"Then I guess you don't want to be with Adam and the team as much as you thought. You know, I could always tell him about you and Charlie," Jo threatened. Courtney's eyes grew wide. How does she know about that? Courtney wondered. Just stay calm, she told herself.

"What're you talking about?" Courtney demanded innocently. She looked back down at the pictures of her and Adam.

"I saw you two. You think I didn't, but you're wrong. I was in your bathroom when you locked your door. I had snuck upstairs when you were talking with your mom. Then I heard the doorbell ring and it was Adam's mom and brother. I listened to what she said and hurried back into you room when you and Charlie came up here. Didn't you notice the bathroom door was open a sliver? I saw you kiss him," she explained, disgusted.

"You don't even know what that was about! Weren't you listening to what I said afterwards?"

"I didn't wait to hear what you said or see what you'd done. I climbed out of your window and got back into the car. I drove around the block for a few minutes wondering if I should tell you I saw it. I decided I should and came back. But when I started to question you, your mother was outside too and I couldn't." Courtney was shaking her head so hard, she was giving herself a headache.

"That's not the way it was! You've got to listen to me. I found out Charlie liked me and I didn't know what to do about it. So-"

"You decided to make out with him when you have a boyfriends?" Jo said coldly. Her eyes were narrowed on Courtney. She didn't feel comfortable. Courtney felt that at any moment, Jo might attack her again.

"No. I tested him. I kissed him to see if he would kiss me back. When he did, I knew he liked me. After you left, I told Charlie that he was a great guy, but just a friend. I had to explain to him that I had Adam and I was happy with him."

"How can I believe that you're telling me the truth?"

"You can just ask Charlie when he gets up! Ya know Jo, it hurts that you won't believe me. You know me; you know I wouldn't do something like that. And you also know that I wouldn't sneak onto a plane."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. It was stupid of me to believe that you would actually sneak onto that plane. I guess I just wanted to do at least one thing here that was wrong. Ya know, I haven't done one thing wrong here?" Jo said unbelievably.

"Whoa," Courtney whispered.

"Yep. That means I gotta do something big when I get back!" Jo laughed.

"But what are you going to do about the extra plane ticket?" Courtney asked, cautiously.

"I was just foolin with ya. We only have two tickets," Jo responded, smiling.

"Ya know, I am really tired. I think I'll get to sleep. I'll be up in an hour anyway when my mom and dad take y'all to the airport," Courtney commented.

"You sounded like Dwayne there for a minute," Jo laughed. "That was weird. You said 'y'all'!"

"Okay…" Courtney said, her voice trailing off.

"It was just weird…in a funny way."

"You're not as bad as everyone says you are. You're a good person, once you get on your good side," Courtney joked.

"I'm not as bad as everyone thinks. I'm just misunderstood. People judge me before they get to know me."

"I know I did. I guess Adam was right about Portman too. The night that Adam had to show Portman around and all, he came back saying he wasn't so bad. I didn't believe him, but now I do," Courtney mentioned.

"Dean's a lot like me. He's not as bad as the team makes him out to be," Jo mumbled.

"Yeah. We have a lot of stupid people on the team: just look at Averman."

"I know. He's the reason why we got chased at the beach, because he couldn't keep his big mouth shut!"

Courtney's watch beeped on he half-hour. She yawned loudly. "I'm getting back to sleep. I'll see you in the morning.

"It's already the morning," Courtney heard Jo reply sarcastically as she walked out of the door.

"Whatever, I'm tired. If you stay up, just don't blow anything up."

"Aw man, I had my sights set on your neighbors house too!" Jo said jokingly. Courtney smiled and returned to her room.

Courtney had been right about getting up an hour later. Her father vigilantly shook her awake.

"Hmm?" She mumbled.

"Your mother and I have something to tell you," he whispered. At once, Courtney was up and ready. She bounded down the stairs and sat eagerly across from her parents.

"We thought it better to you this before Jo and Charlie leave. You know I haven't been fond of you hockey. But the reasons I've told you are not all true," Courtney's mother rambled on. Mr. Robertson pushed her on. "Courtney, the real reason I don't want you out there is…is because…Daniel, why don't you tell her?"

"I don't care! I just want to know! Someone tell me," Courtney demanded, frustrated.

"Honey, you're not an only child," her father stated.

"You're having a baby?" Courtney cried excitedly.

"No! No, what I mean is…you have a brother. A twin brother to be exact. His name is Dwayne. Dwayne Robertson." Courtney's jaw dropped. Dwayne is my brother? No! No! No!

"NO!" She screamed. Her parents nodded. "No he's not! I don't think this is funny! Why do you make up these ridiculous excuses? You know what? I have half a mind to take Jo up on her offer to sneak onto that plane-oops," Courtney mumbled.

"You were going to do what?" Her mother shrieked.

"Honey, that's not the point here. Let's move onto the real subject," Mr. Robertson said uneasily.

"You knew!" Mrs. Robertson screamed. "You knew about this!"

"Well, yes. I knew Jo's father, so obviously I knew Jo. Her father and I were very good friends when we were-"

"I don't care! You knew! You knew about this! How could you?" Mrs. Robertson shrieked again. "How do you know that girl's father?"

