I quickly unzipped my winter coat and slid the bulky sleeves off my arms and tossed into the backseat welcoming the cooler air only to be slapped in the face by the heaters in my father's car that seemed to be melting me. I undid the buttons at the cuffs of my shirt and rolled up the sleeves to my elbows, eying my father as he snorted like a bull as he sped down the highway, through the freezing rain that was spotting the windshield.

"Will you stop fidgeting? You're more distracting than you were when you were three years old!" My father barked as he glared over at me and then re-concentrated on the road. "The weather is more than enough to deal with at the moment." He grumbled.

I tugged at my tie that I had gotten and had been avoiding since two Christmases ago and stared at his scowling face as he zipped up his coat with a shiver. "I would but it's burning hot in here." I replied with a squirm in the leather seat and attempted to loosen my tie.

His eyes darted from me to the road a couple of times. "It's freezing in here." He stated firmly in a confused manner. "Are you feeling alright? Are you eating right at that school? Sleeping at all?"

I rolled my eyes at him knowing that wasn't the real reason he was worried. . He was worried that I would slack off because of those things and he would look bad in front of his friends. "Don't worry dad. My game has been and is just fine. Wonderful."

"Oh yes, just because I care about your future means I don't care about your well being, not even in the slightest." He scoffed to himself. He huffed as he glanced at me and stared at the wet and slippery streets. When I didn't reply to this he continued. "I only do what's best for you, my dear boy. And contrary to what you may or may not think, I do care about Jacob and you. I'm not the modern day Scrooge as you and your friends peg me as."

"Could've fooled me." I muttered as I turned toward the window and stared at the melting snow.

He gripped my shoulder with one had and kept the other firmly on the steering wheel. His grasp was firm, jus trying to get his point across but not to the point of pain. "Listen here," He started in a gruff and commanding voice, making sure I heard him no matter what I did to tune him out. "I have given you practically everything thing you have ever dreamed of and more. I've got you and your brother on the best teams, in the best of schools and you've got connections to some of the most powerful people in Minnesota and soon the country. And that's all because of me." He let go of my shoulder and kept both hands on the wheel and stared straight ahead as if he were speaking to the dashboard instead of me. "You have the life some people twice your age wish for every night and I made that for you."

"My hockey made that for me." I contradicted him.

He licked his lips and a small smirked upon them and a small humored chuckle filled the air. I felt I was being suffocated by it. "Who taught you to skate Adam? Who taught you how to play? Who paid for those exclusive hockey camps? I made you, physically and mentally, Adam."

I shook my head, throwing away everything he told me. "Those only taught me the basics; the Ducks--"

"Made you the player you are now?" He finished with a laugh. "Do you really think they would've cared you were on their team if you weren't the player I made you? To them, you were just a pawn and you still are. You could be replaced; and believe me there are countless of other kids who could fill your spot on that roster." He stopped and stared me in the eyes, knowing that no matter what I did, I couldn't escape from what he was about to say. "But you haven't been and do you know why? It's because of me. You see my son, I am an influential person too, even if you don't know that yourself. My father was an influential person and you will be too. Do you know why?"

I shook my head very slowly and nervously.

"Because the apple doesn't fall far from the tree." I sat in silence staring at my father's profile as he peered out the windshield at the slushy roads.

His words sent icy shivers down my spine. I breathed deep as I closed my eyes praying to God, or whatever is looking out for me that what he said wasn't true, for my sake and the Duck's sake.

The first thing that came to mind as we pulled into the driveway and I recognized both Josie's father's car in the driveway and Jacob's car was that you could always trust my family to make things worse or ore complicated than what they already were.

Josie sat beside me at the table and my father was on the end to my left and her father was to her right. It was so odd and I could tell something wasn't right. Not wrong in any sense. But the lack of awkwardness and evil death stares from her father just made the whole visit feel off.

"So how is school Adam?"

I jumped as Dr. Best had spoken to me since the greeting me as I took off my coat. I took a sip of water, as I coughed down a piece of bread I had been nervously eating since I sat at the table out of respect. I was too nervous and scared to be hungry. "Um…it's good."

"Joslyn tells me that you're also advanced in math. Are you enjoying it?"

I raised an eyebrow as Josie grimaced at the use of her real name and avoided my eyes by pushing a piece of lettuce around her salad bowl. "Yeah, it's great." I muttered eying her quickly before meeting her father's eyes and flashing a rehearsed grin.

