton let me take one for you." Surprised by his generosity Connie peeled off a bag and handed it to Portman who placed it on his shoulder. The weight of it not effecting him in the slightest.

After a few more minutes of walking Connie unlocked her dorm door and they stepped inside. Portman placed her case and bag beside the window and lowered himself on to her bed.

"Haven't you got a date with Julie soon?" she asked him as she dropped beside him.

"Yeah, she's not back until this evening I don't think. So I'll pop in to see her tomorrow. I've got you after Banksie right?" Connie nodded her head.

"Yep, I'm just waiting for Adam to ask me. We decided that no dates would happen over the holidays, it's been a nice break to be honest."

"You'll be glad when all these dates are over. You regretting your idea of doing this yet?"

"You know what, I'm not. It's been great just to hang out with each one of you just on our own. Plus it's been a lot of fun. I might even miss it once they're all done." She admits with a frown. "I've only got five more dates left."

"So who you got left?" he asks her peeling one eye open to look down on her.

"You and Adam, Kenny, Averman and Luis. And you know what Ports, there hasn't been a bad date yet. Sure some have been better marked than others but I have enjoyed all the ones I've been on."

"That's good to know, I hope you like mine." He says with a wink and a wiggle of his eyebrows. Rolling her eyes at his dramatics she pushes his arm, and he laughs throwing his arm over her shoulders and bringing her in for a side hug. "I best get going, I told Fulton I'd be getting some drinks in the fridge before he got here and I don't think he'll be impressed to find me cuddling in bed with you and the fridge drinkless."

"Please don't go around saying you were cuddling me in bed, I've enough to deal with this term without adding promiscuous and untrue rumours on how I spend my time."

Laughing loudly he nods his head and stands up. "You, I and Russ are the only ones here so far." He tells her and he heads for the door.

"Yeah, the other out of town Ducks arrive this evening. I think Luis is the last, he gets here at half nine tonight. Charlie told me yesterday his mum was dropping Guy, Averman and he off around four."

"Great, we'll all have to meet up tomorrow when everybody is back in town."

"Great idea, I'll see you tomorrow then," Portman nods his head and with a wave he walks out of the room closing the door quietly behind him.

Now alone in her room Connie looks at her stuff, with a sigh she pushes herself off the bed and begins to unzip her suitcase, she had an awful lot of unpacking to do.

A few hours later Connie looked around her dorm room with a grin. It had only taken her four hours to unpack, not like that was a long time or anything. Satisfied with where everything was she lowered her suitcase to lay on the floor and slid it under her bed, where it would stay till the end of next term.

The door to the room opened and her head popped over the bed as Julie walked in.

"Hey Jules!" she cried jumping to her feet.

"Hey Connie," Julie greeted in return opening her arms to hug Connie. "It's great to be back on solid ground. Most annoying flight ever."

"That's one thing I'm grateful for. I hate flying." Scowling at the thought the two lowered on to the beds, they continued to discuss their holidays until the sky started to darken.

Glancing out of the window Connie frowned, "Is there anything you want from the shop?" She asked.

"Why, you thinking of going?" Connie nodded her head and rummaged under their shared desk for her pumps.

"I spent all afternoon unpacking I haven't had time to stock up the fridge with beverages and snacks. I thought while you unpack I can go and get some food. Maybe grab a couple of sandwiches for tea because I cannot be bothered going anywhere for food and I don't think the dorm canteen is open until Monday." She explained as she dragged on her coat.

"Yeah," Julie grabbed a spare notepad and scribbled down a list of foods and drinks she wanted. She handed Connie the list as well as $20 and started the task of unpacking.

Saying goodbye Connie stepped out of the room and headed down the long corridor, she jogs down the stairs and pushes open the door stepping out in the open air. Pulling her coat around her she continues to jog to the large gates that welcomed students onto the grounds. Pulling out her purse she pauses at the bus stop and waits for the bus to take her into town. Walmart only being a ten minute bus journey away.

She would have walked if it hadn't had been so cold.

