Author's Note:
I haven't decided how to pace the story. If I jump to the future I will let you know, and a flashback/forward will be denoted by ~~~ before the beginning of the flash and ~~~~ at the end. // indicates thoughts to self. And
The next few weeks seemed to go by quickly.
It was the week before the last game of the season. (Since they were only JV, it wasn't as big a deal as Varsity "big" games.)
Julie's POV
"Hey Charlie" I said.
"Hey Cat lady what's up?"
"Oh nothin, just getting ready for finals."
"FINALS! Geez Jules, Finals isn't for a few weeks." Charlie said.
"Yeah, I know, I just want to make sure I am ready."
"Why don't you get ready for the game this weekend??? Isn't that closer?"
"Yeah, but there is nothing to be worried about, it's in the bag."
"Who said anything about being worried?" Said Charlie with a smirk.
"Hahahah, true. Ok, whatever, I am ready. I am heading to practice, wanna walk me?"
"Sure. Can I carry your books for you?" Charlie asked sweetly.
"Nope! I got'em!" Said a voice from behind.
"Thank you Charlie and Dean, but I am perfectly able to carry my own books." She said with a smile.
"No one said you couldn't Duchess, but we want to help." Said Dean with a taunting look.
I shot Dean a look, even he doesn't know about the reason for that name it irks me anyway.
He chuckled at me.
"Duchess?" asked Charlie.
"Don't ask." I said with a sigh.
Dean grabbed my stack of books and gave Charlie half.
I had to smile at them. They were just so adorable.
"Ok I give up." I said and hooked my arms through theirs and continued down the hall.
"All the girls will be jealous today." I mocked.
"Why?" Asked Charlie.
"I am being escorted by two of the hottest guys in the school, who wouldn't be jealous?" I said with a slightly flirting tone.
They chuckled at me again and we continued down to the gym in silence.
//It's times like these that mean the most to me. I hope I never have to give it up…//
***
(Still Julie's POV)
We finished practice, and hit the showers.
I love standing in the water. I usually have it hotter than most can stand, but it is so relaxing. I can think here and let my mind go, and just be me, without having to worry about grades, my parents, hockey (even though I love thinking about hockey, it is such a release for me.), or what is expected of me. Here in the folds of the steaming water I am free to be me.
~~~ Flash Forward: a phone conversation~~~
"But Ms. Gaffney! We have to move the deadline. It won't be done in time!"
"Not done in time is NOT an option! I told you to crunch those numbers and make sure they were going to work before we started this, now we have New York and Paris waiting. You are the one who said it was a go, not me, now you have to stick to it. I don't care what it costs you just do it!"
*Her Admin sticks her head in the door*
(She hated to go anywhere near that door when she was yelling at one of her contractors. They can be such bullies but Gaffney was a bully of a different kind. She didn't take any mess. Interrupting her was never a good thing though)
"Ms Gaffney, I'm so sorry, Mr. Sorenson is here from East Coast Automation. Shall I have him wait in the conference room?"
"Yes, that is fine, thank you Karen." She smiled at her.
"Now look! About this deadline," her face automatically changed back into a scowl, "I don't want if ands or buts I want that report here, on my desk, within one hour! You got it?! Don't let me have this conversation again. I want that report here within the hour, without mistakes or need for revisions! I want it ready to go. Got it?! Don't @#$% with me again. We can worry about the start date later."
Click
Frickin'…* sigh * Okay, Duchess get it together.
She looked in the mirror and adjusted her jacket, dusted off the shoulder, checked her breath, turned to check her profile, and took a deep breath. //Dean…I wish you were here I need you…
…* NO! * YOU can do this. Dean is gone; you have to do it on your own. No whining, just do it! …Okay…Let's go//
She exited her office and went into the conference room. //Big smiles//
"Good morning Mr. Sorenson, I am Julie Gaffney."
"Thank you Ms. Gaffney for taking the time to see me."
"Oh no Thank you."
"Please call me Jim."
"Okay."
"I brought this proposal for you to look at, it involves our two companies working together closely on this."
//Arrggg. I can feel that headache coming back again//
~~~Back to the Present~~~
She popped her neck and twisted her back, and stepped out of the shower.
She got dressed in a hurry; she was going to meet the guys for dinner at their favorite joint.
****
"Heya Boyz…and Connie." I snickered.
"Hey Jules, what's up?"
"Oh nothin" I said.
"Come sit over here." Fulton and Portman shimmied down to make a spot for me in between them.
