A/N: This is almost done!! I'm so excited. I hope you guys like these final chapters. On with the show:

Chapter 17: Cousin Lil

"Where is it?" I asked as I dug through my closet. I couldn't find that shirt anywhere. "Aha! Here it is!" I threw it on with my jeans and grabbed my books as I headed out the door.

Charlie was outside the dorm waiting for me. "All ready?" he asked grinning.

"I think so," I said sighing. We walked the few steps to the main building of Eden Hall. "Here goes nothing."

Of course the rest of the Ducks knew exactly what was going on. Coach Orion was even in on it. But I was still terribly nervous. I knew Adam wouldn't buy this, no matter how believable it was.

Charlie and I approached the rest of the team (Adam not included). "Hey, guys. I want you to meet our manager, Lilly's cousin Lil."

Okay, I know I could've come up with a better name than that, but it was on short notice. I smiled shyly at the team and said hi.

"Wow!" Averman said. "How original. Adam will never suspect a thing."

"Shut up, Averman," Connie said, smiling at me. "I think it's brilliant. I hope this works."

Guy scoffed. "We all do. Adam's just no fun to be around anymore."

"Remember you guys: I have a very little idea about what happened between Adam and my cousin. I'm just a fan from Northern Minnesota who transferred here and looks suspiciously like Lilly Riley." I rolled my eyes at that dumb-sounding scenario. If I had had more time, I would have come up with something better.

"Right," Russ said. "Averman's right: Banksy will never believe that."

"Dude, shut up," Fulton said. He full on supported my plan, just like Charlie and Connie. "Just play along."

"Where is Banksy, anyway?" Charlie asked.

"Running late, apparently." Connie grabbed her books and started for class. "Let's go to History, okay?"

They walked me by my locker so I could grab my stuff, then we all walked to class. When we got there, Myranda did a double take, and ran up to us.

"Lilly, what's going on?" She looked at me, half-worried, half-annoyed.

"I'm sorry, but I'm not Lilly. I'm her cousin, Lil." I stared at her. Then I whispered, "It's a plan. Just play along."

"Right, Lil. My bad. Where is your cousin anyway?" Myranda tried to fight laughs.

"She's sick." Then I took a seat by Charlie.

History class passed quickly and still no sign of Adam. I went through the morning telling teachers and students that I was Lil, not Lilly. The students thought I was protesting against the popularity the Riley name brought (what popularity? Besides, I still had my last name, duh!), while the teachers thought I was having an identity crisis. I just smiled at their concerned (or amused) faces and said I wasn't nutty or protesting, just correcting.

I walked into lunch with Julie and Connie (I have 4th period French with them) and looked over at the JV table as I went to stand with them in line. Adam was there! I was so excited. The only thing was I had to hide was the necklace I had on. It was a simple chain…with the ring Adam had given me on it. I didn't want to break the act because of sentimental reasons.

Julie nudged me in the back as we started towards the table. I shot her a look then slowly followed Connie.

"Hey, ladies!" Charlie's mouth was half-full of potatoes (Gross!).

"Ew! Charlie, grow up!" Connie wrinkled her nose in disgust and sat down by Guy. Then she glanced back at me. "Oh, Banksy! I have somebody you need to meet."

"Oh, yeah? Who?" Adam looked a little happy. My heart soared at his smile as he turned our way. Unfortunately, then it disappeared. "I already know her."

He obviously hasn't forgiven me yet, I said, rolling my eyes.

"Oh, this isn't who you think it is," Julie said, sitting me down between her and Connie (and right across from Adam and Charlie). "This is Lilly's cousin, Lil." She looked at me in confusion. "What's that short for again?"

I smiled at her. "Gillian. I just don't like the nickname Gil." I wrinkled my nose in disgust. Then I turned to Banksy and smiled at him. "Hi, nice to meet you." I held out my hand to shake his.

He looked at it like it was diseased then back at my shirt. "If you're Lilly's cousin, why are you wearing the jersey I gave her?"

I pulled my hand back and looked down at the shirt. "Oh, well, I'm such a huge fan of the Mighty Ducks…and you guys, know that I think about it…that Lilly gave it to me. It was before she realized she loved you…" I stared at him for a moment, noticing the hurt in his eyes. "I'm sorry; I didn't mean to bring it up."

"Whatever," Adam said, swirling his potatoes around on his plate. He looked up at me, an amused look on his face. "I'm past it. She never cared about me anyway."

Charlie choked on his milk. "Never cared about you? You are so full of it!"

"Yeah, Banks. You could at least pretend to be nice towards her since Lil here is her cousin." Connie looked indignant.

I held up a hand to silence any further discussion. "It's okay. I know Lilly can be a pain in the ass." I glanced at Charlie, who looked like he was about to burst if he didn't laugh. Then I looked at Adam, who's face still held a look of amusement. "She can be a jerk, Adam. And I am sorry she hurt you, since you seem like such a good person. But, she did love you. I don't like to admit it because she's such a bitch, but she did…does love you." Then I looked down at my food.

"Yeah, well, I need another water," Julie said, after a long pause.

"I'll go with you Julie," I said, standing up. I looked at Adam. He was staring at me in shock.

We left and I watched Charlie and Adam fight as we were standing in line.

"Don't be upset, Lilly," Julie said as she paid. "He is still in denial about the whole thing…you know, his feelings and all that."

I sighed and looked at her. "I know, Julie. But still, I wish he would just accept the fact that this my apology."

We were halfway across the cafeteria when Adam picked up his tray and stomped off. We hurried back to the table and sat down.

"What happened?" we asked in unison.

Charlie rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, as soon as you two left, Adam asked us why we were against him, too."

"I told him we weren't, we just missed seeing him happy…like he was with you, Lilly," Connie put in.

"He said that he could never be happy with a lying wench," Charlie continued, as if Connie had never interrupted. "I told him that was harsh, but that you clearly agreed with him on that point."

"I do!" I exclaimed. "I was terrible."

"Then he asked why you were even doing this," Connie said glumly.

"So I told him it was because Coach Orion said you could be manager." Charlie sighed. "He was upset about that…he ranted that he was going to be tormented during practices too."

"That's when we told him you were going to be JV's manager, until we showed up." Connie sounded just as mad at Adam as Charlie did.

"So, then he said something like," Charlie paused while he searched his brain. "'So she breaks my heart and I'm the one who has to suffer.' Then, before we could say anything to him, he got up and walked away."

"Or, you could look at it like he threw a tantrum and stormed away, but whatever," Connie finished, eating some more corn.

"Well, I guess I'll just have to keep trying," I said softly. I looked at the JV hockey team. "Thanks so much for your help, but if this is going to make Adam mad at you, you don't have to help me anymore."

Charlie shook his head. "Uh-uh. We're in on this until the end, Riley."

"Yeah," Julie said, joining the conversation. "You invited us in on this excursion and now you're stuck with us."

I smiled at them in gratitude. No one had ever been this willing to let something bad happen to them to help me out. Except for Adam and the whole beating up Rickie thing. I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. If only Adam would buy it.

A/N: Three more chapters and it's done…Do da, do da. Three more chapters and it's done…Oh, dee do da day!! R/R, Nellie