(a/n: I'm back again =) Yay! And I want to thank the reviewers that I've
gotten reviews from so far. Iz, you're completely right, and I'll do my
best to work on that. And thanks for actually being nice about it!
Hehehe. Well, I'll keep writing now, and thanks much!)
Chap. 2.
The general reaction was confusion or anger. The one who didn't know Artemis's previously told story figured that she did it to herself or something to that extent. The ones who knew the story knew who did it. I shan't say, because I don't want to ruin Ken's good name.
Adam was probably the angriest, and the least shocked. "Artemis, did **he** do that. I know that he did." Artemis looked away from him and nodded. "But . . . why did he do it? And why didn't you tell someone before. They could arrest him for this. For good."
"Because, he said if I showed anyone, even Mom, that he would kill me, and then her, or whoever I told, and then go after you and Dad, and if he knew that I had any friends, he would've gone after them, too." Artemis whispered, looking at her feet, and re-covering herself up with the blanket and sitting down. "Kenny was crazy, and he said I was bad. That's why he did it. Because I was always doing something wrong. Getting bad grades, not doing all my chores in time, not keeping secrets, trying to keep in touch with you and Dad and my old friends. He punished me."
"Kenny sounds like a sick-o." Ken noted and everyone looked at him a bit oddly. "What?" he asked exasperated "That's it. I'm changing my name." He groaned. "I'm sick of that."
"Kenny **is** sick." Artemis replied softly, reverting back into her shyness. "But that doesn't mean he's not dangerous. And he doesn't want any help. There's not anything I can do for him and I doubt that there's anything anyone could do for him. I'm afraid that he'll hurt my mom, now that I'm not there any more. And if he ever finds out about Tammy, well, then all hell might break loose."
"Tammy?" Connie asked, the name of her old friend sparking her interest. "Did Tammy have a younger brother Tommy?"
"Tammy was my only friend, but my stepfather and mother never found out about her. I wouldn't let them. Tammy was the one who taught me about figure skating. She taught me everything I know. She had a younger brother, Tommy, but he was more into hockey." Artemis answered. "Kinda like you guys."
"I knew them." Connie replied. "Tammy was a good friend of mine."
"Me too." Artemis responded. "Can I please go get dressed now?"
"You should go to the nurse." Portman spoke up for the first time, and several of his friends nodded in their agreement. Artemis immediately shook her head and cowered back away from the group, who all seemed to want to get her to the nurse's office. Artemis knew that it was for her own good, but she could take care of herself. She didn't need her brother's friends to feel sorry for her. She'd been taking care of herself for years. She could continue to do so.
"No." She said firmly, and headed into the bathroom to change again, leaving the rest of the ducks to converse about what to do.
~~~~
"So, Adam, what do we do about her? She's more stubborn than all of us combined." Connie asked perplexed, looking at the door that Artemis had just walked thru.
Adam shrugged. "I don't think that killing Kenny would help the problem, would it?" Ken glared at him and Adam shrugged again. "What do you want me to do, the guy's name is Kenny."
"How can we convince her to go to the nurse's?" Julie asked reclaiming their conversation, which had veered off. "She needs to be checked over, and just because she doesn't like it doesn't mean that it doesn't have to be done. Some of those cuts looked bad, not even healed, and some infected. That could be really bad for her." Julie continued, and everyone shrugged.
"I've put up with them until now, and I'll live with them until they're better. None are infected; they're just a little red and sore. And you guys can't make me go to the nurse. I refuse. I'm able to take care of them. I've been doing it for years. Unless of course, you doubt my abilities to know when I'm okay or not." Artemis nearly growled, entering the room.
"Well, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't go to the nurse." Ken said angrily.
"Well, maybe I don't need my stupid twin's stupid friends hounding me about something I can handle perfectly well on my own. Get out. Guys aren't supposed to be in here. I'll call the office." Artemis pointed at the door and the guys left, Adam wearing a hurt look on his face.
"We'll be back." Adam promised, and only left because of Charlie's persistent persuasion.
"No, Connie, Julie. I'm **not* going to the nurse. I know how to take care of myself." Artemis objected before the other two girls could even open their mouths. Neither girl responded, knowing it would be useless to even try. "Good-night."
Julie's short temper got the better of her. "What do you mean, good night. Aren't we just your stupid twin's stupid friends?"
"Jules." Connie interrupted. "Don't fight. We can figure this out in the morning."