"Alright." I said as I walked over to the offered seat.
"Hey Jules?"
"Yeah Dean" I said as I reached for some fries.
"I need some help with some homework tonight. Wanna help me?" He said in a playful tone.
"Help you does not mean do it for you." I said which seemed to be for the hundredth time in the past 2 weeks.
"I know, I want to do it, I just need help."
"Alright, no problem. What time?"
"Wanna go now?" He asked.
"Now? I just got here."
"Well eat and then we can go."
"Geez somebody is in a hurry to learn." I teased.
"Oh whatever, I want to get started, so I can get done and go to bed, I am beat."
"Good excuse." I said halfway rolling my eyes and smiling.
"Hey you two break it up!" Said Charlie from the other end of the table and launched a fry in our direction.
"Oh man you started it now!" Yelled Portman, "I am the king of the 'Fry Toss'!"
He said and launched a shooting, spiral French fry at Charlie.
"Ouch!" He said as it hit him in the ear.
The table started laughing hysterically.
"HAHAHAH" Dean said in his loud fashion.
Dean got hit in the back of the head with a fry.
"Hey!" He said playfully loud.
"If you want to be the king you have to dethrone me!" Fulton said standing up.
The table started laughing again.
"Ok, I the King of Fries, deem this a challenge. Every one silence."
Everyone at the table gives mock silence while still snickering.
"Okay, here are the rules of engagement, you the challenger must sit at that end of the table and battle my armies, then if you should succeed in passing them, they you shall face me at that end of the table. Who ever shall win, shall be able to…" he lifted his eyebrow half grinned and looked at me (oh no, I hate it when he does that, it is never a good thing) "call himself the King of the Fry Toss and be deemed worthy to take this lovely lady whom we shall call Duchess to the dance on Friday." The table started cheering. "Let the games begin!" Said Fulton. Immediately fries started flying though the air.
That lasted for about 5 minutes till every one was out of fries.
"Lady Duchess?" Fulton said.
"Yes my lord." I teased.
"It seems you must break the tie and choose who will go with you."
The guys at the table went, "Oooohhh" in mock suspense.
I paced back and forth, trying not to laugh, "I deem that it is impossible to determine, so both of you may be privileged to accompany me to the dance."
I say and smile in triumph.
"A very fair decision. My lady."
"Now if you gentlemen will excuse me, I must retire." I say in my best aristocratic air. "Dean," he jumps to my side and takes my arm, the table starts to cheer, Fulton looks deserted and Dean tosses a French fry at his head.
He starts laughing and we bolt for the door. Everyone inside starts laughing and talking again.
"Okay, on to homework." I said.
We walked back to the dorm and worked on the homework we had to do.
"Man Jules are we done yet?"
"Nope! Do you want to be ready for finals or what?"
"Yeah I guess."
"Ok then we are going to finish."
"What ever you say Duchess."
Although I don't like the nickname, but it is okay when he says it. I don't mind when Fulton uses it or Charlie.
"Are you going to ever tell me what is behind that?" He asks.
"Mmmm. Nope."
"C'mon Jules, I am just gonna bug you till you tell me."
"You bug me anyway."
"Oh geez thanks!"
"Your welcome."
"C'mon Jules."
"Nope."
"Please?"
"Nope."
"Please?"
"No."
"Please."
"NO! Get off it! Maybe one day if you are really nice I will tell you."
"Ahhhh, fine. Whatever, you know what? I don't care if you never tell me."
"Good, lets get back to work."
They didn't notice when 10:00 became 11:00 they only noticed when Fulton came back to the room.
"Well good morning Jules." Fulton said sarcastically.
"What? Morning?!" I exclaimed.
"Chill Duchess, I was just kidding. It's is almost midnight."
"Oh geez, yeah, I am gonna get in trouble now. I will see you boyz later."
"Thanks Jules for all the help." Portman said as he helped me put my books together.
"No problem, Bash man. See you boyz in class."
"Later." I whispered and tiptoed out of the boy's dorm.
//I have no idea how you let it get so late!//
Portman's POV
"Dude what were you guys doing?" Fulton asked.
"Studying."
"Until midnight?"
"Yeah, I needed to get this."
"Why is it so important. You don't need to ace it. You only need to pass."
"Well yeah…that is what I am doing." I looked down. I didn't want him to think I was a geek or something. But Jules makes me want to learn and to be smart. It isn't a geek thing to want to do well, so I can get into a good college based on something other than hockey.
"Dude, Fulton, get some sleep." I said hoping he would drop it.