Ok I am really nervous about this chapter because it might simply suck the
big one. And the beginning isn't very 'humor' or 'romantic' maybe I should
change it to 'general'. So I would really like to know what you guys think!
I am worried.
Beaner: I know Portman is all sad and it was a good thing that Charlie was there to stop Paige even though I agree she deserved it! I thought that the air is fresh joke was funny at the time do you think I went over board? I am looking forward to reading what you think about this chapter I know you will tell me the brutal truth!! :)
Banksiesbabe99: You like Paige now? Oh I hope that this chapter won't make you not like her again! I am really worried about this chapter. Yes the Adam and Julie being cute and it's good to know you feel a little for Portman but I agree he will get over it. What do I mean 'agree' I'm the author he will get over it! I just don't know how long it will take.
anne918: Again thank you for reviewing all of the chapters!!!
18: I'm glad you liked the falling in love with Pairs stuff because I was a little unsure about that
19: Aw you thought it was excellent!!! Of course our little Adam and Julie!
20: I'm glad that you liked the way Adam and Julie got together again I was little unsure about that. I am not very confident when it comes to writing Adam and Julie stuff.
21: Yes Julie made the right decision with Adam but you feel bad for Fulton? Aw! But what about Portman? Do you hate him?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The formal had come to an end and all of the students and the supervising teachers had gone into the buses or their cars. The Ducks arrived back at Eden Hall and climbed the stairs to the their floor. Connie pushed through the hall doors and came to her dorm when she heard the noise of opening drawers. She looked at Paige then Julie and asked, "Did you guys remember to lock our dorm?"
"Yeah" Paige walked over to the door and heard shuffling in their room. "Someone is in there," Paige said confirming what Connie had heard she glanced back to the group. She went to open the door when Fulton stopped her. He shook his head and then stepped in front of her and opened the door slowly.
"Where have you been young lady?"
"Holy shit Charity" Paige gasped when she saw that it was just her step mom not some burglar. Her eyes darted around the room. Julie's part of the room was untouched and so was Connie's with the exception of a few items that seemed to have been kicked out of the way to clear a path. Her part of the room had obviously been handled. The drawers of her dresser, bedside table and desk had been opened the contents had been rummaged through, while the stuff on their tops' was sprawled out, her trunk was opened, her sheets and pillows had been thrown off her bed and her closet was surrounded by it's contents.
"Whoa" Fulton whispered looking at Paige's half of the room.
Connie and Julie both entered the room and their fear of a break in was replaced with shock.
"Where have you been?" Charity yelled again putting her hands on her hips. The rest of the Ducks were gathering around the door and looking in curiously.
"I was at a formal," she said motioning to her gown that was visible under her open jacket.
"Ok" she said softly then raised her voice again "But that doesn't explain about all of the other times"
"What other times what are you talking about?" Paige sighed looking around at the mess that her step mom had made.
"I'm talking about the weekends when you were supposed to come home and didn't, the dinner you were supposed to attend and didn't and the weekly phones that you were supposed to make and didn't" she lifted a finger for every example she made then dropped her hand. "What have you been doing?"
"Homework, hockey, stuff like that" she answered simply "Do we have to talk about this now?" she asked looking at the Ducks then back to the angry woman in front of her.
"Don't take that tone with me and don't lie to me. I've seen your marks you haven't been doing your school work" she shook her head and she squinted her eyes walking over to Paige. She grabbed her chin forcefully and titled her head towards her own "Are you high? Are you drunk?" she asked staring into Paige's green eyes.
She pushed the older woman off of her "No why would you think that?"
"Because I found this in your room" she went over to her bag and pulled out a bottle of vodka. "Picking up your mother's bad habits again?"
"No" Paige growled and grabbed the bottle and pointed to the top "Look it isn't even open"
Charity looked at the top and frowned 'Then what has she been doing? This girl can't get enough of trouble' she asked herself. "Have you been fighting?" she looked at Paige's hand that was holding the bottle seeing if there were scratches or bruises from throwing punches.
"No" Paige answered quietly and hid her hands from view behind her back knowing what she was looking for.