~~~~
Artemis woke, first of all the girls, with a pounding headache. It was so bad that she could hardly sit up, much less move around. She gasped in pain as she stood anyway. She had things that she had to do. She felt like an idiot treating Helios—no Adam—'s friends like she had. She was just upset and scared. They didn't know Kenny like she did. Granted Adam hated him, that didn't mean that he knew him.
She quickly changed into a black long-sleeved leotard, and threw a pair of baggy khaki cargo pants over the leotard. Her usual outfit. She grabbed a midnight blue sweatshirt while she was at it, but she didn't put it on. She hurriedly brushed her perfectly lined pearly teeth, and brushed her waist-length sandy brown hair and pulled it into a ponytail before jogging out of the room, after grabbing her backpack and pushing in some earrings, and pulling on a pair of shoes.
She was surprised to run into one of Adam's friends. Fulton . . . something or other.
"Hi." She muttered to him, but she kept walking, and Fulton turned and walked beside her.
"Early-riser?" He asked, and Artemis nodded vaguely. "Me too." He answered. "Sorry about yesterday, with the guys. They honestly just want to help."
"I know that, but it doesn't make it right, forcing me to go to the nurse." Artemis replied, looking around. "Do you know where the cafeteria is, Fulton, I'm starving here."
"Yeah, I'll take you there. We might be the only ones there. Most of the guys like to sleep late when they can." Fulton answered, and turned an abrupt right. "So, why are you wearing that?" Fulton motioned to her leotard top.
"Habit." She answered shortly, then expanded when Fulton cocked an eyebrow at her. "I told you guys, I'm a dancer. As a dancer I wear leotards, and I usually wear them pretty much everyday. Do you follow?"
"Yeah, just asking." Fulton answered. "And you never told me you danced. You must of told one of the others. Remember, I didn't meet you until you showed everyone all your scars." Artemis nodded again, remembering, and feeling bad for not remembering earlier. "Well, here it is." Fulton said, upon entering the so-called Cafeteria. It had wooden walls, tables, chairs, floors, and was exquisite. Very fancy. Overly fancy for a place where high school students would probably sit eating French fries and burgers, and starting food fights.
"Wow." Artemis stated, awed, eyeballing the room.
"Yep." Fulton shrugged; he'd seen it before. "And, Sketch, if you ever wanna just talk. I know how you feel." Fulton left at that, leaving Artemis on her own.
"Sketch?" She echoed to herself "Oh, he must have seen some of my work." She muttered and then left to get in line for breakfast. Though that fact alone was hard to believe. A line, for **breakfast**. That was a new one.
~~~~
"That's a grapefruit, toast, juice carton, and bottle of water?" The woman who rang up the amounts of food taken asked. Artemis nodded, and adjusted her tray. "Well, thank you and have a nice day." Artemis replied with something polite and headed to an empty table, not that that was exactly hard to do, as most of the tables were empty.
Artemis began eating silently, pondering over what to do, when she was joined by someone new. She randomly guessed that it was one of the other ducks, or some other of Adam's friends, or perhaps Adam himself. "Look." She said, about to apologize, and looked up, it wasn't any of the ducks. "Oops. You're not them. Can I help you?"
"Well, you could tell me why you're at my table." The guy answered in a snooty voice. His entire look screamed jock, from his haircut to his Warriors jacket. Mostly the Warriors jacket.
"Sorry I didn't know that it was your table. I'll move." Artemis replied. As she was walking away though, the jock grabbed her arm.
"Wait. I want to talk to you." He said, but Artemis jerked away.
"Let go." She said, trying to yank her arm out of his grip and steady her lunch tray at the same time. "Please."
"What's wrong with you. I just want to talk. My name's Rick Riley. Who're you?"
Artemis realizing that she wouldn't be able to get away, sat down again. "My name is Artemis Banks. Can I just please go now?" She asked quietly, not really expecting to go again.
"You're related to Adam Banks, aren't you?" Riley accused, as if it were a bad thing. Artemis shrugged meekly. "You are!"
"Yes, I am." Artemis said softly, looking around, realizing that they were the only two in the huge dining hall. "I have got to go now." Artemis more asked than spoke.
"You play hockey?" He asked, ignoring her. Artemis shook her head. "Good. How about I show you around? So you don't get lost or anything?" Riley offered, appearing to try to be nice to Artemis, now that he knew she didn't play.
"No thank you, I've got to go. If I need any help I just get Adam or one of his friends to help me." Artemis said, knowing how mad they probably were for how she treated them the day before.