She wandered through the aisles of Walmart pushing the trolley and browsing the different items along the shelves, reaching the pop aisle Connie pulls out the list and skims down it for the drinks. Diet coke and Fanta. Rolling her eye Connie skimmed the selection on offer and grabs two packs of six can and places them in to the cart. A little further down she reaches for a bottle of Ribena and also places that in the cart. Spinning the trolley around the corner she drags it towards the crisps. Two bags of Walkers salt and vinegar and a pack of skips join the pop.

After 20 minutes in the supermarket Connie scowls as she lugs the three bags full of food back to the bus stop.

"Knew I shouldn't have bought the biscuits," she muttered lowering the shopping on to the floor as she waited for the bus to return.

After a ten minute wait she boarded the bus and placed her shopping in the carrier and stared out of the window. The sky had darkened considerably while she was in the supermarket and now the streetlights were lit.

Pressing the button, Connie gathered her shopping and got off the bus, she trudged through the grounds as the wind whipped at her exposed skin. Her hands gripped the bag tighter and she sped up, desperate to get back inside.

"Connie!" a voice shouted from the left, turning her head she saw Adam jogging towards her. Sending him a small frozen grin, he took two of the bags she was carrying and they hurried inside.

"Thank you. That's twice today somebody has helped me carry something," she laughed as the door closed behind her.

Adam simply raised an eyebrow waiting for her to elaborate.

"Portman caught me as I was carrying my suitcase up the stairs and he took it up for me as I was struggling, and now you've helped me carry two of my bags inside for me."

"You're obviously screaming Damsel in Distress then," he joked sending her a cheeky wink.

"Funny," she rolled her eyes and nudged him, laughing he stuck his hand into his pocket and pulled out a wrapped box.

"So I thought first day back was as good as ever. If you're free next Saturday I'd love to take you on a date? What do you say?"

"I'd love too, what can you tell me about it?"

"Not a lot really, with regards for clothes you can wear whatever you like it won't affect the outcome of the date." He tells her and she nods thinking about what he had said. "I'll come for you around half 10. That okay?"

"Half 10 is fine," she says smiling, her eyes subconsciously glancing to the wrapped box in his hand. Noticing this Adam grins and hands her the gift.

"This is for you." Smiling, she eagerly opens the present and gasps as she opens the box. A pair of beautiful aquamarine stud earrings along with a heart shaped necklace with the same gems.

"Adam these – they're beautiful. Thank you." Adam smiled.

"I'm glad you like them," he tells her truthfully and she closes the box and slips it carefully in to her bag. She grabs the bag of shopping and the two of them make their way back to Connie's dorm.

Adam greets Julie who's sat on the floor surrounded by clothes hangers and a pile of jeans, before he excuses himself. He wishes them a good night and he exits the room.

"The lads are keen to get on with these dates," Connie tells Julie as she drops on to the bed. "Adam just asked me on a date for next Saturday." Julie turned around, her interest peeked almost instantly.

"What did he say?"

"Not a lot, what I wear won't be of any great importance to the dates outcome and he's coming for me at half past 10. On another note he bought me a gift!" Sitting up she reaches for her bag and pulls out the jewellery box and hands it over to Julie who opens it.

"Those are stunning," she admits as she gazes down at the blue stones. "Similar to the ones he bought me." She tells her reaching for her own peridot earrings. "Though you did get a necklace too,"

"I've only ever seen you wear one necklace and that's the one you've around your neck now," the said necklace had two silver hearts linked together and it hung from a silver chain.

"It was my grandmothers, she passed away when I was a child. She left it for me when she died. I keep it on at all times because it make me feel as though she's always with me." Connie nodded in understanding went to place the drinks in the mini fridge.

Once everything was put away she reached for her date notebook and flipped to the page marked Adam.

Adam's never one to fail and he approached me as I struggled back to campus with three bags of groceries, without even having to say a word he took two from me and we hurried in doors. Once indoors he asked me out on a date. He pulled out a box from inside his trouser pocket and handed me it. Once I opened it I was stunned to find a pair of aquamarine earrings and matching heart shaped necklace, which are beautiful. He gave me limited information about the day, all I know is, I can wear whatever I want and he'll be picking me up at half past 10 on Saturday morning.