'There must be something. I'm sure of it. What else did she do before we moved here?' she scanned the room searching for something when she remembered that she had already looked through all of her things, when her gaze reached the door. "Do you have a boyfriend?" she walked past the female Ducks and to the male Ducks who were backing away from her.
"What now you are accusing me of having sex?" Paige asked following her out into the hall where the guys had made a cushion of space between them and Charity.
"Sex? I never said anything about sex" she turned around and looked at the people surrounding her and grabbed Paige's wrist that had the hand that was holding the vodka making it slosh in the bottle "Which one of you been fucking this slut?!" she screamed moving her head from side to side giving glances to all of the male Ducks. She stomped up to Portman pulling Paige behind her "Is it you?"
Portman stepped back "No"
"Charity don't" Paige begged she was used to her yelling at her but now she was badgering her friends.
But Charity just moved onto Charlie and glared at him "How about you have you been getting some from her?" she jerked Paige up to Charlie she turned her head away from his and looked at the floor, while Charity stared at Charlie who hadn't respond.
"No I haven't been sleeping with any of them," Paige said gently not looking at Charlie and freeing herself vigorously from Charity's grasp causing the liquid to swish in its container.
"You haven't?" she asked raising her eyebrows finally breaking her glare off of Charlie and placing it back onto Paige.
"No I haven't. You've ruled out sex and drugs. All you have left is Rock 'n' Roll'" Paige glowered at Charity.
"Rock 'n' Roll? Has that musician Mark been here to see you because if he has-" Charity shook her finger at her step daughter.
Paige winced when she heard the name and whispered "No he hasn't come to see me" she looked down at her feet feeling all of the eyes on her. "Why are you here?" she asked finally looking up at Charity who was trying to control herself.
"I'm here to bring you home for the holidays" she said "and to check up on you" she breathed in deeply and let out the air through her mouth nosily obviously exasperated.
Paige considered objecting but realized there was no point. She just nodded and turned to go back to her dorm. The few people by the door parted to let her through and without looking at any of them she went in.
Charity looked around at the Ducks and let what just happen sink in a little. It wasn't that she cared what a hockey team thought of her because she didn't it was just she didn't realize how many of them there were and how she was surrounded by them. They were all looking back at her and whispering to each other.
"Don't you have some place to be?" she asked the group of teenagers who quickly went to their dorms all except one. Who shot her a dirty look and went into Paige's dorm.
Charity considered confronting him but just let it go and tried to relax. She had no idea what she was getting herself into when she married Garth.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Charlie went into the girls' dorm. Julie and Connie were both by Paige who seemed to be packing her clothes and school work. They had their back towards to the door and didn't see him come in.
"Are you sure you are ok?" Connie asked again looking at the other girl who was trying to busy herself with getting ready.
"Sure" she paused "What do you guys think of me now?" she asked biting her bottom lip.
"What do you mean?" Julie asked slightly confused.
"What do you think of me now that you know all this stuff" she gave an uneasy glance towards the vodka that was atop her dresser.
"My opinion of you hasn't changed" Connie shrugged trying to make it seem like it was no big deal "We all have out little things"
"Yeah we still love you Paige" Julie gave her a hug that Connie soon joined in on.
"Thanks" she smiled as they parted and saw Charlie in the corner of her eye. She quickly went back to packing.
The two other girls both saw Charlie as well and gave him weak smiles. "Hey" Connie said moving over to her bed and sitting down, as did Julie.
"Hi" Charlie nodded and darted his eyes quickly to Connie and Julie then back to Paige whom had her back turned to him. "Paige are you ok?"
She was looking at the bottle with her bag in hand. She had an incredible urge just to rip off the top and chug it down but she suppressed it and turned keeping her eyes off of Charlie.
"Yep just another heart warming step mother and step daughter moment" she grinned and walked towards the door. When she reached Charlie she stopped at his side and opened her mouth and closed it again when she realized she didn't have anything to say so she went the rest of the way to the door.
When she reached the doorframe Charlie called out "Wait" he took the few steps towards her. He was right behind her but she didn't turn around, she couldn't face him. Her shame had consumed her. "You can always come to me if you need to" he offered.
