"maybe we should have played for the mighty ducks. For all you know, we
could have helped. A lot. They are already very good." Natasha commented.
We were having a meeting in natasha's dorm room.
"I know, but don't forget why we're here." I said.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"oh, don't you find Charlie just so cute?" tessa asked.
I sniggered. "I think he has a girlfriend. A Linda or something."
"damn it." Tessa sweared.
"anyway, better start unpacking, have a big day tomorrow." Hannah said.
We all left natasha's dorm to go back to our own dorms to pack.
"do you think jean knew we played hockey even? I mean, we only started playing after she left." Julia said.
"yeah... she looked as stunned as 'em ducks." I said.
"so.. lets get packing anyways." Carmie said.
I scanned my bag. Then I looked at the empty wadrobe. I sucked at packing. I hated packing. Seriously. It was a headache for me. I turned my glance to Julia.
"done!" she exclaimed. "Julia, you just dumped your clothes in one pile in your wadrobe. That's done?"
"yup. I don't really care do i?" Julia said.
I rolled my eyes. I knew I had to pack my wadrobe properly. Or I would never find anything! Hmm.. I picked up all my more-formal-then-other- clothes clothes. Like, jeans and blouses. I hated them. But I had to bring them. Hanging them on the clothes hanger, I hung them neatly in my wadrobe. Then I picked up all my.. ahem... those clothes and placed them in the drawer. Then finally, I pulled out my track shirts and shorts. They had to be RRRRRRRRRRIGHT in front. Hanging them, I stared at them admiringly. Wow. Nike, adidas, and aasics filed out the wadrobe like a shop. Then I grabbed my nike t-shirts and track pants, board shorts and hung them up. Now everything was in. then I slowly picked up the 3 track uniforms I had to represent eden hall. A sleeveless aasics-sponsored shirt and a pair of track short also sponsored by aasics. I placed them nealy, folded on the bottom, so that I could easily take them.
"finally!" I shouted.
Julia was in the toilet. Probably a stomachache. Carmie was just lying on bed... sleeping... at 4 in the afternoon. I decided to put up all my pictures and posters. First came the posters. Marion jones, flo-jo, micheal Johnson, carl lewis, betty Cuthbert, nike and adidas posters began to line the wall. Then photos of my family and friends back in Singapore started to fill the table. Then I pulled out my schoolbooks and packed my bag according to my time-table for the next day. Because there was no fun in my dorm anymore, I decided to go to natasha's dorm and see what they were doing. Natasha, tessa, ruying and Hannah had another dorm to themselves. I walked in. they were lying on the floor, playing cards.
"wanna play?" Natasha asked.
"umm.. nah... you know, I'm just gonna take a walk around the school..." I said.
As I walked, i checked out eden hall's trophy case. Impressive.
"so you like our trophies?" a deep voice asked.
I spun around and came face to face with Charlie Conway, captain of the mighty ducks. We had met him just now. Remember? I turned back and studied the trophies.
"I guess most of them are ice hockey trophies then."
Charlie gave a laugh and leaned against the case. I looked at him unsteadily, afraid that the case might topple.
"the case is fine. Leave it. So what are you here for?" Charlie asked.
I continued to study the trophies.
"athletics." I said, finally.
"huh?" Charlie asked, confused.
Gee, I thought Americans would more understand the word athletics than track.
"track, I mean." I said again.
"oh... you fast then?" Charlie asked.
I turned and stared at him.
"Conway, if I weren't fast, I wouldn't be here." I said in a more firm tone.
Charlie laughed. "somehow I have a feeling you'll fit in juuuuuust right. What are you doing out here anyway?"
"taking a walk around the school. My friends are occupied." I answered.
"mind if I join you?" he asked.
"I guess not. Be my guest." I said.
"so.. you guys played a good game out there. Just now, I mean." Charlie commented.
"thanks. Sorry we can't play for you. I mean, we came here to do what we were supposed to do in the first place." I said.
"no worries. You guys are just really good. And girls."
"is that a problem?"
"no.. you could be better than us guys if you trained hard."
Suddenly, I saw a girl with black curly hair run up to Charlie.
"siyi, meet Linda, my girlfriend."
"hi!" Linda started. "you must be the transfer from Singapore! Charlie has told me how you guys conquer the ice!"
I gave Linda a weird look.
