I shook my head as I buttoned up the white shirt that I had over a white cotton undershirt. I was just going to wear a pair of black pants a white shirt, black tie, and then I'm going over to Josie's and get my jacket. I would look ok, besides it was on my way, Charlotte and Josie were in the same building, but Josie was all the way at the end of the hall.

I twist the tie around in the way my father had shown me years before. Hell I learned how to tie a perfect knot on a tie before I could tie my shoes, which was sad and unusual. I sighed as I looked at it hanging around my neck untied. It was one of my few happy memories with my dad.

***

"Daddy!" I grinned as I saw him walking down the hall past my room. I ran past my nanny who was trying, unsuccessfully to clip on my clip-on tie.

My father spun around and walked into my room and picked me up under my armpits and gave me a big squeeze. "How's our favorite 6 year old on his birthday?"

I grinned back as he looked me over carefully dusting off my shoulders, making sure I looked neat and tidy. "Great! Can I get ready with you?" I asked swatting away my nanny's hand that was trying to sneak up on my neck and clip it on without me noticing.

He grinned. "You bet!" He picked me up and put me on his shoulders walking out of my room towards my parent's and past Jacob who was putting on his jacket. He gave him a quick pat on the head and brought me into the washroom and sat me on the countertop.

I smiled as my father loosened off his original work tie and closed the door where my mother had set out the clothes he had sat out this morning, a new white shirt and black tie.

He blinked. "Where's you tie son?" He said slipping both arms into his second shirt and buttoning up the buttons one by one.

"Don't want the clip on tie." I replied rubbing my neck where I had been pinched a few times.

He nodded and stepped out of the washroom for a few minutes. I sat there confused until he came back in. "Well I think it's about time you learned how to tie a real tie son."

I smiled up at him and took the tie in my hands. It was a black one with a little hawk on the end. My brother wore it to the Hawks award party last year. My dad was a Hawk, my brother was a Hawk, my best friends; Ryan Larson and Daniel McGill were going to be Hawks. Now I was going to be a Hawk. I smiled. "I'm going to be just like you."

***

I shivered at the thought and looked around the room. I quickly walked to my closet and pulled out a big box on the floor that was labeled 'books'. I labeled it that so Averman wouldn't go snooping through it, and by the dusty looks of it, it looks like he avoided it completely. I opened the flaps and smiled down at the contents. It was all Hawks memorabilia. I didn't like the Hawks, I didn't like Coach Riley anymore, Ryan and Dan weren't my best friends anymore; but it was still a huge part of my life.

I took a deep breath. Coach Riley made me into the hockey player I was and Ryan and Dan, even though they turned out not to be the greatest friends, taught me what friends were and lastly the Hawks; that team made me love the game, love the feel of a win. I reached into the box and dug through it coming up with what I was looking for. The little black tie, now looked more grey than black, but the little embroidered Hawk on the end still stood out vividly. I closed my eyes in shame. I still had the blood of a Hawk; I still was a Hawk. I was just a Hawk in disguise, hiding in a flock of Ducks.

I laid the tie in the box and pushed the box back into their place and continued to get ready. I tightened my tie up to my neck and smiled at my reflection in the mirror.

"It looks perfect Adam."

I jumped at the voice and spun around. "Dad!" I said looking at him. "Wh- what are you doing here? How did you get in? The door was locked!"

My father smiled. "They gave parents a key to their child's room." His eyes sparkled as he walked toward me and dusted of my shoulders, only having to reach up because I was a bit taller than him. "I knew you would be going to that dance. You look great."

I swallowed as I backed up a little. "Um . . . Thanks."

My father touched the knot of the black tie that hung around my neck. "You do that well. It looks good."

"I had a good teacher." I whispered.

His eyes met mine. "That you did Sport." His said nudging my chin with his fist.

"Adam!! I'm going to be late and I can't. . ." Averman yelped bursting into our room and stopping dead in his tracks as he realized that my father was here. Many a time had Averman burst into the room like this after a game where my father was either congratulating me or chewing me out for something that occurred in the game.

My father turned around and smiled. "Oh it's your roommate Chester, come in Chester."

I shook my head as my father clapped a hand on Averman's shoulder and pulled him in the rest of the way. "It's Lester, dad."

He looked at Averman in the eyes. "Good. Lester is a better name anyways. Chester sounds like a name you would give to a mutt; isn't it Adam?"

I closed my eyes. "Yes Father."

