I tapped my foot impatiently. I had talked to the team and they were
totally ok with me bringing Josie along with us. I figured that they knew
she meant a lot to me, and the fact that if she came they might get
something she had been preparing. I looked over at Portman who was drumming
on the steering wheel of his car half listening to Fulton and Russ talking
about who knows what. I shook my head. Where was she?
I knocked on the car window and Fulton rolled it down. "I'm going to look for her at her dorm really quickly. If I can't find her we'll leave without her."
Portman nodded and turned off the car. I ran towards her building following a group of girls up the stairs. I climbed up the first flight of stairs and walked down the hall to her room and knocked loudly on the door. It whipped open in front of me quite unexpectedly "Adam!" She squeaked slamming the door in my face. Wow, she slams a door in my face twice in one day.
I pounded on the door. "Josie! Open up! I know you're in there."
She opened the door again more slowly and grabbed my hand pulled me into the room. She smiled at me and wrapped her arm around my waist. "Adam! Hey sweetie!"
I stared at her confused. "Sweetie?"
"Adam, you've met my father am I correct?" She replied through gritted teeth and motioning across the room.
My eyes darted across the room to see her father standing there frowning with a very clean-cut teenage boy to his left looking extremely confused. Now, when I say clean cut, I don't mean like me, wearing one of my famous polo shirts. I mean a collared shirt, tie and a sports jacket. He looked like he was going on an interview, or to a very important dinner. "Hi, Mr. Best." I stuttered out nervously eying the boy beside him.
Josie father coughed. "Actually that's Doctor Best. And you would be?"
Josie wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed herself really close to me. "Adam Banks, my . . . uh . . . boyfriend." She looked over at me quickly. "Right sweetie?"
I swallowed nervously wrapped my arms around her waist. "Of course?"
Josie nodded pulled away from me quickly. "So, father, I would love to say and chat with William here, but Adam just helped his hockey team win his game yesterday and I promised I would be his date to the celebration. Right Adam?"
I nodded quickly. "Yeah. Right. You have your skates right?"
Josie nodded and grabbed them from beside her bed and a coat. "You can let yourself out right dad? Adam can't be late."
Her father nodded, his face getting redder by the second. He glared at me for a few seconds. "Have fun Jo-Jo."
Josie nodded. "We will." She leaned over to me and kissed my lips lightly. "I'll talk to you later father." She grabbed my hand and pulled me, half dazed, out of the door, and closing it behind her and pulling me down the hall quickly.
"You . . . kissed me."
She nodded. "Come on. I'll tell you what happened in the car." She looked behind her and slowed to an even pace.
"Joslyn! Wait!"
Josie stopped immediately turning toward her father's voice.
"I just wanted to ask. . . Adam, was it? . . . something." Her father said staring me in the eye. "You wouldn't happen to be the son of Phil Banks from Edina, would you?"
My stomach dropped as I nodded silently.
A knowing smirk crept across Dr. Best's face. "I'll be seeing you next week for your physical. I'll have to call your father. He will be quite pleased. I knew him in college."
My jaw dropped as he walked away. Josie's dad, was my new family doctor? Worse, he knew my father, personally.
~*~
By the time we got out to the car where Portman, Fulton and Russ were sitting, Josie and I were having a shouting match, again.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me!" She screamed at me as she stomped ahead of me.
My jaw dropped. "I didn't know! What you think I'm GLAD your dad is my doctor?"
She spun around to yell at me again but instead her eyes widened. She stepped towards me and squeezed me tight. "I'm sorry Hun!" She rested her chin on my shoulder. "My father is behind you walking out of the building. I want you to say you're sorry and then kiss me."
"No." I stated plainly. "Rule one: No forcing people to do things they don't want to do."
"Adam! Please. Just say you're sorry and kiss me please! I'm begging, ok, I'm begging!"
I shook my head still holding her tight. "No. You made the rules, now you have to live by them."
She scoffed. "Ok, fine no more rules. Now say it and kiss me please!"
"Thank you." I whispered back. "It's ok, I'm sorry too." I said dramatically and wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her passionately.
She pulled away from me gracefully and looked over my shoulder. "Bye Daddy!" She called to him and pulled me toward the car and sliding in beside Russ.
I sat down beside her with a thump and glared at all three guys who were staring at us. "Portman, drive."
He nodded and turned the key, making the engine roar to life and began to drive out of the Eden Hall gates.
"I told you to kiss me, not to smother me." she said looking away from me.
I looked out my own window. "Well you kissed me in your room, I'd say you were crossing the lines of friendship there Jose."
"Oh, please. You have no idea what you're talking about. You were outside my room and I needed a way to get out of the situation I was in. I would have kissed Fulton if he was standing outside of my room at the time." She shot a glare over my way. "Maybe I should, seeing you already think I have."
