Thanks to everyone who pops by to read this still. I know it's been 7 months and a week and a half since I updated this but I kinda got really stuck as to where to go from where I was.
While Lizzy did always love being at home around her brothers, while they could make it as it seemed their lives got busier the older they got, part of her was happy to return to Eden Hall as break came to an end. She had called Portman the day before she left and he told her that he had flown up a few days earlier and was staying with Fulton's family until the dorms opened again so there would be no need for her to stop in Chicago to pick him up. Instead, she could just drive straight through. The first person she saw when she got back to the school was her cousin Charlie.
"Lizzy, how was your break?" he asked, walking over to her.
"Decent, yours?" she answered.
"Not to bad. Mom and Bombay are still kinda in that honeymoon phase so just before New Year's I went to stay with Grandma. Most of your brothers came home, right?"
"Yeah. You know, I was slightly surprised you didn't come. I thought that was the plan."
"I thought so too but I guess Mom changed her mind. Sometimes, these things happen. Oh, that reminds me, this is for you." He pulled a wrapped present from his bag followed by a card. "The gift is from Mom and Bombay, apparently he saw it and thought you'd like it and the card is from me."
"Thanks. Which reminds me ..." She pulled the same thing from her bag. "Dad and brothers. Apparently it fell to Seth to buy the gift and Ben got the card but the thought was there for all of them. Do you call him Bombay at home?" she asked as they walked towards her room.
"I'm trying not to. He says it's ok if I call him Gordon but it's harder than I thought it would be."
"Because even at your surliest and angriest he's always been Coach Bombay?"
"Exactly. I mean you still call him Bombay."
"And when I do call him Gordon it's never nice but he didn't become my step-dad two months ago."
"No, just your uncle."
"Yeah, but Uncle Gordon just sounds weird in that Halloween slasher film kind of way."
"I can see that."
"So, I have news about Chris," she said hesitantly.
"Is he getting called up?"
"In a way. He heard a calling not from baseball but ..."
"Are you talking about him and Danni?"
Lizzy looked at him as they reached her room. She opened the door and dropped her bag on the bed. "Yeah. I know you're not as close to him as you are to Seth and Matt but he's still your cousin—"
Charlie smiled. "And I've known about it for a week. He called on Christmas Eve and told me he planned on doing it first thing in the morning. I'm taking it she said yes?"
"Yeah. Then they called her parents who, by the look on her face, were alright with it. How'd the rest of the Ducks enjoy their vacation?" she asked as she unpacked.
"Most of them seemed cool. Adam invited us over a few times when his parents weren't dragging him from one upscale holiday party to another, we played hockey at the Duck Pond, had Christmas Eve at the skate shop, you know typical Duck things."
"Oh. Fulton back yet?"
"No. I think it's just you and Luis, everyone else was supposed to head in tomorrow. Orion's going to be picking them all up."
"Picking who up?" Fulton asked, leaning an elbow on the captain's shoulder.
Charlie looked up and grinned. "Everyone else. You're back early," Charlie said.
"Yeah. Dad had a photo shoot with some New Year's babies at the med center so Mom made it a girls' day with her girlfriends. Port and I got bored and figured the two of you would be here so we'd come harass you," Fulton said. "Oh, Mom and Dad wanted me to give you this." Fulton offered Lizzy a package.
"Why? Not that I'm complaining about gifts but ..." Lizzy said.
"Because you are their goddaughter and they wanted to?" Fulton suggested. "And you missed Christmas."
"Thanks." Lizzy sat the gift on top of the one from her aunt and continued to put things away.
"So ... heard you got asked to help with the musical again," Fulton said slowly.
"Lighting and I already know Port is doing the sound so it may be a little awkward but I think we can figure it out."
"Any idea what it is?" Fulton asked.
"Into the Woods," she said a sing-song tone.
"Is that the one where they take all those fairy tales and turn them on their head?" Charlie asked.
