Triple-H's-girl - I finally got the next chapter done. I hope you enjoy.
Crazy4nc128- I know its probably not as fast of an update as you wanted but at least I updated. I hope you're not disappointed with the Charlie/Adam encounter.
Jess - Glad to hear you liked the Shane/Adam/Jesse friendship. I wasn't sure how well that would go over.
Banksiesbabe99- Thanks for the kind words. The Charlie/Adam confrontation is coming up so just be patient a little longer.
Rachel- Here's the next chapter. Thanks for reading.
Anne918- thanks for reviewing the last two chapters. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so much. Keep up the kind words.
C-Chan96 - I'll forgive you for taking so long to review because I love your reviews so much. As promised there is plenty of Charlie in this chapter (even a little Connie/Charlie). Thanks for the support.
Charlie's POV:
"Hey Charlie we're all going out for pizza. Come with us?" Fulton offered as I walked down the steps in our dorm building after getting showered and changed. I looked around at all of my friends. I really wanted to hang out with them tonight, well at least most of them but I didn't think it was a good idea. I didn't want to take a chance of losing all my friends and spending the night with Adam around might just lead to that.
"Umm, no sorry," I answered. "I'd really like to but I have a history paper I want to get started on."
"Dude, that paper is due in like three weeks," Portman said who was also in my history class. "You're not turning into a geek like Adam and Julie are you."
"Hey just because I get good grades doesn't make me a geek," Julie said menacingly from her spot next to Averman. It was probably a good thing for Portman that she wasn't close enough to clobber him.
"Yeah, just keep telling yourself that," Portman called back to her. If looks could kill, we would have been short a bash brother.
"Well, history isn't exactly my best subject. It's important that I get a good grade on this paper," I replied, which wasn't a lie. History was one of my lower grades, not that my grades were stellar to begin with, especially now that I didn't have the threat of not being able to play hockey if I got anything lower than a B.
"Suit yourself," Portman said. I could tell he and the rest of my friends weren't too happy about me not hanging out with them tonight but I figured they would get over it.
"Later guys," I called to them as I headed past the group and toward the exit of the building. I unfortunately had to walk right past Adam. I did so without looking in his direction though but I could still feel his eyes on me. I wondered how long I was going to be able to keep this up.
As I left the building I wasn't exactly sure where I was headed. I didn't really have any intention of going to the library. Portman was right. The paper was do in three weeks and I didn't even want to start thinking about it yet. After walking around aimlessly for a little while I head across campus to the main academic building.
I walked inside and made my way to the auditorium where the drama club was having rehearsal. I quietly slipped inside and took a seat in the back row careful not to disturb the rehearsal already in progress.
Although I had picked up Connie after play practice since we had started going out I had never actually watched one of the rehearsals. I usually showed up just as they were getting done. Today though the auditorium seemed like the perfect place to hide.
I was actually surprised at how well the actors and actresses were doing. They still had their scripts with them but for the most part, as far as I could see, they weren't using them. When I saw Connie come out on stage I leaned forward in my seat. I was surprised at how good of an actor she was. I guess I never saw Connie as the thespian type just as the rough tomboy type that played hockey - the Velvet Hammer as Averman liked to call her.
I must've got lost in my own thoughts because the nexdt thing I was aware of was Miss. Jacobs, the drama club advisor, calling an end to practice. As the kids started scattering in different directions I made my way to the aisle and started walking down toward the stage.
"Hey, Connie," I called out as she started to disappear backstage. She looked toward the sound of my voice with a look of surprise on her face.
"Charlie," she said happily as she started toward me. "I didn't know you were planning on stopping by tonight. I thought you would be tired from the game today," she said throwing her arms around me.
"I'm never to tired for you," I told her wrapping my arms around her and holding her close.
"So how long have you been hanging around here?" she asked me as I let her go. We started walking back toward the stage so that Connie could get her things which were still behind stage.
"Quite awhile," I told her. "You're really good."
"Thanks," she said.
"Hi Charlie, bye Charlie," I heard Ken Wu call. I turned to see him walk out of the auditorium with a very good looking girl. I knew she was in a couple of my classes but I couldn't remember her name.
"Looks like drama was a positive thing for Ken," I commented as Connie gathered up her things.
"Yeah, he and Melody have really hit it off. It's good for him. He's actually starting to make friends outside of the Ducks."
"Everyone seems to be," I said. After I said it I realized I sounded a little more bitter than I had meant to.
"There's nothing wrong with that Charlie. It doesn't mean we still aren't all friends. It just means we're growing up."
"Yeah, well I wish things would just stay the same," I told her as we walked out of the audiotrium.
