Charlie's POV:
On Sunday morning I woke up to rap music but I couldn't quite figure out. As far as I knew no one on our floor listened to rap. I glanced over to Guy's side of the room and found that he had already left. Then I glanced at the clock. It was nine am. Great, I thought to myself. Coach Bombay was coming at nine thirty to pick me up so we could finish moving stuff into the new house.
I climbed slowly out of bed. I found that my shoulders and upper arms hurt from moving stuff yesterday. Thankfully it looked like we were at least going to get everything moved to the house this weekend thanks to the Ducks. They had all showed up at some point yesterday to help us out and most of them were planning to help out today too.
By the time I got dressed the rap music had been turned off for which I was thankful. When I was done getting dressed I left my room. My plan was to go downstairs and wait for Coach Bombay. However, I didn't get that far. As I walked into the hallway I saw Fulton and Portman going into Jesse's room. Fulton had a red lightbulb and something else that I couldn't make out in his hand and Portman was carrying his bloody skull lamp. I couldn't help but wonder what was going on.
I walked down the hallway and stood into the doorway to Jesse's room which had been transformed. Fulton was taking the regular light bulb out of Jesse's lamp and putting in the red one and Portman had sat the skull lamp on the desk and was trying to plug it in. Jesse had taking down his normal sports poster and as far as I could tell had put some of Portman's up. I could see incense sitting on the night stand by Jesse's bed and Jesse was getting books out of his back pack.
"What are you up to?" I asked. All three of them looked around and looked at me in surprise. I don't think any of them had realized I had showed up.
"Planning a little surprise for my roommate tonight," Jesse said with an evil grin. Adam was coming back to the dorms tonight. We had yet to tell him that Jesse was his roommate or that Jesse was even at Eden Hall, although I'm surprised it hadn't slipped yesterday. I looked at the two books that Jesse was holding up now. One was a book on voodoo and a book entitled simply The Occult.
"He's going to think he's rooming with a psycho," I said.
"Exactly. It will add to the surprise," Jesse said standing up and heading over to his desk where he sat the books next to the skull lamp.
"We even have music to set the mood," Portman said and hit the play button on Jesse's radio. Rap filled the room. At least I had found the source of that. Thankfully, Portman hit the stop button quickly.
"And this is a nice little touch don't you think," Fulton said holding up a little voodoo doll which must have been the other thing I had seen him carrying. He sat the voodoo doll on Jesse's bed.
"After he sees this room, he's going to wish he hadn't come back to school," I told them laughing.
"We're just having a little harmless fun," Fulton said with a smile.
"This I have got to see," I told them.
"So you wont' say anything to Adam?" Jesse asked.
"No I won't," I told him.
"Charlie, are you ready," I heard Coach Bombay call up the steps.
"Be right down," I called back to him walking out of Jesse's room.
"Okay, If I come over with you now Charlie," Fulton asked me following me into the hallway.
"Yeah sure," I told him.
"We'll see you later," Jesse told me speaking for him and Portman. Most of the ducks were planning on helping out again today.
"Okay, Later guys," I told them as Fulton and I headed downstairs where Bombay was waiting for us.
Gordon's POV:
I picked Charlie up from the dorms on my way over to Casey's apartment on Sunday morning. Adam was already at the house as that was where he and I had spent last night as we had moved all the stuff out of my old apartment yesterday. My apartment building had a waiting list of people waiting for an apartment and so my landlord had let me out of the lease early and wasn't even charging me rent for January which I thought was nice of him. He had new tenants moving into it tomorrow.
Now we just had to move Casey and Charlie out of there apartment. Casey had the lease for the apartment till the end of the month but she said she would rather get the stuff moved out as soon as possible and be settled in the house before we started planning the wedding which I could understand. Thanks to the Ducks it looked as if we were going to be able to at least get everything into the house this weekend. Unpacking was going to take a little longer.
When we got to apartment Casey had already started packing things up in boxes. There was one stack of boxes against the wall and she was busy putting photo albums into a box.