Reading what she wrote once Connie marked the page and slipped the book back in to her draw.

"I can tell it's going to be a long night," Connie joked as she surveyed the disarray of clothes along the floor.

"Shut up!" Julie snapped as Connie sat there laughing.

XXX

Christmas break had obviously not been kind to the teachers of Eden Hall, the first week back had started with a bang as teachers piled homework on top of them, and there had even been a rumour that there had been a pop quiz in Madam Tera's Spanish class.

Her alarm clock chimed at half nine, and her hand slammed the snooze button groaning she buried her face back into her pillow. Why did she have to get up at half nine on her first Saturday back at school? All she wanted to do was sleep till noon, stay in her pyjamas and watch movies while tackling some of the homework she had been given.

"Con you awake," Julie asked from the other bed, wiping the sleep from her eyes Connie turned to her, she nodded and yawned.

"Curse you Adam Banks for such an early date," grumbling she threw off her covers and climbed out of bed, she said nothing more as she stumbled to the bathroom, locking the door behind her.

From her bed Julie lay smiling, before rolling back over to go to sleep. Connie would awake her when she returned from her shower and then she'd start getting ready for her date. But for now she would sleep.

A warm shower had rid the rest of the sleep and as she walked towards the wardrobe with bright eyes. Her towel still wrapped around her body as she gazed at the clothes she unpacked a week ago. Deciding on a green t-shirt and a pair of blue jeans, she quickly got dressed and grabbed a hoodie a size too big and looked in the mirror. Satisfied with her appearance she grabbed a snack from the fridge and set to work on drying her hair. After 10 minutes of constant blowing she grabbed a hair bobble from the array that was scattered on the desk and tied her hair into a loose ponytail.

Grabbing her make up bag she dusted her face with light powder and applied black mascara to her eyes and a pale lip gloss to her lips. She reached for her new pumps and she sat on the window seat as she pierced the earrings into her ears. Wrapping the necklace around her neck she smiled at her reflection.

She had a spare five minutes until Adam was expected to show up. She sat in amusement as she watched Julie struggle to fasten the pair of black jeans. "One too many pies there Catlady!" she joked.

"So I enjoyed my Christmas dinner, give me a break will you!" Julie pushed her jeans back down her legs and threw them across the floor before reaching for a pair of looser fitting jeans.

At precisely half past 10, Adam knocked on the door. Jumping from her seat on the window seat Connie opened the door with a smile. Adam wrapped his arms around in her a hug.

"You ready to go?" he asked while waving at Julie.

"Yep!" she grabbed her bag and he led them out of the room and out of the commons building. He arrived at his car and opened the door. Smiling at him she slid into her seat and waited for him to start driving till she asked where she was going.

"I've always wanted to go to one, and I know that you've never been to one so I thought it would be a nice memory for us."

"Still don't know where we're going," she laughed raising one of her eyebrows.

"I'm taking you to Minnesota Aquarium about fifteen miles north of here." At the word Aquarium Connie's eyes lit up.

"Always wanted to go to one, but we couldn't afford to go. Mum worked part time and her income went on food and bills. Trips to the zoo and an aquarium were never a possibility."

"What did you do for your birthday?" he asked curiously.

"We'd have a house party, so Charlie and Averman and a few others would come around to my house and we'd have cake and banners, a couple of streamers. Mum would always have a table in the kitchen laid with party food. It wasn't much but I appreciated it none the less."

"Birthday's in my house were always lavish affairs, I remember going on a speedboat for my ninth birthday."

"A speedboat. Wow I can't imagine being on a speedboat." She told him. They travelled the rest of the journey in content silence, Connie looking out of the window staring at the scenery as the car whizzed by.

After 20 minutes of driving Adam indicated to the left and drove another few minutes before pulling into a large car park. Peering through the front window Connie stared at the large Aquarium. A large killer whale's body wrapped around the name of the Aquarium, the head staring down at the guest.