"What's your problem, besides, I heard some of them talking, they're pissed at you." Riley told her of a conversation he overheard in the hallway, not knowing that she expected something like that.
"Well, thank you for trying to help, but I've got to go talk to someone." Artemis left her tray on the table and scooted away from Riley, and jogged away from the table and who was sitting there.
~~~~
"So, will I be okay?" Artemis asked the woman in a white coat.
The woman tsk-tsked back. "So, your stepfather did this?" She asked, and Artemis half-nodded her head back. "What we do to our children. You'll be okay, just try not to reopen any of these cuts, and do try not to get any more bruises or anything. Every single mark on you was or is a horrible wound, and you've suffered a big loss of blood. Keep all of those cuts clean. If any of them open or start hurting badly, or you get any more, come see me immediately. Be careful Artemis."
"Alright. But please, keep your promise. Don't call the police." Artemis answered and left the Nurse's office and headed back to her dorm. I was time to make some apologies.
~~~~
"Connie, Julie?" Artemis asked upon entering the dorm room. Julie was watching TV, and Connie was laying on her bed reading a thick book. Connie set the book down and looked up at Artemis, but Julie just ignored her. "Julie, come on, please look at me." Artemis sighed when Julie didn't even blink. "I'm sorry for what I said and how I acted yesterday. I'm not used to people really caring about me."
Connie smiled slightly and Julie clicked off the TV. "I went and saw the nurse today after some guy named Rick Riley told me that you all were really mad at me."
Julie whipped her head around. "Riley?" She asked. "You believed Riley? He's Varsity. He hates the ducks."
"Oh. That explains why he got so mad when he found out that I was Helios—I mean Adam's—sister." Artemis shrugged. "I wonder why he wanted to talk to me so badly, then. When I tried to walk away he just grabbed my arm, and he wouldn't let me leave. Jerk."
"You have seen the light." Connie joked back. "You went to the nurse?" Artemis nodded. "What did she say?"
"The same thing that I said." Artemis replied. "I'll be fine."
"Good. Now go apologize to, heh, Helios." Julie laughed and turned the TV back on. "If we're not here when you get back, we'll be at the rink."
"Okay." Artemis answered, and walked out of the room, to get lost and attempt to find her twin.
~~~~
"Shitawki Mushrooms." Artemis said, her form of cursing. (a/n: actually it's my form of cursing =))
"I don't think that Eden Hall serves that." Said a semi-familiar voice. Kenny Wu. "Having problems?"
"Sort of. I want to apologize for yesterday. I didn't mean to call you guys stupid, I was upset. I went to see the nurse today and I'll be fine. I'm actually lost again. I'm trying to find Adam do you know where he is?" Artemis asked quietly.
"No, but I'll help. And it's okay. You don't have to apologize." Kenny answered. Artemis didn't respond to that, she just kept her head down. "You're too shy." He commented, but Artemis shrugged, her feelings a little hurt, that was just how she was. "I'm glad though. There are too many loud people in the Ducks."
"Thanks." Artemis answered, and the two started down the hallway. "So, where are we going to look first?" Artemis asked, having no clue where Kenny was headed.
"Well, first we're going to go to the rink. I'm just going a different way then we went yesterday. We'll take the scenic route, that way I can show you around and we can look for Adam at the same time." Kenny answered.
"Oh." Artemis answered.
The two ran into quite a few of the other ducks on the tour; Artemis apologized to them, but most just shrugged it off with a smile. They knew that she was sorry, and they didn't hold it against her. The ones who didn't weren't happy about the whole thing, but for the sake of it, they just said that it was okay. The only ones that they hadn't run into were Fulton, Charlie, or Adam himself.
~~~~
Adam and Charlie were at the rink, true to Kenny's guess. The two were passing the puck back and forth together, talking. "I seriously don't get it Charlie. I just don't get it. Whoever that is, she's not my sister. It's my fault. I should've been there for her more than I was. I should've gone with our mom.
"We both knew how bad Kenny was, but she went, just because she's older than me by three minutes." Adam said and hit the puck with all the force he could muster, which sent the puck sailing to hit an angled wall with a loud clatter. "The bastard took away my sister. She never insulted anyone like that before. Not even people she hated. Never." Adam continued.
"I know, Adam, but you have to calm down. It's probably not even half as bad as it seems. Tension was high last night. Talk to her." Charlie advised his best friend.
Adam nodded, but he didn't move to leave, he did, however, move to retrieve that puck that he had sent flying.
Kenny and Artemis heard the whole conversation and looked at each other helplessly.