"The fairy tales that are already turned on their head because the Brothers' Grim wrote some pretty awful stories," Lizzy said. "I think it combines Jack and the Beanstalk, Rapunzel, and Cinderella maybe? I'm not sure. Try outs are next week I think. Either of you want to go out for it?" She glanced at the two boys.
Fulton and Charlie exchanged disbelieving looks. "Us? In a musical?" Charlie asked in disbelief. "I would rather have to sit through my mom's second wedding again."
"Was it that bad?"
"It was exceedingly long."
"Fulton?"
"I don't do musicals. I'll watch it but I won't be in it," Fulton told her.
"You're hilarious." Lizzy rolled her eyes.
Once Charlie and Fulton had left her alone, Lizzy sat down at her desk and opened the gift from her aunt. On top of a decent sketch book was a set of colored pencils that were more than decent for what she needed. A piece of paper was sticking out of the top of them. Unfolding it, she found a note in her aunt's handwriting.
'Lizzy,
I know that you believe that Gordon shouldn't bother with you for presents or anything but he cares and wants to be part of your life. Shortly after the wedding, Gordon saw this in a shop and couldn't help but think of you so he bought it. I figured these pencils would go great with it.
Merry Christmas,
Love,
Aunt Casey'
Lizzy rocked back in her chair as the implications of such a thought hit her. She knew Bombay cared about her, she was a Duck and they stuck together, but she didn't figure he knew all that much about her. She thumbed through the sketchbook and found another note. This time it was written on the inside cover of the book.
'Liz, may you follow all your dreams no matter what road they take you down.
Gordon Bombay'
Lizzy stared at the sketchbook unable to figure out how Gordon knew she liked to sketch and why he would spend the effort like that on her. Unable to come up with an answer, she set the sketchbook and pencils aside, turning to the other present.
Inside, there was a small card and a jersey. She set the card aside and lifted the jersey wondering why there was a white 11 on the sleeve. She could tell it was a hockey jersey that was red and white but it didn't look like the one for Eden Hall. She unfolded it and looked at the back. It too bore the number eleven though it did have her last name across the shoulders. She found this weird since her hockey number, at the least, was 93. Then she got the bright idea to turn it over. When she did, she laughed out loud at herself. It was a Detroit Red Wings Jersey. To be specific it was her brother Matt's Red Wings jersey. At least, a replica of it.
"You alright?" a voice asked behind her.
Lizzy instantly spun to look at the newcomer and found her roommate Ashley in the doorway. "Just reminding myself I'm an idiot," Lizzy said.
"That's a ... Red Wings, right?" Ashley asked, nodding to the jersey in Lizzy's hands.
"Uh, yeah. My brother has been a fan since he was a kid. My godparents got it for me for Christmas."
"Why would they get you a jersey of your brother's favorite hockey team? Seems a little odd to me."
Lizzy took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She really wanted to trust Ashley and figured she'd probably find out anyway, especially if things stayed serious between the girl and Dwayne. "You're not a hockey fan, are you?"
"Not really, give me a good basketball game or a tennis match and I can talk all day but hockey has never been a big thing for me. I can follow it, it's similar to basketball but not a great big fan. Pro hockey, I can tell you the Stars moved to Dallas and the Ducks were huge for Pee Wee hockey around here but nothing big."
"Do you know who won the Stanley Cup last year?"
"Red Wings. My youngest brother is a fan of hockey and he wouldn't stop talking about that. Says they're on track to win again this year."
"This was taken in D.C. this year. The man on my left is my oldest brother Matt," Lizzy said. She handed over the photo she had framed that Star had taken shortly after the cup finals in D.C. "The man on my right is—"
"That's Steve Yzerman. The Captain. He's the greatest player that ever lived. Everyone who is anyone knows Steve Yzerman."
"Yeah."
"How'd you get this photo?"
"Like I said, that's my brother Matt. Don't believe me, this is when the Ducks won the Pee Wee championship." Lizzy handed her another photo, this time of her in her Ducks' jersey and Matt in a shirt and jeans.
"Your brother plays pro hockey?" Ashely asked, looking from one photo to the other.
