Title: Familiar Faces: Rumour Mills

Disclaimer: Just the usual, don't own anything that you recognise.

Feedback: Yes please, anything constructive would be really appreciated.

Emma POV

                Breakfast was so scary, it was totally not what I expected, I don't think that Adam did either. Everyone was trying to keep the conversation on anything but me and Adam, that was until Adam asked them why. It turned out that Julie had threatened them all to leave us alone, it meant so much to me that she cared and I told her so. We both agreed that it was best if the questions were got out of the way, so Adam told them it was ok to ask us, so they did. Lots of questions were asked and I let Adam answer them all, they were his friends after all, I didn't know these people.

                Riley and his team came over at one point and Adam did his big brother act again, it makes me feel so loved for him to do that when he has only known me for a short time. But that wasn't the biggest surprise, the rest of the team also stood up against them, I don't know if it was for me or Adam, but I was very grateful. It would seem that I was not only getting one brother, but 11 brothers and 2 sisters, this team was like a family, and I was being accepted into it. Maybe High School life wouldn't be that bad anymore, and watching all their games would get me out of my books and give me some sort of social life. Just have to wait and see.

                Anyway, I went off to class after breakfast and the morning went as normal. Well not quite normal, I kept on getting looks from people in the halls and classes, I never used to get that, I always used to blend into the walls. Now it seemed that everyone knew me, or were being told about me, as I had a few fingers pointed at me. Looks like the rumour mill is working well today, saves me telling anyone, not that I have anyone to tell.

                I never realised how many of my classes have the team in them, all my classes this morning had at least one of the team in them. History came first with Connie, she let me sit next to her, luckily the teacher came in before the bell and no one had a chance to question me. Then came English with Guy and Ken, I sat in my normal place as I got to class before them and didn't know that they were in the class, but they sat behind me, they definitely do not normally sit there, but I was pleased they did, as the whispering around the class was starting to get to me. Art was next, when I walked into the classroom, most of the class was already there, including the JV cheerleading squad, how they managed to all be in the same class was beyond me. Anyway, when I walked into the class I could feel all their eyes on me.

                "That's her, the one who reckons she is Adam's sister, yeah right, just wants to be popular." I heard being called across the classroom. I didn't know what to do, I wasn't trying to be popular, I preferred it when I blended into the walls, when no one noticed me. It isn't my fault that this has been dumped on me, was that what people were saying, to that point, I had not heard what people were saying, just felt the stared and heard whispers. Everyone was gonna hate me, think bad things of me, wouldn't be surprised if the Riley and Cole had suggested these rumours. Hold my head high an ignore it, just hope I could get through the class without breaking down, especially as we were aloud to walk around during Art. Just when I was about to cry, in walked Luis and Portman, not exactly who I wanted, but they must have heard they conversation, or at least what was going round, cos they came and stayed by me all class. No one was gonna say anything while they were around so I was safe. The last class before lunch was Maths, Luis walked me to class, he said that he had class over in the Math block, but I think it was just to get out of some lessons. I wasn't gonna complain as the whispering was no longer whispering and I don't know how I would have coped if anyone actually started on me. When I got the class I thanked Luis and walked into class, there sat half way back on the side was Adam, how had I managed to be in the same class as him for a term and not realise, but then again, it isn't like I actually paid attention to who was in my classes. By the look on Adam's face, he didn't realise I was in this class either, so I walked over.

                "This seat taken?"

                "No, take it. Didn't know you were in this class."

                "Same here, how has your day been so far?" See if his has been nearly as scary as mine has.

                "Strange, everyone seems to be looking at me and talking behind my back."

                "Well, at least it is behind your back." I then proceeded to tell him about my morning, including all the support I had from the team. He was glad that the team was being nice, though he was slightly concerned about Luis. By the time we managed to tell each other about our morning, in between working, it was the end of class and time for lunch.

                "I'll walk with you to the dinning room, but then I have to do something." So we left for lunch and he took me to the Duck Table. The rest of the day went on as the morning had. I didn't have someone from the team in all my classes, but I was getting used to the staring and pointing, being an expert at ignoring it by the end of the day. Last lesson came round, PE which I shared with Julie and Connie, cross country today, not my best subject. Connie and Julie were lovely and jogged along beside me, it stopped anyone saying anything to me, and me getting completely bore out of my mind. We gossiped about really random things, like what was going on in Friends and who was dating who, they also told me more about the team. It was the best cross country lesson I had ever had, and I got to find out a load more about the people that were obviously gonna become a big part of my life.

                I felt sorry for Julie and Connie as we got changed after PE, I was exhausted, but at least I didn't have to go to hockey practice now, it must be hell for them. I walked with them to the rink and sat in the stands whilst  they got changed, looking round, I noticed that all the old banners above the rink had the warrior symbol on it, except last years that had the duck, just goes to show that things can change. Just as I was wondering what was taking them all so long, they were on the ice, all suited up, it was difficult to see who was who, especially seeing as they were wearing their practise shirts, and so had no names. I walked down to the edge and waited for them to skate over, we talked for a little while and then a whistle was blown.