"I screwed everything up." Artemis said, clenching her fists, two tears trickling down her cheeks. "What am I supposed to do now?"
"Well first, you apologize. No wait, that's second. First you should relax, because your hands are bleeding." Kenny said and grabbed her wrists and her hands relaxed immediately with contact, and the nails that were piercing her palms lightened and released her palm. "Now go apologize. Everything will be fine."
"Promise?" Artemis asked. And Ken nodded, so she nodded back and pulled on her ice skates before heading out onto the ice after he brother. Ken knew instantly that she wasn't lying when she said that she figure skated. She had a natural grace when she was on the ice that was oblivious to the universe everywhere else. Artemis skated to her younger twin brother and looked at him. "Sun boy!" She grinned and hugged him.
"Artemis?!" Adam asked, confused and surprised. "What's up?"
"I just want to apologize for yesterday. I'm not used to people meaning when they say that they care if I'm okay. I didn't mean to hurt you or your friends' feelings. Forgive me, Sun boy?"
"Of course Moon lady." Adam answered with a half grin and his rarely used nickname for her.
"Good. Now where's Charlie, I saw him skate off. He's the next on my victim's list." Artemis asked.
"Probably in the guys' locker room." Adam answered.
"Thanks little bro." Artemis laughed and skated off with a twirl.
~~~~
"Charrrrlie?" Artemis called into the guys' locker room before entering. "Warning, girl coming in." She added before entering.
"Artemis?" Charlie asked. "S'at you?"
"Nope, I am the ghost of Artemis wOoO! Be afraid. Very afraid." Artemis said, cracking a small grin.
"Too late." Charlie replied.
"Well, I just want to apologize for being a jerk yesterday." Artemis answered.
"You should still go to the nurse, but don't if you don't want to." Charlie answered, though he was smiling.
"I did."
"Good." Charlie replied, and silence took over.
"What a great conversation we're having, but I'm gonna go skate some." Artemis smiled slightly and left the guys locker room, running into Adam on her way out, and his way in.
"Uh, Art, you're either in the wrong locker room or you have something important to tell me." Adam said innocently and dodged a punch from his sister, and ran all the way in, leaving Artemis to head out into the rink on her own.
Kenny was already on the ice, but he wasn't practicing anything for hockey. He was figure skating. And he was good. Artemis wasn't the least bit surprised that he went to the Olympics with his moves. He was zooming around as if he owned the rink.
"Time to gain a little respect out there." Artemis said quietly, and headed out, careful not to trip on her baggy pants.
Artemis started with some slow laps, warming up, but was passed several times by Kenny, who had already built up some speed. The Asian American didn't seem to even notice her. Artemis turned, skating backwards, warming up several different muscles as she went. She continued to build speed until she could almost challenge the quick Luis Mendoza. She turned several times, loosening up, before she would begin to try a few small jumps.
The two unknowingly had drawn an audience. Coach O'Rion, several Varsity members, including Rick Riley, and some Ducks.
Artemis did a double axle, and Kenny copied her, upon seeing her do it. Then Kenny began spinning quickly, pulling himself into a more aerodynamic position, and Artemis imitated his position. The two broke out at the same time, and in appreciation, Artemis preformed a back flip on mid-ice. Even Kenny was a bit impressed with her perfect landing, but he retaliated with a few jumps of his own.
Artemis joined him in the jumps until the two were skating together, concentration and delight written on both of their faces. They finished together with a complicated looking, but easily preformed lift. The two burst out laughing as they bowed to each other. Both were startled to hear clapping. They hadn't noticed that they had an audience. How utterly embarrassing.
"Nice." Coach O'Rion laughed upon seeing them both blush. "I must say I'm impressed. And you are . . .?" He asked Artemis who whispered out her name.
"Ah, so you're Adam's sister?" He asked.
Artemis almost asked about how he had known, but she shrugged it off and nodded, ignoring some snorting from the Varsity students.
~~~~
Rick Riley sat with his buddies in the Cafeteria that evening. "I've got it." He said, smiling brilliantly. "I know just how to make those ducks pay for beating us at the JV, Varsity game last year, and for all of their pranks. I've totally got it. Come here . . .." He motioned for the other Warriors to lean in to hear what he had to say.
The group broke apart snickering when Riley was done explaining. It was time for the plan to be executed, and the group broke apart.
(a/n: Chapter two, chapter two. I hope you liked it. I did. I'm not an ice skater or a huge fanatic or anything, so love me and forgive me. Remember, if you kill me, I can't write more, and that's my only means of living so I really hope you liked it, I like living. Well, review please, and I'll get more out. Love and everything. Fyre Eye.)