Fulton spun around in his seat. "Please, don't drag me into your fight."
We both ignored him. "Is that what you want to do? Kiss every guy on the campus? Go ahead! Start with Fulton! You have already gotten me done and over with! Probably that guy who was in your room too."
She locked eyes with me. "Adam, you are completely psychotic and I can't believe I agreed to come with you."
"I'm psychotic! Me?" I yelled at her. "Well look at you. You are just come cliché rebel-without-a-cause chick who is disobeying her father just for the hell of it and using people along the way just to make him angry! You are just upset that he actually approves of me!"
"Approves of you!" She screeched at me. "He probably thinks you are the biggest freak because you look like Peter! He is probably filing for a restraining order right now!"
Portman pulled over jerking everyone in the car. "Ok! No more! Russ, you're up in the front with me. Fulton you're in the back with the bickering couple. I am giving you the power to hurting anyone who thinks of arguing with someone else."
Everyone switched seats, now Fulton was in squeezed in between us tightly.
Josie glared at me and I glared at her. How I hated her at the moment. How I hated the fact that I loved her.
She finally spoke up. "You don't know what happened in there Adam. You only caught the ass end of it."
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."
I heard her sigh. "I changed and was just about to leave when my dad came in with William. He's like the son of his best friend. Our families supposedly have gone back generations and my dad has constantly been trying to get me to go out with him, but he isn't my type and is a complete 'Ritchie Rich' wannabe."
"Oh you mean you type is more like Fulton then."
Fulton glared at me. "Mention my name again and you're manly parts are the puck."
I swallowed nervously and nodded.
Josie continued after a beat. "Well, that's what my dad was trying to do, set me up with William, again. You see he figure skates and his partner quit not too long ago. I just really don't want to be around him. I'm sorry, but you were the closest thing to an escape and I'm sorry for using you." She sighed. "You see I told you. Every time we get close we fight. This is your fault."
I scoffed. "Yes, let's just blame Adam and have a little Josie pity party. Boo-hoo. Fine you don't want to be around me. That's fine with me."
"Oh go to hell Adam!" She scoffed looking out the window.
I glared past Fulton. "Ladies first."
~*~
Josie and I got out of the car in sync, slamming the doors behind us trapping Fulton in the car. Josie and I walked together walking faster and faster to the pond.
"You aren't going to talk to me at all?" I asked bitterly.
She stared straight ahead. "Nope."
"Great."
"Good."
We stopped at the bank of the pond staring out into the game. The game came to a stop everyone crowding around me and Josie.
I hadn't seen Jesse and Terry in a while. It was good to see them, weird, but good.
"Cake-eater. Who's your new girl?" Jesse asked winking. I opened my mouth to say something in response but was quickly interrupted.
"Please. As if he could get one." Josie said glaring at me and stomping over to the bench, untying her boots and slipping on her pure white skates.
"Whoa! Real ladies' men aren't you?" Karp said making a face.
Averman tapped me on the shoulder. "She isn't going to threaten me again is she?"
I shrugged and walked over to where Josie was and took my shoes off shoving my feet into my skates. "Can we at least be civil while we're here?"
She shrugged. "Sure." She looked over at me quickly. "Is the ice thick enough on the pond right now?"
I nodded. "Yeah. We've been skating on the ice since we were little."
She sighed and got up. "Oh. What a pity."
I frowned and got up and skated over to the guys close to Josie. "Guys this is Josie." I looked over at Josie. "Josie, you know the guys from Eden Hall, the rest are Jesse, Terry, Tammy, Tommy, Karp and Peter."
I noticed Josie's eyes flash as they settled on Peter and looked over at me quickly and skated away without a word.
Peter skated over to me and frowned as he watched her step onto the snowy banks and reach into the car for her camera. "She's a real polite one, ain't she?"
I sighed. "Bad mood. She'll warm up to you guys in a few minutes."
Peter nodded. "She looked at me funny. What's up with her?"
I looked down at him. He was still short, but had grown a lot since last I seen him. "It's not you in particular, it's your name."
Peter blinked. "My name? What's wrong with my name?"
"Nothing. She might tell you, I don't know."
Peter nodded and we skated off toward the group near the center of the ice, where Charlie was separating everyone into teams.
"Ok, Terry, Tommy, Kenny, Fulton, Connie, Julie, Averman and Mendoza are with me. Russ, Jesse, Karp, Portman, Guy, Goldberg and Peter are with Banksie. Dwayne. . ." He said patting Dwayne's shoulder; "will be playing the role of ref."
Dwayne grinned and pulled his lasso from behind his back. "So if ya'll break the rules, I'm gunna rope ya up faster than you can say yee-haw!"
