The next morning, I woke up feeling completely and utterly drained of all possible energy. I'm not exactly sure why; perhaps the gallivanting around the greater Minneapolis area with Averman and then later Guy, or the fact that I had taken that midday nap and I couldn't get to sleep, for the life of me until approximately 3am, but I have a feeling it was a mixture of the two. But in actuality, it didn't really matter. I was just going to lounge around the dorm and do absolutely nothing.

Or at least that was the plan...

I grabbed one of the piles of Sports Illustrated magazines that we half hidden beneath Averman's bed. I grabbed the first magazine off the pile and opened it to a completely random page. It was a seriously old copy and all the pages were dog eared but other than that, it was in perfect condition. There was not a picture tore out, or a single pen mark. Averman was extremely protective about his magazines that way. I remember this one time, Charlie ripped out a picture of Gretzky from his own magazine and Averman got this look on his face, almost like complete shock, his pale skin turning even more pale than usual.

The annoying, piercing ring from my cell phone murdered my peaceful silence. I groaned and glared at the silvery piece of technology on my bedside tabled. No matter how evil the glare I sent at it, it didn't seem to stop ringing. I groaned and forced my fatigued muscles to reach and grab the phone. I put it to my ear and flipped the page to the magazine. "Talk."

"Is that how you answer a phone? What happened to Hello, Adam Banks?"

I nearly dropped the phone from shock and sat up straight; upsetting the magazine that was balanced on my lap, making it slide off my mattress and onto the floor with a thump. "Dad?" I asked nervously, mentally praying it wasn't him and some sick joke that the Ducks were playing on me. I waited for a second. It wasn't. "How did you get this number?"

I could hear the frustration seep into my father's tone and mannerisms, even over the phone. He seemed to get tense and annoyed just by talking to me. "I bought the phone Adam. Don't you think it would be stupid if I didn't know the number to it?"

I didn't matter who or what you did, with only a couple of words my father could make you feel completely worthless, idiotic or both. You could be the most confident, beautiful, skilled, successful person on the face of the Earth and somehow or another, my father could pull it off. He probably was one of the biggest bullies in the whole state of Minnesota during his schoolyard days. Little Philly Banks holding the smaller kids down with their heads in the sand, dangling spit over their faces until they surrendered their lunch money to him.

If I find out that my family's 'fortune', in the beginning was funded by a bunch of schoolboys' lunch money; I'm giving up my trust fund and my inheritance.

"Adam Nathaniel Banks! Are you listening to me?"

My phone was tossed into the air when my father's angrily voice shot into my ear like a bullet. I caught in midair and gripped it with two hands as I held it. "Sorry dad, what were you saying?"

My father groaned his aggravated and annoyed groan at me because of the fact that I, in his opinion, was wasting his precious, expensive time by making his repeat whatever useless thing he was muttering. "Don't you every listen?" he spat. "I'm surprised that, that coach of yours hasn't benched you for the extreme lack of listening skills on your part!"

I sunk in my bed and rested my head on my headboard, preparing myself for a rousing tedious rant on how I was a terrible son, with little or no useful skills and I should try to follow in my picture-perfect brother, Jacob's footsteps before I ruined my life so much that I wouldn't be able to rectify it. Oh joy...

"I need you to come home for a dinner party your mother and I are throwing tonight." My father concluded, more quickly than I expected he would. Oh he was full of surprises today!

"What for?" I asked before I could catch myself. Uh oh...

"Don't you 'what for' me young man! Have you completely forgotten your manners at that school of yours?!" Is it me or does he fail to mention that my brother and him as well when to this school at my age? Has he forgotten that this isn't just my school, but his and Jay's?

I closed my eyes. My father seemed to be slightly short tempered today. Whatever the reason is, must be last minute because he's always a little snippy and short fused when he's rushed. He hates being rushed.

I swallowed and nervously interrupted him. "Dad! I swear I wasn't being smart! What I meant was why am I needed? I was just being curious."

"I bet." My father grumbled in disbelief. Sometimes it feels like I could tell him that the rain is wet and he wouldn't believe me in the slightest. But that's just my father for you. Unless he says it, it isn't true. "I have a few clients coming over and they are around your age. The Best's, Hayworth's and McGill's will be there also. They want to speak business with me."