Chap. 2.
The general reaction was confusion or anger. The one who didn't know Artemis's previously told story figured that she did it to herself or something to that extent. The ones who knew the story knew who did it. I shan't say, because I don't want to ruin Ken's good name.
Adam was probably the angriest, and the least shocked. "Artemis, did **he** do that. I know that he did." Artemis looked away from him and nodded. "But . . . why did he do it? And why didn't you tell someone before. They could arrest him for this. For good."
"Because, he said if I showed anyone, even Mom, that he would kill me, and then her, or whoever I told, and then go after you and Dad, and if he knew that I had any friends, he would've gone after them, too." Artemis whispered, looking at her feet, and re-covering herself up with the blanket and sitting down. "Kenny was crazy, and he said I was bad. That's why he did it. Because I was always doing something wrong. Getting bad grades, not doing all my chores in time, not keeping secrets, trying to keep in touch with you and Dad and my old friends. He punished me."
"Kenny sounds like a sick-o." Ken noted and everyone looked at him a bit oddly. "What?" he asked exasperated "That's it. I'm changing my name." He groaned. "I'm sick of that."
"Kenny **is** sick." Artemis replied softly, reverting back into her shyness. "But that doesn't mean he's not dangerous. And he doesn't want any help. There's not anything I can do for him and I doubt that there's anything anyone could do for him. I'm afraid that he'll hurt my mom, now that I'm not there any more. And if he ever finds out about Tammy, well, then all hell might break loose."
"Tammy?" Connie asked, the name of her old friend sparking her interest. "Did Tammy have a younger brother Tommy?"
"Tammy was my only friend, but my stepfather and mother never found out about her. I wouldn't let them. Tammy was the one who taught me about figure skating. She taught me everything I know. She had a younger brother, Tommy, but he was more into hockey." Artemis answered. "Kinda like you guys."
"I knew them." Connie replied. "Tammy was a good friend of mine."
"Me too." Artemis responded. "Can I please go get dressed now?"
"You should go to the nurse." Portman spoke up for the first time, and several of his friends nodded in their agreement. Artemis immediately shook her head and cowered back away from the group, who all seemed to want to get her to the nurse's office. Artemis knew that it was for her own good, but she could take care of herself. She didn't need her brother's friends to feel sorry for her. She'd been taking care of herself for years. She could continue to do so.
"No." She said firmly, and headed into the bathroom to change again, leaving the rest of the ducks to converse about what to do.
~~~~
"So, Adam, what do we do about her? She's more stubborn than all of us combined." Connie asked perplexed, looking at the door that Artemis had just walked thru.
Adam shrugged. "I don't think that killing Kenny would help the problem, would it?" Ken glared at him and Adam shrugged again. "What do you want me to do, the guy's name is Kenny."
"How can we convince her to go to the nurse's?" Julie asked reclaiming their conversation, which had veered off. "She needs to be checked over, and just because she doesn't like it doesn't mean that it doesn't have to be done. Some of those cuts looked bad, not even healed, and some infected. That could be really bad for her." Julie continued, and everyone shrugged.
"I've put up with them until now, and I'll live with them until they're better. None are infected; they're just a little red and sore. And you guys can't make me go to the nurse. I refuse. I'm able to take care of them. I've been doing it for years. Unless of course, you doubt my abilities to know when I'm okay or not." Artemis nearly growled, entering the room.
"Well, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't go to the nurse." Ken said angrily.
"Well, maybe I don't need my stupid twin's stupid friends hounding me about something I can handle perfectly well on my own. Get out. Guys aren't supposed to be in here. I'll call the office." Artemis pointed at the door and the guys left, Adam wearing a hurt look on his face.
"We'll be back." Adam promised, and only left because of Charlie's persistent persuasion.
"No, Connie, Julie. I'm **not* going to the nurse. I know how to take care of myself." Artemis objected before the other two girls could even open their mouths. Neither girl responded, knowing it would be useless to even try. "Good-night."
Julie's short temper got the better of her. "What do you mean, good night. Aren't we just your stupid twin's stupid friends?"
"Jules." Connie interrupted. "Don't fight. We can figure this out in the morning."
~~~~
Artemis woke, first of all the girls, with a pounding headache. It was so bad that she could hardly sit up, much less move around. She gasped in pain as she stood anyway. She had things that she had to do. She felt like an idiot treating Helios—no Adam—'s friends like she had. She was just upset and scared. They didn't know Kenny like she did. Granted Adam hated him, that didn't mean that he knew him.