"None of this Father stuff. It's Dad. You make me sound like a drill sergeant." My father, I mean, my dad stated. "Anyways, Lester you seemed panicked."

Averman shook his head, his red curls bobbing around his head and his glasses shaking on the bridge of his nose. He was always terrified of my fath. . . I mean dad. "No, its ok, it'll wait." His voice going up about an octave.

My father slapped him on the back, making his glasses topple of his face which were quickly caught in both hands. "Nonsense Lester. Please, enlighten us."

Averman looked at me nervously; making sure it was ok that he says anything. "Actually it's kind of personal."

My father nodded obliviously. "That's ok Lester. Actually I better be going. You knock 'em dead son!" He said punching my shoulder lightly and quickly stopping. "Wait this isn't hockey, it's a dance. So . . . uh. . . Have fun." He said smiling. "I love you son." He said walking out the door.

I covered my face with both of my hands and shook my head. "That was too weird."

Lester nodded as he pushed his glasses back onto his face. "If you're not on drugs; your dad is." He grimaced. "I haven't heard my full name said so much since . . . ever! They either call me Averman or Les, not 'Lester'."

I nodded and sighed.

"Did he say that he loved you? He usually leaves this room with the ever inspiring words of," He cleared his throat. "It's not worth winning if you don't win big!"

I swallowed nervously. That was the Hawk in my father rearing his ugly head. It was hard to believe that I actually believed in those words once upon a time.

"Do you miss them?"

I jumped and looked over at Averman. "Do I miss who?"

He looked down. "The Hawks. I mean at all. I know it's been a while, but they still were like your best friends, until us."

I shrugged. "Would you?"

He looked down guiltily. "Yeah." He sighed. "Like I wouldn't blame you if you did, and I wouldn't tell the guys or anything. I was just wondering, because you have that big box of Hawk stuff in your closet."

My eyes widened. "What? How did you . . .?"

He shrugged. "Very carefully."

I shook my head and got up. "We should talk about this later."

Averman followed my lead but stopped me. "You need to talk about this."

"I'm not sure."

He blinked. "Well at least try."

I looked down. I hadn't really thought if I had missed them. Like at first I did, but now, I had the Ducks. They replaced them. "Sometimes. It used to be all the time, but not so often anymore. Mainly after my dad says something to me." I shook my head. "But they were my friends like five years ago so, it doesn't matter anymore." I said fixing my sleeve of my shirt and tugging at my collar. "I have to go pick up Charlotte. See you later ok?"

Averman frowned. "Charlotte? You're going with Charlotte?"

"Yes, now if you'll excuse me." I said pushing past him and out the door, beginning the start of my dreaded date.

~*~

I stood in front of room 199 and grimaced. It was Josie's room and I needed my Letterman's jacket. I didn't want to knock, especially if Mendoza was in there. Who knows what their doing in there. I grimaced at the thought and worked up my courage to knock on the door.

The door opened and Josie stood behind the door. "Yes?" She asked uneasily.

I licked my lips nervously. "I need my jacket for the dance." I whispered.

"Oh, could you come back in like five minutes I kind of have to do something." She said closing the door.

"No. I have to go pick up my date." I blurted out. Oops.

Josie looked taken aback. "Oh. I didn't know." She opened the door the rest of the way. She revealed herself as she walked to her closet and opened the double doors. She was wearing a pure white dress, and no shoes. She looked like an angel.

I blinked in amazement staring at her as she pushed her pin straight hair behind her ear.

She grabbed my jacket and looked over at me. "What?"

I blinked rapidly again. "Nothing. You look beautiful."

She shook her head. "Um. . . Thanks. I'm sure my date will think so."

I nodded and closed my eyes and remembered I wasn't it. "Yeah, I'm sure Luis will think so."

"You should go." She whispered. "You still have to pick up your date and I have to finish getting ready."

I nodded and shrugged on my jacket.

"Oh come here." She said walking over to me. "Your collar." She said fixing it and flattening it out. "There."

I swallowed and stared into her wild eyes, as they looked me over once, touching my shoulders carefully.

She took a step back and heaved a sigh. "Your date is really lucky because you look perfect."

I nodded carefully, the awkward aura building up in the room and suffocating us both. "I guess I'll see you in there." I said turning towards the door.

"Yeah." She said quietly as I walked out the door.

