"Alright Banksie spill." Adam hadn't even gotten his key out of the door before his roommates attacked him.
He knew he could have fun with this so he played dumb
"Spill what guys?"
"Banks we know you're not that stupid." Guy drummed his fingers on his desk impatiently
"You want to know about Larissa?"
"Good guess Cake-eater." Charlie said sarcastically climbing onto his bunk
"Well she's Nicky's roommate, loves to write, hates math and she's a bit sensitive."
"Do like her?"
"I don't know, she's niceā¦"
"And fine." Guy added
"Yes and attractive, that hasn't escaped my mind, trust me." Adam conceded "But I'm not fully over Nicole yet."
"Banksie do yourself a favor and get over it." Charlie advised turning off the light. "She already has. The girl's happy with Dwayne."
As the other boys slipped into a content slumber Adam was up staring at the ceiling. The day had been long and stressful and still he was wide awake. Larissa really had something special about her. She tugged at his heart strings and made him smile again. But she was not Nicole. Maybe Charlie was right, Nicole was happy, maybe it was time for Adam to be too.
"Hey Banks where's Larissa?" Connie pestered and shook her orange juice at the same time.
"I don't know, at a table eating I'd imagine." He wasn't about the admit he'd been looking for her too
Guy's eyes scanned the patio tables which were clearest from his seat
"She's out there Banksie, go get her."
Adam's hazel eyes followed Guy's finger and spotted her giggling with a group of friends. He walked to the French doors and when he finally caught her eye he waved her over.
"Excuse me the senior hockey team is calling me over." She informed her friends
"Yeah okay." Shannon scoffed
"Um Shannon look." Another girl Kim gestured to Adam who was standing against the glass doors waiting for Rissa.
"Are you coming?" he called out
"One sec." She flashed him a 100 watt smile.
"Hold it." Shannon grasped her arm "You know Adam Banks?"
"Yeah."
"The hottest guy in the senior class?"
"Ahuh."
"The starting center on the Eden Hall Mighty Ducks?"
"Yes."
"The one guy in school every girl would giver her right arm to kiss?"
"Yup."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"Nope." She answered simply slipping away.
"What's up?" She stopped in front of Adam curious.
"I wanted you to meet the Ducks." His arms fell around her shoulder and she sighed inwardly. This was more like it.
"Guys this is Larissa Saunders, Larissa this is Ken Wu, Russ Tyler, Greg Goldberg, Les Averman, Julie Gaffney, Luis Mendoza, Dean Portman, Fulton Reed and you already know Dwayne, Connie, Guy and Charlie."
"Hi everyone, nice to meet all of you." She shifted nervously, her hand found Adam's and he gave hers a reassuring squeeze.
"Here sit." He directed her into the seat between him and Luis
"The pleasure is all ours, or should I say mine?" Luis flirted once she sat down next to him. Adam shot him a warning glare and Luis backed off, he may have been a flirt but he wasn't going to step on anybodies toes.
"So how'd you find such a hot babe Banks?" Portman was definitely blunt
Larissa's face flooded the same red as the Eden Hall uniforms.
"Portman chill." Fulton instructed his best friend.
"So Banksie did you invite her to come tonight?" Russ chimed in
"Nah, she wouldn't be interested in going to a hockey game." Adam was starting to feel uncomfortable now and these were his friends.
"Actually I'd love to go." Larissa spoke up. "If you want me to."
"Sure, that would be great. Hey Dwayne is Nicky going to the game tonight?" Adam asked
"I reckon." Dwayne adjusted his black cowboy hat.
"See if Nicole can give you a ride and I'll meet you there." Adam squeezed Larissa's hand once more.
"Okay." She smiled slightly this was good sign maybe Adam was warming up to her. "Well I've got to go to my locker before class. It was real nice talking to you guys though."
"Wait a second Rissa I'll walk with you." Adam got up and followed her out. She had to suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Sorry about that, my friends are never how they just acted."
"It's no big deal. But I do have to admit I'm surprised you asked me to meet them."
"Why?"