She quickly changed into a black long-sleeved leotard, and threw a pair of baggy khaki cargo pants over the leotard. Her usual outfit. She grabbed a midnight blue sweatshirt while she was at it, but she didn't put it on. She hurriedly brushed her perfectly lined pearly teeth, and brushed her waist-length sandy brown hair and pulled it into a ponytail before jogging out of the room, after grabbing her backpack and pushing in some earrings, and pulling on a pair of shoes.
She was surprised to run into one of Adam's friends. Fulton . . . something or other.
"Hi." She muttered to him, but she kept walking, and Fulton turned and walked beside her.
"Early-riser?" He asked, and Artemis nodded vaguely. "Me too." He answered. "Sorry about yesterday, with the guys. They honestly just want to help."
"I know that, but it doesn't make it right, forcing me to go to the nurse." Artemis replied, looking around. "Do you know where the cafeteria is, Fulton, I'm starving here."
"Yeah, I'll take you there. We might be the only ones there. Most of the guys like to sleep late when they can." Fulton answered, and turned an abrupt right. "So, why are you wearing that?" Fulton motioned to her leotard top.
"Habit." She answered shortly, then expanded when Fulton cocked an eyebrow at her. "I told you guys, I'm a dancer. As a dancer I wear leotards, and I usually wear them pretty much everyday. Do you follow?"
"Yeah, just asking." Fulton answered. "And you never told me you danced. You must of told one of the others. Remember, I didn't meet you until you showed everyone all your scars." Artemis nodded again, remembering, and feeling bad for not remembering earlier. "Well, here it is." Fulton said, upon entering the so-called Cafeteria. It had wooden walls, tables, chairs, floors, and was exquisite. Very fancy. Overly fancy for a place where high school students would probably sit eating French fries and burgers, and starting food fights.
"Wow." Artemis stated, awed, eyeballing the room.
"Yep." Fulton shrugged; he'd seen it before. "And, Sketch, if you ever wanna just talk. I know how you feel." Fulton left at that, leaving Artemis on her own.
"Sketch?" She echoed to herself "Oh, he must have seen some of my work." She muttered and then left to get in line for breakfast. Though that fact alone was hard to believe. A line, for **breakfast**. That was a new one.
~~~~
"That's a grapefruit, toast, juice carton, and bottle of water?" The woman who rang up the amounts of food taken asked. Artemis nodded, and adjusted her tray. "Well, thank you and have a nice day." Artemis replied with something polite and headed to an empty table, not that that was exactly hard to do, as most of the tables were empty.
Artemis began eating silently, pondering over what to do, when she was joined by someone new. She randomly guessed that it was one of the other ducks, or some other of Adam's friends, or perhaps Adam himself. "Look." She said, about to apologize, and looked up, it wasn't any of the ducks. "Oops. You're not them. Can I help you?"
"Well, you could tell me why you're at my table." The guy answered in a snooty voice. His entire look screamed jock, from his haircut to his Warriors jacket. Mostly the Warriors jacket.
"Sorry I didn't know that it was your table. I'll move." Artemis replied. As she was walking away though, the jock grabbed her arm.
"Wait. I want to talk to you." He said, but Artemis jerked away.
"Let go." She said, trying to yank her arm out of his grip and steady her lunch tray at the same time. "Please."
"What's wrong with you. I just want to talk. My name's Rick Riley. Who're you?"
Artemis realizing that she wouldn't be able to get away, sat down again. "My name is Artemis Banks. Can I just please go now?" She asked quietly, not really expecting to go again.
"You're related to Adam Banks, aren't you?" Riley accused, as if it were a bad thing. Artemis shrugged meekly. "You are!"
"Yes, I am." Artemis said softly, looking around, realizing that they were the only two in the huge dining hall. "I have got to go now." Artemis more asked than spoke.
"You play hockey?" He asked, ignoring her. Artemis shook her head. "Good. How about I show you around? So you don't get lost or anything?" Riley offered, appearing to try to be nice to Artemis, now that he knew she didn't play.
"No thank you, I've got to go. If I need any help I just get Adam or one of his friends to help me." Artemis said, knowing how mad they probably were for how she treated them the day before.
"What's your problem, besides, I heard some of them talking, they're pissed at you." Riley told her of a conversation he overheard in the hallway, not knowing that she expected something like that.
