At the Crossroads
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own the original Ducks, all props go to Disney and Steven Brill-I'm not making any money, etc, etc. Amy Morgan, Adam's brother, Nathan, these such original characters are mine.
Chapter 1 "Mystery Girl"
Just a small catch up. It's about three years after the events of D3. The Ducks are all seniors at the Eden Hall Academy, and make up the Varsity hockey team. Dean Portman stuck around, even though he wasn't a big fan of Coach Orion's 'B' average rule. Greg Goldberg got comfortable in his position as a defenseman, though sometimes he returns to between the pipes, just to mix things up a bit. He doesn't get a chance very often, because Julie Gaffney is still the starting goalie. Charlie Conway still dates Linda the activist, but their relationship is often rocky. She is easily offended and he developed a quick temper and an even quicker mouth. Connie Moreau and Guy Germaine are much in the same boat, floating in Lake On- again-Off-again. It changes so often, it's a hassle for anyone to keep up.
Though this story concerns all the Ducks, it mainly centers on Adam Banks, who has finally passed his "awkward stage." His body finally caught up with his legs, and he's developed into a handsome young man. The story begins at a freshmen game where the Eden Hall junior varsity Ducks were playing the Blake Freshmen Bears. Adam was sitting up in the stands with Les Averman, Julie, Goldberg, and Ken Wu.
"Banks," Averman called. "Yo, Banksie, you there?"
Adam's head snapped around to face Averman. "Sorry. What did you say?" he asked sheepishly.
"Nothing big. I just asked if you caught the dive Blake number fifty- one just took. Obviously, you didn't," Averman joked. "What, or who, were you looking at?"
'No point in hiding,' Adam thought to himself. "That girl over there," he said, pointing to a girl sitting about five or six rows above the Eden Hall bench. "She looks familiar, but I can't place her. Do you know who she is?"
"No clue." Averman stopped to think back for a second. "But I'm with you on the familiarity thing. I think she's come to some of our games too."
"Who are we looking at?" Julie asked.
Before Adam could say anything, Averman interjected with, "Banks' mystery girl. You know her?"
Julie squinted, but just shook her head. "She's familiar, but I can't say I've met her."
Adam asked Ken and Goldberg about the girl. Both said they'd seen her before, but neither could come up with a positive ID. The rest of the group gave up and focused back on the game, but Adam continued to stare in the direction of the mystery girl. 'She's beautiful,' he thought. She must have been a big hockey fan. She was often on her feet, cheering along the Eden Hall Freshmen.
"And that's the game. The Eden Hall Freshmen win it, 7-5, against the Blake Freshmen Bears. This makes for an excellent start to the Freshmen Ducks season. Don't forget the Varsity home game, this Friday against the Dickson Eagles."
"That was a good practice guys," Coach Orion said as the Ducks piled into the locker room. "You worked hard out there. Thank you. You're going to be ready for the game this Friday."
"Hey Banks," Averman called, "did you ever find out who that girl is?"
Regretfully, Adam shook his head. "No. I'm beginning to think that I imagined her."
"What girl?" Charlie asked. He had been out with Linda, and hadn't made it to the JV game.
"Oh, just some girl I saw at the JV game last night," Adam said, trying to pass it off as nothing. "She looks familiar, but I can't figure out who she is."
"Point her out to me next time you see her," Charlie said, pulling off his pads. "Maybe I can help you out."
Adam's reply was drowned out when he pulled his practice jersey over his head. Just as he was about to repeat himself, Coach Orion poked his head back into the locker room.
"Banks," his voice boomed. "I need to see you for a minute." He motioned out into the hallway, and Adam followed him through the door.
"What is it coach?" Adam asked a bit anxious about the reply. There was little that Coach Orion wouldn't say in front of the rest of the team.
"I wanted to tell you before the others. It concerns you more." Orion paused for moment, trying to say what he had to say. "I've had scouts breathing down my neck for weeks. They're going to start coming to some of our games now." He paused again, for breath, or courage, or both. "They're coming mainly to see you."
Adam let the news sink in. Scouts. He hated scouts. They made him so nervous. "Thanks for telling me, Coach."
"I know how you feel about scouts, Banks," Orion said. "I just wanted to give you every opportunity to be prepared for them."