"Yep, got another that plays minor league baseball. Sports kinda runs in the family. Not that I'm trying to brag or anything."
"Oh. So it's a replica of your brother's jersey?"
Lizzy looked at the tag on the sleeve. "That's what the tag says. Guess my godparents thought I'd need one."
"Oh." Ashley handed the photos back. "Did you have a good break?" Ashley asked as she began to unpack.
"It was decent," Lizzy and Ashley talked about their breaks and time off with their families.
Lizzy and Portman sat in the auditorium for tryouts for the play the next day, trying not to make fun of those with a passion for theater or those trying out simply to get extra credit for their drama or English class.
"I know you said you don't hold it against me—" Portman started.
"Goose, chill ok? We're ok and there should be no reason we can't manage to get along. I know this sounds cliched and all but you are one of my closest friends and I'd like it to stay that way," Lizzy answered him.
"Of course."
"Mr. Portman, Ms. Jacobs, are you paying attention over there?" the drama teacher called.
"Yes, ma'am," Portman said.
"Then who just auditioned?"
"That would be uh—" Portman trailed off clearly not paying as much attention as Lizzy.
"The wonderful and amazingly talented Emma Benson," Lizzy supplied for him.
"Right, that. That's what I meant."
"Just pay more attention, huh?" the teacher asked.
"Yes, ma'am." They sunk down in their seats but clammed up and kept their eyes on the stage.
At the end of tryouts, the drama teacher turned to them. "The role call will be posted tomorrow on the doors and first practice will be Thursday after school. Mr. Portman, Ms. Jacobs, I will see you next Tuesday for your scripts and schedules. I don't expect you to be here every practice but once we get closer to May, I expect you to be here often."
"Yes, ma'am."
Wednesday after classes and hockey practice, Lizzy popped into Bombay's office. "What can I do for you, Lizzy?" Bombay asked.
"Understand this, the only uncle I've had that showed he cared is not my real uncle. He's my godfather and my best friend's dad."
"You're, of course, talking about Jim Reed."
"Yes. Aside from my brothers, who I don't really consider adults even though they're all 21, he is the only man in my life that has always been there or even attempted to care. My dad was always so busy, my uncle never cared, coaches were either more concerned about their own kid or with winning, I mean Orion's great for a hockey coach who's overworked and underpaid, but I only dealt with him for three weeks, and any other man in my life I guess just fails in comparison to Jim. That's why when I saw this," Lizzy pulled the sketch book from her bag, "I thought my aunt had bought it and put your name on it." She stroked the front cover. "But then I saw the note she left with it. I don't know what to say, other than thanks."
"No thanks is needed, Liz," he told her. "It's like what I wrote inside the front cover, I think you should chase your dreams no matter where they take you."
"How'd you know I'd like to draw?"
"Your aunt figured it had something to do with the present you gave us for our wedding, we really love that painting, but do you remember after we played the Cardinals in Pee Wees? The playoff game? You were sitting outside on this bench waiting for a ride because Chris or Seth was running late and you had this tiny sketch book. The pencil you were using was barely big enough for your hand but you drew this pigeon that was standing in front of you on the sidewalk. That was the first time I ever saw you draw. You looked just as at home there as you did when you were flying down the ice."
"If I remember right, you sat down next to me after the bird flew off and kept me company until my brother showed up. You know, no other coach has done that. After you left, I moved to Texas. After I was told Matt died, I switched to baseball and softball. My entire two seasons down there, technically three 'cause I played during the summer too, my coach would sit in their car and wait until my dad or brother showed up. Eventually, Dwayne's Mom started showing up to practices and games so I wouldn't have to wait for Ben or Dad. You waited right next to me and stayed right there until my brother drove out of sight. I never said thank you for that either."
"It doesn't take a lot to be decent to a kid who doesn't have a lot or one who doesn't expect a lot."
"And still, you were more than decent, even if you didn't want to be there in the first place."
"You knew about that?"
"You told Seth. I heard he talked to you before I joined the team."
"How did you do that by the way?" Bombay asked.