"Well, thank you for trying to help, but I've got to go talk to someone." Artemis left her tray on the table and scooted away from Riley, and jogged away from the table and who was sitting there.
~~~~
"So, will I be okay?" Artemis asked the woman in a white coat.
The woman tsk-tsked back. "So, your stepfather did this?" She asked, and Artemis half-nodded her head back. "What we do to our children. You'll be okay, just try not to reopen any of these cuts, and do try not to get any more bruises or anything. Every single mark on you was or is a horrible wound, and you've suffered a big loss of blood. Keep all of those cuts clean. If any of them open or start hurting badly, or you get any more, come see me immediately. Be careful Artemis."
"Alright. But please, keep your promise. Don't call the police." Artemis answered and left the Nurse's office and headed back to her dorm. I was time to make some apologies.
~~~~
"Connie, Julie?" Artemis asked upon entering the dorm room. Julie was watching TV, and Connie was laying on her bed reading a thick book. Connie set the book down and looked up at Artemis, but Julie just ignored her. "Julie, come on, please look at me." Artemis sighed when Julie didn't even blink. "I'm sorry for what I said and how I acted yesterday. I'm not used to people really caring about me."
Connie smiled slightly and Julie clicked off the TV. "I went and saw the nurse today after some guy named Rick Riley told me that you all were really mad at me."
Julie whipped her head around. "Riley?" She asked. "You believed Riley? He's Varsity. He hates the ducks."
"Oh. That explains why he got so mad when he found out that I was Helios—I mean Adam's—sister." Artemis shrugged. "I wonder why he wanted to talk to me so badly, then. When I tried to walk away he just grabbed my arm, and he wouldn't let me leave. Jerk."
"You have seen the light." Connie joked back. "You went to the nurse?" Artemis nodded. "What did she say?"
"The same thing that I said." Artemis replied. "I'll be fine."
"Good. Now go apologize to, heh, Helios." Julie laughed and turned the TV back on. "If we're not here when you get back, we'll be at the rink."
"Okay." Artemis answered, and walked out of the room, to get lost and attempt to find her twin.
~~~~
"Shitawki Mushrooms." Artemis said, her form of cursing. (a/n: actually it's my form of cursing =))
"I don't think that Eden Hall serves that." Said a semi-familiar voice. Kenny Wu. "Having problems?"
"Sort of. I want to apologize for yesterday. I didn't mean to call you guys stupid, I was upset. I went to see the nurse today and I'll be fine. I'm actually lost again. I'm trying to find Adam do you know where he is?" Artemis asked quietly.
"No, but I'll help. And it's okay. You don't have to apologize." Kenny answered. Artemis didn't respond to that, she just kept her head down. "You're too shy." He commented, but Artemis shrugged, her feelings a little hurt, that was just how she was. "I'm glad though. There are too many loud people in the Ducks."
"Thanks." Artemis answered, and the two started down the hallway. "So, where are we going to look first?" Artemis asked, having no clue where Kenny was headed.
"Well, first we're going to go to the rink. I'm just going a different way then we went yesterday. We'll take the scenic route, that way I can show you around and we can look for Adam at the same time." Kenny answered.
"Oh." Artemis answered.
The two ran into quite a few of the other ducks on the tour; Artemis apologized to them, but most just shrugged it off with a smile. They knew that she was sorry, and they didn't hold it against her. The ones who didn't weren't happy about the whole thing, but for the sake of it, they just said that it was okay. The only ones that they hadn't run into were Fulton, Charlie, or Adam himself.
~~~~
Adam and Charlie were at the rink, true to Kenny's guess. The two were passing the puck back and forth together, talking. "I seriously don't get it Charlie. I just don't get it. Whoever that is, she's not my sister. It's my fault. I should've been there for her more than I was. I should've gone with our mom.
"We both knew how bad Kenny was, but she went, just because she's older than me by three minutes." Adam said and hit the puck with all the force he could muster, which sent the puck sailing to hit an angled wall with a loud clatter. "The bastard took away my sister. She never insulted anyone like that before. Not even people she hated. Never." Adam continued.
"I know, Adam, but you have to calm down. It's probably not even half as bad as it seems. Tension was high last night. Talk to her." Charlie advised his best friend.
Adam nodded, but he didn't move to leave, he did, however, move to retrieve that puck that he had sent flying.
Kenny and Artemis heard the whole conversation and looked at each other helplessly.
"I screwed everything up." Artemis said, clenching her fists, two tears trickling down her cheeks. "What am I supposed to do now?"