When Adam reentered the locker room, the others caught sight of his troubled face. "What's wrong Banks?" Connie asked.
"Yeah," Dwayne Robertson piped in. "What'd Coach tell you?"
Adam looked at them both in turn. He wanted to confide in them, but something told him to wait. "Nothing really important," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Are you sure?" Connie asked.
Adam mumbled a positive reply, but he changed out of his uniform quickly and left without saying much more than good-bye. He immediately headed straight back to his dorm. His mind was so clouded by thinking of the scouts that he didn't notice passing his mystery girl on the way.
The first period of the Varsity games was almost over, and Adam was about ready to tear his hair out. The ducks were leading the game 1-0, but he hadn't been playing very well at all. He kept worrying about the scouts and couldn't keep his mind on the game. With only a few minutes left in the period. Adam changed up and plunked down on the bench, avoided the worried glances of his teammates.
Coach Orion walked behind him and whispered, "Don't let them bother you. Just play your best."
Averman chose to ignore his friend's playing problems and instead pointed up into the stands. "Hey Banks," he said, "isn't that your mystery girl?"
Adam's head snapped around and followed Averman's pointing. It led him straight to the sight of the girl. She seemed to be sitting by herself, and was cheering on the team. Before Adam knew the difference, the bell rang to end the period. All the Ducks gathered around the bench. Adam searched Charlie out of the Ducks that were on the ice and motioned him over.
"What is it Banks?" Charlie asked.
"The girl," Adam said. "She's here."
"Where?"
Adam showed him, and Charlie whistled his approval.
"Do you know her?" Adam sounded almost desperate. He had to know who she was.
"Not a clue, man. Sorry."
When the second period started, Adam played with renewed energy and determination. He forgot all about the scouts. The girl occupied his thoughts now.
In the course of the second period, Adam shot two goals and had two assists. By the end of the game, he was the leading scorer, and had helped the Ducks win 8-3.
"Good work, Adam," Coach Orion said, patting him on the back. "I don't know what you did, but keep doing it." He was about to walk away, but Adam stopped him.
"Coach," he said. "Do you know who on Earth that girl is?" Adam pointed up into the thinning crowd. She was still there, talking to Dean Buckley.
A sly smile crossed Orion's face. "Her? Yeah, I know her." He waited for Adam to look exasperated before he continued. "Her name is Amy Morgan. She's sort of the patron saint of Eden Hall hockey. Her brother was on Varsity several years ago. One of the best players I've ever seen. Even though he graduated, she still comes to almost every home game."
'That's why she's familiar,' Adam thought. Finally, he had a name to go with her face. Amy. It fit her well.
"Do you want me to introduce you?" Adam's eyes popped wide open with interest, and Orion smiled widely again. "Go change quickly and meet me back out here."
Adam rushed on to the locker room. When he stepped through the door he was greeted with half a dozen of so "Good game, Banks," or "Way to play it, Banks." Adam hardly heard them. He flew through his clean up and rushed back into the arena. Coach Orion was sitting with Amy.
"Here he is," Orion said, standing up. "Amy, this is Adam Banks. Adam, Amy Morgan."
"Nice to meet you, Adam," Amy said, shaking Adam's hand. "That was some amazing playing out there."
"Thanks," he replied. He was staring, and he knew it, but he couldn't help it. She was even more stunning up close. She was medium height, but had a slender build that made her look almost delicate. She carried herself with confidence though, that kept her from looking like a fragile china doll. She had deep, dark brown eyes, and long, straight brown hair to match. She had a great smile too, Adam noticed, that really brightened up her thin face.
While Adam was staring, Amy had been saying something; what he had no idea. Suddenly, she cut herself off by looking at her watch.
"I'm sorry, I have to go," she said, picking her bag up off the bench. "I guess I lost track of time. I hope I see you sometime later." And before Adam knew the difference, she was walking away.
"Bye," he finally managed to call out to her. She turned around slightly and waved before continuing on.
"Hey Cake Eater!" Adam turned toward the source of the obnoxious but well meaning nickname. It was Russ Tyler. Charlie was with him. "You got stars in you eyes?" Russ asked.
"Very funny." Adam came down from the stands to join them. "You guys ready to go?"
"Food," Charlie stated simply. "Starving."
"Gotcha, Charlie," Adam said. "Food it is."