"Hi Mom," Charlie said giving her a hug.
"If you and Fulton are hungry there are bagels and cream cheese in the kitchen.
"Great," Charlie said and he and Fulton headed for the kitchen. I heard Fulton say hello to Casey as he walked by.
As the kids left the room I went over to her and gave her a kiss.
"Good morning Gordon," she said.
"Good morning," I told her. "So what do you want to start with? I asked her.
"I figured we'd start by packing things up and moving the boxes over to the house and then get the furniture later if we have time."
"Okay," I said grabbing another box from nearby. I started packing up the books she had on the book case near by. "So you ready to pick a date yet?" I asked her.
"Are you serious?"
"Sure. We've already got the house. Adam is going back to school on Monday. I think we're running out of excuses to put it off," I told her.
"Mom, Fulton and I are going to start packing up the things in my room," Charlie said as he and Fulton came out of the kitchen both carrying a bagel.
"Okay," Casey told them as they walked through the living room and disappeared into Charlie's room. "Well how about the first weekend of February. That would give me time to get moved into the house before I need to start planning things for the wedding."
"I thought we were going to have a small wedding."
"We are. There are still things that need to be done," she told me. "Arrange for a church, place to have the reception, invitations, dresses, tuxedos. Do I need to go on?" she asked me with a smile.
"Nope I get the picture." I told her. "Just let me know what I can do to help and I'll do it."
"So who is going to be your best man?" she asked me.
"I was actually thinking about asking Charlie," I told her. "I just hope it doesn't cause any more problems." I said. One of my fears was that Charlie and Adam would end up in another fight over it.
"I don't think you have to worry about it," Casey said. "I don't think Adam will get upset about it. Now if it was the other way around we might have a problem," she added and we both laughed.
Once we got all the stuff packed from the bookcase I started carrying boxes down to the van while Casey went to check on the progress Charlie and Fulton were making with Charlie's room.
Casey and I ended up taking a load of boxes over to the house by ourselves leaving Fulton and Charlie at the apartment still packing things up. As we were unloading the van Alex showed up followed by Larson, who I remembered from when Adam played on the Hawks. I have to admit I started worrying about what kind of trouble his presence was going to cause.
"Hi Coach Bombay," Alex said cheerfully. "Charlie mentioned that you guys were moving this weekend and I thought I'd come over and help. I would've showed up yesterday but I had things to do."
"That's fine," I told her. "Casey and I appreciate any help you kids can give us."
"This is my friend Shane Larson," Alex said. "I hope you don't mind that he came over to help too."
"No that's fine," I told them shaking the hand that Shane offered even though what I really wanted to do was tell Larson to leave before there was any trouble. I didn't though. In the short time I had known Alex I had already started to trust her judgement. She wouldn't have brought Larson over to the house if she thought there was going to be trouble. "Charlie's still over at his old apartment but Adam's inside unpacking boxes. He's in the livingroom."
"Okay," Alex said. She and Shane both grabbed a box and headed inside with them. They passed Casey as she was coming back out to the van. After exchanging greetings Casey came out to join me by the van.
"Aren't those two Hawks," she said. I could tell that she didn't like the idea of them being there. I couldn't blame her. The Hawks use to rough Charlie and the other Ducks up pretty good before I took over the team.
"Yes," I told her honestly. "But I know Alex and Adam are still friends, and actually Alex and Charlie are getting along pretty well too," I told her thinking about dinner Friday.
"And the other one."
"That was kind of a surprise to me," I told her, "but I wouldn't worry about it." 'At least not yet,' I added to myself silently.
"I hope you're right," Casey said. I handed her a box, grabbed one for myself and we both headed inside.
The boxes we had were ones that had Charlie's stuff in them so we headed upstairs with them. As we headed upstairs I could hear voices in the living room but couldn't make out what was being said.