"I don't think we were ever gonna talk two each other again. I basically figured that whole let's be friends thing was a way to get rid of me without feeling bad." She turned to her locker and twisted in the combination.
"Honestly Larissa I was up half the night thinking about you. It's time I move on you know and find someone new. If I can get to know you better I'd like that someone to be you."
Larissa's European history book hit the floor with a bang twice before she could actually calm herself enough to pick it up.
"Adam you're to cute to kill so please don't play with me."
"I'm not playing with you Rissa, after the game tonight you should come hang out with us."
"Alright. Oh geeze I gotta go I have class on the other side of campus. I'll see you later." With that she hurried off down the corridor.
"Hey Banksie." Charlie pushed the locker room door open to find Adam an hour early for the game as usual getting ready for twenty minutes of extra practice.
"Yes Captain?" He joked pulling his jersey over his head
"Larissa is here."
"Already?"
"Yup, she said she wanted a good seat. That girl has it bad for you buddy." Charlie patted Adam on the back
"It could be worse, she could hate me." Adam smiled and started taping his wrist
Larissa sat two rows back from the bench scribbling a few paragraphs in a short story she was writing. When the team came out she scanned the uniforms until she saw 99. When Adam looked up at her she waved and he mouthed the words
"Thanks for coming."
She nodded and mined
"You're welcome." to him
The two continued making eye contact just grinning at each other like idiots, until coach Orion yelled
"Banks do you plan on paying attention and getting in the game?"
Banks smiled sheepishly and skated out onto center ice.
Larissa knew next to nothing about hockey so even though she was at the Ducks game she was busy writing. But she couldn't help but look up and smirk every time the announcer said something about Adam. And was very happy when she heard
"Charlie Conway on a break away. Ducks win." The game was over
She was sitting on the grass outside the rink waiting patiently when she felt strong hands come down on her shoulders. Rissa jumped nearly five feet in the air.
"Scare you?" A familiar voice murmured in her ear
"God Adam you almost gave me a heart attack." She smacked him in the arm, her pulse racing.
"We wouldn't want that. Come on the teams going out for pizza." He reached out for her hands and pulled her to her feet. Also discovering she was still shaking.
"I really didn't mean to frighten you that much. Are you okay?"
Larissa nodded
"I'm just jumpy."
"Hey Cake-eater you coming to Tony's?" Russ referred to the pizzeria
"We'll be there." He wrapped his arm around Larissa's waist whilst beaming. It was funny how just days ago he was so deep in depression he was lost in it. Now all he'd done for the past few days was grin like a Cheshire cat.
"Cake-eater?" Rissa queried sliding into the B.M.W.
"Long story don't ask. But please never call me that."
"I won't Adam's easier less letters." With that she rolled on more lip gloss. Banks was starting to think she was lip balm addict.
"You have an unhealthy lip gloss fetish." He teased
"It's a source of comfort for me and if your friends act anyway close to how they did earlier expect me to be doing it a lot tonight."
"They're not really that bad."
"Tell me something Adam Banks how does a charming, well mannered, preppy like yourself wind up friends with the rest of the Ducks?"
"Honestly when we first met in the peewees they hated me. We were on rival teams, I was a Hawk and me and my friends were pretty mean to them. Anyway I came to find out that the districts lined had changed and I was supposed to be a Duck. When I joined the team at first they were real cold to me, I guess I deserved it. When I got knocked out playing the Hawks they changed their minds about me.
"Now you're like family?"
"Pretty much. Well other then that crush I had an Julie sophomore ear. If we were family that'd be wrong."
"So you used to like that Cat Lady?" Larissa looked out the car window
"Yeah, are you jealous? Wait did you just call her Cat Lady?"
"Yes I did, I heard Goldberg call her that at the game. And no I'm not jealous. Should I be?"
"No you shouldn't be. I don't like the whole jealousy thing, so if you were we wouldn't be able to hook up."
"I'll keep that in mind."
When they got to the restaurant the rest of the team had already pulled four tables together so everyone would have room.