I noticed Connie grab Julie and Tammy's hands and smile innocently. "But first a break!"
The guys frowned at the girls who quickly made their way over to Josie who was focusing her camera.
~Josie's POV~
I frowned as I realized Connie and a pair of other girls, Julie being one who is in my science class, the other; I think her name started with a T, her brother used to be on the team also, were skating towards me. I inwardly sighed and sat my camera on my lap.
"Josie!" Connie squealed collapsing beside me with a thump. "You know Jules and Tammy right?"
I nodded and forced at quick smile at both girls. Tammy seemed to stare me down; it seemed to me that she was only there because she was a girl and not because she wanted to.
Julie grabbed my hand quickly and grinned. "You and Adam are so cute that I could hurl!"
I rolled my eyes. "Say that again and I WILL hurl."
Connie sighed. "You obviously like him and he obviously likes you, why aren't you together?"
I rolled my eyes again. "Shouldn't you guys be playing hockey? I'm sure the guys aren't going to be too pleased that you're holding them up."
Tammy nodded. "Yeah come on. Let's go, she obviously doesn't want to talk to us."
I frowned. "I didn't say that."
Tammy tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Well that's what it sounded like."
Julie brushed it off and continued. "We'll play hockey as soon as you answer the question. How come you and Adam aren't together?"
"I'm not saying that I don't like Adam, because I do." I said exasperated. "It's just that whenever we even get the littlest bit close, something happens and we fight like cats and dogs. I think it's because we're too different."
Tammy got up off the bench and put her hands on her hips. "Come on, I can't be late for my ice time. I need to get this done and over with."
I looked down at her skates and realized they were white skates. "You figure skate?"
She nodded. "Yeah, so?"
I shrugged. "I did too."
She shrugged and blinked. "Wonderful. Come on!" She grabbed Connie's wrist and pulled her back towards the group.
Julie got up on her own free will and smiled at me. "I used to have the biggest crush on Banksie, during the Goodwill Games and for a while I thought he liked me." She smirked and looked over at Banks. "But he never looked at me like the way he looked at you."
I scoffed. "And that would be the murder in his eyes."
Julie laughed at my joke. "No. He looks at you as if you were an angel or something. I think that's how every guy should look at the girl he likes that way. But that's my opinion."
I blinked at her nervously as she skated away and my gaze fell on Adam as he skated around the nets that had been set up. Our eyes locked for a second and were quickly cast away. Does he really look at me like that?
~Adam's POV~
I skated over to Julie's net as she approached from speaking to Josie. Connie and Tammy were tight lipped on what they were talking about. Julie and I were fairly close so maybe she would tell me.
"Hey Jules."
Julie laughed a little as she straightened her pads. "Yes Adam?"
I smiled innocently. "What were you talking about with Josie?"
She laughed again. "Connie and Tammy wouldn't tell you?"
"No." I admitted blushing, looking over at Josie who had gotten up to skate around and take some pictures of the original Ducks she didn't have pictures of.
"Well then why should I tell you?" Julie asked patting my shoulder smirking.
I smiled widely. "Because you're nice."
Julie rolled her eyes. "Charlie!! Adam is trying to bribe me into letting all the shots in!"
I quickly skated away scowling. "I take that back!"
~*~
About a half hour later, Dwayne actually lived up to his promise of 'roping up' anyone who broke 'his' rules. Karp was already lying in the snow with his arms and legs tied together rolling around trying his best to become untied, unsuccessfully. His yells were heard in the back round as we all took a rest.
Josie giggled as she snapped a picture and skated away quickly over to me. Her face lit up with glee. "That is going to be an amazing shot."
I nodded looking over at Karp who was becoming red in the face. "Do you want to show the team the book?"
She immediately shook her head. "I don't think so. It would be too weird. I think you should."
I blinked at her amazed. "But it's yours."
"But I don't know them, you do." She smiled. "Take my camera ok?" She took it off her neck and put it around mine. "I want to actually skate now."
I watched her as she turned backwards and sped around the ice like a bullet from a gun. Her eyes shimmered as leaned on her edges and stretched her arms quickly.
I shook my head as I skated over to the rest of the Ducks who were dead tired lying in the snow pointing and laughed (jokingly) at Karp who was beginning to mutter obscurities under his huffs and puffs. The snow crunched under my weight as I collapsed beside Charlie and Jesse who had taken off their gloves and were answering their inner child by having thumb wars, full contact though.
Jesse looked up from his thumb for a second. "That girl and you seem happier." He stated punching Charlie's shoulder.
Charlie hit him back. "Yeah, did you and Josie work something out?"
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah basically I stay out of her way and don't speak unless I'm spoken too."