Adam's POV:
I was in the living room unpacking some boxes when Alex and Shane walked in. The fact that Alex had showed up wasn't a surprise to me. She had told me she was going to try and come by and help out today. I hadn't expected her to bring Shane along with her even though they were still friends. She knew that I didn't want anything to do with Shane and that we hadn't talked in four years. I guess she still hadn't given up on all of us being friends again.
"Hi Adam," she said cheerfully as they walked into the living room.
"Hi Alex," I said slowly standing up. I didn't acknowledge Shane's presence. Maybe he would get the idea that I didn't want him around. "Thanks for coming and helping out."
"No problem," she said. "Where would you like us to start?" she asked looking around at the room which was covered with boxes. The furniture from Gordon's apartment was also in the living room. It had been moved in yesterday. I had been busy unpacking the books and stuff to put back on the book case from Gordon's apartment.
The three of us got back to doing that. Alex started talking about her classes as we started to work. Shane said nothing and I didn't say anything to him. At one point Gordon stuck his head in and said he and Casey were going back over to the apartment. After that we went back to Alex trying to keep a conversation going by herself. I think she was getting frustrated. I was still determined not to speak to Shane.
I couldn't even explain to anyone why I was so mad at him. I didn't understand it myself. He really hadn't done anything worse than what the Ducks had done at times and I had forgiven them. The last time Shane had tried to apologize I wouldn't even listen to him. Maybe I wasn't being fair. He had been my best friend, along with Alex, for years before our fall out.
Just as I was thinking about that Shane finally spoke up. Alex had long ago given up on her one sided conversation and we had been working in slilence.
"Look Adam, I know your still mad at me and I don't blame you," he said. "But will you please just listen to what I have to say. Afterwards if you want me to leave I will." There was complete silence in the room after that. None of us moved or said anything. I guess they were both waiting on me. I slowly put the books I had in my hand on the shelf so I didn't get the temptation to through them at something or someone.
"Fine," I finally said quietly turning to face him. "I'll listen."
Shane looked surprised. I don't think he was actually expecting me to agree to listen to him.
"Adam, what I did four years ago was wrong. We were friends and just because you started skating for a different team that shouldn't have changed but I let it. I let McGill convince me you were a traitor and went along with him because the truth is I was hurt that you went to skate with the Ducks. I wanted you on the Hawks because after you left I missed spending the time with you. I was just being selfish and to tell you the truth after you left it just wasn't fun anymore."
"I know I wasn't there for you when I should have been. I should have stood beside you like Alex did when McGill and others started turning on you but I didn't. I went along with them because for me it was always easier to go along with the crowd. I don't have the self confidence that Alex does to stand up for myself or for more friends. I know it might not mean much to you now but I am sorry."
"Why didn't you come see me after the game?" I asked. We both knew which game I meant. The first game I had skated against my former team.
I saw Alex standing off to the side trying to look like she was busy unpacking a box. I knew she was watching and listening though. I also think she was ready to break us up in case one of us decided to go after the other. In the doorway to the living room I also saw Fulton and Charlie hanging around. I wasn't sure when they had arrived.
"I tried to. I came to the hospital but your Dad told me to leave. I guess he was angry about what happened. I thought about trying to see you after you came home but I could never quite get the courage up and the longer I put it off the harder it was."
"Adam, there is something I think you should know," Charlie said taking a few steps into the room. "After McGill knocked you down in that game, Shane was the first one at your side. He didn't leave until the referee made him."
"Why didn't anyone tell me before?" I asked. Knowing that would have probably made a difference. I had spent the last four years thinking Shane had been indifferent to my injury. That he hadn't cared about what happened to me even though he was suppose to be my best friend.
"I think we were all afraid that you'd go back to being a Hawk," Fulton said. "After what happened you were one of us and we didn't want to lose you. I guess we were being selfish." I saw Charlie nod beside him.
"Can we be friends again?" Shane asked me. "I know things might not ever be the same between us but at least we can make a new start."
I didn't answer him. I didn't know what to say and even if I did I'm not sure my voice would've worked. Instead I took a few steps toward him and gave him a brotherly hug. After a few moments Shane hugged me back. I saw Alex off to the side smiling.