"Joslyn, sit up straight." Her father hissed quietly making her push her shoulders back and meet the eyes of the person across the table, who happened to be Daniel McGill who at that moment allowed his petty immaturity take advantage of him and kick me in the shin.

I jumped making my knee hit the table painfully and making my father eye my carefully as he grabbed his glass filled with Merlot being sure it didn't tip as the table shook slightly.

My mother eyed her guests being sure none of their drinks split on the linen. My mother never ceased to amaze me. She didn't want the table cloth ruined so she could use it on special occasions, but she still used it when my Uncle Bernie (he's not actually related, but I'm pretty sure I've known him since I was in diapers. My father would probably commit suicide if he found out he was actually related to a man named 'Bernie.') came over and he only drinks extremely dry red wines and talks with his hands, which is never a good mixture with an off white linen table cloth.

"Daniel, William, how is it at St. Steven's? Are you two enjoying the experience?" My father asked taking a sip and gently placing it down on the table.

Dan and Will exchanged glances and smirked at each other knowingly. I inwardly groaned. I guess my enemies have made a little anti-Adam club and were plotting my demise. Alright!

Dan seemed to speak. "It's great Mr. Banks. I haven't even visited a better school."

I took a sip of water to keep myself from gagging from the sickening sweet act my old best friend was putting on.

My father slapped my back and I coughed on my water. "Maybe I should consider putting this guy in here." He laughed.

I coughed again and got up from my seat. "Excuse me, I'll be right back." As soon as I got out of the room I ran to the nearest washroom and locked the door behind me.

"What the hell is wrong with these people?!" I demanded of my reflection who looked just as confused as I felt. I heard a burst of laughter from the dining room, along with my mother's rehearsed trill over them all. "Am I the only person who sees how fake these people are?"

A knock on the washroom door interrupted my interrogation of my reflection tat seemed to be going nowhere. "Adam? You ok in there? Mom sent me out to see how you're doing." My brother sounded a little relieved to be out of the room.

I opened the door and stepped out and looked up at him. He was about six inches taller than me and I hated it. "I'm fine." I was also, in a way, happy it was him. If my father sent out Will or Dan they might have tried to choke me to death with their belt or shove their napkin down my throat or something equally unusual that might end up in the papers or on the news.

'Edina boy chokes to death on napkin during father's dinner party. The story at 6. And now, the weather!'

"Adam!"

I jumped as my brother snapped his fingers in front of my eyes. "What? Huh?"

He took me by the shoulders and hunched over so he was looking me right in the eyes. "I want you to tell mom and dad that while I was talking to you, my cell phone went off and I had to get back to school ASAP ok?"

I frowned. "You're school isn't even in this state. Dad is going to say you could've waited until morning." I stated knowing that if I told my parents that, they would get angry at me instead of my brother. They always liked him more. I'm convinced.

"Tell them that one of my friends died or something. They'll understand."

"Oh that's really great Jay. Disrespect the dead while you're at it." I replied smugly. "Tell them yourself I'm not getting into this." I walked out of his grasp and toward the dining room. I was yanked away from the door before I could even lay a hand on the doorknob to allow myself in.

My brother looked pleadingly into my eyes. "Come on Ads, I'll buy you some candy while I'm out. Please I just got to get out of here."

I blinked completely shocked. "Ok, candy would've worked when I was six. You seriously need to work on your bribing skills, besides you don't want to get out of here. You want to go drinking."

"Yes, you caught me." He grumbled getting angry. "Will you tell them?!"

I frowned and rolled my eyes. "I'll say you weren't feeling well and went to sleep. You better be home before midnight or we're both going to be in shit."

He grinned and slapped a hand on the top of my head and tousled it roughly. "Thanks little bro. You ever get shit-faced and I'm in town, call me. I'll cover for you."

I rolled my eyes. "You would probably join me, besides I'm not going to ruin my scholarship."

He raised an eyebrow and pulled his keys from his pocket, which a snatched quickly. "What the hell was that for squirt?!" He hissed wrapping an arm around my neck and pulling me into a rough headlock that was far from playful.

"You're car is blocked in the driveway already, Dad will wonder where it went when he's showing his 'guests' out and you shouldn't be driving, especially when you're anticipating getting drunk, and already have had a couple glasses of Scotch."