Charlie scoffed, as he concentrated on pinning Jesse's thumb down but was quickly interrupted by a burst of snow covering him.
"Immature much?" Josie asked laughing as Charlie scowled at her after he lost to Jesse. She quickly looked over at me. "Camera."
I nodded and handed it to her. She smiled and winked at Jesse and skated off.
Jesse laughed. "She's cute." He looked over at me and smiled. "You have good taste Cake-eater."
I narrowed my eyes at him and looked over at Josie who was taking a picture of Tommy and Tammy who were in the middle of a sibling rivalry. I don't think Jesse and Terry have ever gone through that, well as long as I've known them. They always seemed to get along really well. I'm sure that they have had their moments, like when Terry found out he was only a few months too young to be in the Goodwill Games. He was fuming. However, he still called Jesse every night to either congratulate him on a win or to chew him out over a loss. They seemed really close.
"Hey, what's up with Josie and Peter?" Jesse asked pointing over at Josie, popping me out of my little burst of thoughts. "She looks at him funny then as soon as he looks at her she looks away."
"Long story." I stated sighing.
Jesse shrugged. "I got time."
I bit the inside of my mouth hard. "I don't know if it's my place to say."
"You're with the Ducks not your dad. Spit it out." Jesse laughed.
I glanced over at Josie who was focusing her camera at Peter who was tossing a snowball at Terry. "You saw how she skated right?"
Jesse nodded. "She plays hockey?"
I shook my head. "Figure skates, well used to." I paused a little bit swallowing the nervous lump in my throat. "She used to skate pairs, her partner was named Peter and he died in some freak accident on the way to a competition." I licked my lips nervously. "I looked it up in public records a while back. The police thought the car hit black ice spun out of control hit the center barrier flipped once and landed upside down into oncoming traffic."
Jesse's eyes widened quickly. "Damn. So that why she's a little weird around him."
"And me. I saw a picture of him. I kind of look like him."
Charlie nodded after staying silent for a few moments. "Like evil twin scary."
Jesse's eyes widened again. "Damn dude! That's weird."
I nodded ignoring them discuss how weird it was. Instead I focused on Peter and Josie who were a few feet away. I couldn't help thinking of my dream. Peter's arms around Josie's waist; the way he kissed her cheek; the way she looked after he kissed her cheek. I knew today was the first day they had actually met but I couldn't help but play it over in my mind. *We found our match.* Those words really bothered me, especially as Peter skated over to Josie and wrapping his arms around her tightly, her lips finding his. . .
I blinked rapidly. No he wasn't! He was hiding behind the bench because Terry, Averman, Goldberg and newly released Karp were ganging up on him with snowballs in hand and Josie. . . where was Josie?
"Get your camera out of my face!" I heard Tammy yell from the ice.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and filed onto the ice quietly, trying not to disturb Tammy and Josie who were beginning to go around in a circle, measuring each other up, both their eyes flashing in anger.
"Well I'm sorry, but all the pictures I get of you are with scowls on your face and I don't want them!" Josie retorted.
Tammy took a breath. "Well maybe you should warn people!"
Josie stopped and licked her lips. "I only use candid pictures. Maybe you should lighten up!"
I stopped beside Josie and Tommy stopped beside his sister. "Jose, some on leave her be."
"Tammy, it's no big deal they are just pictures." Tommy explained quietly to his sister who completely ignored him, her eyes locked on Josie's.
Tammy looked her up and down. "What is she doing here anyways? She isn't even a Duck. She doesn't even play hockey."
I saw Josie's eyes dim for a second as she reached into her bag that was strapped over her shoulder. She took out the book she had shown me in the dark room and threw it at Tammy's feet. "Take this. I'm through with this." She looked over at me her hazel eyes still flashing, reminding me of the first day I saw her in the halls. "Move." She uttered forcefully causing me and the rest of the team to get out of her way.
Charlie was the first to move. "That's me." He whispered picking the book off the ice and looking at the first page. His fingers traveled over his picture. He looked up at me as the rest of the team filed behind him and looked over his shoulder. "She made this for us?"
I nodded silently as Charlie closed the book and stared at the cover.
"Ducks Fly Together." He whispered looking down at it. "Jo_" He started to yell looking over at the bench, only to find that she had already left.
I slid to the bench and took off my skates and shoved on my shoes. I had to find Josie.
~
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~ A/N: Ok, well I was planning on more Tammy, but . . . I realized that most of you (being the readers) wouldn't understand the figure skating mumbo jumbo I was babbling on about, you see I was planning on have a 'skate-off' sort of thing, but really if you think about it, it would be really corny and it would be like. . . ok. . . but why? So it was cut. *grins* I'm in a good mood, I finished my history project that I had to tape, even though my camera was broken. So I might start writing even more so. . . *shrugs* we'll see.