I inwardly groaned. Hmmm... My ex-girlfriend, my mortal enemy and my best friend turned enemy all at the dinner party from the depts. Yes, my father was finished creating my hell. All he needed was a white hot branding iron and a bed of nails and it would be perfect. "Dad, Dan McGill and I haven't spoken civilly since pee-wees, and Will Hayworth is out for my blood." I replied simply, hoping he would catch my blatantly obvious hints.

"Nonsense." He replied with complete conviction. "You were speaking fine with Daniel during his family's Christmas party and the Hayworth boy and you had a minor disagreement." My father loves to contradict me. I'm not exactly sure why. I think it's a hobby of his.

"Dan attempted to break my wrist when you forced us to shake hands. I had to ice my wrist when we got home!"

He completely ignored me and continued on his merry way, conversationally speaking. "I expect you showered and ready by 2:50 and in front of your dorms so I can see you. Wear a nice pair of tan dress pants, that shirt your grandmother bought you for Christmas; they look good on and bring your Eden Hall jacket."

I inwardly groaned. First of all, I hate being told what to wear because it feels like my parents think I'm a six year old instead of almost sixteen and secondly, that shirt was itchy and the neck was tight and felt like it was strangling me. I'm not sure why a lot of dress clothing is so uncomfortable, but it is, so I have to deal with it. I'm pretty sure that my relatives are plotting against me, but that might just be me being paranoid.

"You know which one I'm talking about correct?" My father asked being sure that I would look perfect and him the perfect providing father.

I closed my eyes and sighed. "Yes sir." I mumbled under my breath.

The quiet sound of him gloating washed over me. "Good. 2:50 then."

The dial tone hit my ear harshly and I hurt up and slammed the phone onto my table frustrated. My father never was good with small talk at all. I remember him once saying, 'I wanted to know the weather I would watch the news.' I'm not all the sure if his straight-forward-ness helped of hindered him in the long run, but it seemed that it helped.

I grabbed my watch off my bedside table and slapped it on my wrist and glanced at its face. 11:30. Thank God. I had a couple of hours to mentally prepare myself to deal with my family.

My bare feet touched the cool hardwood floors of the dorms and the soft patting noise was the only sounds until I reached Averman's stereo and flipped on a random song to fill the void. I slumped into the washroom and turned on the tap and splashed the cool water onto my burning face. I grabbed the nearest towel and patted off my skin and looked at the mirror, revealing my pale complexion.

Josie and I were going to be in the same house, probably in the same room for the entire night until about 11, when most of my father's dinner parties end. We would have to at least act civil toward each other so, within the 9 hours of being in each other's presence, we might work something out. Maybe tonight wouldn't be a complete disaster.

Okay—scratch that. This was planned my Phillip Banks and colleagues. Nothing good could come out of tonight. Hell spilling out of the depths would be more likely than something good and pure and happy happening. It was a near impossibility.

My phone rang out through the music. I gave out a quick frustrated yell. It was probably my father just reminding me to wear the shirt or feel his wrath in a fiery pit with pointy wooden stakes. I considered ignoring it, but knowing my father he would murder me if I let it go to voicemail when he came to pick me up. No, first he would make me endure the dinner party then he would throttle me.

I slumped into the room and snatched the phone off my nightstand. "Hello, Adam Banks speaking. May I ask who is calling?" I answered in a sickly sweet fake, well manner voice. That would get under my father's skin knowing I was just mocking him. I could feel a smirk crawling onto my lips.

"Banksie? What the hell was that?"

The smirk fell off my face and seemed to shatter into a million pieces. "Averman?"

"Yeah." He replied slightly suspicious of me. "What's with the formal intro, Banksie?"

I laughed at myself and shook my head. I was so stupid sometimes. I should really start looking at the caller ID before I pick up the phone and say something stupid. "Oh, I was just summoned to the royal court to make an appearance in front of the Royal family and the King's advisors."

He laughed. "Oh, the Little Prince has to act all well mannered and cannot fraternize with the peasants I see."

I scoffed. "Oh, you're right, good and noble jester." I stopped and frowned. "Wait, isn't the jester supposed to be entertaining the Duchess?"

"Duchess?" Averman immediately stopped laughing. "OK, no more jokes, who are you talking about?"