Lizzy stared down at the cover of the sketch book and stroked the cover of it a few times. If she didn't tell him, her aunt might and it wasn't a bad thing, at least she didn't think it would be, but it was best to probably hear it from her. "The same way Banks's dad tried to get him to stay on the Hawks." She sighed. "Only it actually worked for my dad because it was about more than one kid and it was a medical thing. He and my big brother Matt got the parents of the team together, the ones who weren't dealing with kids with measles, and they talked about how though their kids weren't as obsessed with hockey as the Hawks were, they didn't want their kids to miss out on a season because of something they couldn't control. The league talked with doctors and experts and said that as long as the kids were quarantined for two weeks, and didn't show signs, then we could play for any team in the league. I think only four of us took them up on it. Two of them went to play for District 8 and I think the other one went to District 10. I wanted to play for the Hawks. We played them in the State game the year before and they were best in the state. Riley of course wouldn't let me. Neither would District three. No girl on their team no matter how good they were."
"I can't believe your dad cut a deal with the Pee Wee Hockey league," Bombay said in disbelief.
"I couldn't believe it either but nothing was out of reach for his little girl, or so Seth told me. He's a lawyer, he gets what he wants."
"That where you get it from?"
"I guess. Thanks again. This means a lot. I know I can't play baseball or hockey forever but this is something I can do forever and the more I draw, the better I get."
"Any time. I mean that."
Lizzy observed him for a few moments. Feeling like she could trust him, she asked a question she hoped he'd answer honestly. "Would you be pissed if I stopped playing hockey at the beginning of baseball season?"
"I—No. You are more than talented enough to do both but if it comes down to it, I know you're going to pick baseball and while the team may not like that, I can understand it. It's not like you're doing it on purpose."
"I mean ... you know," Lizzy said slowly and sheepishly.
"I know," Bombay said. "You're signed up for the play again, aren't you?"
"First, it's a musical not a play. Second, I didn't sign up for it, she asked, I just couldn't say no."
"I doubt you could have."
"That is true. Again, thanks for the sketchbook. I really appreciate it." She left Bombay in his office and went to dinner.
Lizzy had just sat down when her attention was drawn to the other end of the table. She wasn't sure what drew her attention but now that she was looking she spotted Emma talking to Ken. "What?" Emma asked as she saw Lizzy watching.
"Just wondering if you got what you wanted."
"What I wanted? Not sure I know what you mean," Emma answered.
"The musical. You tried out. The cast list came out this morning, right?"
"It did." Emma watched her.
Lizzy looked at Kenny then sighed. "Emma, sweetie, I, as much as Fulton, love to see Lizzy being put in a situation where she doesn't get exactly what she wants when she wants it but she did kinda ask you a question," Ken said.
"And I kinda answered it," Emma said.
Charlie snickered. Lizzy shot him a look. "I will punch you across this table," Lizzy said. Charlie stuck out his tongue. "Children." Lizzy rolled her eyes. "Fine. Emma, did you get the part you wanted in the musical, and if you did, are you excited about it?"
"Yeah, Jack's Mom and I'm a little excited. It's not a tough part so I should be able to balance it."
"That's good. Who'd they get to play Jack?" Lizzy asked.
"Short, little shrimp of a thing. He's a freshman on the JV hockey team," Emma said scratching the top of her head.
"Okay," Lizzy nodded remembering a short kid auditioning but she wasn't sure of his name.
Luckily Charlie had her back. "Austin Thompson. He's like really super short, smaller than even Connie, and he's ..." Charlie trailed off and looked around the cafeteria. "There, with some of the other guys." Lizzy followed his finger and found the boy he was pointing to though she could barely see him over the rest of the students. "Heard they got your friend Sam Mathers to do the narration on it."
"Sam?" Lizzy asked.
"Baseball trainer? If I remember correctly everyone calls him Yogi, like the bear," Luis said.
"Right. Sam. It makes sense. All he has to do is read from a script as he sits on the corner of the stage," Lizzy said. Dinner continued on with nothing else of real note spoken about.