Disclaimer: Sadly, I do not own the original Ducks, all props go to Disney and Steven Brill-I'm not making any money, etc, etc. Amy Morgan, Adam's brother, Nathan, these such original characters are mine.
Chapter 1 "Mystery Girl"
Just a small catch up. It's about three years after the events of D3. The Ducks are all seniors at the Eden Hall Academy, and make up the Varsity hockey team. Dean Portman stuck around, even though he wasn't a big fan of Coach Orion's 'B' average rule. Greg Goldberg got comfortable in his position as a defenseman, though sometimes he returns to between the pipes, just to mix things up a bit. He doesn't get a chance very often, because Julie Gaffney is still the starting goalie. Charlie Conway still dates Linda the activist, but their relationship is often rocky. She is easily offended and he developed a quick temper and an even quicker mouth. Connie Moreau and Guy Germaine are much in the same boat, floating in Lake On- again-Off-again. It changes so often, it's a hassle for anyone to keep up.
Though this story concerns all the Ducks, it mainly centers on Adam Banks, who has finally passed his "awkward stage." His body finally caught up with his legs, and he's developed into a handsome young man. The story begins at a freshmen game where the Eden Hall junior varsity Ducks were playing the Blake Freshmen Bears. Adam was sitting up in the stands with Les Averman, Julie, Goldberg, and Ken Wu.
"Banks," Averman called. "Yo, Banksie, you there?"
Adam's head snapped around to face Averman. "Sorry. What did you say?" he asked sheepishly.
"Nothing big. I just asked if you caught the dive Blake number fifty- one just took. Obviously, you didn't," Averman joked. "What, or who, were you looking at?"
'No point in hiding,' Adam thought to himself. "That girl over there," he said, pointing to a girl sitting about five or six rows above the Eden Hall bench. "She looks familiar, but I can't place her. Do you know who she is?"
"No clue." Averman stopped to think back for a second. "But I'm with you on the familiarity thing. I think she's come to some of our games too."
"Who are we looking at?" Julie asked.
Before Adam could say anything, Averman interjected with, "Banks' mystery girl. You know her?"
Julie squinted, but just shook her head. "She's familiar, but I can't say I've met her."
Adam asked Ken and Goldberg about the girl. Both said they'd seen her before, but neither could come up with a positive ID. The rest of the group gave up and focused back on the game, but Adam continued to stare in the direction of the mystery girl. 'She's beautiful,' he thought. She must have been a big hockey fan. She was often on her feet, cheering along the Eden Hall Freshmen.
"And that's the game. The Eden Hall Freshmen win it, 7-5, against the Blake Freshmen Bears. This makes for an excellent start to the Freshmen Ducks season. Don't forget the Varsity home game, this Friday against the Dickson Eagles."
"That was a good practice guys," Coach Orion said as the Ducks piled into the locker room. "You worked hard out there. Thank you. You're going to be ready for the game this Friday."
"Hey Banks," Averman called, "did you ever find out who that girl is?"
Regretfully, Adam shook his head. "No. I'm beginning to think that I imagined her."
"What girl?" Charlie asked. He had been out with Linda, and hadn't made it to the JV game.
"Oh, just some girl I saw at the JV game last night," Adam said, trying to pass it off as nothing. "She looks familiar, but I can't figure out who she is."
"Point her out to me next time you see her," Charlie said, pulling off his pads. "Maybe I can help you out."
Adam's reply was drowned out when he pulled his practice jersey over his head. Just as he was about to repeat himself, Coach Orion poked his head back into the locker room.
"Banks," his voice boomed. "I need to see you for a minute." He motioned out into the hallway, and Adam followed him through the door.
"What is it coach?" Adam asked a bit anxious about the reply. There was little that Coach Orion wouldn't say in front of the rest of the team.
"I wanted to tell you before the others. It concerns you more." Orion paused for moment, trying to say what he had to say. "I've had scouts breathing down my neck for weeks. They're going to start coming to some of our games now." He paused again, for breath, or courage, or both. "They're coming mainly to see you."
Adam let the news sink in. Scouts. He hated scouts. They made him so nervous. "Thanks for telling me, Coach."
"I know how you feel about scouts, Banks," Orion said. "I just wanted to give you every opportunity to be prepared for them."