"umm.. yeah... you know, I better go... I have to... finish packing." I lied.
I ran off back to my dorm but heard a, "hey! Have you and your friends sit with us at lunch tomorrow alright?" I turned and nodded.
As I entered the building, a group of big, bulky, muscly guys surrounded me. Varsities! I had heard stories. Many stories. A guy called tom riley pinned me against the wall.
"hello freshman. How are you?" tom asked.
"let go of me!" I screamed. I lifted my leg and my knee flew straight into tom's groin. He let go and I scrambled away. Whew. That was close. I ran into my dorm only to realize it wasn't my dorm! I apologized profusely and ran to the correct dorm. I slammed the door shut. I looked up and saw Julia and carmie giving me the weird look.
"varsities. Tom. Groin. Dead." I said.
"that's all? You whipped their asses that's all right?"
"kinda."
"then stop slamming the bloody door!" Julia screamed.
I smirked. "sorry, I was scared outta my guts!" I said, saracastically.
Carmie rolled her eyes.
"whaddya doing?" I asked.
"oh, putting together a scrapbook of St.Margs." carmie said.
I stared at the many photos we took back in Singapore. Then I felt my first pang of homesickness. I stooped down to help.
"I'm really going to miss it." Julia said, sniffling that little bit.
"me too." Carmie said, ready to burst into tears.
"come on, its not too bad." I said, but I could already feel the tears welling up.
I thought of all the people back home. I thought of all my family, my friends, of Charlie.. CHARLIE!?!? No way.. oh.. had to be some... something! I pushed him out and by 9 o'clock at night, we had created our st.margs scrapbook. We shared it with Natasha Hannah tessa and ruying. And by 10 o'clock we were pouring into bed, tired. Tomorrow was going to be one heck of a big day.
My alarm started ringing. Then I heard carmie's alarm. Then julia's. I groaned. I put the pillow over my head, trying to block out the sound. Not working. Using my hands, I slammed my ears shut. Still didn't work. Angry, I picked up the alarm clock and threw it against the wall. Yikes! The alarm broke.
"oops." I said out loud. Julia and Carmie were staring at me. "accident!"
we all got ready for school. I showered, slipped on my nike shirt and track pants, brushed my teeth and grabbed my whole schoolbag. Then we walked to our lockers. Thankfully, ruying's locker and my locker were next to each other. I pulled out the books I didn't need and stuffed them into the locker, not bothering to be neat.
"hey! What did the books ever do to you?" ruying asked.
I rolled my eyes. Then I tried to shut the locker. But it wouldn't shut! I knew it wasn't the books because there was a lot of space left. Crap. Picking up my chemistry textbook, I flung it in the direction of the locker. A loud, ping! Was heard throughout the halls. Then a small click. Finally the locker shut. I stooped down to pick up my chemistry book when Charlie came along.
"I saw you fling that book. Strong arms eh?" Charlie asked.
"yeah. I suppose." I said.
"chemistry? Can I walk you there?" he asked.
I nodded. For awhile, we walked in complete silence when Charlie broke the ice.
"so... how do you find eden hall?"
"its great."
"how are you adjusting?"
"good."
"do you always give one two word answers?"
"yes."
"oh."
Then I realized how uncomfortable I must have made Charlie feel.
"I mean, umm, bad mood. Alarm clocks fault."
Charlie let out a laugh. "ok..."
Then we reached class when tessa pulled me aside.
"what was that?" tessa asked with a big grin on her face.
"what was what?" I asked.
"you walking with Charlie?" she giggled cheekily.
"oh.. nothing.. just walking... you know, left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot."
"or... left cheek, right cheek, left cheek, right cheek..." tessa started.
I pushed her aside and sat down.
All throughout chemistry I was sleeping. Boring. Like.. why the hell do we needa know safety procedures? I mean, its not like we're going get burnt by acid or anything. Just then, this clumsy kid flings a testube of acid in the air and gets burnt by it. Psychic. Cool! We run over to look at his blood flowing, smoke-coming out of wound. Me and tessa giggle for no reason.
After school, I run to my dorm and change into my track suit. I feel so comfortable. Then I run all the way to the track. [I run a lot, I know.] the coach, who's a lady, takes attendance and we start our warm up. I look at the stands. There was no one at the stands except for a guy.. boy to be specific..