On Sunday morning I woke up to rap music but I couldn't quite figure out. As far as I knew no one on our floor listened to rap. I glanced over to Guy's side of the room and found that he had already left. Then I glanced at the clock. It was nine am. Great, I thought to myself. Coach Bombay was coming at nine thirty to pick me up so we could finish moving stuff into the new house.
I climbed slowly out of bed. I found that my shoulders and upper arms hurt from moving stuff yesterday. Thankfully it looked like we were at least going to get everything moved to the house this weekend thanks to the Ducks. They had all showed up at some point yesterday to help us out and most of them were planning to help out today too.
By the time I got dressed the rap music had been turned off for which I was thankful. When I was done getting dressed I left my room. My plan was to go downstairs and wait for Coach Bombay. However, I didn't get that far. As I walked into the hallway I saw Fulton and Portman going into Jesse's room. Fulton had a red lightbulb and something else that I couldn't make out in his hand and Portman was carrying his bloody skull lamp. I couldn't help but wonder what was going on.
I walked down the hallway and stood into the doorway to Jesse's room which had been transformed. Fulton was taking the regular light bulb out of Jesse's lamp and putting in the red one and Portman had sat the skull lamp on the desk and was trying to plug it in. Jesse had taking down his normal sports poster and as far as I could tell had put some of Portman's up. I could see incense sitting on the night stand by Jesse's bed and Jesse was getting books out of his back pack.
"What are you up to?" I asked. All three of them looked around and looked at me in surprise. I don't think any of them had realized I had showed up.
"Planning a little surprise for my roommate tonight," Jesse said with an evil grin. Adam was coming back to the dorms tonight. We had yet to tell him that Jesse was his roommate or that Jesse was even at Eden Hall, although I'm surprised it hadn't slipped yesterday. I looked at the two books that Jesse was holding up now. One was a book on voodoo and a book entitled simply The Occult.
"He's going to think he's rooming with a psycho," I said.
"Exactly. It will add to the surprise," Jesse said standing up and heading over to his desk where he sat the books next to the skull lamp.
"We even have music to set the mood," Portman said and hit the play button on Jesse's radio. Rap filled the room. At least I had found the source of that. Thankfully, Portman hit the stop button quickly.
"And this is a nice little touch don't you think," Fulton said holding up a little voodoo doll which must have been the other thing I had seen him carrying. He sat the voodoo doll on Jesse's bed.
"After he sees this room, he's going to wish he hadn't come back to school," I told them laughing.
"We're just having a little harmless fun," Fulton said with a smile.
"This I have got to see," I told them.
"So you wont' say anything to Adam?" Jesse asked.
"No I won't," I told him.
"Charlie, are you ready," I heard Coach Bombay call up the steps.
"Be right down," I called back to him walking out of Jesse's room.
"Okay, If I come over with you now Charlie," Fulton asked me following me into the hallway.
"Yeah sure," I told him.
"We'll see you later," Jesse told me speaking for him and Portman. Most of the ducks were planning on helping out again today.
"Okay, Later guys," I told them as Fulton and I headed downstairs where Bombay was waiting for us.
Gordon's POV:
I picked Charlie up from the dorms on my way over to Casey's apartment on Sunday morning. Adam was already at the house as that was where he and I had spent last night as we had moved all the stuff out of my old apartment yesterday. My apartment building had a waiting list of people waiting for an apartment and so my landlord had let me out of the lease early and wasn't even charging me rent for January which I thought was nice of him. He had new tenants moving into it tomorrow.
Now we just had to move Casey and Charlie out of there apartment. Casey had the lease for the apartment till the end of the month but she said she would rather get the stuff moved out as soon as possible and be settled in the house before we started planning the wedding which I could understand. Thanks to the Ducks it looked as if we were going to be able to at least get everything into the house this weekend. Unpacking was going to take a little longer.
When we got to apartment Casey had already started packing things up in boxes. There was one stack of boxes against the wall and she was busy putting photo albums into a box.