"It was before her father was involved in any type of alcoholic drinks and stealing and all of that! Plus, I thought Courtney should have the chance to be doing something she really wants too! You can't keep her cooped up in this house forever!"

"I knew it! I knew Jo wouldn't do this alone! I was right!" Courtney yelled, doing circles in the living room.

"STOP IT! STOP IT RIGHT NOW! I'M, GOING TO FINISH THIS CONVERSATION OR YOU'RE NOT TAKING A STEP OUT OF THIS HOUSE FOR THE NEXT FIFTY YEARS!" Mrs. Robertson screamed at the top of her lungs. She sat down, took a deep breath, and pushed her hair back. Courtney immediately sat down too.

"Anyway, Courtney, we aren't lying. Dwayne really is your brother," her father established.

"We don't even look alike!" Courtney exclaimed, trying to keep her composure.

"You're not identical twins. Your father and I didn't think we would be able to handle two kids, so we put Dwayne up for adoption. His parents are originally from Texas, but wanted to stay in Minnesota. At first, we saw no problem with it, but a few years later you were on the same team. We talked with his parents about how we weren't comfortable with that, so they moved. They moved back just last year. And now, here you are again on the same team," Mrs. Robertson explained.

"He really is, isn't he?" Courtney said questionably. Courtney looked to the door and saw Charlie and Jo staring at them.

"Are we leaving soon?" Jo asked, annoyed.

"Of course," Mrs. Robertson said. Courtney was exasperated that her mother was just so angry, yet now so nice.

"Is Courtney coming or not?" Charlie asked quietly. He had been unusually quiet for the past two days and Courtney knew why. She hugged him before leaving the house, hoping to make him feel better.

"Courtney's not coming today, but she'll be with you later on today. We want a few more hours with her before we kick her out of the house. We can't do it so suddenly or the neighbors will be suspicious." Mr. Robertson laughed.

They climbed into the car and started for the airport. It was mainly quiet until Courtney's mother brought up the topic of Dwayne.

"Mom!" Courtney said embarrassed.

"What?" She asked.

"I don't wanna talk about Dwayne. I don't want them to know."

"Know what?" Charlie asked nosily.

"Nothing," Courtney muttered.

"Just tell him. He probably already knows anyway. He knows everything else." Jo said angrily.

"Why are you in such a bad mood all of the sudden?" Mrs. Robertson asked.

"I just don't' like talking about family."

"Why not?"

"It's very complicated, okay? Just leave me alone. And Charlie, if you wanna know so badly, they're talking about Dwayne being Courtney's brother."

"Jo!" Courtney shot back, "Just because you don't like your family doesn't mean you can tell everyone about mine!"

"Hey, you don't know anything about my family, Courtney! You wouldn't! You have a real dad that cares about you and you have a mom that is still alive! Oh, and you even have a brother that isn't constantly on the run from the police! Try having that as a family! Try having someone adopt you and then them forget about it!"

Everyone was staring at Jo, their mouths open. Courtney was looking at her sympathetically.

"Who's the person who adopted you and forgot?" Mr. Robertson asked, gently.

"No one."

"Who was it, Jo?" Charlie asked, bravely. When she didn't answer, he asked again.

"Your stupid coach! That's who! Your Mr. Perfect, can do no wrong coach!"

"What?" Courtney asked.

"Yes, you're coach! The person you stick up for, Charlie! The guy who has no clue about the girl that he adopted two years ago and obviously doesn't care!"

"Well, why don't y-you just t-tell him?" Charlie stuttered. "It wouldn't h-hurt anything."

"Charlie, you better keep your mouth shut! If you tell anyone about this, then I'll…I'll make sure you won't be able to talk ever again! That goes for you too Courtney!" She yelled, facing Courtney. "I know how you guys are…you're like little gossip mice! You spread everything you hear. You may have gotten to Ms. MacKay about Dean and I, but this won't get out to anyone or I swear there'll be dire consequences!" Jo screamed.

Charlie and Courtney nodded their heads, agreeing. Courtney had seen Jo mad before, but never this mad. She understood why Jo acted the way she did now. Her family was what had caused all of the problems. Somewhere along the line, Jo had created a shield, letting nothing in. Nothing close to her, except Portman. She sat in silence as Jo and Charlie climbed out of the car. They waited until they were in the building and then drove off.

"Courtney, I don't really want you to be in correspondence with her," Mrs. Robertson explained.

"Mom, you can't tell me who to hang out with. She just has her bad moods, like everyone else. I don't want to talk about it, okay?"

"Courtney, everyone has to talk about their problems. You can't keep all your feelings inside or you'll end up heartless," Courtney's father stated.

"That's what I talk to Adam for!" She screamed. "Maybe if I could've stayed in California, I could be talking to him right now!

"You got your way, didn't you? Don't push it," Mr. Robertson warned, staring at her through the rear-view mirror. Courtney crossed her arms and stared out the window. She watched the trees swishing by as they traveled home. Soon enough, the car was pulling into the driveway.