"Charlie, Banks over here" yelled Julie as the Ducks spotted their captain and best player. All of the Ducks were already gathered around the field.
"Sorry we're late, somebody took forever getting ready" Charlie piped hitting Adam playfully.
"Remember an hour and I'm out, and I want my book back" Adam replayed coldly
"Jesus Banksie, you need to learn to relax a little, be a kid, you have the entire weekend to study and besides, oh look food, come on I'm starving!" everyone chuckled, Charlie mind was sincere one second and easily distracted the next. He was also almost as bad as Goldberg when it came to food.
Two hours later, the students of Eden Hall were happily partying. Luis, Dwayne, Russ, Goldberg and Avermen were grouped around annoying every girl looking in their direction, while the Bash Brothers were playing drinking games and trying to see who would get wasted first. Everyone else was scattered around enjoying themselves. Even Adam, who was thoroughly shocked that he even stayed this long, that was until he started listening in on other people's conversations. Some were just mindless gossip and jokes but then started listening to a group of seniors talk about the state champion game he started to feel uneasy.
"honestly man, if they wouldn't have let the stupid freshman play then we would have won."
"Yeah, I heard that his dad paid the school or threatened to sue or some shit, so they had to let him play"
"I've seen peewee players with better skills then him. He had that last shot wide open."
"Probably thought the goalie was cute and his gay ass got distracted."
Adam didn't know why this made him mad, but it did. It wasn't his fault they loss the game. Yeah, so what if he had missed his shot in the shootout, it could have happened to anyone. Also, he had worked his butt off to get to were he was, it wasn't even his fault that he was on varsity. Coach Orion had put him back on varsity after the JV/Varsity match, saying he was too skilled to be on JV. It was easier to blame what they could verses accepting that the St. Paul Wildcats were a good team. Still, Adam did his best to avoid the people looking for revenge. The gay comment hit him kind of hard though. He didn't even start thinking of his sexuality, he just wanted to survive high school and play hockey.
Getting up he started to go back to the dorms when someone grabbed his wrist.
"Banks, where are you going" asked Guy.
"Back to the dorm, I have homework to finish" Adam answered. Whether or not he was going to do homework was a different story. He just didn't want to be around people anymore with the comments still fresh in his head.
"Dude the party is just getting started, I heard a rumor that there's going to be fireworks" Fulton yelled playfully fighting with Portman.
"And I'm sure that they would be great but I'm tired so I'm just gonna go." Faking a yawn, Adam started to walk off hoping no one would follow him. He just needed to be alone.
Making it back to the dorm in record time, he didn't even bother to take his shoes off and face-planted on his bed. He looked over at his desk and saw all his assignment. Mind too frazzle and the comments playing through it like a broken record, Adam tried to close his eyes and sleep away the night. After about ten minutes with no luck he got up, changed his clothes, and grabbed his ice skates, stick and a puck and went to go do the one thing that he knows will clear his mind, Hockey.
Since everyone was at the bonfire, Adam didn't see anyone on his way to the rink. He laced up his skates doing a few warm-up laps before practicing his shots over and over again. He was frustrated, every time he shot the puck it was perfect, but at the state game it had hit the goal post. Adam could have sworn it was the exact thing that happened to Bombay when he was in Peewees playing for the Hawks. Adam didn't know how much time had passed but he kept practicing until he could barely feel his legs. As he was changing back into his shoes, he heard the door to the rink open. Not looking up, he figured it was just Charlie coming to find him. He was about to say something, when he heard a voice that was definitely not Charlie or any of the Ducks for that matter.
"Mindy won't even look at me since states, she too busy playing tonsil hockey with that Florida Duck." Rick Riley, varsity captain and the very last person Adam had wanted to see, was talking. Judging from the multiple voices mumbling in agreement Adam knew he had at least 5 other members with him and the slurring in his voice also means they all were pretty wasted.
Adam just say quiet, hoping they would leave soon or he could slip out, but luck wasn't on his side that night.
"Well lookie here, if it isn't the lone duck that cost us the state title"
Adam could feel his heart beating harder. He knew what the varsity team was capable of. His body still had many bruises as proof
"Look Riley, I don't want to start anything okay. I'll just leave and act like I never saw you here, deal?" Adam said hopeful.
"Listen here you little bitch, I was hoping to get laid tonight. Me and the rest of the boys but your little mishap made all the girl here not even look at us" Riley spoke as he grabbed the front of Adam's shirt. The other varsity players nodded and made snarky comments. It took everything in Adam to not gag as Riley's breath reeked of cheep alcohol. Adam heart beating harder than ever. He was pretty sure that the entire varsity team can hear it to.
It was almost sickening as Adam saw something in Riley's eyes change. It seemed like a light blew out and all traces of humanity left.
"You know boys" Riley started "a screws a screw, right" before Adam could comprehend what that meant he was grabbed by all the varsity players and forcibly shoved towards the locker room. He faintly heard the first of the fireworks beginning to boom in the air.