"Well first, you apologize. No wait, that's second. First you should relax, because your hands are bleeding." Kenny said and grabbed her wrists and her hands relaxed immediately with contact, and the nails that were piercing her palms lightened and released her palm. "Now go apologize. Everything will be fine."
"Promise?" Artemis asked. And Ken nodded, so she nodded back and pulled on her ice skates before heading out onto the ice after he brother. Ken knew instantly that she wasn't lying when she said that she figure skated. She had a natural grace when she was on the ice that was oblivious to the universe everywhere else. Artemis skated to her younger twin brother and looked at him. "Sun boy!" She grinned and hugged him.
"Artemis?!" Adam asked, confused and surprised. "What's up?"
"I just want to apologize for yesterday. I'm not used to people meaning when they say that they care if I'm okay. I didn't mean to hurt you or your friends' feelings. Forgive me, Sun boy?"
"Of course Moon lady." Adam answered with a half grin and his rarely used nickname for her.
"Good. Now where's Charlie, I saw him skate off. He's the next on my victim's list." Artemis asked.
"Probably in the guys' locker room." Adam answered.
"Thanks little bro." Artemis laughed and skated off with a twirl.
~~~~
"Charrrrlie?" Artemis called into the guys' locker room before entering. "Warning, girl coming in." She added before entering.
"Artemis?" Charlie asked. "S'at you?"
"Nope, I am the ghost of Artemis wOoO! Be afraid. Very afraid." Artemis said, cracking a small grin.
"Too late." Charlie replied.
"Well, I just want to apologize for being a jerk yesterday." Artemis answered.
"You should still go to the nurse, but don't if you don't want to." Charlie answered, though he was smiling.
"I did."
"Good." Charlie replied, and silence took over.
"What a great conversation we're having, but I'm gonna go skate some." Artemis smiled slightly and left the guys locker room, running into Adam on her way out, and his way in.
"Uh, Art, you're either in the wrong locker room or you have something important to tell me." Adam said innocently and dodged a punch from his sister, and ran all the way in, leaving Artemis to head out into the rink on her own.
Kenny was already on the ice, but he wasn't practicing anything for hockey. He was figure skating. And he was good. Artemis wasn't the least bit surprised that he went to the Olympics with his moves. He was zooming around as if he owned the rink.
"Time to gain a little respect out there." Artemis said quietly, and headed out, careful not to trip on her baggy pants.
Artemis started with some slow laps, warming up, but was passed several times by Kenny, who had already built up some speed. The Asian American didn't seem to even notice her. Artemis turned, skating backwards, warming up several different muscles as she went. She continued to build speed until she could almost challenge the quick Luis Mendoza. She turned several times, loosening up, before she would begin to try a few small jumps.
The two unknowingly had drawn an audience. Coach O'Rion, several Varsity members, including Rick Riley, and some Ducks.
Artemis did a double axle, and Kenny copied her, upon seeing her do it. Then Kenny began spinning quickly, pulling himself into a more aerodynamic position, and Artemis imitated his position. The two broke out at the same time, and in appreciation, Artemis preformed a back flip on mid-ice. Even Kenny was a bit impressed with her perfect landing, but he retaliated with a few jumps of his own.
Artemis joined him in the jumps until the two were skating together, concentration and delight written on both of their faces. They finished together with a complicated looking, but easily preformed lift. The two burst out laughing as they bowed to each other. Both were startled to hear clapping. They hadn't noticed that they had an audience. How utterly embarrassing.
"Nice." Coach O'Rion laughed upon seeing them both blush. "I must say I'm impressed. And you are . . .?" He asked Artemis who whispered out her name.
"Ah, so you're Adam's sister?" He asked.
Artemis almost asked about how he had known, but she shrugged it off and nodded, ignoring some snorting from the Varsity students.
~~~~
Rick Riley sat with his buddies in the Cafeteria that evening. "I've got it." He said, smiling brilliantly. "I know just how to make those ducks pay for beating us at the JV, Varsity game last year, and for all of their pranks. I've totally got it. Come here . . .." He motioned for the other Warriors to lean in to hear what he had to say.
The group broke apart snickering when Riley was done explaining. It was time for the plan to be executed, and the group broke apart.
(a/n: Chapter two, chapter two. I hope you liked it. I did. I'm not an ice skater or a huge fanatic or anything, so love me and forgive me. Remember, if you kill me, I can't write more, and that's my only means of living so I really hope you liked it, I like living. Well, review please, and I'll get more out. Love and everything. Fyre Eye.)