Adam's POV

I'd already finished dressing by the time anyone else had arrived at the locker room. Fulton and Portman were the first to come, and they didn't waste time in asking if I'd managed to set things straight. I replied in the negative and said that Charlie would have to talk to me when he was ready. I also informed them that I had no desire to slam him into any walls unless he started to do so to me.

They understood and remained quiet, although this did not last for long as my rowdy teammates began to enter noisily into the room. Charlie tagged along at the back with Guy who was talking to him about the bookshelf that he was making in wood tech. Whether or not the Captain was listening to what was being said is another matter.

"Come on, let's get on the ice" said Portman, and the three of us made our way out.

*

"Goldberg! Hurray up and gather around me with the others." Yelled Coach Orion. "I've picked some random teams and you're going to play some hockey for the rest of this practice, okay?" The team cheered at the prospect of no more laps.

"Red is Goldberg, Banks, Luis, Charlie, Russ, Portman and they're playing against Blue which is Julie, Connie, Guy, Dwayne, Kenny, Fulton. Once Averman finishes getting dressed he can be your sub" he said, referring to the resident joker who had missed the start of the practice due to an optometrist appointment.

I skated up to the centre and hit the puck away from Guy. I passed to Luis who shot by and attempted to score against Julie the Cat but was blocked. Fulton gained possession but was thwarted by his fellow Bash Brother who stole the puck and hit it to Russ. Russ passed it to Charlie and off he went. However, we was blocked by Fulton and Dwayne and looked around for someone to pass to.

Me. I was in the clear. For a moment I swore that he was going to try to make it himself, but he remembered our agreement. What happens off the ice stays off the ice. Charlie passed it. I dodged two opposing players before sneaking the puck past Julie.

"Good goal Cake-Eater" yelled Russ. The other Red team members expressed their agreement. Charlie nodded. He may not have liked me very much at that moment, but he loved hockey as much as I did, and our fight was not going to ruin our enjoyment or success at the game. I was grateful.

The game ended 2 – 1 in favour of the Red team and all of the Ducks made their way to the showers. All but me.

"Banks! Can you stay here for a moment?" called Coach Orion. I nodded and climbed over the barrier so that I could sit down next to him.

"Yes Coach?"

"I overheard Connie and Guy talking about some sort of rift between you and Charlie. Is this true?"He asked.

"Yeah, it is" I answered.

"How long has it been going on? What happened?"

"Since Friday night, at the dance. We had a fight." I told him.

"A physical fight?"he asked, eyebrows raised.

"A couple of punches and shoves. Mainly words."

"But what could you and Charlie possibly have a fight about?"

"A girl"

Orion sighed. "You like the same girl...figures...couldn't possibly have a harmonious team" he grumbled

"Oh no! I like her, he doesn't. Or at least, not in that way"

Coach looked confused. "Let me get this straight. You and Charlie had a fight because you love this girl and he doesn't...does this make sense to you, because I'm lost".

"It's Linda" I told him. Almost instantly he understood the dilemma.

"Charlie's ex-girlfriend...and are you willing to give up your friendship for a girl who may not even like you in return?" he reasoned.

"She does like me. We told each other at the dance. We were outside in the garden kissing when Charlie found us. That's when the fight started"

"Oh..." Coach Orion seemed unsure of what to say. "And Charlie was fine when he broke up with her...maybe he is scared of being left alone."

"Perhaps Coach, but he practically has a new girlfriend anyway. Audrey Davis." I told him. He frowned. "There's a lot that you don't know about us Coach".

"I see. Well, I don't know how to help you. But you must talk to him. I'm glad that you didn't let this come into your game."

"Yeah, we made an agreement last night."

"At least he's being sensible about that." He sighed "Well, go hit the showers now Adam, I've got to talk to Coach Wilson about a few things".

With the talk over, I headed in the direction of the locker room. In the corner of my eye I saw Linda hover in the background, ready to talk to Charlie just as she told me she would. Not long after entering the locker room he and Fulton left. I knew that it was only a matter of time before Linda had caught up with him, and I prayed to God that he would listen.