Sorry about the delay and I know it's not the greatest chapter but I'm
having some block. Please let me know if you think it's worth continuing.
Chapter 7. Showers and annoyances
They arrived back at the dormitory and Portman insisted on helping Julie up to her room. By now she was glad for the help, her ankle was aching and she was developing a nasty head ache. She knew it was just a back lash from the concussion. It was the reason she said nothing to Portman. Besides he was being so sweet knowing him he'd run down to the nearest pharmacy and by a big bottle of aspirin for her. At the thought a little smile crossed Julie's face.
"Hey what's that all about?" Portman asked and she glanced over at him.
"Oh just aspirin."
"Why is your ankle bothering you?" She smiled more at the little frown line that came across Portman's forehead. He could be so adorable. Gees, what was she thinking? This was Mr. thoughtful, the guys who thought he was all that. Shaking herself Julie had the oddest feeling that last night was the beginning of a big change.
"Jules hey we just heard this guy sprang you!" Connie called coming down the hallway.
"Hey Con, yeah Portman gave me a lift, you know too much hospital's not good for anyone."
"I hear that.' Russ replied and Julie was surprised when she felt Portman's arm go around her middle and him shove the other players back.
"She shouldn't be on her foot so much." The bash brother said in means of explanation. The others just exchanged a single look and followed the pair down the hall and on to the elevator.
"Hey I saw Cole this morning.' Ken said adding. "He was smirking all over the place."
"Yeah that boy thinks he's all that." Russ said in disgust.
"Someone really ought to knock him down a peg or two." Guy put in and Julie was starting to think Portman was right. She wondered what they would do if anything in retaliation.
"Ok here we go.' Portman was saying when the door opened and he guided Julie as best he could from the elevator.
"Awe look whose back." A voice called and Julie felt Portman stiffen as they neared her door.
"What do you want Riley?" Connie asked crossing her arms over her chest in seeming boredom.
"Just to look in on the little duckette and say that it could have been worse." His gaze swept over Julie and she shivered. It had been cold and made her feel dirty. Portman must have felt the slight change in her body language his hold becoming almost possessive.
"She's fine no thanks to you" Portman growled and Riley just smirked.
"Anyway have a nice day Duckys." The older boy said and sauntered off down the hallway.
Ok," Russ frowned watching after the varsity player. "Some one want to tell me what that was about?"
"Intimidation." Portman said and with one last glare in the direction the other young man had gone he acknowledged that the guy was good but not as good as he was. That thought accompanied Portman as he led Julie on down the corridor to her doorway.
"Ok, let's get you situated." Portman said and Julie sighed. What she really wanted was a shower. The feel of the grit from last night's sweat and now Riley's eyes was making her skin crawl.
"Actually I think I'll take a shower.' The goalie said and Connie frowned.
"Jules's I don't mean to sound critical but how are you going to do that?" Connie asked pointing to Julie's casted foot.
"Oh yeah, right." Julie's face fell and then she felt Portman push her into a sitting position.
"Not a problem." He said and looking at Guy he asked.
"Can you go down to the storage room and grab a garbage bag?"
"Sure but what for?"
"Man ain't you ever broken your leg? When you cover it with a bag it kind of water proofs it."
"Right." Guy was out the door even as Julie was reaching for her crutches.
"What are you doing?" Portman asked looking at her oddly.
"I need to grab my shampoo and stuff." She reasoned and he shrugged looking to Connie.
"Where is it?"
"Ok, look guys I really appreciate this but I have a broken ankle, not a terminal illness." Julie pointed out in exasperation. She loved that her friend cared so much, that he'd had been so thoughtful but there came a time when it could just be too much.
"I know but."
"No buts, Portman I really do appreciate this all but you need a shower as much as I do." She said the last with a wrinkled nose.
Portman knew she was right but still with riley."
"She'll be fine, and she's right you are rank." Connie put in returning with her friends things.
"Thanks." Julie smiled at her wanly.
"Right," Portman said and after a minute he decided that if he was going to stick close he didn't want to irritate her. That would just make the situation worse. Besides they were right he did stink.
"Fine, can you wrap your ankle?" He asked and she looked to Connie who nodded.
"I'll be fine." With that Portman headed for the door.