"Thanks" she turned her head slightly to the side and spotted his tall figure and turned her gaze to her step mom and walked towards her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning Julie got up early so she could have breakfast before catching her flight. When she opened the door she found Adam waiting for her.
"Hi" Julie greeted taken aback.
"Hi" he smiled looking into her tired eyes. "I just wanted to wish you a safe journey home"
"That's so sweet" she thanked smiling. Her smile caused his smile to widen and blush slightly.
"I also wanted to give you this" he handed her a small piece of paper that had been folded once.
She accepted the piece of paper and unfolded it. There was an email address written on it. "This your email address?" she asked looking at the lined sheet.
"No it's Averman's I thought that you two would want to keep in touch," Adam said jokingly.
"Wow witty for this early in the morning" Julie smiled then saw the look on Adam's face, it seemed as if he wanted a response him offering his email "So I'll add you to my MSN" she folded up the piece of paper again and slid it carefully into her jean pocket. "Are you going to breakfast now?"
"Yes" he nodded and they exited their building and entered the building that held the cafeteria. They saw Ken and Dwayne sitting at their table and waved, they sleepily waved back.
After Julie and Adam got their food they joined the other two tired hockey players.
"So are you guys excited about going home?" Adam asked biting into his toast
"I can't wait to have some home cooked meals," Dwayne answered shoving the last of his cereal into his mouth.
"What about seeing your family?" Julie asked buttering her beagle.
"Oh yeah but my brothers and sister hog all of the food" Dwayne frowned and took a sip of his orange juice.
"How about you Ken?" Julie asked Ken who looked like he was about to fall asleep in his scrambled eggs.
"I am looking forward to seeing my dad again," Ken said blinking slowly. His mother had died five years ago and he had no siblings. "Are you excited?" he asked Julie looking at her through the slits of his eyelids.
"Definitely" she was happy that she was going to be able to hang out with her older brother and her parents. She would probably visit some of her old friends as well. "But I am going to miss a few things back here" she flicked her eyes to Adam and back to her food.
"I'm going to miss you too Jules" Adam said to her and then looked at the other two who weren't too tired to make kissing noises "I won't miss you" he threw a piece of his crust at Ken. The piece of bread hit him square in his forehead and then dropped into his milk. He absently mindedly took a gulp of the milk then opened his eyes wide when he saw the piece of crust floating in his class. He spat out his milk all over his tray. The other three tried to hold back their laughter but just let it out. He coughed slightly and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and grimaced at his tray.
"I take that back I will miss you guys" Adam said through his laughter
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luis was woken up by his alarm clock and a few hits of the snooze button later he got up. He went over to the bed one over from his own and punched Russ.
"Oof" he groaned as he rolled over "What did you do that for man?"
"Get up we have to eat to catch the bus to the airport in an hour" he pointed at the clock on his bedside table.
"Oh" Russ lazily sat up then laid back down "I'll use the shower after you"
They showered and got dressed. "Hey what time did you say we had to be at the bus stop?" Russ asked checking his bag again to make sure he had extra batteries.
"Ten" Luis answered not tearing his eyes away from his mirror.
"It's 9:45," Russ said looking at the clock.
"Crap" Luis muttered and the two boys grabbed their bags and ran to the mess hall and inhaled their food and ran to the bus stop and just caught the bus.
They slumped into to seats. "Man that was close" Russ shook his head.
"Yeah" Luis nodded looking out the window.
"Hey thanks for letting me bum a ticket off of you. I can't believe your parents wanted you to bring a friend home for the break" Russ said in disbelief.
"I think they wanted to see who I was hanging out with all year" he turned to Russ and frowned "God I think I chose the wrong Duck"
"Hey it was either me or Portman" Russ said smiling glad that he was the one that was picked and it was too late for Luis to change his mind now.
"Again I say I think I chose the wrong Duck" he joked
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
End of Chapter
What did you think? Was it bad? Eeep! Please review my faithful reviewers (that means you Beaner anne918 and Banksiesbabe99 I can always count on you guys! Hugs all around!)