                "Stop having a mothers meeting. Let's hunt goose eggs." What was this guy going on about, he had to be the coach, seeing as that is what it said on his jacket.

                "Hey coach, come and meet someone." Charlie called over to him, and the coach started to skate over. He looked at me as he skated over and then looked round the team for some answers.

                "Coach, this is Emma N.."

                "Banks" I jumped in as Adam was about to say Nash, if mum was gonna disown me, then I would disown her name. Adam spun round to look at me and smiled, I smiled back.

                "So the rumours running round the school are true then, you do have a sister Banks?"

                "Yes Coach, can she stay and watch practice?"

                "Sure, why don't you come over to the bench and you can help me keep an eye out for slackers." Well that went easy, I walked over to where everyone had gone to put their helmets down and sat watching the rest of practice. It was amazing how well they played, not that I had anything to compare it to seeing as this was the first hockey I had actually seen. Adam seemed to be the best by far, although my opinion is slightly biased. They ran drills for half the time and then had a little match, which was pretty even, I don't think anyone was keeping score anyway.

                Finally practice was over and everyone came over to the bench to grab a bottle of water. After drinking them quickly, they went into the locker rooms to get changed, Adam told me to wait for him in the foyer.

Adam POV

                "Luis, you even think about dating my sister, then you will not be living to your next birthday, you understand me?" I had pulled Luis over to the corner, there was no way that I was gonna let Luis mess Emma around.

                "Yeah sure, anything. You have really got into this big brother thing haven't you." Well, I had been doing this in my head for most of my life, I wasn't gonna let anything go wrong now that I had the chance to do it in real life. I continued to get changed, stuffed my gear into my locker, except for my skates and a bag, then said bye to everyone and went to meet Emma.

                When I got out to her, she was looking at all the trophies and photos that were in the foyer. She was looking at the newspaper clipping about the Ducks getting scholarships and didn't seem to notice when I came up behind her. "They were really proud to be getting the Junior Goodwill Game winners into their school." She jumped as soon as I spoke and spun around.

                "Didn't hear you come out, so what do you want to do?"

                "Well, I thought that we could skate some."

                "But I can't skate, never mind the small matter of no skates." At this a smile came to my face.

                "Don't worry I have that sorted, come on." I took her hand and lead her into the rink, over to the bench. When we got there I handed her the bag that was in my hand. "Here you go."

                She looked at me strangely, but took the bag off me. I sat down and started to put my skates on. "These are brand new, whose are they?"

                "Yours." I replied simply.

                "What. they must have cost loads, I can't take them."

                "Yes you can, Dad gave me some money for emergencies, and this is one of them."

                "I wouldn't exactly call this an emergency."

                "Yes it is, how can I teach you to skate when you don't have any skates?"

                "Point taken, but I'm not comfortable with this." With that she sat down and started to put on her skates. Once she had finished I checked them to make sure they were tight enough, I don't want her to hurt her ankles.

                "There is something else in the bag, from me." She looked back into the bag and pulled out some cloth, this was killing me, would she please hurry up.

                "No way, you didn't?"

                "Yes I did."

                "Was this where you were at lunch?"

                "Yeah I went over to Hans Skate shop this morning and asked Jan to make it up, and to sort out some skates for you. Then at lunch time I went and picked it up, and told Jan the whole story, as I had promised to in the morning." Emma looked at the shirt in her hand and turned it round. It was our home shirt, with 'Banks E' and '8' on the back. I wasn't sure if you would want Banks or Nash on the back, but I think after earlier I made the right decision.

                "Hell yeah." She jumped up and lunged at me. We hugged for ages and when she let go of me, she put the shirt on over her jumper. "You best not let go of me on the ice."

                "I won't, come on then, before we get chucked out." With that I walked to the door and stepped onto the ice, Emma stood at the door unsure, "look straight at me and I will be here, just follow what I say and we will have you skating on your own in no time." She obviously did not believe me, but I knew that it was in her blood like it was mine.

Portman POV

                We were all changed and talking about what everyone was doing tonight. When were got out to the foyer, I looked into the rink and noticed that a couple of people were on the ice. Normally, it was off limits during the week, except for practices. "Hey guys, there is someone on the ice."

                Everyone turned and looked, I then started to walk over to the door, but was stopped by Julie. "If you look closely, it is Adam and Emma, don't disturb them please?"

                I looked closer and realised it was them, but Emma wasn't wearing what she had on earlier. "Is that one of our shirts, she is wearing?" Guy had noticed it too. Everyone walked over to the door and watched them, taking a closer look at them. "Yeah it is, I think."

                Then Emma and Banks came round the bend so that we could see the back of Emma, "Not one of ours, hers. See 'Banks E' and '8', that is her number from peewees. Come on then lets go and get something to eat."

                With that, everyone walked away to dinner, not wanting to get on the wrong side of Julie. Anyway, with Emma and Banks out of the way, we could talk about them and try and get some more details out of Julie and Charlie, though I doubt that we will get anything more from them.