"Hey guys what you so long? As if we don't already know." Russ ribbed as they approached. Adam knew Larissa's lip balm tube was in for a workout.
"Take easy Russ show Larissa some respect." Dwayne came to their defense.
"Besides what would a girl like her want with Banks?" Fulton added
"Thanks Fulton I feel loved." Adam and Larissa settled into the empty seats between Averman and Portman.
"Glad you could join us lovely lady." Luis winked at her, then winced when Adam kicked him in the shin
"I thought you don't like jealousy?" Rissa acknowledged quietly
"From a girl yeah, for me to do it is okay though." He spoke softly
"Double standard, I see."
"Sort of. What kind of pizza do you want?" He changed the subject quickly
"Buffalo chicken."
"Awesome Banksie found a real women. My kinda girl." Portman high fived her "Wanna split mine?"
"I guess." So Larissa shared a pie with Dean.
"When the food arrived things settled down a little, the team was too busy stuffing their faces to say much. However when the pizza moved out so did the silence.
"So Larissa, I don't believe I've seen you around campus. Are you a junior?" Russ's girlfriend Jacky inquired.
"Um no I'm a freshmen." Rissa gulped her root beer waiting for someone to say something
"A what?"
"A freshmen. Why is that bad?"
"No that's fine, we were all freshmen once." Linda tried to ease the tension
"She's jail bait Banks." Averman declared, causing everyone to burst into hysterical bouts of laughter, Larissa reapplied her lip balm.
"Would you guys chill out please?" Adam glared at his friends after Rissa excused herself to the ladies' room. "I don't want Larissa to feel outa place with us."
"Oh do you have a crush Banks?" Molly Portman's girlfriend taunted
"Maybe." He smiled again to a chorus of
"Ooohs" and "Awwws"
"Did I miss something?" Larissa was puzzled upon noticing the bright pink tint in Adam's cheek when she returned.
"Nothing, nothing at all." Adam replied
"Seems to me you're blushing Mr. Banks, why is that?" She deposited herself into her seat
"Um the guys were just picking on me about something I did when we were younger." He thought quickly
"Cool what was it?"
"Just about some girl I had a thing for." We at least it wasn't a total lie.
Rissa's eyes panned to Julie and swiftly she took them away, when she felt Adam's hand on her knee.
"This is the time, when Connie and Guy make up some stupid reason to leave and head to the point."
As if on cue Connie smacked herself in the hand
"Oh no, I forgot to feed my hamster."
Larissa giggled when Guy stood up saying
"I'll drive you back to school Hun."
"I told you." Banks said under his breath.
Shortly after the rest of the team began to wonder off and soon Adam and Larissa were left alone.
"You know," She began "we talked about me yesterday, tell me about you"
"I'm 18, from Edina Minnesota, I love hockey, don't like my father and my favorite color's blue." He responded all in one breath
She wanted to question him on his father but decided maybe it was too personal.
"Anything else you'd like to share."
"My favorite T.V. show is C.S.I., movie is Remember The Titans and music is Jazz and R&B."
Larissa crinkled her nose at Banks's answers
"I'll give the movie, it rocks, but the rest I don't think so."
The two stopped talking for a few minutes before Larissa blurted out
"You have a great bunch of pals."
"Most of the time, though this one time I pissed them off and they froze my underwear."
"What?" Rissa's eyes grew wide and her face lit up
"Actually it was all my clothes and my lettermen's jacket."
"How?"
"Liquid Nitrogen."
"Remind me to stay on their good side."
"Don't worry they like you. Luis like likes you."
"Jealous?"
"Maybe." He answered for the second time that day
By this time they had gotten back into his car to head home.
"If it's only maybe, maybe I better flirt with him alittle more."
"You know it drives me nuts." He divulged turning the ignition.
Larissa turned her head and studied his expression
"You're adorable Adam, do you know that?"
"Umm thanks."
It was hard for him to except compliments, giving them he could do. But getting them, if they weren't about his hockey skills, it was a different story. He was unbelievably modest and normally shy, but something about Larissa put him at ease. Adam Banks was falling into like.