I snorted at Averman's obliviousness. "Aren't you supposed to be teaching Elaine how to skate right now?"

He groaned. "Let's just say the Duchess has prior engagements and sent the Duke in her place."

"You mean you're with Bo-"

"Yes, I'm with Bobby Jones right at this moment, but he's off to get tape and some ice." He grumbled.

"Ice and tape? Is he ok?" I asked worried.

"He is. I'm not." Averman moaned. "He fell on me, landed on my glasses that fell off my face, snapped them in two and crushed my knee cap into the ice all within fifteen seconds. I hurt all over. I mean worse than the time that Portman playfully pushed me into the lockers and I almost blacked out."

I frowned. "Well what happened with Elaine? Why are you with Bobby?"

He gave out a disturbed and completely drained groan. "W were in the arena and she told me to go set up and she would be there in a second; her cell phone rang." He explained. "When she came into the arena she wasn't wearing her skates and Bobby was holding her hand and waved me over to them and then she told me that her mother tried her pager, and that she always forgets her cell number. So her mother called Bobby and she had to go baby sit her sisters, and Bobby would take her place because I had 'gone through so much trouble."

I blinked. "That was quite a story Averman." I replied in monotone.

"I know! And now I'm stuck in a freaking falling in love montage straight out of the last Julia-freaking-Roberts with a Neanderthal!" He yelped at me angrily.

I snorted and shook my head. "It could only happen to you!" I sputtered.

"Banks! I swear to freaking God! All we're missing is hot chocolate man! Get me out of here!"

I snickered quietly and smirked. "Oh man, Bobby has the hotts for you!"

"Shut it!" He snapped, half laughing half serious. "I didn't call you to make fun of me. If I wanted that I would've called Portman or Charlie or Russ or someone."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm glad to know that you think of me as the serious, straight laced, boring type of friend." I grumbled.

"Yeah, whatever; no problem." He replied ignoring what I had said. "The thing is, that Bobby, despite being a Neanderthal, a blockhead and having acquired an IQ or approximate equal value to a dead guy--"

"Averman, get on with it..."

"He's a nice guy, even though I hate his guts for going out with the girl I like." He explained.

"And your point is?"

"I don't think that in my right mind I could try to take Laney away from him."

I grinned and breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed as if Averman had grown up and grew a conscience during his stay at Eden Hall. I guess our school did instill some values in our raw and unkempt minds; terrifying. "Well that's good. You got to know a person and starting thinking about other people's feelings, I'm proud of you Averman." I mocked him.

"Yeah..." He stopped in midway and he seemed to rethink what he was agreeing with. "Wait NO!" He yelped into my ear. "I was thinking about me! Once he fell on me and ruined my glasses by accident, I realized I would be a baggie of dust if he found out I was chasing his girl, especially with those anger problems."

"Anger... problems?"

"Oh yeah." He confirmed. "Kenny hacked into the school's database for me—"

"You got Ken to hack into the school's database? Averman!" I yelped at him I couldn't believe the Ducks had corrupted poor Ken so much. Little pranks, fine. Shaving cream, cold water; that was in good clean fun, but hacking into the administration's files could get him expelled.

"Banks! Focus!" Averman yelped back at me. "Anyways, Ken said that a one, Robert 'Bobby' Norman Jones, has some anger issues. He's the only known student since the early 20's to punch out a spectator at a football game! And he was only in grade 10 then! Imagine now! He's a senior! He would crush me!"

"Well that's a little nerve-racking." I admitted swallowing nervously for the sake of Averman. "So that means your not going to go through with your evil plan right? You're going to leave Laney alone."

"Well..." He started and stopped. "Shit..."

"What?"

"Oh it's nothing. Bobby is just bringing me hot chocolate." He explained with an aggravated sigh. "It's really quite a sweet gesture on his part. He's even got some tape and ice with the tray. He didn't have to do all that you know."

I couldn't help but laughing along with Averman as he made light of his situation. "Have fun on the rest of your date man." I smirked.

He laughed and I could just imagine his shaking his head at me. "Yeah you too. Have fun with the parents from Hades."

I groaned. "Thanks man for reminding me."

"No prob." He laughed as he hung up to join Bobby, whom I could hear ask who he was talking to.

