Note: Thanks to allie, Nellie2, katie, anne918, jess, and crazy4nc128 for
your reviews. From all the reactions it sounds like I accomplished what I
set out to do -make everyone think of phil as the villain of the story.
Crazy4nc128 I especially loved your reaction to the last chapter. I hope
you all enjoyed this chapter just as much and for those of you who wanted
me to get back to Adam you'll be happy to know that he's in this chapter.
Charlie's POV:
"Charlie, are you ready," came my mom's call. I was still in my room trying to figure out how to fit the gifts we had for Coach Bombay and Adam into a bag so that I could help my mom carry some of the other stuff we were taking over to Bombay's.
"Be right there," I called back as I put the last package on top. I picked up the bag and headed out of my room to the kitchen.
My mom handed me some stuff and then grabbed the ham herself and we headed out to the car. The drive over to Coach Bombay's place was quiet. I think my mom was worried about how the dinner would go. I knew she wanted everything to be perfect. I, however, had other things on my mind.
I was nervous about seeing Adam. I still wasn't sure what I was going to say to him even though I had gotten plenty of practice of apologizing the past few days. I didn't even know if he would want to see me. The comment about him trying to win his Dad back had been a little over the top. I'm not sure I would've forgiven me if I had been in his place. After all he had defended us all to his Dad. **flashback**
"I'm not going to quit," they had heard Adam telling his Dad from the hallway.
"You don't belong on JV. You're too good for that team of ragtag misfits. You always have been."
"The Ducks are the best team I've ever skated with," Adam had said. "Maybe their families don't have money, prestige or influence but that doesn't matter. They're all good skaters and despite any differences we may have had in the past they're my friends. Better friends than McGill and Larson ever were."
"Don't talk back to me. Your Mom and I have tried to give you and your brother everything. Your brother is grateful, why don't you show a little gratitude. Look, you have a choice - you either quit playing for the Ducks or we'll never speak again."
"You can't mean that," Adam had replied. I could hear the pleading in his voice.
"I do. You don't belong with them. You're better than them and not just at hockey either. I thought you'd realize that yourself so I let you play but I was wrong. I don't want you to throw your life away because of those people. They don't even belong at this school. So what's your decision? Are you going to quit JV?"
I had been standing in the doorway of the common room with the rest of the Ducks by that time. Even so we could barely hear Adam when he replied "I can't". I didn't know about the others but I hadn't expected Adam to say that. After all we had put him through when he had been forced to choose between his dad and us he had chosen the Ducks. **end flashback**
"Earth to Charlie," I heard my mom saying. I came out of the daze I was in and realized that we had arrived at Bombay's place. "Are you okay," my mom asked me.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I told her quickly.
I helped her get the stuff out of the car and headed toward the building. Coach Bombay was already downstairs and held the front door of the building open for us which was a good thing because I don't think either my mom or I could've opened it. After we were inside Bombay took some of the stuff from us and the three of us headed up the stairs to Bombay's apartment.
"Adam was in his room reading a few minutes ago Charlie if you want to go see him," Bombay told me as we sat the stuff down in the kitchen. I just nodded. I wasn't sure what to say. I wasn't sure if I was ready to go face Adam but I found myself heading for his room anyway.
"Come in," I heard Adam call in reply to my knock on his door.
Taking a deep breath I slowly opened the door and stepped inside. Adam was leaning up against the head rest of the bed with a book in his hand. Despite spending the last couple of days in bed he still looked worn out and even from where I was at I could see the two lumps on the side of his nect from the glands that were swollen.
"Charlie," Adam said closing the book he had and placing it on the bedside table. He actually sounded surprised to even see me.
"Hi Adam," I said. I couldn't bring myself to say anything else. I didn't know what to say. Everything I thought of seemed inadequate. Maybe I should've just called instead of waiting to see him to apologize. Adam ended up speaking again before I did.
"Look Charlie," he said, " I didn't mean to take you out in that game. It was an accident. I really did trip and take us both out. I would never ...."