Gee, what a loner. Then I zoom in. wait a minute! Damn it! That's Charlie! And soon, I see all the others ducks filing into the stands. What the hell? I see a guy known as russ. Oh great. This is just great. They're going to see me run? What? Oh craps. Charlie sees me staring at them and waves. I give a small, tiny, pathetic hand gesture thing and turn around.
A girl called Lisa starts. "your boyfriends?" she asks.
"no... that would be lame." Then she leaves me alone.
I'm getting ready for the 100m, and I see Charlie and the ducks focusing on me. Oh wow. If I lose it was going to be so humiliating. Craps. I'm at the starting blocks.
"ready.. set... go!" I hear the coach say.
I pull into full sprint. I run past Lisa, I run past 2 unknown girls, then only one girl is in front of me. Oh craps. I have to beat her! There's about 30 m left. I gear up and pull ahead. I'm now the same as her. At the last moment, I really pull and beat her by maybe 1m. oh, thank goodness I'm first. How humiliating it would have been if the ducks had seen me 2nd. I sigh. I try my best to come in first for every event I run. The only one I lost was the 400m, the event I didn't like. I was always a short distance person. Never long. After training, and warm down, I get ready to leave when the ducks come up and surround me.
"hey! Nice... good training eh?" they ask. All the questions just come pouring to me and I don't know which one to answer.
Finally, I say, "umm.. yeahh.... It was good."
"good? Oh my god, you were awesome! Did you see yourself run?" Charlie asked.
"well.. I videotaped myself running a race once. It wasn't that good really."
"are you mad? That was fabulous! Good job! For a new kid... good job..that was great. Hey, we're going to watch Julia play basketball now. Wanna come?"
I scan each and everyone of them. "don't you guys have hockey practice?"
They start to blush... "well, we kinda told the coach we had to study for this exam..."
I rolled my eyes. "lets go." I grab my bag with my spikes inside and leave. We reach the basketball court. Julia played good! So did Natasha, and tessa, and Hannah, and carmie, and ruying. I guess we all impressed them a lot. Then we headed to grab some dinner. Seeing jean there, I told her what the ducks had done. She laughed and said it was normal. Weird to me. Normal to her I guess.
We were having a meeting in natasha's dorm room.
"I know, but don't forget why we're here." I said.
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"oh, don't you find Charlie just so cute?" tessa asked.
I sniggered. "I think he has a girlfriend. A Linda or something."
"damn it." Tessa sweared.
"anyway, better start unpacking, have a big day tomorrow." Hannah said.
We all left natasha's dorm to go back to our own dorms to pack.
"do you think jean knew we played hockey even? I mean, we only started playing after she left." Julia said.
"yeah... she looked as stunned as 'em ducks." I said.
"so.. lets get packing anyways." Carmie said.
I scanned my bag. Then I looked at the empty wadrobe. I sucked at packing. I hated packing. Seriously. It was a headache for me. I turned my glance to Julia.
"done!" she exclaimed. "Julia, you just dumped your clothes in one pile in your wadrobe. That's done?"
"yup. I don't really care do i?" Julia said.
I rolled my eyes. I knew I had to pack my wadrobe properly. Or I would never find anything! Hmm.. I picked up all my more-formal-then-other- clothes clothes. Like, jeans and blouses. I hated them. But I had to bring them. Hanging them on the clothes hanger, I hung them neatly in my wadrobe. Then I picked up all my.. ahem... those clothes and placed them in the drawer. Then finally, I pulled out my track shirts and shorts. They had to be RRRRRRRRRRIGHT in front. Hanging them, I stared at them admiringly. Wow. Nike, adidas, and aasics filed out the wadrobe like a shop. Then I grabbed my nike t-shirts and track pants, board shorts and hung them up. Now everything was in. then I slowly picked up the 3 track uniforms I had to represent eden hall. A sleeveless aasics-sponsored shirt and a pair of track short also sponsored by aasics. I placed them nealy, folded on the bottom, so that I could easily take them.
"finally!" I shouted.