"Thanks again Dean." Her three simple words brought a little blush to his cheeks. Why was it whenever she said his name it made him grin like a fool? Wait when had that started? These were the thoughts that filled the bash brother's head as he headed for his own room. TBC
Chapter 7. Showers and annoyances
They arrived back at the dormitory and Portman insisted on helping Julie up to her room. By now she was glad for the help, her ankle was aching and she was developing a nasty head ache. She knew it was just a back lash from the concussion. It was the reason she said nothing to Portman. Besides he was being so sweet knowing him he'd run down to the nearest pharmacy and by a big bottle of aspirin for her. At the thought a little smile crossed Julie's face.
"Hey what's that all about?" Portman asked and she glanced over at him.
"Oh just aspirin."
"Why is your ankle bothering you?" She smiled more at the little frown line that came across Portman's forehead. He could be so adorable. Gees, what was she thinking? This was Mr. thoughtful, the guys who thought he was all that. Shaking herself Julie had the oddest feeling that last night was the beginning of a big change.
"Jules hey we just heard this guy sprang you!" Connie called coming down the hallway.
"Hey Con, yeah Portman gave me a lift, you know too much hospital's not good for anyone."
"I hear that.' Russ replied and Julie was surprised when she felt Portman's arm go around her middle and him shove the other players back.
"She shouldn't be on her foot so much." The bash brother said in means of explanation. The others just exchanged a single look and followed the pair down the hall and on to the elevator.
"Hey I saw Cole this morning.' Ken said adding. "He was smirking all over the place."
"Yeah that boy thinks he's all that." Russ said in disgust.
"Someone really ought to knock him down a peg or two." Guy put in and Julie was starting to think Portman was right. She wondered what they would do if anything in retaliation.
"Ok here we go.' Portman was saying when the door opened and he guided Julie as best he could from the elevator.
"Awe look whose back." A voice called and Julie felt Portman stiffen as they neared her door.
"What do you want Riley?" Connie asked crossing her arms over her chest in seeming boredom.
"Just to look in on the little duckette and say that it could have been worse." His gaze swept over Julie and she shivered. It had been cold and made her feel dirty. Portman must have felt the slight change in her body language his hold becoming almost possessive.
"She's fine no thanks to you" Portman growled and Riley just smirked.
"Anyway have a nice day Duckys." The older boy said and sauntered off down the hallway.
Ok," Russ frowned watching after the varsity player. "Some one want to tell me what that was about?"
"Intimidation." Portman said and with one last glare in the direction the other young man had gone he acknowledged that the guy was good but not as good as he was. That thought accompanied Portman as he led Julie on down the corridor to her doorway.
"Ok, let's get you situated." Portman said and Julie sighed. What she really wanted was a shower. The feel of the grit from last night's sweat and now Riley's eyes was making her skin crawl.
"Actually I think I'll take a shower.' The goalie said and Connie frowned.
"Jules's I don't mean to sound critical but how are you going to do that?" Connie asked pointing to Julie's casted foot.
"Oh yeah, right." Julie's face fell and then she felt Portman push her into a sitting position.
"Not a problem." He said and looking at Guy he asked.
"Can you go down to the storage room and grab a garbage bag?"
"Sure but what for?"
"Man ain't you ever broken your leg? When you cover it with a bag it kind of water proofs it."
"Right." Guy was out the door even as Julie was reaching for her crutches.
"What are you doing?" Portman asked looking at her oddly.
"I need to grab my shampoo and stuff." She reasoned and he shrugged looking to Connie.
"Where is it?"
"Ok, look guys I really appreciate this but I have a broken ankle, not a terminal illness." Julie pointed out in exasperation. She loved that her friend cared so much, that he'd had been so thoughtful but there came a time when it could just be too much.
"I know but."
"No buts, Portman I really do appreciate this all but you need a shower as much as I do." She said the last with a wrinkled nose.
Portman knew she was right but still with riley."
"She'll be fine, and she's right you are rank." Connie put in returning with her friends things.
"Thanks." Julie smiled at her wanly.
"Right," Portman said and after a minute he decided that if he was going to stick close he didn't want to irritate her. That would just make the situation worse. Besides they were right he did stink.
"Fine, can you wrap your ankle?" He asked and she looked to Connie who nodded.
"I'll be fine." With that Portman headed for the door.
"Thanks again Dean." Her three simple words brought a little blush to his cheeks. Why was it whenever she said his name it made him grin like a fool? Wait when had that started? These were the thoughts that filled the bash brother's head as he headed for his own room. TBC