"Adam I believe you," I said interrupting him. It was just like Adam to be apologizing when he never did do anything wrong. "I never should've said the things I did the other day. I know you'd never take anyone out like that on purpose but I was angry about other things and I took it out on you. I'm sorry," I told him and then waited for him to tell me he wasn't going to accept my apology. That I had gone to far this time and he never wanted to see me again. I certainly couldn't blame him.
Adam's POV:
"I'm sorry," I heard Charlie say quietly and then he was quiet. Suddenly I wasn't sure if I was ready to forgive him. His words at the pond the other day had really hurt and yet I knew I couldn't lose Charlie's friendship. If I did my relationship with the other Ducks just wouldn't be the same. I couldn't forget that at my first game with the Ducks it was Charlie who was willing to accept me right from the beginning. At the Junior Goodwill Games it had been Charlie who had given up his spot on the team so I could play in the final game. And after my recent injury it was Charlie who had been there for me through everything.
"Apology accepted," I told him. I debated whether or not I should say what I really wanted to say. Maybe things would be better off if I just let things go with what had already been said but I couldn't. "Charlie, if I had known this arrangement was going to cause problems I wouldn't have agreed to it. Its just seemed like a good solution at the time but maybe it wasn't," I told him but even as I said it I knew I couldn't go home. Maybe my grandparents on my mom's side wouldn't mind taking me in.
"Nonsense," Charlie told me coming further into the room and sitting down on the edge of my bed. "I wasn't thinking when I said those things to you. I guess I was jealous."
Charlie didn't have to say what he was jealous about. All of us Ducks knew that Charlie saw Coach Bombay as the father he never had. That was why he had such a hard time accepting O'rion as a new coach.
"I'm not trying to come in between you and Coach Bombay," I told Charlie. "I couldn't even if I wanted too. You and Bombay have a special relationship and nothing is going to change that."
Charlie just nodded. I don't think that either of us knew what to say after that. Luckily Gordon and Ms. Conway came in the room at that point with our dinners. Charlie and I ended up eating dinner in my room together while Gordon and Ms. Conway ate in the kitchen.
We were just finishing eating when I heard the doorbell ring. I saw a smile come to Charlie's face and I knew that he was in on something but I had no idea what. I heard voices out in the living room but I couldn't tell who it was or what was being said.
"I'll be right back," Charlie said getting up and leaving the room and leaving me wondering what was going on.
Guy's POV:
When Connie rang the doorbell at my house on Christmas Day I jumped out of my chair in the kitchen ready to escape my house. I was sick of everyone pretending that things were perfect and I was sick of pretending I was happy. I was miserable. I was starting to wish that my parents had already gotten a divorce.
"See you all later," I told my family grabbing my jacket as I hurried to the door and opened it.
"Hi," Connie said cheerfully. At the end of the driveway I could see Averman and Goldberg waiting in the Averman's caravan. Mrs. Averman was helping out by driving us over to Bombay's place. I guess the only one we had left to pick up was Fulton.
"Hi, lets go," I said quickly. "I'm sick of the false cheeriness in this house," I told her grabbing her hand and headed down the walk with her.
"Things are that bad?" she asked quietly.
"Yes. I can't wait until they tell everyone. At least then we don't have to pretend to be one happy family anymore," I told her.
"Merry Christmas, Guy," Mrs. Averman said cheerfully as Connie and I climbed in.
"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Averman," I said and for the first time today I actually meant it.
We picked up Fulton and then headed over to Coach Bombay's. When we reached Bombay's apartment building we all got out of the van and headed up to Gordon's apartment even Mrs. Averman.
Averman was leading the group up the steps and rang the bell. By the time that the rest of us joined him in the hallway outside of Bombay's apartment Coach Bombay had already answered the door. He ushered us all inside and as we were gathered in the living room chatting Charlie came into the room.
"Come on guys, he's going to hears us," Charlie said quietly as he joined us. All of us quickly got quiet. "Connie did you bring the carol book?"