REVIEW!
~Toodles~
I knocked on the car window and Fulton rolled it down. "I'm going to look for her at her dorm really quickly. If I can't find her we'll leave without her."
Portman nodded and turned off the car. I ran towards her building following a group of girls up the stairs. I climbed up the first flight of stairs and walked down the hall to her room and knocked loudly on the door. It whipped open in front of me quite unexpectedly "Adam!" She squeaked slamming the door in my face. Wow, she slams a door in my face twice in one day.
I pounded on the door. "Josie! Open up! I know you're in there."
She opened the door again more slowly and grabbed my hand pulled me into the room. She smiled at me and wrapped her arm around my waist. "Adam! Hey sweetie!"
I stared at her confused. "Sweetie?"
"Adam, you've met my father am I correct?" She replied through gritted teeth and motioning across the room.
My eyes darted across the room to see her father standing there frowning with a very clean-cut teenage boy to his left looking extremely confused. Now, when I say clean cut, I don't mean like me, wearing one of my famous polo shirts. I mean a collared shirt, tie and a sports jacket. He looked like he was going on an interview, or to a very important dinner. "Hi, Mr. Best." I stuttered out nervously eying the boy beside him.
Josie father coughed. "Actually that's Doctor Best. And you would be?"
Josie wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed herself really close to me. "Adam Banks, my . . . uh . . . boyfriend." She looked over at me quickly. "Right sweetie?"
I swallowed nervously wrapped my arms around her waist. "Of course?"
Josie nodded pulled away from me quickly. "So, father, I would love to say and chat with William here, but Adam just helped his hockey team win his game yesterday and I promised I would be his date to the celebration. Right Adam?"
I nodded quickly. "Yeah. Right. You have your skates right?"
Josie nodded and grabbed them from beside her bed and a coat. "You can let yourself out right dad? Adam can't be late."
Her father nodded, his face getting redder by the second. He glared at me for a few seconds. "Have fun Jo-Jo."
Josie nodded. "We will." She leaned over to me and kissed my lips lightly. "I'll talk to you later father." She grabbed my hand and pulled me, half dazed, out of the door, and closing it behind her and pulling me down the hall quickly.
"You . . . kissed me."
She nodded. "Come on. I'll tell you what happened in the car." She looked behind her and slowed to an even pace.
"Joslyn! Wait!"
Josie stopped immediately turning toward her father's voice.
"I just wanted to ask. . . Adam, was it? . . . something." Her father said staring me in the eye. "You wouldn't happen to be the son of Phil Banks from Edina, would you?"
My stomach dropped as I nodded silently.
A knowing smirk crept across Dr. Best's face. "I'll be seeing you next week for your physical. I'll have to call your father. He will be quite pleased. I knew him in college."
My jaw dropped as he walked away. Josie's dad, was my new family doctor? Worse, he knew my father, personally.
~*~
By the time we got out to the car where Portman, Fulton and Russ were sitting, Josie and I were having a shouting match, again.
"I can't believe you didn't tell me!" She screamed at me as she stomped ahead of me.
My jaw dropped. "I didn't know! What you think I'm GLAD your dad is my doctor?"
She spun around to yell at me again but instead her eyes widened. She stepped towards me and squeezed me tight. "I'm sorry Hun!" She rested her chin on my shoulder. "My father is behind you walking out of the building. I want you to say you're sorry and then kiss me."
"No." I stated plainly. "Rule one: No forcing people to do things they don't want to do."
"Adam! Please. Just say you're sorry and kiss me please! I'm begging, ok, I'm begging!"
I shook my head still holding her tight. "No. You made the rules, now you have to live by them."
She scoffed. "Ok, fine no more rules. Now say it and kiss me please!"
"Thank you." I whispered back. "It's ok, I'm sorry too." I said dramatically and wrapping my arms around her waist and kissing her passionately.
She pulled away from me gracefully and looked over my shoulder. "Bye Daddy!" She called to him and pulled me toward the car and sliding in beside Russ.
I sat down beside her with a thump and glared at all three guys who were staring at us. "Portman, drive."
He nodded and turned the key, making the engine roar to life and began to drive out of the Eden Hall gates.
"I told you to kiss me, not to smother me." she said looking away from me.
I looked out my own window. "Well you kissed me in your room, I'd say you were crossing the lines of friendship there Jose."
"Oh, please. You have no idea what you're talking about. You were outside my room and I needed a way to get out of the situation I was in. I would have kissed Fulton if he was standing outside of my room at the time." She shot a glare over my way. "Maybe I should, seeing you already think I have."
Fulton spun around in his seat. "Please, don't drag me into your fight."