They climbed out of the car and headed straight to the entrance, after a few minutes of queueing they reached the ticket booth and Adam handed over the money for two adult tickets. Once inside they turned left and wandered into the ice kingdom. The side of the walls were made of pure ice and Connie reached out and her hand touched the wall. Wet and cold she removed her hand and placed it on to Adam's face, grinning when he jumped in surprise.

"I can't believe it's really ice. How cool is this!" she exclaimed placing her hands back on to ice. Shaking his head Adam leaned to the wall and he flattened his hands on to the block.

"It's pretty impressive, how do you think they keep it frozen?"

"Dunno, but I'm already impressed." She said. They stepped away from the wall and wondered further into the kingdom. The room was cold and she hurried over to the high wall that had large glass windows etched inside to peer through. Pressing her face to the window she stared with wide eyes at the penguins waddling along the ice blocks and diving into the water.

"Connie, come down here," Adam called from below. She climbed down the steps and gasped. The floor down showed the clear waters. From here they could see the penguins swimming in the water, their wings flipped beside them and their little orange feet swatted the water as they propelled themselves out of the water.

They stayed there for a few more minutes before they wandered to the large information boards, each board showed a different penguin and it explained the different habitats, how big they grew, what they ate and the difference between the male and females.

"Don't you think it's fascinating how each type of penguin is similar but also very different." Adam said as he read about the rock hopper penguins.

"I've always liked Emperor penguins best, they're the ones I used to always think of then when somebody brought up penguins." Adam nodded in agreement, he had also always thought of Emperor penguins when penguins were mentioned. There was something about the large birds that lived in the freezing cold of Antarctica that had fascinated him.

"Should we walk on to another section?" Adam nodded and he took Connie's hand in his and they walked out of the Ice kingdom and into the Underwater Light. In every direction they looked multi coloured fish swam. They were oranges reds and yellows above their heads, blues, greens and purples on either side. And then below their feet a swarm of beautiful orange and blue fish swam. As they stood in awed silence the fish continued to swim around them, different breeds now integrating so there was no section that lacked different colours.

"Wow," Connie whispered as she turned on the spot. "We're in the middle of a huge fish tank."

Adam said nothing, he too was mesmerised by the whole thing. Walking towards the giant window on the right he pressed his hand on the tank, watching as fish swam towards him, sort of inspecting what this new object on the glass was before swimming away.

"Hey," Connie cried pointing at a blue paracanthurus hepatus. "That looks like Dory!"

"Well is there a Nemo anywhere by?" he chuckled looking over his head to see if he could see any orange clown fish.

"Yes, look down," glancing down Adam grinned, three little orange clown fish were swimming below him. "Gotta love a clown fish,"

Walking through the giant tank, staring at the different variety of fish on show Connie took out her phone and started to take pictures. "Wait here I want some of the penguins," she jogged back in to the Ice kingdom and snapped a handful of picture of the birds waddling on the ice and sliding into the water. Happy with the pictures she took she jogged back to meet Adam and then continued walking through the fish tank, taking close ups of several fish as she walked.

"Adam come here," Connie says waving him closer. He stands beside her and Connie points her phone towards the ground and places her feet in to the picture, Adam following suit. She snaps the pic and grins as she looks at it.

"That's pretty cool. Fish and feet," Adam smiles and they look around the tanks one more time before they leave Underwater light. "Next section is – Slime?" He and Connie looked at one another frowning.

"Slime? That's a peculiar name for an exhibit." Connie announces as they walk into the room but she suddenly pauses in shock. "What the…" They stared around the tanks in complete surprise, each tank was coated with slime.

"Want to explain what this is all about," Adam asked peering into one of the tanks.

"Slime is made up of sugar, water and protein and the type's protein and sugar is what makes the slime sticky. There are different ranges of animals that use and need the slime, some use it for shelter others use it for food. If you look closely you may see coloured frogs and eels poke out from the sand."