"I hope she did because I sure don't know any Christmas carols," Goldberg said.
"Yes, its right here," Connie said holding up the small book she had brought from home with the words to the traditional Christmas carols. She handed it over to Goldberg who gratefully took it from her. "I marked the pages with the songs we are planning on signing," she told him.
"Thank-you," Goldberg told her.
It took us a few more minutes to go over the list and order of Christmas carols that we had decided on the night before. We then got organized in some sort of order making sure that Fulton, who wasn't too sure of some of the words, was near Goldberg who had the words. Once we were organized we headed into Adam's room signing We Wish You A Merry Christmas. I was near the front of the line and got to see Adam's reaction as we entered his room.
When he first saw us he looked completely surprised. I think seeing us signing Christmas carols was the last thing that he expected. The surprised was quickly replaced by a smile. Despite the fact that some of us couldn't sing well and Goldberg and Fulton both messed up some of the words to a couple of the songs I think Adam enjoyed it. I know I did. For the first time that day I actually felt the Christmas spirit.
After signing the carols we all gave Adam the cards we had made the night before and said good-bye. After saying good-bye to Charlie, Coach Bombay and Ms. Conway we all headed back outside and piled into the caravan again. Luckily Ms. Averman ended up dropping me off last. I was not looking forward to going back home.
Charlie's POV:
After we said good-bye to the other Ducks, my mom, Coach Bombay and I all headed back into Adam's rooms with the gifts we had for each other. As we were finishing I noticed that Adam tried to hide a yawn but I wasn't the only one who noticed. Bombay noticed too.
"Okay, I think its time to let Adam get some sleep," Coach Bombay said standing up.
"Merry Christmas, Adam," my mom said one more time as she picked up her things and left the room.
"I'll call you tomorrow," I told Adam as I followed her out with Bombay close behind me. As we left the room Bombay turned the light off.
The three of us talked for a little while longer in the living room before my mom and I finally left and headed home. I had to admit that I was starting to feel a little tired myself. Without a doubt this had ended up being the best Christmas that I could imagine even with the things that were going wrong around me maybe even in spite of it.
Charlie's POV:
"Charlie, are you ready," came my mom's call. I was still in my room trying to figure out how to fit the gifts we had for Coach Bombay and Adam into a bag so that I could help my mom carry some of the other stuff we were taking over to Bombay's.
"Be right there," I called back as I put the last package on top. I picked up the bag and headed out of my room to the kitchen.
My mom handed me some stuff and then grabbed the ham herself and we headed out to the car. The drive over to Coach Bombay's place was quiet. I think my mom was worried about how the dinner would go. I knew she wanted everything to be perfect. I, however, had other things on my mind.
I was nervous about seeing Adam. I still wasn't sure what I was going to say to him even though I had gotten plenty of practice of apologizing the past few days. I didn't even know if he would want to see me. The comment about him trying to win his Dad back had been a little over the top. I'm not sure I would've forgiven me if I had been in his place. After all he had defended us all to his Dad. **flashback**
"I'm not going to quit," they had heard Adam telling his Dad from the hallway.
"You don't belong on JV. You're too good for that team of ragtag misfits. You always have been."
"The Ducks are the best team I've ever skated with," Adam had said. "Maybe their families don't have money, prestige or influence but that doesn't matter. They're all good skaters and despite any differences we may have had in the past they're my friends. Better friends than McGill and Larson ever were."
"Don't talk back to me. Your Mom and I have tried to give you and your brother everything. Your brother is grateful, why don't you show a little gratitude. Look, you have a choice - you either quit playing for the Ducks or we'll never speak again."
"You can't mean that," Adam had replied. I could hear the pleading in his voice.
"I do. You don't belong with them. You're better than them and not just at hockey either. I thought you'd realize that yourself so I let you play but I was wrong. I don't want you to throw your life away because of those people. They don't even belong at this school. So what's your decision? Are you going to quit JV?"