"Nothing ever stays the same Charlie. Things are going to change whether you want them to or not. It you keep trying to cling to the way things use to be you're going to end up just ruining things," she said softly.
The two of us fell into a comfortable silence after that as we walked back to our dorm building hand in hand. I found myself thinking about her words. I knew she was talking about my current fight with Adam. The more I thought about what she had said the more I realized she was right. I had been trying to keep things like they had been - I wanted to be Adam's only real close friend. The one he spent most of his time with. That wasn't happening anymore though. He was friends with Shane again and Alex was now back in the picture.
I guess I hadn't really been fair. I mean after all I had started becoming friends with Alex myself too. If I was going to make new friends I had to expect that he would to, or in this case rekindle old friendships. Although I was pretty sure that I had ruined my friendship with Alex too. Adam hadn't been the only one I was acting like a jerk toward.
Connie was right. I had to let go of the past. Things weren't going to stay the same and if I didn't go along with the changes I was going to lose my friends. I didn't want that. After all, all of these changes were bringing about something that I wanted for a long time - a family. Gordon would finally be my step-father, I had found a sister I hadn't known I had, and as long as I hadn't completely ruined everything my best friend was going to basically be my brother.
When we got back to the dorm, Ken and Jesse were in the common room watching tv. I guess Ken had just walked Melody back to her room and then came back.
"I got homework to do," Connie said giving me a kiss and bringing me out of my thoughts. "I'll see you in the morning Charlie."
"Okay," I told her watching her disappear down the hallway. Not really wanting to hang out with Ken and Jesse I headed upstairs to my room. I was half way to my room when I noticed Adam sitting in front of my door. It was either go back downstairs or talk to him. I had a feeling even if I retreated downstairs when I came back upstairs Adam would still be waiting for me. It was either talk to him or plan on spending the night down on the couch in the common room. I took a deep breath and continued walking down the hallway.
"Hi, Adam," I said casually as he closed the book he had been reading and stood up.
"Charlie we need to talk," Adam said his face blank. I couldn't tell what he was feeling. I didn't know if he hated me or was just fed up with me or what.
"You're right, we do," I replied. If I wanted to save our friendship I knew it was now or never. "Come on in," I told him nodding toward the door.
He stood aside and I unlocked the door and walked inside with Adam right behind me.
Crazy4nc128- I know its probably not as fast of an update as you wanted but at least I updated. I hope you're not disappointed with the Charlie/Adam encounter.
Jess - Glad to hear you liked the Shane/Adam/Jesse friendship. I wasn't sure how well that would go over.
Banksiesbabe99- Thanks for the kind words. The Charlie/Adam confrontation is coming up so just be patient a little longer.
Rachel- Here's the next chapter. Thanks for reading.
Anne918- thanks for reviewing the last two chapters. I'm glad you're enjoying the story so much. Keep up the kind words.
C-Chan96 - I'll forgive you for taking so long to review because I love your reviews so much. As promised there is plenty of Charlie in this chapter (even a little Connie/Charlie). Thanks for the support.
Charlie's POV:
"Hey Charlie we're all going out for pizza. Come with us?" Fulton offered as I walked down the steps in our dorm building after getting showered and changed. I looked around at all of my friends. I really wanted to hang out with them tonight, well at least most of them but I didn't think it was a good idea. I didn't want to take a chance of losing all my friends and spending the night with Adam around might just lead to that.
"Umm, no sorry," I answered. "I'd really like to but I have a history paper I want to get started on."
"Dude, that paper is due in like three weeks," Portman said who was also in my history class. "You're not turning into a geek like Adam and Julie are you."
"Hey just because I get good grades doesn't make me a geek," Julie said menacingly from her spot next to Averman. It was probably a good thing for Portman that she wasn't close enough to clobber him.
"Yeah, just keep telling yourself that," Portman called back to her. If looks could kill, we would have been short a bash brother.
"Well, history isn't exactly my best subject. It's important that I get a good grade on this paper," I replied, which wasn't a lie. History was one of my lower grades, not that my grades were stellar to begin with, especially now that I didn't have the threat of not being able to play hockey if I got anything lower than a B.
"Suit yourself," Portman said. I could tell he and the rest of my friends weren't too happy about me not hanging out with them tonight but I figured they would get over it.
"Later guys," I called to them as I headed past the group and toward the exit of the building. I unfortunately had to walk right past Adam. I did so without looking in his direction though but I could still feel his eyes on me. I wondered how long I was going to be able to keep this up.