"Did you just read that off a sign?" Adam asked laughing as she turned and grinned guiltily.

"I saw an opportunity and I took it." She joked coming over to stand with him, to peer into the tanks. "You see any frogs or eels?"

"Nope," he walked up and down the rows crouching so his eyes were level to the sand. After searching for a few more minutes Connie and Adam decided to call it quits and they left the exhibit named slime and walked into bug land. Filled with a variety of different bugs and vertebrates.

They looked at the different insects before they moved on to the exhibit Connie wanted to see. Ocean wide was an exhibit focusing on the creatures that lived in the deep blue seas. A large zebra shark swam above their heads and to the left a variety of different fish. Connie watched the school of fish swim together.

"I love this place, look at that shark," She pointed towards the Grey reef shark stalking the crowd as it swum in its tank. It travelled back and forth its eyes staring at them and its tail swishing to the side.

"Don't think I'd want to be in there with that, it look like it's trying to decide who it wants to eat first."

"Like most creatures it's thinking, lunch!" they laughed and they continued to walk through the tunnels of the exhibit.

Stingrays of different types floated across the water while large sword fish dipped and dived throughout the water. Snapping more pictures on her phone, Connie watched the stingray with fascination. They were weird creatures, they were almost entirely flat and the speed that they moved was fascinating. Taking a couple more pictures she continued on with her journey.

"Did you know that if you dived 10 metres down the pressure is doubled from the surface, it says here it's like having two kilogrammes on every part of your body?" said Adam reading the sign on the wall.

"No wonder people can drown so quick, if you sink too low the pressure of the water suffocates you even if you can hold your breath for ages."

Further down the tunnel Connie pointed to the turtles, "those are huge!"

"Leather back sea turtles are the largest turtles in the world, they are listed as the fourth heaviest reptile after three crocodiles species." Read Adam.

"I've never seen anything like them," Stepping closer she watched fascinated as they swam through the open waters.

"It says here, that once a male leatherback turtle enters the water it never leaves unlike a female one who leaves when they give birth."

"Can you imagine spending your entire life in water?" Connie asked as they walked away from the turtles and finally out of the Ocean wide.

"Not really, I'm not a strong swimmer." Confessed Adam as they appeared in the food court. Burger stands, hot dog stands, ice cream and drink stands lined the east wall on the southern wall there was a pizza joint and sushi. Glancing down at his watch Adam raised his brows in surprise. Half past 1.

"Okay, it's half one. What you wanting for lunch?" Connie eyed the different stands before deciding on the pizza joint. They walked towards the stall and waited in the queue waiting to be served. Once at the front of the queue they ordered two meat feast pizzas with a portion of chips and two cans of Fanta. While Adam paid Connie took the tray and walked to a bench in the middle of the food court. Sitting down she picked up the first piece and bit into it, moaning in pleasure she chewed the pizza smiling at Adam as he sat down.

"I found a map," he tells her, flapping the map in his hand she snorted.

"We get over half way through the Aquarium and then we find a map."

"Yup, we've got two more sections and then the gift shop." He explains as he scrutinises the map.

"Sweet, should we finish our food and then continue on with our date," she says the last bit with a wink and Adam laughs. He takes a piece of pizza and chomps down on it.

They eat their meal with mindless chatter as they went, once their food was finished and they were full they binned the rubbish and they continued on the tour of the Aquarium.

"So now we have a map, what's this section about?"

"World of the Amazon focuses on a selection of the 3,000 species that live in the Amazon river."

"That sounds interesting," where there were no fish tanks the room had been decorated as though they were in the Amazon rainforest. Fake trees hung over the corner or the fish tanks shading the fish swimming in the water. Peering in the tanks Connie watched as several different fish swam past her eyes. Colours were not bright like they were in previous tanks in other sections. But as she read up about the fish she discovered that fish in the Amazon River didn't have a need to be brightly coloured as it would halt their progress in finding food.

"Connie, over here. There are some electrical eels," jogging to where Adam was stood she stared at the eels as they swam by. "They're cool," she exclaims pointing at the two eels swimming around one another in some sort of dance.