We both ignored him. "Is that what you want to do? Kiss every guy on the campus? Go ahead! Start with Fulton! You have already gotten me done and over with! Probably that guy who was in your room too."
She locked eyes with me. "Adam, you are completely psychotic and I can't believe I agreed to come with you."
"I'm psychotic! Me?" I yelled at her. "Well look at you. You are just come cliché rebel-without-a-cause chick who is disobeying her father just for the hell of it and using people along the way just to make him angry! You are just upset that he actually approves of me!"
"Approves of you!" She screeched at me. "He probably thinks you are the biggest freak because you look like Peter! He is probably filing for a restraining order right now!"
Portman pulled over jerking everyone in the car. "Ok! No more! Russ, you're up in the front with me. Fulton you're in the back with the bickering couple. I am giving you the power to hurting anyone who thinks of arguing with someone else."
Everyone switched seats, now Fulton was in squeezed in between us tightly.
Josie glared at me and I glared at her. How I hated her at the moment. How I hated the fact that I loved her.
She finally spoke up. "You don't know what happened in there Adam. You only caught the ass end of it."
I rolled my eyes. "Whatever."
I heard her sigh. "I changed and was just about to leave when my dad came in with William. He's like the son of his best friend. Our families supposedly have gone back generations and my dad has constantly been trying to get me to go out with him, but he isn't my type and is a complete 'Ritchie Rich' wannabe."
"Oh you mean you type is more like Fulton then."
Fulton glared at me. "Mention my name again and you're manly parts are the puck."
I swallowed nervously and nodded.
Josie continued after a beat. "Well, that's what my dad was trying to do, set me up with William, again. You see he figure skates and his partner quit not too long ago. I just really don't want to be around him. I'm sorry, but you were the closest thing to an escape and I'm sorry for using you." She sighed. "You see I told you. Every time we get close we fight. This is your fault."
I scoffed. "Yes, let's just blame Adam and have a little Josie pity party. Boo-hoo. Fine you don't want to be around me. That's fine with me."
"Oh go to hell Adam!" She scoffed looking out the window.
I glared past Fulton. "Ladies first."
~*~
Josie and I got out of the car in sync, slamming the doors behind us trapping Fulton in the car. Josie and I walked together walking faster and faster to the pond.
"You aren't going to talk to me at all?" I asked bitterly.
She stared straight ahead. "Nope."
"Great."
"Good."
We stopped at the bank of the pond staring out into the game. The game came to a stop everyone crowding around me and Josie.
I hadn't seen Jesse and Terry in a while. It was good to see them, weird, but good.
"Cake-eater. Who's your new girl?" Jesse asked winking. I opened my mouth to say something in response but was quickly interrupted.
"Please. As if he could get one." Josie said glaring at me and stomping over to the bench, untying her boots and slipping on her pure white skates.
"Whoa! Real ladies' men aren't you?" Karp said making a face.
Averman tapped me on the shoulder. "She isn't going to threaten me again is she?"
I shrugged and walked over to where Josie was and took my shoes off shoving my feet into my skates. "Can we at least be civil while we're here?"
She shrugged. "Sure." She looked over at me quickly. "Is the ice thick enough on the pond right now?"
I nodded. "Yeah. We've been skating on the ice since we were little."
She sighed and got up. "Oh. What a pity."
I frowned and got up and skated over to the guys close to Josie. "Guys this is Josie." I looked over at Josie. "Josie, you know the guys from Eden Hall, the rest are Jesse, Terry, Tammy, Tommy, Karp and Peter."
I noticed Josie's eyes flash as they settled on Peter and looked over at me quickly and skated away without a word.
Peter skated over to me and frowned as he watched her step onto the snowy banks and reach into the car for her camera. "She's a real polite one, ain't she?"
I sighed. "Bad mood. She'll warm up to you guys in a few minutes."
Peter nodded. "She looked at me funny. What's up with her?"
I looked down at him. He was still short, but had grown a lot since last I seen him. "It's not you in particular, it's your name."
Peter blinked. "My name? What's wrong with my name?"
"Nothing. She might tell you, I don't know."
Peter nodded and we skated off toward the group near the center of the ice, where Charlie was separating everyone into teams.
"Ok, Terry, Tommy, Kenny, Fulton, Connie, Julie, Averman and Mendoza are with me. Russ, Jesse, Karp, Portman, Guy, Goldberg and Peter are with Banksie. Dwayne. . ." He said patting Dwayne's shoulder; "will be playing the role of ref."
Dwayne grinned and pulled his lasso from behind his back. "So if ya'll break the rules, I'm gunna rope ya up faster than you can say yee-haw!"
I noticed Connie grab Julie and Tammy's hands and smile innocently. "But first a break!"