Julia was in the toilet. Probably a stomachache. Carmie was just lying on bed... sleeping... at 4 in the afternoon. I decided to put up all my pictures and posters. First came the posters. Marion jones, flo-jo, micheal Johnson, carl lewis, betty Cuthbert, nike and adidas posters began to line the wall. Then photos of my family and friends back in Singapore started to fill the table. Then I pulled out my schoolbooks and packed my bag according to my time-table for the next day. Because there was no fun in my dorm anymore, I decided to go to natasha's dorm and see what they were doing. Natasha, tessa, ruying and Hannah had another dorm to themselves. I walked in. they were lying on the floor, playing cards.
"wanna play?" Natasha asked.
"umm.. nah... you know, I'm just gonna take a walk around the school..." I said.
As I walked, i checked out eden hall's trophy case. Impressive.
"so you like our trophies?" a deep voice asked.
I spun around and came face to face with Charlie Conway, captain of the mighty ducks. We had met him just now. Remember? I turned back and studied the trophies.
"I guess most of them are ice hockey trophies then."
Charlie gave a laugh and leaned against the case. I looked at him unsteadily, afraid that the case might topple.
"the case is fine. Leave it. So what are you here for?" Charlie asked.
I continued to study the trophies.
"athletics." I said, finally.
"huh?" Charlie asked, confused.
Gee, I thought Americans would more understand the word athletics than track.
"track, I mean." I said again.
"oh... you fast then?" Charlie asked.
I turned and stared at him.
"Conway, if I weren't fast, I wouldn't be here." I said in a more firm tone.
Charlie laughed. "somehow I have a feeling you'll fit in juuuuuust right. What are you doing out here anyway?"
"taking a walk around the school. My friends are occupied." I answered.
"mind if I join you?" he asked.
"I guess not. Be my guest." I said.
"so.. you guys played a good game out there. Just now, I mean." Charlie commented.
"thanks. Sorry we can't play for you. I mean, we came here to do what we were supposed to do in the first place." I said.
"no worries. You guys are just really good. And girls."
"is that a problem?"
"no.. you could be better than us guys if you trained hard."
Suddenly, I saw a girl with black curly hair run up to Charlie.
"siyi, meet Linda, my girlfriend."
"hi!" Linda started. "you must be the transfer from Singapore! Charlie has told me how you guys conquer the ice!"
I gave Linda a weird look.
"umm.. yeah... you know, I better go... I have to... finish packing." I lied.
I ran off back to my dorm but heard a, "hey! Have you and your friends sit with us at lunch tomorrow alright?" I turned and nodded.
As I entered the building, a group of big, bulky, muscly guys surrounded me. Varsities! I had heard stories. Many stories. A guy called tom riley pinned me against the wall.
"hello freshman. How are you?" tom asked.
"let go of me!" I screamed. I lifted my leg and my knee flew straight into tom's groin. He let go and I scrambled away. Whew. That was close. I ran into my dorm only to realize it wasn't my dorm! I apologized profusely and ran to the correct dorm. I slammed the door shut. I looked up and saw Julia and carmie giving me the weird look.
"varsities. Tom. Groin. Dead." I said.
"that's all? You whipped their asses that's all right?"
"kinda."
"then stop slamming the bloody door!" Julia screamed.
I smirked. "sorry, I was scared outta my guts!" I said, saracastically.
Carmie rolled her eyes.
"whaddya doing?" I asked.
"oh, putting together a scrapbook of St.Margs." carmie said.
I stared at the many photos we took back in Singapore. Then I felt my first pang of homesickness. I stooped down to help.
"I'm really going to miss it." Julia said, sniffling that little bit.
"me too." Carmie said, ready to burst into tears.
"come on, its not too bad." I said, but I could already feel the tears welling up.
I thought of all the people back home. I thought of all my family, my friends, of Charlie.. CHARLIE!?!? No way.. oh.. had to be some... something! I pushed him out and by 9 o'clock at night, we had created our st.margs scrapbook. We shared it with Natasha Hannah tessa and ruying. And by 10 o'clock we were pouring into bed, tired. Tomorrow was going to be one heck of a big day.
My alarm started ringing. Then I heard carmie's alarm. Then julia's. I groaned. I put the pillow over my head, trying to block out the sound. Not working. Using my hands, I slammed my ears shut. Still didn't work. Angry, I picked up the alarm clock and threw it against the wall. Yikes! The alarm broke.