It was kind of short I know but hey whatever. I hope you liked it. I know that there wasn't any Connie and Guy stuff in here but there will be in the next chapter!!! (At least I hope so because you can never tell with me)
Beaner: I know Portman is all sad and it was a good thing that Charlie was there to stop Paige even though I agree she deserved it! I thought that the air is fresh joke was funny at the time do you think I went over board? I am looking forward to reading what you think about this chapter I know you will tell me the brutal truth!! :)
Banksiesbabe99: You like Paige now? Oh I hope that this chapter won't make you not like her again! I am really worried about this chapter. Yes the Adam and Julie being cute and it's good to know you feel a little for Portman but I agree he will get over it. What do I mean 'agree' I'm the author he will get over it! I just don't know how long it will take.
anne918: Again thank you for reviewing all of the chapters!!!
18: I'm glad you liked the falling in love with Pairs stuff because I was a little unsure about that
19: Aw you thought it was excellent!!! Of course our little Adam and Julie!
20: I'm glad that you liked the way Adam and Julie got together again I was little unsure about that. I am not very confident when it comes to writing Adam and Julie stuff.
21: Yes Julie made the right decision with Adam but you feel bad for Fulton? Aw! But what about Portman? Do you hate him?
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The formal had come to an end and all of the students and the supervising teachers had gone into the buses or their cars. The Ducks arrived back at Eden Hall and climbed the stairs to the their floor. Connie pushed through the hall doors and came to her dorm when she heard the noise of opening drawers. She looked at Paige then Julie and asked, "Did you guys remember to lock our dorm?"
"Yeah" Paige walked over to the door and heard shuffling in their room. "Someone is in there," Paige said confirming what Connie had heard she glanced back to the group. She went to open the door when Fulton stopped her. He shook his head and then stepped in front of her and opened the door slowly.
"Where have you been young lady?"
"Holy shit Charity" Paige gasped when she saw that it was just her step mom not some burglar. Her eyes darted around the room. Julie's part of the room was untouched and so was Connie's with the exception of a few items that seemed to have been kicked out of the way to clear a path. Her part of the room had obviously been handled. The drawers of her dresser, bedside table and desk had been opened the contents had been rummaged through, while the stuff on their tops' was sprawled out, her trunk was opened, her sheets and pillows had been thrown off her bed and her closet was surrounded by it's contents.
"Whoa" Fulton whispered looking at Paige's half of the room.
Connie and Julie both entered the room and their fear of a break in was replaced with shock.
"Where have you been?" Charity yelled again putting her hands on her hips. The rest of the Ducks were gathering around the door and looking in curiously.
"I was at a formal," she said motioning to her gown that was visible under her open jacket.
"Ok" she said softly then raised her voice again "But that doesn't explain about all of the other times"
"What other times what are you talking about?" Paige sighed looking around at the mess that her step mom had made.
"I'm talking about the weekends when you were supposed to come home and didn't, the dinner you were supposed to attend and didn't and the weekly phones that you were supposed to make and didn't" she lifted a finger for every example she made then dropped her hand. "What have you been doing?"
"Homework, hockey, stuff like that" she answered simply "Do we have to talk about this now?" she asked looking at the Ducks then back to the angry woman in front of her.
"Don't take that tone with me and don't lie to me. I've seen your marks you haven't been doing your school work" she shook her head and she squinted her eyes walking over to Paige. She grabbed her chin forcefully and titled her head towards her own "Are you high? Are you drunk?" she asked staring into Paige's green eyes.
She pushed the older woman off of her "No why would you think that?"
"Because I found this in your room" she went over to her bag and pulled out a bottle of vodka. "Picking up your mother's bad habits again?"
"No" Paige growled and grabbed the bottle and pointed to the top "Look it isn't even open"
Charity looked at the top and frowned 'Then what has she been doing? This girl can't get enough of trouble' she asked herself. "Have you been fighting?" she looked at Paige's hand that was holding the bottle seeing if there were scratches or bruises from throwing punches.
"No" Paige answered quietly and hid her hands from view behind her back knowing what she was looking for.
'There must be something. I'm sure of it. What else did she do before we moved here?' she scanned the room searching for something when she remembered that she had already looked through all of her things, when her gaze reached the door. "Do you have a boyfriend?" she walked past the female Ducks and to the male Ducks who were backing away from her.