He let me out of the headlock and frowned. "You saw that?"

"Just like how I've seen that Dan has been 'borrowing' Rum from dad's liquor cabinet and lacing it with his coke." I replied crossing my arms.

Jay snorted and shook his head looking toward the dining room. "I always liked him. He was a cool guy."

"Is that before or after he rendered me unconscious the year I got kicked off the Hawks?"

"During." My brother replied and began to sneak toward the kitchen's back door.

"Jerk." I muttered as I straightened my tie and walked into the dining room and took my place beside Josie, who shifted uneasily and looked the other way.

"Where's Jacob?" My mother asked sweetly as she finished off her white wine and set it down on the table, which was quickly replenished by Mr. McGill.

"Ill. He has a migraine and needed to lie down." I replied placing my napkin on my lap and grabbing another piece of bread to occupy myself.

My mother looked worried and pursed her lips. "Oh, those migraines of his. I'm going to go check on him." She got up and placed her napkin on the table.

My eyes widened as realized that if I were caught in a lie that I was using to cover for Jay, I would be better off in the artic tundra of Canada wearing nothing but boxers. "No!" I yelped. "He said… He didn't want to be bothered. He took a sleeping aide and didn't want to be disturbed."

My father patted my mother's hand urging her to sit. "If Jake needs us, he'd yell."

I sighed in relief and rubbed my forehead. With all this lying and fakeness, I was getting a migraine.

"Who's up for the main course?"

After dinner my father suggested we 'retire' to the den to discuss business, as always. I sunk into the couch beside Josie and rubbed my temple with my hand. I was kind of confused on why she sat next me to me but she did. Maybe because she didn't want to sit with Will and wasn't on good terms with McGill after giving him a good swift kick before Christmas. So maybe I wasn't the most hated person she knew. Good to know…

I yawned, covering my mouth with my hand as my father explained how business was going.

My mother who was sitting in an armchair on my right tapped my hand as she checked her watch. "Sweetie, why don't you and Josie get everyone's coats from the back closet? It's almost eleven and I know that everyone is going to want to leave soon."

I looked over at Josie who nodded enthusiastically and gripped my hand pulling me out into the hall and closed the big oak doors closed behind us. She breathed a sigh of relief and groaned. "I don't think I could've taken another second of that. I love your mom."

I raised an eyebrow. "You're talking to me? I thought you hated me."

She glanced at me and rolled her eyes. "I do but right now you're not in my top five. Everyone in there is." She motioned to the people who were behind the door.

"So that's why you were sitting with me all night." I nodded. "It makes sense now."

She cleared her throat looked down at her shoes guiltily. "You could say that." She muttered and looked around. "So where is the closet?"

"Whoa!" I yelped grabbing her wrist before she began to escape in hopes of finding the closet. "No, what do you mean you could say that?"

She swallowed. "I kind of didn't tell my dad about us."

I raised an eyebrow. "You mean that's why he wasn't casting glares at me? He doesn't know we're not-"

"-going out. Yeah he has no clue." She replied quietly, looking away from me, licking her lips.

I leaned over to her and tried my best to stare at her. "You didn't tell him? Why not?" I stopped and realized what I was saying and shook my head. "Not that I'm not happy that you didn't tell him because if you did I would be cream of Duck right now, but why?"

She groaned and rolled her eyes. "I didn't want him to know alright? I didn't want to go through an 'I knew he was a bad apple' speech that I know he has stored up for when you screw up."

I shook my head. "Well that makes me feel that much better."

She frowned. "Hey, don't blame me buddy-boy. I saved you from the ass kicking you would've gotten from my father."

"Nice, that's really sweet of you Josie." I replied, brushing past her and walking towards the kitchen. I couldn't believe how quickly she had just pissed me off. It was almost amazing. "The closet is this way." I grumbled and stomped my way to the kitchen.

She followed behind me in silence until we reached the back room and I opened the closet. "Nice temper you have there." She scoffed sarcastically.

I spun around, her nose just barely an inch away from mine. "If I don't remember correctly, you have quite the temper also Joslyn." I didn't even blink as I continued. "I believe you had grown quite accustomed to yelling at me. So since we're not together anymore, what have you replaced me with? I'm quite interested to find out."