He knew he could have fun with this so he played dumb
"Spill what guys?"
"Banks we know you're not that stupid." Guy drummed his fingers on his desk impatiently
"You want to know about Larissa?"
"Good guess Cake-eater." Charlie said sarcastically climbing onto his bunk
"Well she's Nicky's roommate, loves to write, hates math and she's a bit sensitive."
"Do like her?"
"I don't know, she's niceā¦"
"And fine." Guy added
"Yes and attractive, that hasn't escaped my mind, trust me." Adam conceded "But I'm not fully over Nicole yet."
"Banksie do yourself a favor and get over it." Charlie advised turning off the light. "She already has. The girl's happy with Dwayne."
As the other boys slipped into a content slumber Adam was up staring at the ceiling. The day had been long and stressful and still he was wide awake. Larissa really had something special about her. She tugged at his heart strings and made him smile again. But she was not Nicole. Maybe Charlie was right, Nicole was happy, maybe it was time for Adam to be too.
"Hey Banks where's Larissa?" Connie pestered and shook her orange juice at the same time.
"I don't know, at a table eating I'd imagine." He wasn't about the admit he'd been looking for her too
Guy's eyes scanned the patio tables which were clearest from his seat
"She's out there Banksie, go get her."
Adam's hazel eyes followed Guy's finger and spotted her giggling with a group of friends. He walked to the French doors and when he finally caught her eye he waved her over.
"Excuse me the senior hockey team is calling me over." She informed her friends
"Yeah okay." Shannon scoffed
"Um Shannon look." Another girl Kim gestured to Adam who was standing against the glass doors waiting for Rissa.
"Are you coming?" he called out
"One sec." She flashed him a 100 watt smile.
"Hold it." Shannon grasped her arm "You know Adam Banks?"
"Yeah."
"The hottest guy in the senior class?"
"Ahuh."
"The starting center on the Eden Hall Mighty Ducks?"
"Yes."
"The one guy in school every girl would giver her right arm to kiss?"
"Yup."
"And you didn't tell me?"
"Nope." She answered simply slipping away.
"What's up?" She stopped in front of Adam curious.
"I wanted you to meet the Ducks." His arms fell around her shoulder and she sighed inwardly. This was more like it.
"Guys this is Larissa Saunders, Larissa this is Ken Wu, Russ Tyler, Greg Goldberg, Les Averman, Julie Gaffney, Luis Mendoza, Dean Portman, Fulton Reed and you already know Dwayne, Connie, Guy and Charlie."
"Hi everyone, nice to meet all of you." She shifted nervously, her hand found Adam's and he gave hers a reassuring squeeze.
"Here sit." He directed her into the seat between him and Luis
"The pleasure is all ours, or should I say mine?" Luis flirted once she sat down next to him. Adam shot him a warning glare and Luis backed off, he may have been a flirt but he wasn't going to step on anybodies toes.
"So how'd you find such a hot babe Banks?" Portman was definitely blunt
Larissa's face flooded the same red as the Eden Hall uniforms.
"Portman chill." Fulton instructed his best friend.
"So Banksie did you invite her to come tonight?" Russ chimed in
"Nah, she wouldn't be interested in going to a hockey game." Adam was starting to feel uncomfortable now and these were his friends.
"Actually I'd love to go." Larissa spoke up. "If you want me to."
"Sure, that would be great. Hey Dwayne is Nicky going to the game tonight?" Adam asked
"I reckon." Dwayne adjusted his black cowboy hat.
"See if Nicole can give you a ride and I'll meet you there." Adam squeezed Larissa's hand once more.
"Okay." She smiled slightly this was good sign maybe Adam was warming up to her. "Well I've got to go to my locker before class. It was real nice talking to you guys though."
"Wait a second Rissa I'll walk with you." Adam got up and followed her out. She had to suppress the smile at the corner of her mouth.
"Sorry about that, my friends are never how they just acted."
"It's no big deal. But I do have to admit I'm surprised you asked me to meet them."
"Why?"