"Hi Mom," Charlie said giving her a hug.
"If you and Fulton are hungry there are bagels and cream cheese in the kitchen.
"Great," Charlie said and he and Fulton headed for the kitchen. I heard Fulton say hello to Casey as he walked by.
As the kids left the room I went over to her and gave her a kiss.
"Good morning Gordon," she said.
"Good morning," I told her. "So what do you want to start with? I asked her.
"I figured we'd start by packing things up and moving the boxes over to the house and then get the furniture later if we have time."
"Okay," I said grabbing another box from nearby. I started packing up the books she had on the book case near by. "So you ready to pick a date yet?" I asked her.
"Are you serious?"
"Sure. We've already got the house. Adam is going back to school on Monday. I think we're running out of excuses to put it off," I told her.
"Mom, Fulton and I are going to start packing up the things in my room," Charlie said as he and Fulton came out of the kitchen both carrying a bagel.
"Okay," Casey told them as they walked through the living room and disappeared into Charlie's room. "Well how about the first weekend of February. That would give me time to get moved into the house before I need to start planning things for the wedding."
"I thought we were going to have a small wedding."
"We are. There are still things that need to be done," she told me. "Arrange for a church, place to have the reception, invitations, dresses, tuxedos. Do I need to go on?" she asked me with a smile.
"Nope I get the picture." I told her. "Just let me know what I can do to help and I'll do it."
"So who is going to be your best man?" she asked me.
"I was actually thinking about asking Charlie," I told her. "I just hope it doesn't cause any more problems." I said. One of my fears was that Charlie and Adam would end up in another fight over it.
"I don't think you have to worry about it," Casey said. "I don't think Adam will get upset about it. Now if it was the other way around we might have a problem," she added and we both laughed.
Once we got all the stuff packed from the bookcase I started carrying boxes down to the van while Casey went to check on the progress Charlie and Fulton were making with Charlie's room.
Casey and I ended up taking a load of boxes over to the house by ourselves leaving Fulton and Charlie at the apartment still packing things up. As we were unloading the van Alex showed up followed by Larson, who I remembered from when Adam played on the Hawks. I have to admit I started worrying about what kind of trouble his presence was going to cause.
"Hi Coach Bombay," Alex said cheerfully. "Charlie mentioned that you guys were moving this weekend and I thought I'd come over and help. I would've showed up yesterday but I had things to do."
"That's fine," I told her. "Casey and I appreciate any help you kids can give us."
"This is my friend Shane Larson," Alex said. "I hope you don't mind that he came over to help too."
"No that's fine," I told them shaking the hand that Shane offered even though what I really wanted to do was tell Larson to leave before there was any trouble. I didn't though. In the short time I had known Alex I had already started to trust her judgement. She wouldn't have brought Larson over to the house if she thought there was going to be trouble. "Charlie's still over at his old apartment but Adam's inside unpacking boxes. He's in the livingroom."
"Okay," Alex said. She and Shane both grabbed a box and headed inside with them. They passed Casey as she was coming back out to the van. After exchanging greetings Casey came out to join me by the van.
"Aren't those two Hawks," she said. I could tell that she didn't like the idea of them being there. I couldn't blame her. The Hawks use to rough Charlie and the other Ducks up pretty good before I took over the team.
"Yes," I told her honestly. "But I know Alex and Adam are still friends, and actually Alex and Charlie are getting along pretty well too," I told her thinking about dinner Friday.
"And the other one."
"That was kind of a surprise to me," I told her, "but I wouldn't worry about it." 'At least not yet,' I added to myself silently.
"I hope you're right," Casey said. I handed her a box, grabbed one for myself and we both headed inside.
The boxes we had were ones that had Charlie's stuff in them so we headed upstairs with them. As we headed upstairs I could hear voices in the living room but couldn't make out what was being said.
Adam's POV:
I was in the living room unpacking some boxes when Alex and Shane walked in. The fact that Alex had showed up wasn't a surprise to me. She had told me she was going to try and come by and help out today. I hadn't expected her to bring Shane along with her even though they were still friends. She knew that I didn't want anything to do with Shane and that we hadn't talked in four years. I guess she still hadn't given up on all of us being friends again.