Unlocking her phone she took a few pictures of the eels and then went back to the fish on the other side taking more pictures of them.

They left the World of Amazon section and entered the final section, Fish of the Past.

This was the only section that had no alive fish swimming around. This time behind the glass were fossils of fish thousands of years old. Shark bones and then the beginning of mammals evolving into the very beginning of whales. Sea turtles were some of the only reptiles that remained alive even after million years.

They wandered through the corridors staring at the different fossils and watching the short video on how creatures in the ocean once looked and the transformation from then to the fish seen in the other exhibits.

After spending another half an hour in the room and taking lots of pictures they entered the gift shop.

Adam grabbed a small basket and Connie and he looked around the store. "You can choose what you want," he told her as he looked at a snow globe with a turtle in the middle.

Nodding her head Connie grabbed a pencil and a shark shaped rubber and dropped it into the basket. Walking to the t-shirts she grabbed a simple blue one with a turtle on it. She rummaged for her size and dropped it into the basket. She walked to where the mugs were lined up and she reached for a mug with tropical fish wrapped around. She placed that in the basket and smiled at Adam.

"That it?" he asked and she nodded. With that in mind he headed to the cashier and paid for the items. Walking back towards her he turned and said, "You ready to go?"

"Yep," he took her hand with his free one and they left the Aquarium, and headed back to the car.

Once in the car Connie relaxed, she kicked off her shoes and shifted further down the seat. Glancing out of the as Adam moved off. Flicking on the heater she watched Adam drive. It was something she really wanted to do but with school and hockey she hadn't had the time nor the finances to fund it. She was hoping to start her lessons once they'd graduated from Eden Hall.

"What's your plans for the rest of the day?" Connie asked as she checked the clock. As dates went it was one of the earliest finishing dates at 3pm.

"Probably hang out with some of the guys and it's my turn to fill the fridge. What about you?" he asked.

"Well I have a ridiculous amount of homework to tackle, so I think I'm going to work on that and watch the Saturday night film while Julie is out."

"Why where's Julie?"

"She's gone on her date with Portman, don't know what time she'll be back." She tells him, checking her phone to see if she's had a text from her. "Don't suppose you know what he's got planned do you?"

"For you or for her?" there was a twinkling in her eyes that told her he knew both.

"Both," she said smirking.

"Can't tell you I'm afraid. But I'll tell you this, you and Julie are the only ones in the group who don't know what the other guy's dates are."

"You mean you all know what each of you are doing?" she asked surprised. "I had thought you'd have kept it quiet."

"Nar we didn't want to do the same date by accident, it's easier to know and keep the secret."

"Think I'm gonna go and find Averman he can't keep a secret to save his life!" They both laughed, it was a well-known fact that Lester Averman couldn't keep his mouth shut nor could he keep a secret.

They arrived back at the campus half an hour later, together they walked hand in hand up the stairs and towards the dorm room. New art work had been hung throughout the week and they glanced at the pictures as they walked.

Pulling the key out of her pocket Connie unlocked the door and turned to Adam, taking both her hands in his he leans down and presses a soft kiss on the corner of her mouth. "I'll see you later Con," Smiling back at him she says goodbye and enters the room her fingers tracing the spot he had kissed her. Still a little stunned from it she reaches for her book and begins to write down the date.

Adam arrived dead on half past 10, he took hold of my hand and he escorted me to his car, it was here he informed me that today's date would be a trip to an Aquarium. I've never been to an Aquarium so I was instantly looking forward to it.

The car ride was pleasant and we made comfortable small talk on our journey. We eventually reached the Aquarium and we walked hand in hand to the ticket booth where Adam paid. From here on we walked through several different exhibits and I took many pictures. The first section was all about penguins and there was a wall made out of ice which was pretty cool pardon the pun. We then moved on to this really cool room where we were in the centre of 360 degree fish tank. You could say it was a tunnel with fish swimming underneath. In this section there were many tropical coloured fish.