That was so hard not to pick her up and forget about this stupid plan. I didn't want to do this anymore. I looked back at the door and began walking down the hall past all the other guys who were picking up their dates. Room 115; the room where my real date was. Room 199; the room I wanted my real date to be in.

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A/N: I know, I'm teasing you! The dance, I PROMISE will be next chapter ok? I didn't want to write it without my notes ok and I'll be home like tomorrow afternoon so it might be posted tomorrow night, or Monday afternoon ok? Ok, my comments on this chapter. Um . . . I want Adam to face his demons in this story, which are mainly going to be his father's influence on him and his history with the Hawks, because as much as I love Adam/Josie romance at the moment, I want to deal with other topics too, which means: I DON'T WANT TO END IT ANYTIME SOON; which means for you that you can either celebrate or mourn. I hope you liked the flashback. Couldn't you just picture little Adam? *Adam runs up and smiles widely* Adam: "I was really cute!" Anyways, on with the Shout outs!

Beaner- Goodness! I was worried about poor Guy! You didn't mention him! I love him too, and I thought you left him at the airport in that big crate. *Adam makes a sad face* Adam: "Dude, sorry about the whole jumping you and gagging you and shoving you into a crate. But as you can see, it was for the best! See! I told you that Katie's reviewer Katie was nice!" Yeah, Adam likes you! *Adam squeezes author* And he likes me too! I have to take him to school on Monday so he can meet my FRIEND Katie. I think he's convinced that all people named Katie are nice. *Adam grabs keyboard* Adam: "Is your brother a cannibal? I'm not sure I want to go to your house if I'm going to become Adam stew. Protect Guy, we don't want him to become some sort of main course ok? He's a valuable part of our team, even if he did call me an ass kissing pretentious brat." *author grabs keyboard* Good I'm glad you don't know anyone named William. If you did, I would be screaming. Now, do you know anyone named Charlotte?

SPASH Panther- Ok, I'm not sure HOW to react to this review because if I do, I'll give away my story and then you wouldn't have to come back to my story and review! So all I can say is that maybe she will, maybe she won't, maybe Adam will get the girl, and maybe he'll get kicked in the groin. *Adam narrows eyes at author* Maybe it will turn out like Dawson's Creek, or maybe it will turn out like yet another teen movie. Maybe I'm just crazy. Actually that's a proven fact!

Tara- Yes, Ken is smart. That's how I like portraying him! Yes, Adam is taking a Dawson's Creek loving cheerleader. You'll see what happens at the dance next chapter ok? *Adam grabs keyboard* Adam: "Hey guys! I hope you're having fun in Australia! I tell you, Canada kicks ass! AND I saw a guy with a Mighty Ducks jacket yesterday! We're famous!!!" *Author grabs back keyboard* Ok, you would think, after 3 movies, and being in the Goodwill Games would make him think they were famous in the first place. But we really did see a guy with a Mighty Ducks jacket! I was like Omigod I gotta go write! Oh Portman be nice to Fulton! He's your roommate! And if you don't stop laughing I'm going to make you have a MAJOR weakness! *author narrows eyes menacingly.* Anywho enjoy your summer weather!

Rachel- Are you calling me the Queen? *blushes* No! You're the Queen! I can deal with Princess or Duchess or something. Ok you do realize that it was Fulton who fainted right? Just checking. Portman laughed it off. Adam is NOT dumb. He's just a little slow when it comes to Josie ok? No worries ok?

Shelbers- OH no! I completely got your opinion!!! I was trying to tell OTHER people whether or not I should include lyrics! You weren't sleep deprived I was! Silly Katie. *coughs* That's me. Oh and you will read more soon!!

Banks99- Hi! New Reviewer! You're always welcome! Oh! Don't turn your back on Josie just yet! I promise next chapter, you will see why she's blaming poor Adam! He's sick and tired of being blamed too, but you'll understand soon ok? I understand that you feel for poor Adam (from your name I can tell he's your fav! He's mine too!) but just wait a little bit longer. Actually your reaction was JUST what I was waiting for! Thanks for the support and keep reviewing ok?

OK EVERYONE!! I STILL NEED YOUR HELP! I NEED TO KNOW WHETHER OR NOT TO INCLUDE LYRICS. I KNOW THAT SOMEPEOPLE FEEL ITS OVERKILL, OTHERS LIKE THEM; IT'S TOTALLY UP TO YOU! SO TELL ME IN YOUR NEXT REVIEW OK?

Review!!

~Toodles!