"I don't think we were ever gonna talk two each other again. I basically figured that whole let's be friends thing was a way to get rid of me without feeling bad." She turned to her locker and twisted in the combination.
"Honestly Larissa I was up half the night thinking about you. It's time I move on you know and find someone new. If I can get to know you better I'd like that someone to be you."
Larissa's European history book hit the floor with a bang twice before she could actually calm herself enough to pick it up.
"Adam you're to cute to kill so please don't play with me."
"I'm not playing with you Rissa, after the game tonight you should come hang out with us."
"Alright. Oh geeze I gotta go I have class on the other side of campus. I'll see you later." With that she hurried off down the corridor.
"Hey Banksie." Charlie pushed the locker room door open to find Adam an hour early for the game as usual getting ready for twenty minutes of extra practice.
"Yes Captain?" He joked pulling his jersey over his head
"Larissa is here."
"Already?"
"Yup, she said she wanted a good seat. That girl has it bad for you buddy." Charlie patted Adam on the back
"It could be worse, she could hate me." Adam smiled and started taping his wrist
Larissa sat two rows back from the bench scribbling a few paragraphs in a short story she was writing. When the team came out she scanned the uniforms until she saw 99. When Adam looked up at her she waved and he mouthed the words
"Thanks for coming."
She nodded and mined
"You're welcome." to him
The two continued making eye contact just grinning at each other like idiots, until coach Orion yelled
"Banks do you plan on paying attention and getting in the game?"
Banks smiled sheepishly and skated out onto center ice.
Larissa knew next to nothing about hockey so even though she was at the Ducks game she was busy writing. But she couldn't help but look up and smirk every time the announcer said something about Adam. And was very happy when she heard
"Charlie Conway on a break away. Ducks win." The game was over
She was sitting on the grass outside the rink waiting patiently when she felt strong hands come down on her shoulders. Rissa jumped nearly five feet in the air.
"Scare you?" A familiar voice murmured in her ear
"God Adam you almost gave me a heart attack." She smacked him in the arm, her pulse racing.
"We wouldn't want that. Come on the teams going out for pizza." He reached out for her hands and pulled her to her feet. Also discovering she was still shaking.
"I really didn't mean to frighten you that much. Are you okay?"
Larissa nodded
"I'm just jumpy."
"Hey Cake-eater you coming to Tony's?" Russ referred to the pizzeria
"We'll be there." He wrapped his arm around Larissa's waist whilst beaming. It was funny how just days ago he was so deep in depression he was lost in it. Now all he'd done for the past few days was grin like a Cheshire cat.
"Cake-eater?" Rissa queried sliding into the B.M.W.
"Long story don't ask. But please never call me that."
"I won't Adam's easier less letters." With that she rolled on more lip gloss. Banks was starting to think she was lip balm addict.
"You have an unhealthy lip gloss fetish." He teased
"It's a source of comfort for me and if your friends act anyway close to how they did earlier expect me to be doing it a lot tonight."
"They're not really that bad."
"Tell me something Adam Banks how does a charming, well mannered, preppy like yourself wind up friends with the rest of the Ducks?"
"Honestly when we first met in the peewees they hated me. We were on rival teams, I was a Hawk and me and my friends were pretty mean to them. Anyway I came to find out that the districts lined had changed and I was supposed to be a Duck. When I joined the team at first they were real cold to me, I guess I deserved it. When I got knocked out playing the Hawks they changed their minds about me.
"Now you're like family?"
"Pretty much. Well other then that crush I had an Julie sophomore ear. If we were family that'd be wrong."
"So you used to like that Cat Lady?" Larissa looked out the car window
"Yeah, are you jealous? Wait did you just call her Cat Lady?"
"Yes I did, I heard Goldberg call her that at the game. And no I'm not jealous. Should I be?"
"No you shouldn't be. I don't like the whole jealousy thing, so if you were we wouldn't be able to hook up."
"I'll keep that in mind."
When they got to the restaurant the rest of the team had already pulled four tables together so everyone would have room.
