AN - This is another short chapter…Sorry =/

Charlie's POV

I reluctantly hung up the phone. I had longed for that voice since I'd left him at the corner. I sat on my bed. I meant what I'd said about turning them in…I had to.

The fight was over, and Justing had passed out. My mom would put an ice pack, water and painkillers next to him. Then she would lock herself in the bedroom to wallow in self-pity. I knew the routine all too well.

I laid out on my bed, then I remembered hockey. I grabbed my gear and scurried out the door. Justin was stirring and I ran the first few blocks before I slowed to a walk.

I went straight to the locker rooms once I got to the arena. Half of the team had already changed. The other half was changing. They looked around.

"Where's Cake-Eater?" Jesse snapped.

I looked up at him.

"Hey can't make it."

Jesse eyed me.

"He's always missing practice! The only reason he's on the team is because Bombay won't kick him off."

I frowned and kept my temper under control, for now.

"He has his reasons."

"And how do you know?"

By now the rest of the team seemed as curious as Jesse was demanding.

"I just do."

"You know what?" Jesse frowned.

"What?" I snapped.

"I say that when we kick the lousy Cake-Eater off the team, we send you with him!"

Peter nodded, and stepped up next to him.

I scowled at them, but Jesse continued.

"You know what they say…Birds of a feather stick together, and neither of you are real Ducks." He smirked. And Peter laughed.

"They must be Hawks." His high-pitched voice sent me over the edge.

I jumped up from the bench and slammed Peter against the lockers.

"Take it back!" I yelled.

"Put him down!" The team chimed as they tugged on me.

"Spazway - Banks is a traitor! Deal with it!" He shouted, and spit in my face.

I stared for a moment in shock, and shoved him harder against it. The noise echoed through the room.

Bombay walked in. The team spread away from us as he looked around.

"Charlie?" He grabbed the back of my practice jersey.

"What?" I responded sharply.

"Let him go."

I did.

Peter glared.

I glared back.

He blended in with the rest of the team.

"Charlie, what's going on?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing, Charlie?"

"Nothing." I said firmly as I shot Peter and Jesse a look.

"This doesn't look like nothing to me. Where's Adam?"

"Home." Jesse sneered.

Bombay eyed me.

"Do you know why, Charlie?"

"That's not my job."

"What is your job?" Uh oh…
"To lead this team…on the ice." I stared at him.

"I want to talk to you." He motioned to his office.

"The rest of you…laps."