As I left the building I wasn't exactly sure where I was headed. I didn't really have any intention of going to the library. Portman was right. The paper was do in three weeks and I didn't even want to start thinking about it yet. After walking around aimlessly for a little while I head across campus to the main academic building.
I walked inside and made my way to the auditorium where the drama club was having rehearsal. I quietly slipped inside and took a seat in the back row careful not to disturb the rehearsal already in progress.
Although I had picked up Connie after play practice since we had started going out I had never actually watched one of the rehearsals. I usually showed up just as they were getting done. Today though the auditorium seemed like the perfect place to hide.
I was actually surprised at how well the actors and actresses were doing. They still had their scripts with them but for the most part, as far as I could see, they weren't using them. When I saw Connie come out on stage I leaned forward in my seat. I was surprised at how good of an actor she was. I guess I never saw Connie as the thespian type just as the rough tomboy type that played hockey - the Velvet Hammer as Averman liked to call her.
I must've got lost in my own thoughts because the nexdt thing I was aware of was Miss. Jacobs, the drama club advisor, calling an end to practice. As the kids started scattering in different directions I made my way to the aisle and started walking down toward the stage.
"Hey, Connie," I called out as she started to disappear backstage. She looked toward the sound of my voice with a look of surprise on her face.
"Charlie," she said happily as she started toward me. "I didn't know you were planning on stopping by tonight. I thought you would be tired from the game today," she said throwing her arms around me.
"I'm never to tired for you," I told her wrapping my arms around her and holding her close.
"So how long have you been hanging around here?" she asked me as I let her go. We started walking back toward the stage so that Connie could get her things which were still behind stage.
"Quite awhile," I told her. "You're really good."
"Thanks," she said.
"Hi Charlie, bye Charlie," I heard Ken Wu call. I turned to see him walk out of the auditorium with a very good looking girl. I knew she was in a couple of my classes but I couldn't remember her name.
"Looks like drama was a positive thing for Ken," I commented as Connie gathered up her things.
"Yeah, he and Melody have really hit it off. It's good for him. He's actually starting to make friends outside of the Ducks."
"Everyone seems to be," I said. After I said it I realized I sounded a little more bitter than I had meant to.
"There's nothing wrong with that Charlie. It doesn't mean we still aren't all friends. It just means we're growing up."
"Yeah, well I wish things would just stay the same," I told her as we walked out of the audiotrium.
"Nothing ever stays the same Charlie. Things are going to change whether you want them to or not. It you keep trying to cling to the way things use to be you're going to end up just ruining things," she said softly.
The two of us fell into a comfortable silence after that as we walked back to our dorm building hand in hand. I found myself thinking about her words. I knew she was talking about my current fight with Adam. The more I thought about what she had said the more I realized she was right. I had been trying to keep things like they had been - I wanted to be Adam's only real close friend. The one he spent most of his time with. That wasn't happening anymore though. He was friends with Shane again and Alex was now back in the picture.
I guess I hadn't really been fair. I mean after all I had started becoming friends with Alex myself too. If I was going to make new friends I had to expect that he would to, or in this case rekindle old friendships. Although I was pretty sure that I had ruined my friendship with Alex too. Adam hadn't been the only one I was acting like a jerk toward.
Connie was right. I had to let go of the past. Things weren't going to stay the same and if I didn't go along with the changes I was going to lose my friends. I didn't want that. After all, all of these changes were bringing about something that I wanted for a long time - a family. Gordon would finally be my step-father, I had found a sister I hadn't known I had, and as long as I hadn't completely ruined everything my best friend was going to basically be my brother.
When we got back to the dorm, Ken and Jesse were in the common room watching tv. I guess Ken had just walked Melody back to her room and then came back.
"I got homework to do," Connie said giving me a kiss and bringing me out of my thoughts. "I'll see you in the morning Charlie."
"Okay," I told her watching her disappear down the hallway. Not really wanting to hang out with Ken and Jesse I headed upstairs to my room. I was half way to my room when I noticed Adam sitting in front of my door. It was either go back downstairs or talk to him. I had a feeling even if I retreated downstairs when I came back upstairs Adam would still be waiting for me. It was either talk to him or plan on spending the night down on the couch in the common room. I took a deep breath and continued walking down the hallway.
"Hi, Adam," I said casually as he closed the book he had been reading and stood up.
"Charlie we need to talk," Adam said his face blank. I couldn't tell what he was feeling. I didn't know if he hated me or was just fed up with me or what.
"You're right, we do," I replied. If I wanted to save our friendship I knew it was now or never. "Come on in," I told him nodding toward the door.
He stood aside and I unlocked the door and walked inside with Adam right behind me.