She scowled in at me. "Wow, I didn't realize how big of an asshole you can really be. So I guess that whole sweet guy thing you've been putting on since about November was an act." She shook her head. "That must've been quite a challenge for you. You really should've gotten an Emmy for that performance."

"Thanks I'm honored." I muttered under my breath as I turned around and grabbed a couple coats off the hangers and placed them in her outstretched arms. "And I'm sure the frigid bitch awards are coming around real soon."

I stopped and stared her straight in the eyes and she seemed to do the same. I was completely mystified on how all that just came out without me even thinking it over.

She shook her head and took a deep breath. "Wow. I'm sorry. I don't particularly like you, but I didn't mean any of that." She seemed to shake out of nervousness or fright.

"Yeah, same here. That was weird." I replied staring down at my feet.

"Do you think it's our families?"

I nodded. "Has to be; I mean, I don't ever say things like that unless I've spent too much time with them."

She chuckled quietly and shook her head, allowing me to take some of the coats from her arms. "You think their bitterness is contagious?"

I laughed and shrugged. "Maybe they have a vaccine."

She nodded. "Maybe we need our booster shots."

As our laughs subsided I realized that had been the first time she and I had actually laughed together since we broke up. I glanced over at her and she seemed to come to the same conclusion within a millisecond of me.

"Do you think-" I started and stopped as she started at the same time

"Did we-"

We looked away from each other and I shook my head.

"Maybe we-"

"I think that-"

We smiled at each other and closed our eyes.

"You go." She smirked.

I cleared my throat and began walking to the front foyer of my house. "Maybe we should try again, or try to be friends or something."

She frowned. "I don't think that's a good idea." She replied quietly looking away from me.

"What!" I yelped. "Jose, we were just laughing in there. We could make this work. You just have to give me a chance."

She shrugged. "Adam, I don't know; just give me a bit more time ok?"

I licked my lips and frowned. "How long?"

"Couple days minimum." She replied with a nod.

I raised a skeptical eyebrow. "Maximum?"

She shrugged helplessly

"Josie you can't just-"

"Oh good, perfect timing." My father interrupted me with a smile and took Mrs. McGill's coat from the top of all the coats from my arms and held it as she slipped her arms into it.

I glanced over at Josie who avoided my eyes like the plague as my mother took the coats from her hands.

"It's been a very productive night." My father said shaking Mr. Hayworth's hand.

Will eyed Josie and I carefully as he stood beside his mother, helping her into her coat. "It's nice seeing you again Adam." He nose twitched and glared at me. His eyes shifted to Josie, his lips curling into a cruel smirk. "It's always a pleasure Joslyn."

I cleared my throat and nodded and reached to shake his hand, knowing that if I didn't, my father would be all over me about it. He gripped my hand tightly. "Yes nice seeing you too." I muttered before he jerked his hand so he pulled me closer to him so he could whisper in my ear.

"I could've told them but I didn't preppy. You best be watching your back." He hissed in my ear like the serpent he was.

I pulled my hand from his and nodded at McGill who was already halfway out the door.

"Very productive, I would say." Dr. Best nodded, still speaking with my father.

My father nodded. "Come along Adam, Joslyn. I'll be taking you back to the dorms." My father took a hold of my shoulder and guiding Joslyn out of the door by the small of her back.

I glanced over at Josie knowing it was going to be an uneventful, deathly silent ride back to Eden Hall.

The thing was that I didn't know if that was a good or bad thing.

A/N: Wow! So inspired to write. I was so much quicker than last time, wouldn't you say? Ok… I wrote this during breaks of my French project. I had to write a story in French and normally it would be cool, but man does it ever suck. And it has to be a fairy tale. Fairy Tale! What the hell! I can't write freaking fairy tales! I'm about tension! Yeah, I'm pissed about this assignment. Not to mention my story sucks! It's about a skunk, who stinks! The cool part is that I named him Scooter and I have a duck in it (an actual duck, as in the bird...) so I have my MD fandom references in there, just for the hell of it and so I can giggle at it if I wish. Anyways, I'm just going to move on to my Shout outs!

Shout Outs!