When Adam reentered the locker room, the others caught sight of his troubled face. "What's wrong Banks?" Connie asked.
"Yeah," Dwayne Robertson piped in. "What'd Coach tell you?"
Adam looked at them both in turn. He wanted to confide in them, but something told him to wait. "Nothing really important," he said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Are you sure?" Connie asked.
Adam mumbled a positive reply, but he changed out of his uniform quickly and left without saying much more than good-bye. He immediately headed straight back to his dorm. His mind was so clouded by thinking of the scouts that he didn't notice passing his mystery girl on the way.
The first period of the Varsity games was almost over, and Adam was about ready to tear his hair out. The ducks were leading the game 1-0, but he hadn't been playing very well at all. He kept worrying about the scouts and couldn't keep his mind on the game. With only a few minutes left in the period. Adam changed up and plunked down on the bench, avoided the worried glances of his teammates.
Coach Orion walked behind him and whispered, "Don't let them bother you. Just play your best."
Averman chose to ignore his friend's playing problems and instead pointed up into the stands. "Hey Banks," he said, "isn't that your mystery girl?"
Adam's head snapped around and followed Averman's pointing. It led him straight to the sight of the girl. She seemed to be sitting by herself, and was cheering on the team. Before Adam knew the difference, the bell rang to end the period. All the Ducks gathered around the bench. Adam searched Charlie out of the Ducks that were on the ice and motioned him over.
"What is it Banks?" Charlie asked.
"The girl," Adam said. "She's here."
"Where?"
Adam showed him, and Charlie whistled his approval.
"Do you know her?" Adam sounded almost desperate. He had to know who she was.
"Not a clue, man. Sorry."
When the second period started, Adam played with renewed energy and determination. He forgot all about the scouts. The girl occupied his thoughts now.
In the course of the second period, Adam shot two goals and had two assists. By the end of the game, he was the leading scorer, and had helped the Ducks win 8-3.
"Good work, Adam," Coach Orion said, patting him on the back. "I don't know what you did, but keep doing it." He was about to walk away, but Adam stopped him.
"Coach," he said. "Do you know who on Earth that girl is?" Adam pointed up into the thinning crowd. She was still there, talking to Dean Buckley.
A sly smile crossed Orion's face. "Her? Yeah, I know her." He waited for Adam to look exasperated before he continued. "Her name is Amy Morgan. She's sort of the patron saint of Eden Hall hockey. Her brother was on Varsity several years ago. One of the best players I've ever seen. Even though he graduated, she still comes to almost every home game."
'That's why she's familiar,' Adam thought. Finally, he had a name to go with her face. Amy. It fit her well.
"Do you want me to introduce you?" Adam's eyes popped wide open with interest, and Orion smiled widely again. "Go change quickly and meet me back out here."
Adam rushed on to the locker room. When he stepped through the door he was greeted with half a dozen of so "Good game, Banks," or "Way to play it, Banks." Adam hardly heard them. He flew through his clean up and rushed back into the arena. Coach Orion was sitting with Amy.
"Here he is," Orion said, standing up. "Amy, this is Adam Banks. Adam, Amy Morgan."
"Nice to meet you, Adam," Amy said, shaking Adam's hand. "That was some amazing playing out there."
"Thanks," he replied. He was staring, and he knew it, but he couldn't help it. She was even more stunning up close. She was medium height, but had a slender build that made her look almost delicate. She carried herself with confidence though, that kept her from looking like a fragile china doll. She had deep, dark brown eyes, and long, straight brown hair to match. She had a great smile too, Adam noticed, that really brightened up her thin face.
While Adam was staring, Amy had been saying something; what he had no idea. Suddenly, she cut herself off by looking at her watch.
"I'm sorry, I have to go," she said, picking her bag up off the bench. "I guess I lost track of time. I hope I see you sometime later." And before Adam knew the difference, she was walking away.
"Bye," he finally managed to call out to her. She turned around slightly and waved before continuing on.
"Hey Cake Eater!" Adam turned toward the source of the obnoxious but well meaning nickname. It was Russ Tyler. Charlie was with him. "You got stars in you eyes?" Russ asked.
"Very funny." Adam came down from the stands to join them. "You guys ready to go?"
"Food," Charlie stated simply. "Starving."
"Gotcha, Charlie," Adam said. "Food it is."