"Hi Adam," she said cheerfully as they walked into the living room.
"Hi Alex," I said slowly standing up. I didn't acknowledge Shane's presence. Maybe he would get the idea that I didn't want him around. "Thanks for coming and helping out."
"No problem," she said. "Where would you like us to start?" she asked looking around at the room which was covered with boxes. The furniture from Gordon's apartment was also in the living room. It had been moved in yesterday. I had been busy unpacking the books and stuff to put back on the book case from Gordon's apartment.
The three of us got back to doing that. Alex started talking about her classes as we started to work. Shane said nothing and I didn't say anything to him. At one point Gordon stuck his head in and said he and Casey were going back over to the apartment. After that we went back to Alex trying to keep a conversation going by herself. I think she was getting frustrated. I was still determined not to speak to Shane.
I couldn't even explain to anyone why I was so mad at him. I didn't understand it myself. He really hadn't done anything worse than what the Ducks had done at times and I had forgiven them. The last time Shane had tried to apologize I wouldn't even listen to him. Maybe I wasn't being fair. He had been my best friend, along with Alex, for years before our fall out.
Just as I was thinking about that Shane finally spoke up. Alex had long ago given up on her one sided conversation and we had been working in slilence.
"Look Adam, I know your still mad at me and I don't blame you," he said. "But will you please just listen to what I have to say. Afterwards if you want me to leave I will." There was complete silence in the room after that. None of us moved or said anything. I guess they were both waiting on me. I slowly put the books I had in my hand on the shelf so I didn't get the temptation to through them at something or someone.
"Fine," I finally said quietly turning to face him. "I'll listen."
Shane looked surprised. I don't think he was actually expecting me to agree to listen to him.
"Adam, what I did four years ago was wrong. We were friends and just because you started skating for a different team that shouldn't have changed but I let it. I let McGill convince me you were a traitor and went along with him because the truth is I was hurt that you went to skate with the Ducks. I wanted you on the Hawks because after you left I missed spending the time with you. I was just being selfish and to tell you the truth after you left it just wasn't fun anymore."
"I know I wasn't there for you when I should have been. I should have stood beside you like Alex did when McGill and others started turning on you but I didn't. I went along with them because for me it was always easier to go along with the crowd. I don't have the self confidence that Alex does to stand up for myself or for more friends. I know it might not mean much to you now but I am sorry."
"Why didn't you come see me after the game?" I asked. We both knew which game I meant. The first game I had skated against my former team.
I saw Alex standing off to the side trying to look like she was busy unpacking a box. I knew she was watching and listening though. I also think she was ready to break us up in case one of us decided to go after the other. In the doorway to the living room I also saw Fulton and Charlie hanging around. I wasn't sure when they had arrived.
"I tried to. I came to the hospital but your Dad told me to leave. I guess he was angry about what happened. I thought about trying to see you after you came home but I could never quite get the courage up and the longer I put it off the harder it was."
"Adam, there is something I think you should know," Charlie said taking a few steps into the room. "After McGill knocked you down in that game, Shane was the first one at your side. He didn't leave until the referee made him."
"Why didn't anyone tell me before?" I asked. Knowing that would have probably made a difference. I had spent the last four years thinking Shane had been indifferent to my injury. That he hadn't cared about what happened to me even though he was suppose to be my best friend.
"I think we were all afraid that you'd go back to being a Hawk," Fulton said. "After what happened you were one of us and we didn't want to lose you. I guess we were being selfish." I saw Charlie nod beside him.
"Can we be friends again?" Shane asked me. "I know things might not ever be the same between us but at least we can make a new start."
I didn't answer him. I didn't know what to say and even if I did I'm not sure my voice would've worked. Instead I took a few steps toward him and gave him a brotherly hug. After a few moments Shane hugged me back. I saw Alex off to the side smiling.