The guys frowned at the girls who quickly made their way over to Josie who was focusing her camera.
~Josie's POV~
I frowned as I realized Connie and a pair of other girls, Julie being one who is in my science class, the other; I think her name started with a T, her brother used to be on the team also, were skating towards me. I inwardly sighed and sat my camera on my lap.
"Josie!" Connie squealed collapsing beside me with a thump. "You know Jules and Tammy right?"
I nodded and forced at quick smile at both girls. Tammy seemed to stare me down; it seemed to me that she was only there because she was a girl and not because she wanted to.
Julie grabbed my hand quickly and grinned. "You and Adam are so cute that I could hurl!"
I rolled my eyes. "Say that again and I WILL hurl."
Connie sighed. "You obviously like him and he obviously likes you, why aren't you together?"
I rolled my eyes again. "Shouldn't you guys be playing hockey? I'm sure the guys aren't going to be too pleased that you're holding them up."
Tammy nodded. "Yeah come on. Let's go, she obviously doesn't want to talk to us."
I frowned. "I didn't say that."
Tammy tossed her hair over her shoulder. "Well that's what it sounded like."
Julie brushed it off and continued. "We'll play hockey as soon as you answer the question. How come you and Adam aren't together?"
"I'm not saying that I don't like Adam, because I do." I said exasperated. "It's just that whenever we even get the littlest bit close, something happens and we fight like cats and dogs. I think it's because we're too different."
Tammy got up off the bench and put her hands on her hips. "Come on, I can't be late for my ice time. I need to get this done and over with."
I looked down at her skates and realized they were white skates. "You figure skate?"
She nodded. "Yeah, so?"
I shrugged. "I did too."
She shrugged and blinked. "Wonderful. Come on!" She grabbed Connie's wrist and pulled her back towards the group.
Julie got up on her own free will and smiled at me. "I used to have the biggest crush on Banksie, during the Goodwill Games and for a while I thought he liked me." She smirked and looked over at Banks. "But he never looked at me like the way he looked at you."
I scoffed. "And that would be the murder in his eyes."
Julie laughed at my joke. "No. He looks at you as if you were an angel or something. I think that's how every guy should look at the girl he likes that way. But that's my opinion."
I blinked at her nervously as she skated away and my gaze fell on Adam as he skated around the nets that had been set up. Our eyes locked for a second and were quickly cast away. Does he really look at me like that?
~Adam's POV~
I skated over to Julie's net as she approached from speaking to Josie. Connie and Tammy were tight lipped on what they were talking about. Julie and I were fairly close so maybe she would tell me.
"Hey Jules."
Julie laughed a little as she straightened her pads. "Yes Adam?"
I smiled innocently. "What were you talking about with Josie?"
She laughed again. "Connie and Tammy wouldn't tell you?"
"No." I admitted blushing, looking over at Josie who had gotten up to skate around and take some pictures of the original Ducks she didn't have pictures of.
"Well then why should I tell you?" Julie asked patting my shoulder smirking.
I smiled widely. "Because you're nice."
Julie rolled her eyes. "Charlie!! Adam is trying to bribe me into letting all the shots in!"
I quickly skated away scowling. "I take that back!"
~*~
About a half hour later, Dwayne actually lived up to his promise of 'roping up' anyone who broke 'his' rules. Karp was already lying in the snow with his arms and legs tied together rolling around trying his best to become untied, unsuccessfully. His yells were heard in the back round as we all took a rest.
Josie giggled as she snapped a picture and skated away quickly over to me. Her face lit up with glee. "That is going to be an amazing shot."
I nodded looking over at Karp who was becoming red in the face. "Do you want to show the team the book?"
She immediately shook her head. "I don't think so. It would be too weird. I think you should."
I blinked at her amazed. "But it's yours."
"But I don't know them, you do." She smiled. "Take my camera ok?" She took it off her neck and put it around mine. "I want to actually skate now."
I watched her as she turned backwards and sped around the ice like a bullet from a gun. Her eyes shimmered as leaned on her edges and stretched her arms quickly.
I shook my head as I skated over to the rest of the Ducks who were dead tired lying in the snow pointing and laughed (jokingly) at Karp who was beginning to mutter obscurities under his huffs and puffs. The snow crunched under my weight as I collapsed beside Charlie and Jesse who had taken off their gloves and were answering their inner child by having thumb wars, full contact though.
Jesse looked up from his thumb for a second. "That girl and you seem happier." He stated punching Charlie's shoulder.
Charlie hit him back. "Yeah, did you and Josie work something out?"
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah basically I stay out of her way and don't speak unless I'm spoken too."
Charlie scoffed, as he concentrated on pinning Jesse's thumb down but was quickly interrupted by a burst of snow covering him.