After that section we moved on to the slime room, now that was very weird, basically the fish tanks were covered in slime with frogs and eels hiding in there, we didn't see any but it was very different. We had a look in the bug room for a little while which was cool as there were so many different insects in there, it was a little creepy. After that we moved into my favourite room here there were many mammals of the sea, there were these huge sea turtles and a few sharks. We saw many different fish as well in here, it was amazing to see the variety of creatures that live in our oceans.

After that exhibit we went and had something for lunch I chose pizza and we sat in one of the benches and ate the food, it was then we discovered a map. It was probably a bit late because we'd already done most of the Aquarium by this point but at least we knew what we were going into.

After lunch we entered the penultimate exhibit, this featured many fish that are located in the Amazon River. It was interesting to see how their habitat effected their appearance. They weren't brightly coloured but rather dull, I guess it makes hunting for food easier. The final exhibit held no living fish, it was sort of a memorial to prehistoric fish. There were fossils, bones and replicas of fish from millions of years ago. On the wall there had even been an educational video on the changes over the years from bacteria to jawless fish to fish with jaws and to the fish we know of today. It was a fascinating video.

Once we'd finished in there we entered the gift shop and Adam said I could buy whatever I wanted, so I bought a pencil, a rubber a top and a mug. We walked back to the car where I kicked off my shoes and relaxed while Adam drove us back. We arrived back at campus half an hour later, he walked me to my dorms where he pressed a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth. He hands me my bag of souvenirs and he leaves with a soft goodbye.

I would rate Adam on Romance a 7: He held my hand and kissed me gently at the very end of the date but it was very romantic. If he wanted to add to the romance level he could have 'wined and dined' me.

I would rate Adam on Creativity as a 9: Taking me to an Aquarium was a genius idea, I'll be honest it would be one thing I'd never have thought of but I enjoyed it. I guess to take it to a 10 he could have added something extra on to the date as we did return to Eden Hall at half 3.

I would rate Adam on Effort as a 5: Sadly other than taking me back and forth in the car there and paying for everything there was no real effort made on his part to make the day special he did buy me the jewellery and because of that he scored a five. He could have easily taken me somewhere else afterwards even if it was to an ice cream parlour or a walk in the park, really it was a little disappointing.

I would rate Adam on being a Gentleman as a 10: No real surprise Adam is and has always been a gentleman, he paid for everything without me having to ask, he took hold of my hand, he was polite and considerate. Opened the doors. Nothing to complain about here.

I would rate the date a 7: The idea of taking me to an Aquarium was brilliant and very creative, plus with him being such a sweetie it makes the date enjoyable the only downside to the date was the little effort involved.

Now the date is over I would rate how I feel as an 8: It was a great, day out. It was fun but also education in a way and I really enjoyed seeing the fish and all the other creatures in there. I think if it was longer then it might have raised my score but overall it was still a fun day out.

In total I will grade Adam a total: of 46 out of 60.

Connie reread what she wrote and even reached for her calculator to check if the subtotal was correct. Surprised at his score she reviewed what she wrote and her eyes kept looking back to the score of five she had given him for his effort. She felt almost bad for it but she knew she had to grade them fairly. When she thought about what he had to do to plan the date, he actually had to do nothing other than google the place and work out how to get there, his only effort was the gift he bought her before the date.

Closing her book she placed it in to her draw and glanced at Julie's bed, it hadn't been touched so she knew she was still out. Flicking on the television she skipped through the channels and grabbed her first piece of homework.

"Better get on with this now."

A huge sorry for such a long wait for this chapter, but it's here and I hope it makes up for the disastrous time keeping on my place. I have just been focusing on all my other stories and this one just kept getting over looked :(

I've not been to an Aquarium for years but I do remember going to the Deep in Hull, so if you are in the UK you should try visiting there.

This chapter really is timely correct, as I know Nemo wasn't around when the Ducks were at school but if you'd all pretend it was that'll be great ;D

Next chapter as you all are aware Dean and Julie...

Please continue reviewing!