"oops." I said out loud. Julia and Carmie were staring at me. "accident!"
we all got ready for school. I showered, slipped on my nike shirt and track pants, brushed my teeth and grabbed my whole schoolbag. Then we walked to our lockers. Thankfully, ruying's locker and my locker were next to each other. I pulled out the books I didn't need and stuffed them into the locker, not bothering to be neat.
"hey! What did the books ever do to you?" ruying asked.
I rolled my eyes. Then I tried to shut the locker. But it wouldn't shut! I knew it wasn't the books because there was a lot of space left. Crap. Picking up my chemistry textbook, I flung it in the direction of the locker. A loud, ping! Was heard throughout the halls. Then a small click. Finally the locker shut. I stooped down to pick up my chemistry book when Charlie came along.
"I saw you fling that book. Strong arms eh?" Charlie asked.
"yeah. I suppose." I said.
"chemistry? Can I walk you there?" he asked.
I nodded. For awhile, we walked in complete silence when Charlie broke the ice.
"so... how do you find eden hall?"
"its great."
"how are you adjusting?"
"good."
"do you always give one two word answers?"
"yes."
"oh."
Then I realized how uncomfortable I must have made Charlie feel.
"I mean, umm, bad mood. Alarm clocks fault."
Charlie let out a laugh. "ok..."
Then we reached class when tessa pulled me aside.
"what was that?" tessa asked with a big grin on her face.
"what was what?" I asked.
"you walking with Charlie?" she giggled cheekily.
"oh.. nothing.. just walking... you know, left foot, right foot, left foot, right foot."
"or... left cheek, right cheek, left cheek, right cheek..." tessa started.
I pushed her aside and sat down.
All throughout chemistry I was sleeping. Boring. Like.. why the hell do we needa know safety procedures? I mean, its not like we're going get burnt by acid or anything. Just then, this clumsy kid flings a testube of acid in the air and gets burnt by it. Psychic. Cool! We run over to look at his blood flowing, smoke-coming out of wound. Me and tessa giggle for no reason.
After school, I run to my dorm and change into my track suit. I feel so comfortable. Then I run all the way to the track. [I run a lot, I know.] the coach, who's a lady, takes attendance and we start our warm up. I look at the stands. There was no one at the stands except for a guy.. boy to be specific..
Gee, what a loner. Then I zoom in. wait a minute! Damn it! That's Charlie! And soon, I see all the others ducks filing into the stands. What the hell? I see a guy known as russ. Oh great. This is just great. They're going to see me run? What? Oh craps. Charlie sees me staring at them and waves. I give a small, tiny, pathetic hand gesture thing and turn around.
A girl called Lisa starts. "your boyfriends?" she asks.
"no... that would be lame." Then she leaves me alone.
I'm getting ready for the 100m, and I see Charlie and the ducks focusing on me. Oh wow. If I lose it was going to be so humiliating. Craps. I'm at the starting blocks.
"ready.. set... go!" I hear the coach say.
I pull into full sprint. I run past Lisa, I run past 2 unknown girls, then only one girl is in front of me. Oh craps. I have to beat her! There's about 30 m left. I gear up and pull ahead. I'm now the same as her. At the last moment, I really pull and beat her by maybe 1m. oh, thank goodness I'm first. How humiliating it would have been if the ducks had seen me 2nd. I sigh. I try my best to come in first for every event I run. The only one I lost was the 400m, the event I didn't like. I was always a short distance person. Never long. After training, and warm down, I get ready to leave when the ducks come up and surround me.
"hey! Nice... good training eh?" they ask. All the questions just come pouring to me and I don't know which one to answer.
Finally, I say, "umm.. yeahh.... It was good."
"good? Oh my god, you were awesome! Did you see yourself run?" Charlie asked.
"well.. I videotaped myself running a race once. It wasn't that good really."
"are you mad? That was fabulous! Good job! For a new kid... good job..that was great. Hey, we're going to watch Julia play basketball now. Wanna come?"
I scan each and everyone of them. "don't you guys have hockey practice?"
They start to blush... "well, we kinda told the coach we had to study for this exam..."
I rolled my eyes. "lets go." I grab my bag with my spikes inside and leave. We reach the basketball court. Julia played good! So did Natasha, and tessa, and Hannah, and carmie, and ruying. I guess we all impressed them a lot. Then we headed to grab some dinner. Seeing jean there, I told her what the ducks had done. She laughed and said it was normal. Weird to me. Normal to her I guess.