Charlie's Point of View

I met Adam half way to school. I lived less than two blocks from Adam's house. My backpack was weighing me down, and I scuffed my sneakers against the pavement.

"Hey, -" he began, but I cut him off.

"Adam! What happened?"

He blushed, averting his gaze swiftly away. I regretted drawing attention to it. He was breathing hard, and I knew he'd been running to catch up with me. "It was Travis and Brad."

I looked at him, and knew he was lying. "I've heard of sibling rivalry, but that's a little…" I trailed off, and we walked a while longer. "You can tell me, Adam. I know he beats you."

He looked at me, obviously surprised. I hadn't told him my own story, so I guess he was out of the loop. "You know?" He inquired, "How?"

I frowned, shaking my head disdainfully. "We're both on the same team, buddy. You don't get bruises like that from hockey, and I see how you look at your dad too."

He sighed and we started walking. Adam's breathing returned to normal and it was oddly silent, so I broke the void. "How long has it been going on?" I asked.

"I was five," he answered.

"Seven years…" I muttered, more to myself than to him, "Six years, and you never said anything?"

"No, Charlie, I didn't." He sounded agitated, and his curt reply was meant to tell me to drop it.

I was lucky that my step-dad didn't go for my face, or arms, or legs. Usually it's my chest, or back, which I can easily hide under a shirt. He beat my mom too. She was too afraid to turn him in, and I guess I was too.

I realized that I was drifting away into daydreams. Adam's voice broke the silence, as we rounded the corner and the school became visible.

"I'm sorry. I know it's not your fault, but here I am snapping at you."

"It's okay."

"Are you sure?" He seemed doubtful.

"Yes, really." I was still a little hurt by his lack of trust in me, but what he said next really gave me insight into his situation. He didn't have anyone! No one at all!

"Good, because you're my best friend. Probably my only friend. If I didn't have you, I would have self-destructed ages ago. Thank you…just, for being there. I don't know how you read my mind this time, about my dad, but I think you just saved my life."

I didn't know what he meant by 'you just saved my life' at first. After a moment, it hit me. He'd been contemplating suicide! I looked at him, smiling empathetically. I sighed, "I guess that means I'd better tell you the truth, too."

We were at the front doors of the school. He looked at me expectantly. We were turning quite a few heads, and the females around us snorted and giggled. I avoided their glances, turning to look at Adam.

"Justin beats me too." I said it quietly, so no one would hear. He looked shock and I knew the possibility had never occurred to him. I bit my lip, hard enough to draw blood. I felt the color drain from my face, and I looked away. He was still trying to comprehend my words when the bell rang.

The crowds, once scattered over the campus, filed around us. One student went in between us, and elbowed me hard in the ribs, causing a string of pain. The ache that had been there before was multiplied by at least ten, now. I nodded towards the doors, and Adam followed me inside.

"Charlie, I-"

"I have to get to class. See you at lunch. Bye, Adam." I disappeared into the murder of pupils, leaving him baffled and confused.

Adam and I had second period class together. I walked quickly in, and slid into the seat next to him. He smiled at me, and I countered with my own toothy grin. A grin was hard to manage, since I as confused as he was.

I wanted to help him something awful, but it didn't seem like I would get to. The teacher started her lecture before I could.

__________________________________________________________________________________________________

The day went by slowly. The bell finally rang for lunch, and I literally ran from the room. I slipped casually into the seat next to Adam.

"Hi" I greeted him as if nothing had happened.

He smiled back. The realization had seemed to sink in. I took out my lunch. He was already eating his.

Adam didn't have a girlfriend, although he could have his pick of them. Just as he was finishing his sandwich, two girls came by. It was Connie. Connie and one of her ditzy blonde friends. I would gladly speak to Connie, but her friends were another story.

"Hey guys." Connie grinned.

"Hi" Adam managed while chewing the last of his sandwich.

Connie motioned to the blonde standing next to her.

"This is Tammy. I think she's going to join the team."

Tammy looked about ready to growl at us.

I almost choked on my lunch. Adam smiled, though, eyeing Tammy. She scowled and eyed him right back.

"Welcome to the Ducks, then, Tammy." Adam chimed with a smile, to my surprise.

"Thanks. What's your name?" She responded rather good-naturedly.

"Adam."

"Thanks, Adam."

Connie smiled, glad to see that Tammy was getting along with some one. I had been wrong about her. She was far from ditzy.

Tammy and Connie sat with us for the rest of lunch. I had to wonder why Banks had welcomed her to the team. That was my job. I was Captain!

I cleared it from my mind. Adam was my best friend. He wasn't closing in on my position. He'd said many times before, that he couldn't care less about Captain.

Back to class. The rest of the day went slower than the first half. When school was over, I met Adam on the front lawn of the academy.

"Hey Charlie."

"Hey!"

We walked home, making small talk about the events of school. We both deciding that school was boring and that we'd stick to hockey once we graduated. But what did we know? I mean, we were only 13. Adam turned 13 in a week, and I had turned 13 almost a month ago.

As we reached the place where we went our own ways, I sighed. It was a barely audible sigh, but Adam picked up on it.

"Don't worry. I'll be at hockey, if Mr. Banks' temper allows." He smiled good-naturedly, and I recalled all the times he had missed practice.

I hadn't thought anything of it, and no one protested since he was the best on the team, and Bombay pretty much let him come and go as he pleased.

I realized that I was stalling, and took a step in the direction of my house. It was strange. I felt strange every time we separated. It was like a part of me was being taken away.

I looked at him; my pain was obvious because he stepped towards me, looking just as pained.

Abruptly he turned and walked towards his house.

"Bye Charlie." He called back over his shoulder.

"Bye…Adam." I mumbled.

I started walking home. I wasn't looking forward to this.