"What now you are accusing me of having sex?" Paige asked following her out into the hall where the guys had made a cushion of space between them and Charity.
"Sex? I never said anything about sex" she turned around and looked at the people surrounding her and grabbed Paige's wrist that had the hand that was holding the vodka making it slosh in the bottle "Which one of you been fucking this slut?!" she screamed moving her head from side to side giving glances to all of the male Ducks. She stomped up to Portman pulling Paige behind her "Is it you?"
Portman stepped back "No"
"Charity don't" Paige begged she was used to her yelling at her but now she was badgering her friends.
But Charity just moved onto Charlie and glared at him "How about you have you been getting some from her?" she jerked Paige up to Charlie she turned her head away from his and looked at the floor, while Charity stared at Charlie who hadn't respond.
"No I haven't been sleeping with any of them," Paige said gently not looking at Charlie and freeing herself vigorously from Charity's grasp causing the liquid to swish in its container.
"You haven't?" she asked raising her eyebrows finally breaking her glare off of Charlie and placing it back onto Paige.
"No I haven't. You've ruled out sex and drugs. All you have left is Rock 'n' Roll'" Paige glowered at Charity.
"Rock 'n' Roll? Has that musician Mark been here to see you because if he has-" Charity shook her finger at her step daughter.
Paige winced when she heard the name and whispered "No he hasn't come to see me" she looked down at her feet feeling all of the eyes on her. "Why are you here?" she asked finally looking up at Charity who was trying to control herself.
"I'm here to bring you home for the holidays" she said "and to check up on you" she breathed in deeply and let out the air through her mouth nosily obviously exasperated.
Paige considered objecting but realized there was no point. She just nodded and turned to go back to her dorm. The few people by the door parted to let her through and without looking at any of them she went in.
Charity looked around at the Ducks and let what just happen sink in a little. It wasn't that she cared what a hockey team thought of her because she didn't it was just she didn't realize how many of them there were and how she was surrounded by them. They were all looking back at her and whispering to each other.
"Don't you have some place to be?" she asked the group of teenagers who quickly went to their dorms all except one. Who shot her a dirty look and went into Paige's dorm.
Charity considered confronting him but just let it go and tried to relax. She had no idea what she was getting herself into when she married Garth.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Charlie went into the girls' dorm. Julie and Connie were both by Paige who seemed to be packing her clothes and school work. They had their back towards to the door and didn't see him come in.
"Are you sure you are ok?" Connie asked again looking at the other girl who was trying to busy herself with getting ready.
"Sure" she paused "What do you guys think of me now?" she asked biting her bottom lip.
"What do you mean?" Julie asked slightly confused.
"What do you think of me now that you know all this stuff" she gave an uneasy glance towards the vodka that was atop her dresser.
"My opinion of you hasn't changed" Connie shrugged trying to make it seem like it was no big deal "We all have out little things"
"Yeah we still love you Paige" Julie gave her a hug that Connie soon joined in on.
"Thanks" she smiled as they parted and saw Charlie in the corner of her eye. She quickly went back to packing.
The two other girls both saw Charlie as well and gave him weak smiles. "Hey" Connie said moving over to her bed and sitting down, as did Julie.
"Hi" Charlie nodded and darted his eyes quickly to Connie and Julie then back to Paige whom had her back turned to him. "Paige are you ok?"
She was looking at the bottle with her bag in hand. She had an incredible urge just to rip off the top and chug it down but she suppressed it and turned keeping her eyes off of Charlie.
"Yep just another heart warming step mother and step daughter moment" she grinned and walked towards the door. When she reached Charlie she stopped at his side and opened her mouth and closed it again when she realized she didn't have anything to say so she went the rest of the way to the door.
When she reached the doorframe Charlie called out "Wait" he took the few steps towards her. He was right behind her but she didn't turn around, she couldn't face him. Her shame had consumed her. "You can always come to me if you need to" he offered.
