Chapter 2 - Crushed
Throughout the morning Adam thought of the unfamiliar girl that he saw in English class. By lunch all of the Ducks knew that something was up with him.
Every time someone would try to get his attention Adam didn't answer until about the fourth time his name was called. It was getting pretty annoying. Adam just didn't seem to hear anyone.
At the lunch table when they were all there Charlie was the first to speak. He said, "Adam, what's with you today? You don't answer anyone. It's like you're on another planet or something. Do you have an earache or something?"
Adam just took a look around the table. The rest of the Ducks just sat there in concurrence with Charlie. Adam thought about what he was supposed to say to them.
Could he say that he was thinking about this chick he didn't even know that much? Would they really understand him? Adam doubted that considering he saw the girl like once. They'd probably think that he was trying to stalk her or something crazy like that.
Adam made his decision. He said, "I didn't sleep very good last night. I can't keep my head straight. You know the feeling?"
That's when Guy spoke up and said, "I believe that. I swear the kid was up half the night."
Adam smirked. He talks and moves a lot in his sleep. Guy must have been the one who wasn't sleeping well last night since it usually didn't bother him at all.
The rest of the day was torture. All that came to Adam's mind was the gorgeous girl whenever he tried thinking about anything. When he wasn't thinking she's what came to mind then too.
When classes were over Adam was walking out to the rink where Charlie and him were going to practice a little. He tried thinking about anything but that girl. Adam concentrated on exactly how heavy his hockey bag was, how many cracks there were in one block of sidewalk, how dirty his shoes were, and other things like that.
Adam saw what he probably didn't need to see right about then. There was Connie, Julie, and that girl talking on the outdoor basketball court Eden Hall has. Her hair was down now instead of up like it had been and she wasn't wearing her jacket. Adam stood on the walkway mesmerized by her beauty. He had never seen anyone like her before and wondered if he ever would again. He just wanted to go up to her and ask her out. Adam knew that he would never be able to bring himself to do that.
Later when Charlie and Adam were walking back to the dorms after their workout the girl was still playing basketball on the court. Charlie couldn't help but notice how Adam wouldn't take his eyes off that girl or the ground the entire way back.
The two boys were going to drop their bags off in the dorms and meet Guy, Luis, Portman, and Fulton for some pizza. At the pizza place they were minding their own business as far as they were concerned. The boys were inhaling their pizza, guzzling down their pop, and being very loud. Then that same girl walked in.
Adam was getting very frustrated with himself. Why was it that as soon as he stopped thinking about that girl she just suddenly appears somewhere? Hell, he didn't even know her name. How could he be so hung up on her all of a sudden?
The mortal goddess walked right past the boys' table. All the boys looked up towards her and stared like any other sophomore boys would. She waved and said, "Hey Reed." as she went by.
The other five boys stared at Fulton in disbelief. How did she know him?
Adam just ate some more pizza. He looked back where she had walked. The beauty was eating some pizza with some people who were all dressed in shirts with famous heavy metal bands and baggy jeans. They just personified what Adam thought to be the mainstream garage band members. You know, the people who worship the sounds of the underground bands and play a little themselves.
Luis, Guy, Portman, Fulton, Adam, and Charlie finished the pizza and pop. They decided to head back to the dorms. The six boys walked back to the dorms together acting crazier than normal.
Guy and Luis decided to sing for some reason. They would sing one song and one song only. Those two were repeatedly singing MMMBop a.k.a. the most annoying song ever made in the history of music. It would be impossible to sing that song anymore off key than the native Minnesotan and the lover boy right out of Miami were.
Fulton and Portman were carrying on like they were a couple of preteen girls at a slumber party. Adam wasn't quite sure if they had taken some OTC painkillers when they weren't in pain or what was going on with them.
Charlie and Adam were doing the most dangerous thing of all. Every once in a while as they were walking down the street one of them would grab the other and pull them into the road. Together the sixteen-year-old boys would dart across the street as fast as they could. They had no regard for safety. Charlie was almost hit by a passing car. He could feel the wind on his back as the car went by. The driver didn't even stop.
Somehow those same six boys ended up back in the dorms of Eden Hall. When they got back the boys found out that a couple people were looking to get a hockey game going on the outdoor basketball court.
Adam and Fulton were bummed out. Fulton had decided to have someone tutor him. Eden Hall has a program were students can get help from other students. Adam was assigned to Fulton. They had planned to get together all the time including the first day.
Mostly they were just going to talk. Especially today since they were just getting a feel for their classes. Fulton had an easy math assignment due, but that was it. Adam helped him when he needed help. Adam was naturally good at math and was in the advanced math classes that had him in Trigonometry instead of Integrated Geometry.