Rach- Ohmigod, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to miss your review especially seeing I absolutely love every single one of them. I didn't mean to and I beg your forgiveness. I swear to God I am. I'm on my knees begging. I'm glad you enjoyed my Orion plotline and I'm so surprised that you were on your vacation and thinking about my story. I'm so honored! Oh and harass me all you want. It motivates me to write more. You wouldn't by any chance have MSN would you? It might be easier to harass me when I'm being lazy (not to mention getting sneak peaks at my chapters!). I read your Averman story, and actually I want to link that story on my site (cough cough visit my site cough! tee hee! Free advertising!) Can I? Please? I love it too much. I write Averman wonderfully? Have you READ your stuff? I love your Averman and I would be honored to help you whenever! Thanks so much and I hope you enjoy (my extra long) chapter! Happy Reading and Reviewing!

Beaner- Katie!! You have WAY too much time on your hands. That review was CRAZY. Ok, well lets start at the beginning of your (cough miniature book!!cough) review. Ok, first of all, I think Averman would be incredibly quirky and would have weird obsessions about his possessions and such. Adam's dad dropping that on Adam, I think he's just the type of person to do that. Like he just sort of 'dropped' in on Bombay's boss to talk about firing Bombay if he didn't allow Adam to play on the Hawks. He's an evil mofo. That's just who he is. We need to embrace this. blinks Ok… I think I've had a wee too much coffee. You already know my Averman date has been brewing since forever. I've been thinking about it and thinking about it so much that it was making me cranky. However I think it came out just right don't you think? Anyways, thanks for the review (even though it went flame at that bottom! I'm going to go cry now! Kidding!) and happy reading and reviewing!

Jocie- Hey there. Oh it would be totally weird to spend the entire night with your ex, unless you decided to be like friends with your ex or something. Like I had a friend like that, however… she ended up making out with him by the end of the night. Wow… that was random. Anyways… Ohhh!! Throw and extra egg at his house for me! Color it with red markers and write 'the Eskimo is going to get you!' on it! You and Nate have fun! Oh I live for writing Averman. I really do. I didn't find the joys of writing him until like late last story so, you picked a good story to review all the time. Oh and by the way, Fulton is being sent off to you right now. Pick him up at your local airport. He's in a big gift wrapped crate labeled 'Happy Birthday Jocie! P.S. Dan is a jerk. Enjoy your Duck! Happy Reading and Reviewing and Happy Birthday from the Ducks and a Canadian Duck Fan/Writer.

SqUiDsLiLpYrO- I'm Squealing! He's a FAN!! I want Justin to read this ok? JUSTIN! You rock and welcome to the Mighty Ducks Fandom! You are so cool and you are the best! Ok, I had no idea that my writing had side effects of sudden outbursts. Maybe I should put a warning on it. Ok, I don't know about brilliance, but it was really fun to write despite the fact that (gasp) everything was over the phone and Adam didn't leave the comfort of his BED! That lazy ass!! I hope everyone (winks) enjoys my chapter and happy reading and reviewing!

Emily- Wee!! It's you!! Yes yes… poor Averman (snorts) I feels so bad for him (giggles) I hope… Oh screw it! I love torturing Averman!! I'm sorry but I do!! And Adam! Pfft!! Torturing him is a hobby for me now, although I do seem to put him in crappy situations. But whatever. It's cool. Well he lives and by now you know what happens. Happy Reading and Reviewing!

Pyro44- YOU!! (points at you) Yes YOU! No, not the person behind you… yeah YOU. Ok… loving your review because I was online when you review and my computer made a funny noise when the e-mail was delivered and I jumped and was scared. I was like Holy! Ok anyways. I had no clue that the States were making the 40 hours thing mandatory too. I think I have like (squints) 16 hours left? Maybe I don't remember. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed the way that the dinner from Hades turned out! It was way fun to write and it is weird how life does that to you. Like for example, in both my Civics and Science class, none of my close friends were with me and I was with people I don't particularly like. However, I've made a couple new friends (mostly guy friends in my Civics, one of which says he's stalking me and peeking through my blinds. He's an idiot and completely harmless) so it all worked out for me. Adam on the other hand… not so much. Anyways, I read your story after I posted last chapter and I was creeped out. I don't remember if I reviewed (I'm really sorry if I didn't!) and Ken does kind of seem the type and Averman (to me) seems like the type to ask someone to do that. Anyways, that was creepy and I hope you enjoyed this chapter! Happy Reading and Reviewing!

REVIEW

Toodles

KatieGurlie99