Summary: A tale of our favorite Ducks and where their lives take them, beginning Senior Year at Eden Hall. Focuses on Adam, Charlie, Julie, Dean, Connie, Guy…and more to come!
Disclaimer: The Mighty Ducks and all its characters belong to Disney. I do not own any of it!
Flying Together
By Rebecca
Chapter 17: Home
"She's going home," Charlie emphasized once more. "Home, do you get that? To Maine. And she's not coming back. You really wanna throw it all away?"
Adam was tired. Tired of the same old discussion. Tired of everyone asking him if he was ok. Tired of Charlie butting into his screwed up personal life. Why wouldn't anyone just leave him alone. "For the last time," he said slowly, "and I'll say it in French if you want me to, she wants nothing to do with me."
Charlie threw up his hands and collapsed into the leather recliner near the tv. They were in Adam's mansion back in Edina. Graduation ended and Adam had gone straight home. It was only Charlie's puppy dog traits that led them to having this discussion in the first place. He couldn't understand why Adam was being so stubborn, or what in the world led him to believe that Julie hated him. He looked up at his friend, "Can you really say that in French?"
Adam rolled his eyes and moved to get up, grabbing his cane from the floor. Charlie impulsively moved to help him and Adam snapped, "I can do it myself ok? I'm just gettin' a coke. Can't I just get a coke?" he was nearly screaming.
Charlie backed off. "Sorry," he mumbled.
Adam took a deep breath. He felt bad, but didn't have the energy for apologies right now. What he really wanted to do was collapse onto his king-size bed upstairs and try desperately to forget all about Julie Gaffney and the Cincinnati Cyclones…but he didn't have the energy to climb the stairs either. All this money and dad can't just build an elevator? He laughed to himself at the stupidity of his mental ramblings and opened the fridge. "Look, don't worry about me ok? Don't worry about me. Don't worry about Julie. Don't worry about me and Julie ok?"
He sighed, "Fine." He put up his hands in surrender and grabbed his jacket. "Look mom and I are going out to dinner. Wanna come?"
"No thanks."
Charlie nodded. He'd long since worn out his welcome with his very bitter friend. He opened the door and started to leave and then stopped. "You know," he said only half turning around, "I'd really hate to see it end this way."
The door closed and Banks carefully lowered himself to the couch. "Me too," he whispered.
Connie sat thoughtfully on her bed for long minutes after The Cat left. She'd grown up with Adam Banks. She'd lived with Julie Gaffney. Two of her closest friends, and they were leaving tonight without a word to each other.
Connie couldn't believe how blind and clueless she'd been all along about Julie's feelings for Adam. It was all right in front of her. Constant complaints about Adam ignoring her during practice. Nights when she'd be going out with Scooter and left him waiting in the lobby for 10 minutes while Adam was on the phone. Bittersweet jabs at Erica when they were together. Even the short time she was with Dean, and seemed the happiest that she'd ever been, the signs were still there.
It just didn't seem right now that after all that work, all the effort and drama 5 years running, to have it die off in the third act without a thunderously romantic conclusion. A half-smile formed on her face as she looked to her desk. Maybe one epic romance is all Eden Hall can take this year. She was gazing at the latest picture of her and Guy which had been taken at the state championship. They were sitting side by side on the bus home, the thrill of victory lit in their eyes staring up at the camera. Charlie had taken that shot. Guy had been tickling her at the time, teasing her about the third period goal she'd gone ahead and scored herself instead of passing to him as they'd planned. Charlie stood up in the seat in front of them and said, "Smile." Guy held her tightly around the waist, giving an extra squeeze as the flash bulb went off and several moans and complaints ensued. Give it a rest Conway…Ah! I'm blind. Connie reached for the photograph and tucked it gingerly into her backpack, the last of her belongings to take home from a dorm she'd not be returning to. As she did so, she frowned again, remembering the last thing Julie had taken from this room…the picture of her and Adam almost 5 years ago. But instead of heading off to join him, like Connie was meeting Guy, Julie was off to the airport to fly to New England. It wasn't fair.
She snapped back into reality when a knock came at the door. She opened it and smiled, kissing Guy on the cheek as he stepped through the doorway. "Ready?" he asked.
"Yeah, you?"
Guy nodded grabbing one of Connie's bags from the empty room they were leaving behind. Connie took one look around and sighed. "You ok?" Guy asked.
She turned to him, "I'm gonna miss it."
He nodded, "I know. Me too."
She lowered her head and whispered, "I'm gonna miss her."
He tipped her chin up and cupped her face with his hand, kissing her softly before he pulled her close for a hug, "I know."
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