"Immature much?" Josie asked laughing as Charlie scowled at her after he lost to Jesse. She quickly looked over at me. "Camera."
I nodded and handed it to her. She smiled and winked at Jesse and skated off.
Jesse laughed. "She's cute." He looked over at me and smiled. "You have good taste Cake-eater."
I narrowed my eyes at him and looked over at Josie who was taking a picture of Tommy and Tammy who were in the middle of a sibling rivalry. I don't think Jesse and Terry have ever gone through that, well as long as I've known them. They always seemed to get along really well. I'm sure that they have had their moments, like when Terry found out he was only a few months too young to be in the Goodwill Games. He was fuming. However, he still called Jesse every night to either congratulate him on a win or to chew him out over a loss. They seemed really close.
"Hey, what's up with Josie and Peter?" Jesse asked pointing over at Josie, popping me out of my little burst of thoughts. "She looks at him funny then as soon as he looks at her she looks away."
"Long story." I stated sighing.
Jesse shrugged. "I got time."
I bit the inside of my mouth hard. "I don't know if it's my place to say."
"You're with the Ducks not your dad. Spit it out." Jesse laughed.
I glanced over at Josie who was focusing her camera at Peter who was tossing a snowball at Terry. "You saw how she skated right?"
Jesse nodded. "She plays hockey?"
I shook my head. "Figure skates, well used to." I paused a little bit swallowing the nervous lump in my throat. "She used to skate pairs, her partner was named Peter and he died in some freak accident on the way to a competition." I licked my lips nervously. "I looked it up in public records a while back. The police thought the car hit black ice spun out of control hit the center barrier flipped once and landed upside down into oncoming traffic."
Jesse's eyes widened quickly. "Damn. So that why she's a little weird around him."
"And me. I saw a picture of him. I kind of look like him."
Charlie nodded after staying silent for a few moments. "Like evil twin scary."
Jesse's eyes widened again. "Damn dude! That's weird."
I nodded ignoring them discuss how weird it was. Instead I focused on Peter and Josie who were a few feet away. I couldn't help thinking of my dream. Peter's arms around Josie's waist; the way he kissed her cheek; the way she looked after he kissed her cheek. I knew today was the first day they had actually met but I couldn't help but play it over in my mind. *We found our match.* Those words really bothered me, especially as Peter skated over to Josie and wrapping his arms around her tightly, her lips finding his. . .
I blinked rapidly. No he wasn't! He was hiding behind the bench because Terry, Averman, Goldberg and newly released Karp were ganging up on him with snowballs in hand and Josie. . . where was Josie?
"Get your camera out of my face!" I heard Tammy yell from the ice.
Everyone stopped what they were doing and filed onto the ice quietly, trying not to disturb Tammy and Josie who were beginning to go around in a circle, measuring each other up, both their eyes flashing in anger.
"Well I'm sorry, but all the pictures I get of you are with scowls on your face and I don't want them!" Josie retorted.
Tammy took a breath. "Well maybe you should warn people!"
Josie stopped and licked her lips. "I only use candid pictures. Maybe you should lighten up!"
I stopped beside Josie and Tommy stopped beside his sister. "Jose, some on leave her be."
"Tammy, it's no big deal they are just pictures." Tommy explained quietly to his sister who completely ignored him, her eyes locked on Josie's.
Tammy looked her up and down. "What is she doing here anyways? She isn't even a Duck. She doesn't even play hockey."
I saw Josie's eyes dim for a second as she reached into her bag that was strapped over her shoulder. She took out the book she had shown me in the dark room and threw it at Tammy's feet. "Take this. I'm through with this." She looked over at me her hazel eyes still flashing, reminding me of the first day I saw her in the halls. "Move." She uttered forcefully causing me and the rest of the team to get out of her way.
Charlie was the first to move. "That's me." He whispered picking the book off the ice and looking at the first page. His fingers traveled over his picture. He looked up at me as the rest of the team filed behind him and looked over his shoulder. "She made this for us?"
I nodded silently as Charlie closed the book and stared at the cover.
"Ducks Fly Together." He whispered looking down at it. "Jo_" He started to yell looking over at the bench, only to find that she had already left.
I slid to the bench and took off my skates and shoved on my shoes. I had to find Josie.
~
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~ A/N: Ok, well I was planning on more Tammy, but . . . I realized that most of you (being the readers) wouldn't understand the figure skating mumbo jumbo I was babbling on about, you see I was planning on have a 'skate-off' sort of thing, but really if you think about it, it would be really corny and it would be like. . . ok. . . but why? So it was cut. *grins* I'm in a good mood, I finished my history project that I had to tape, even though my camera was broken. So I might start writing even more so. . . *shrugs* we'll see.
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~Toodles~