I had been standing in the doorway of the common room with the rest of the Ducks by that time. Even so we could barely hear Adam when he replied "I can't". I didn't know about the others but I hadn't expected Adam to say that. After all we had put him through when he had been forced to choose between his dad and us he had chosen the Ducks. **end flashback**
"Earth to Charlie," I heard my mom saying. I came out of the daze I was in and realized that we had arrived at Bombay's place. "Are you okay," my mom asked me.
"Yeah, I'm fine," I told her quickly.
I helped her get the stuff out of the car and headed toward the building. Coach Bombay was already downstairs and held the front door of the building open for us which was a good thing because I don't think either my mom or I could've opened it. After we were inside Bombay took some of the stuff from us and the three of us headed up the stairs to Bombay's apartment.
"Adam was in his room reading a few minutes ago Charlie if you want to go see him," Bombay told me as we sat the stuff down in the kitchen. I just nodded. I wasn't sure what to say. I wasn't sure if I was ready to go face Adam but I found myself heading for his room anyway.
"Come in," I heard Adam call in reply to my knock on his door.
Taking a deep breath I slowly opened the door and stepped inside. Adam was leaning up against the head rest of the bed with a book in his hand. Despite spending the last couple of days in bed he still looked worn out and even from where I was at I could see the two lumps on the side of his nect from the glands that were swollen.
"Charlie," Adam said closing the book he had and placing it on the bedside table. He actually sounded surprised to even see me.
"Hi Adam," I said. I couldn't bring myself to say anything else. I didn't know what to say. Everything I thought of seemed inadequate. Maybe I should've just called instead of waiting to see him to apologize. Adam ended up speaking again before I did.
"Look Charlie," he said, " I didn't mean to take you out in that game. It was an accident. I really did trip and take us both out. I would never ...."
"Adam I believe you," I said interrupting him. It was just like Adam to be apologizing when he never did do anything wrong. "I never should've said the things I did the other day. I know you'd never take anyone out like that on purpose but I was angry about other things and I took it out on you. I'm sorry," I told him and then waited for him to tell me he wasn't going to accept my apology. That I had gone to far this time and he never wanted to see me again. I certainly couldn't blame him.
Adam's POV:
"I'm sorry," I heard Charlie say quietly and then he was quiet. Suddenly I wasn't sure if I was ready to forgive him. His words at the pond the other day had really hurt and yet I knew I couldn't lose Charlie's friendship. If I did my relationship with the other Ducks just wouldn't be the same. I couldn't forget that at my first game with the Ducks it was Charlie who was willing to accept me right from the beginning. At the Junior Goodwill Games it had been Charlie who had given up his spot on the team so I could play in the final game. And after my recent injury it was Charlie who had been there for me through everything.
"Apology accepted," I told him. I debated whether or not I should say what I really wanted to say. Maybe things would be better off if I just let things go with what had already been said but I couldn't. "Charlie, if I had known this arrangement was going to cause problems I wouldn't have agreed to it. Its just seemed like a good solution at the time but maybe it wasn't," I told him but even as I said it I knew I couldn't go home. Maybe my grandparents on my mom's side wouldn't mind taking me in.
"Nonsense," Charlie told me coming further into the room and sitting down on the edge of my bed. "I wasn't thinking when I said those things to you. I guess I was jealous."
Charlie didn't have to say what he was jealous about. All of us Ducks knew that Charlie saw Coach Bombay as the father he never had. That was why he had such a hard time accepting O'rion as a new coach.
"I'm not trying to come in between you and Coach Bombay," I told Charlie. "I couldn't even if I wanted too. You and Bombay have a special relationship and nothing is going to change that."
Charlie just nodded. I don't think that either of us knew what to say after that. Luckily Gordon and Ms. Conway came in the room at that point with our dinners. Charlie and I ended up eating dinner in my room together while Gordon and Ms. Conway ate in the kitchen.