"Thanks" she turned her head slightly to the side and spotted his tall figure and turned her gaze to her step mom and walked towards her.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The next morning Julie got up early so she could have breakfast before catching her flight. When she opened the door she found Adam waiting for her.
"Hi" Julie greeted taken aback.
"Hi" he smiled looking into her tired eyes. "I just wanted to wish you a safe journey home"
"That's so sweet" she thanked smiling. Her smile caused his smile to widen and blush slightly.
"I also wanted to give you this" he handed her a small piece of paper that had been folded once.
She accepted the piece of paper and unfolded it. There was an email address written on it. "This your email address?" she asked looking at the lined sheet.
"No it's Averman's I thought that you two would want to keep in touch," Adam said jokingly.
"Wow witty for this early in the morning" Julie smiled then saw the look on Adam's face, it seemed as if he wanted a response him offering his email "So I'll add you to my MSN" she folded up the piece of paper again and slid it carefully into her jean pocket. "Are you going to breakfast now?"
"Yes" he nodded and they exited their building and entered the building that held the cafeteria. They saw Ken and Dwayne sitting at their table and waved, they sleepily waved back.
After Julie and Adam got their food they joined the other two tired hockey players.
"So are you guys excited about going home?" Adam asked biting into his toast
"I can't wait to have some home cooked meals," Dwayne answered shoving the last of his cereal into his mouth.
"What about seeing your family?" Julie asked buttering her beagle.
"Oh yeah but my brothers and sister hog all of the food" Dwayne frowned and took a sip of his orange juice.
"How about you Ken?" Julie asked Ken who looked like he was about to fall asleep in his scrambled eggs.
"I am looking forward to seeing my dad again," Ken said blinking slowly. His mother had died five years ago and he had no siblings. "Are you excited?" he asked Julie looking at her through the slits of his eyelids.
"Definitely" she was happy that she was going to be able to hang out with her older brother and her parents. She would probably visit some of her old friends as well. "But I am going to miss a few things back here" she flicked her eyes to Adam and back to her food.
"I'm going to miss you too Jules" Adam said to her and then looked at the other two who weren't too tired to make kissing noises "I won't miss you" he threw a piece of his crust at Ken. The piece of bread hit him square in his forehead and then dropped into his milk. He absently mindedly took a gulp of the milk then opened his eyes wide when he saw the piece of crust floating in his class. He spat out his milk all over his tray. The other three tried to hold back their laughter but just let it out. He coughed slightly and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and grimaced at his tray.
"I take that back I will miss you guys" Adam said through his laughter
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Luis was woken up by his alarm clock and a few hits of the snooze button later he got up. He went over to the bed one over from his own and punched Russ.
"Oof" he groaned as he rolled over "What did you do that for man?"
"Get up we have to eat to catch the bus to the airport in an hour" he pointed at the clock on his bedside table.
"Oh" Russ lazily sat up then laid back down "I'll use the shower after you"
They showered and got dressed. "Hey what time did you say we had to be at the bus stop?" Russ asked checking his bag again to make sure he had extra batteries.
"Ten" Luis answered not tearing his eyes away from his mirror.
"It's 9:45," Russ said looking at the clock.
"Crap" Luis muttered and the two boys grabbed their bags and ran to the mess hall and inhaled their food and ran to the bus stop and just caught the bus.
They slumped into to seats. "Man that was close" Russ shook his head.
"Yeah" Luis nodded looking out the window.
"Hey thanks for letting me bum a ticket off of you. I can't believe your parents wanted you to bring a friend home for the break" Russ said in disbelief.
"I think they wanted to see who I was hanging out with all year" he turned to Russ and frowned "God I think I chose the wrong Duck"
"Hey it was either me or Portman" Russ said smiling glad that he was the one that was picked and it was too late for Luis to change his mind now.
"Again I say I think I chose the wrong Duck" he joked
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
End of Chapter
What did you think? Was it bad? Eeep! Please review my faithful reviewers (that means you Beaner anne918 and Banksiesbabe99 I can always count on you guys! Hugs all around!)
It was kind of short I know but hey whatever. I hope you liked it. I know that there wasn't any Connie and Guy stuff in here but there will be in the next chapter!!! (At least I hope so because you can never tell with me)