"Hey guys what you so long? As if we don't already know." Russ ribbed as they approached. Adam knew Larissa's lip balm tube was in for a workout.
"Take easy Russ show Larissa some respect." Dwayne came to their defense.
"Besides what would a girl like her want with Banks?" Fulton added
"Thanks Fulton I feel loved." Adam and Larissa settled into the empty seats between Averman and Portman.
"Glad you could join us lovely lady." Luis winked at her, then winced when Adam kicked him in the shin
"I thought you don't like jealousy?" Rissa acknowledged quietly
"From a girl yeah, for me to do it is okay though." He spoke softly
"Double standard, I see."
"Sort of. What kind of pizza do you want?" He changed the subject quickly
"Buffalo chicken."
"Awesome Banksie found a real women. My kinda girl." Portman high fived her "Wanna split mine?"
"I guess." So Larissa shared a pie with Dean.
"When the food arrived things settled down a little, the team was too busy stuffing their faces to say much. However when the pizza moved out so did the silence.
"So Larissa, I don't believe I've seen you around campus. Are you a junior?" Russ's girlfriend Jacky inquired.
"Um no I'm a freshmen." Rissa gulped her root beer waiting for someone to say something
"A what?"
"A freshmen. Why is that bad?"
"No that's fine, we were all freshmen once." Linda tried to ease the tension
"She's jail bait Banks." Averman declared, causing everyone to burst into hysterical bouts of laughter, Larissa reapplied her lip balm.
"Would you guys chill out please?" Adam glared at his friends after Rissa excused herself to the ladies' room. "I don't want Larissa to feel outa place with us."
"Oh do you have a crush Banks?" Molly Portman's girlfriend taunted
"Maybe." He smiled again to a chorus of
"Ooohs" and "Awwws"
"Did I miss something?" Larissa was puzzled upon noticing the bright pink tint in Adam's cheek when she returned.
"Nothing, nothing at all." Adam replied
"Seems to me you're blushing Mr. Banks, why is that?" She deposited herself into her seat
"Um the guys were just picking on me about something I did when we were younger." He thought quickly
"Cool what was it?"
"Just about some girl I had a thing for." We at least it wasn't a total lie.
Rissa's eyes panned to Julie and swiftly she took them away, when she felt Adam's hand on her knee.
"This is the time, when Connie and Guy make up some stupid reason to leave and head to the point."
As if on cue Connie smacked herself in the hand
"Oh no, I forgot to feed my hamster."
Larissa giggled when Guy stood up saying
"I'll drive you back to school Hun."
"I told you." Banks said under his breath.
Shortly after the rest of the team began to wonder off and soon Adam and Larissa were left alone.
"You know," She began "we talked about me yesterday, tell me about you"
"I'm 18, from Edina Minnesota, I love hockey, don't like my father and my favorite color's blue." He responded all in one breath
She wanted to question him on his father but decided maybe it was too personal.
"Anything else you'd like to share."
"My favorite T.V. show is C.S.I., movie is Remember The Titans and music is Jazz and R&B."
Larissa crinkled her nose at Banks's answers
"I'll give the movie, it rocks, but the rest I don't think so."
The two stopped talking for a few minutes before Larissa blurted out
"You have a great bunch of pals."
"Most of the time, though this one time I pissed them off and they froze my underwear."
"What?" Rissa's eyes grew wide and her face lit up
"Actually it was all my clothes and my lettermen's jacket."
"How?"
"Liquid Nitrogen."
"Remind me to stay on their good side."
"Don't worry they like you. Luis like likes you."
"Jealous?"
"Maybe." He answered for the second time that day
By this time they had gotten back into his car to head home.
"If it's only maybe, maybe I better flirt with him alittle more."
"You know it drives me nuts." He divulged turning the ignition.
Larissa turned her head and studied his expression
"You're adorable Adam, do you know that?"
"Umm thanks."
It was hard for him to except compliments, giving them he could do. But getting them, if they weren't about his hockey skills, it was a different story. He was unbelievably modest and normally shy, but something about Larissa put him at ease. Adam Banks was falling into like.