We were just finishing eating when I heard the doorbell ring. I saw a smile come to Charlie's face and I knew that he was in on something but I had no idea what. I heard voices out in the living room but I couldn't tell who it was or what was being said.
"I'll be right back," Charlie said getting up and leaving the room and leaving me wondering what was going on.
Guy's POV:
When Connie rang the doorbell at my house on Christmas Day I jumped out of my chair in the kitchen ready to escape my house. I was sick of everyone pretending that things were perfect and I was sick of pretending I was happy. I was miserable. I was starting to wish that my parents had already gotten a divorce.
"See you all later," I told my family grabbing my jacket as I hurried to the door and opened it.
"Hi," Connie said cheerfully. At the end of the driveway I could see Averman and Goldberg waiting in the Averman's caravan. Mrs. Averman was helping out by driving us over to Bombay's place. I guess the only one we had left to pick up was Fulton.
"Hi, lets go," I said quickly. "I'm sick of the false cheeriness in this house," I told her grabbing her hand and headed down the walk with her.
"Things are that bad?" she asked quietly.
"Yes. I can't wait until they tell everyone. At least then we don't have to pretend to be one happy family anymore," I told her.
"Merry Christmas, Guy," Mrs. Averman said cheerfully as Connie and I climbed in.
"Merry Christmas, Mrs. Averman," I said and for the first time today I actually meant it.
We picked up Fulton and then headed over to Coach Bombay's. When we reached Bombay's apartment building we all got out of the van and headed up to Gordon's apartment even Mrs. Averman.
Averman was leading the group up the steps and rang the bell. By the time that the rest of us joined him in the hallway outside of Bombay's apartment Coach Bombay had already answered the door. He ushered us all inside and as we were gathered in the living room chatting Charlie came into the room.
"Come on guys, he's going to hears us," Charlie said quietly as he joined us. All of us quickly got quiet. "Connie did you bring the carol book?"
"I hope she did because I sure don't know any Christmas carols," Goldberg said.
"Yes, its right here," Connie said holding up the small book she had brought from home with the words to the traditional Christmas carols. She handed it over to Goldberg who gratefully took it from her. "I marked the pages with the songs we are planning on signing," she told him.
"Thank-you," Goldberg told her.
It took us a few more minutes to go over the list and order of Christmas carols that we had decided on the night before. We then got organized in some sort of order making sure that Fulton, who wasn't too sure of some of the words, was near Goldberg who had the words. Once we were organized we headed into Adam's room signing We Wish You A Merry Christmas. I was near the front of the line and got to see Adam's reaction as we entered his room.
When he first saw us he looked completely surprised. I think seeing us signing Christmas carols was the last thing that he expected. The surprised was quickly replaced by a smile. Despite the fact that some of us couldn't sing well and Goldberg and Fulton both messed up some of the words to a couple of the songs I think Adam enjoyed it. I know I did. For the first time that day I actually felt the Christmas spirit.
After signing the carols we all gave Adam the cards we had made the night before and said good-bye. After saying good-bye to Charlie, Coach Bombay and Ms. Conway we all headed back outside and piled into the caravan again. Luckily Ms. Averman ended up dropping me off last. I was not looking forward to going back home.
Charlie's POV:
After we said good-bye to the other Ducks, my mom, Coach Bombay and I all headed back into Adam's rooms with the gifts we had for each other. As we were finishing I noticed that Adam tried to hide a yawn but I wasn't the only one who noticed. Bombay noticed too.
"Okay, I think its time to let Adam get some sleep," Coach Bombay said standing up.
"Merry Christmas, Adam," my mom said one more time as she picked up her things and left the room.
"I'll call you tomorrow," I told Adam as I followed her out with Bombay close behind me. As we left the room Bombay turned the light off.
The three of us talked for a little while longer in the living room before my mom and I finally left and headed home. I had to admit that I was starting to feel a little tired myself. Without a doubt this had ended up being the best Christmas that I could imagine even with the things that were going wrong around me maybe even in spite of it.