I hung up my phone and stared at it as if I were just waiting for the next person to call. It felt like no time had passed as I stared at the silvery piece of technology that lay dormant on the table in front of me. I felt very alone. I didn't like that.

I grabbed my watch and realized that I had been sitting there for about an hour. I got up and began to get ready for the dinner from hell.

A/N: Oh Guys! I'm sorry it's been a while. I've had a couple things on my plate and I think it may be like that for a while. I did finish this chapter on like Friday and then my brother deleted most of it. I was so angry. Then I did my 30 hour famine (Woot go me!) which actually wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. If you ever do one, do NOT binge eat beforehand it makes you hungrier during the famine. Now I have a French ISU (which for anyone who doesn't know, is a huge project called an Independent Study Unit) and also one in Civics and then I have to do an oral exam in French so I have a lot to work on. So #1. I'm so sorry for my lack of writing and posting. I am writing I just don't have time to type it out and #2. I'm sorry for the future because it seems I might have disappeared, but I haven't. The people who have me on AOL know I am still alive and kicking. You can add me to MSN (just use my e-mail address in my profile) if you have that instead. Anyways, I'll try to post as much as I can, but my semester is winding down so please excuse me and pity me ok?

Shout outs

OreoLine00- Ok, I can't name the baby Nick or Ryan. A) I already have a character named Ryan (Ryan Larson...) and 2. I already named the baby. I've had him named since before I even started this story. I hadn't even finished Don't Speak! I'm glad you enjoyed last chapter, and I hope you like this one despite the long gap in between.

Beaner- Hey you! OK, I don't have to ask you what happened with your mom, and I hope she's better, and I'm glad you liked last chapter too. I hope you like this one and I hope you have more to say next time you review and I hope I do too! OK? Later!

Emily- I was so a Hawk and the weird thing was that he had awesome teams too. Even a guy that now that I think back to him, was an awesome athlete in whatever he did. It was really creepy. He kind of reminds me of Adam now. Cute too. I mean the whole bit, perfect, student counsel, athlete, popular and he even was separated from his friends when he went to a RIVAL high school. shivers Creepy. I'm glad you enjoyed the conversation I finally worked out after a while because it was hard. I was so blocked. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter too! Later!

Banks'-gurl-99- Hey there. You got lost last chapter? I'll have to re read it and try to find that point and try to clarify it. I'm glad that you were excited to read the next chapter (this one!) but I'm so sorry for making you wait. I don't like doing that! Glad you enjoyed it and I hope you like this one!

Pryo44- Hey there! Oh it's ok that you didn't have time to review! However I did miss your reviews! I'm so glad you loved my Averman stuff because I absolutely love writing him. He's one of my favorites to write. Yikes! Don't get in trouble on my behalf! I don't need you to be 'slacking off' in a library, even though I know exactly what you mean. I had to do some of my 40 hours of community involvement (a requirement in Ontario high schools) in a library. It was really bad. Anyways, I hope you enjoy this chapter and I hope to hear from you as soon as you can get around to reviewing little ol' me!

Jocie- Hey you girlie! Hey, no problem for dedicating a chapter to you. Everyone needs to be cheered up and us girls need to stick together especially with guys like Dan that are our counterparts on this place we call home... grimaces. OH, no problem about the 'fab' story, as you put it. It's too fun to quit! You'll see how the whole Josie thing works out ok? Just wait. Oh and Guy and his angel followers? Hmmm... we'll have to see where that works in... taps chin I'll try to work in Fulton (I'm thinking I'll try for next chapter for sure) And Orion doesn't get enough ink so I figured I would just toss him into the mix. See I updated! I'm a little late I know, but I'll try to be quicker next time ok? Anyways, later!

SqUiDsLiLpYrO- waves back Hello! Oh I was sensing a pattern also. Is it that you just really like my stuff? tear I feel so loved! Did you lean him your tape yet? Does he understand? Is he a fan yet!!!! SQUEE!! Anyways, I don't really have anything else to say so I'll talk to you later and I hope you enjoy this chapter! Later!

Again I'm so sorry for being so late on Updating. Please forgive me and don't murder me! I love you guys and I hope you guys don't hurt me! Talk to you later all!!

REVIEW!

Toodles

KatieGirl