A/N: Hooray! I am the best! Actually, I'm just in a really good mood. I know Lilly's plan is kind of dumb, but just roll with it. It's going to get better. I promise! On with the show!

Chapter 18: Truth Hurts…Right?

I had my mom call the school and tell them I was taking a week off. I also had her tell them my cousin Gillian was there to kind of take my place (Boy, did I have to explain that one…But, in the end, she thought it was brilliant…Go figure.). Then when I started showing up as "Lil" the next day, the teachers and students actually believed me.

Except my brothers…They totally knew what was going on, but they pretended that I was Gillian. God, I love those two big lugs. The Ducks knew the truth, too, but they weren't saying anything because they hoped it would bring out the old Banksy. And of course Myranda knew, but who would she tell? I knew her biggest secret and she knew her mom would kill her if she ever found out.

I actually think Adam started to buy it. He'd smile at me in the hallways and he even spoke a few words to me at Tuesday night's practice. Okay, so they were, "Hi," "You suck at this manager's thing," and "Bye," but whatever.

Wednesday night's practice wasn't much better, although Russ really helped me out when he was on the bench. He explained some of the rules and terms of hockey and even helped me figure how to do all the play paperwork I had. We joked around a lot and he told me all about how he became one of the team. It's was really nice.

I, of course, had to do the warm-up and cool-down exercises. You know, like telling them what to do. Thanks to Connie and Julie, I did okay, even though I called the sprints 'spits.'

Being a part of the team really wasn't bad. They were really fun and did some crazy drills. Like the 'Clearing the Net' drill. That was hilarious. I was laughing so hard that tears were rolling down my cheeks.

Coach Orion, towards the end of practice, yelled at the team to take a knee. Thanks to Russ's lessons, I knew that meant to gather around him and sit down. Then he did something the team didn't even expect.

"You guys aren't skating like Warriors," he bellowed.

What does this guy want from them? I thought.

"You're skating like something else." He paused and opened the box beside him. He pulled out a jersey. "You look like Ducks." He read the name on the back of the jersey. "Robertson." (A/N: I think that's right, but I'm not sure, so roll with it.)

The team hit their sticks to the ice and gathered around to get their jerseys. I was smiling really big. Coach had made them so happy.

"Heads up, Riley," someone said.

I snapped back to reality just in time to catch a jersey flying at my head. I caught and looked at the back. It was my very own jersey, not for a present either. This time I had earned it.

"Thanks," I yelled at whomever had just thrown it at me.

"No problem," Fulton replied. He winked at me and pointed his head to the opposite side of the rink.

I couldn't take the smile of delight off my face as I glanced in the direction Fulton had told me to. Adam was staring at me as he slipped on his jersey. I waved at him enthusiastically and pointed to my own.

Instead of ignoring me or frowning, he did something that surprised me. He threw his head back and laugh. In that instant, Adam let me know I might stand a chance.

The team gathered around the center circle and hit their sticks to the ice in a rhythm. I pulled my jersey on and watched them as Coach Orion skated up to me.

"Good job, Coach," I said, smiling at him.

"They earned it," he replied. He glanced back at them then turned his attention to me. "And what about you?" He pointed to my jersey. "Did you earn that?"

I thought for a minute. "You know, a week ago, I would have said yes and thought nothing of it. I mean, after all the lying I had been doing, what would have been one more?" I sighed and glanced back at the team. "But those kids, my classmates, have given me so much. Compassion, friendship," I paused, then smiled, "a conscience." We both laughed. "And yet I haven't given them anything. Coach, I promise you; I may not have earned this jersey yet, but someday, I will."

The team went into the locker room and I went around to pick up the extra gear. I had just finished putting everything away when the door to the rink opened. This really surprised me because the whole team had talked about leaving straight from practice to go eat. I peered out of the closet to see…Adam, standing alone.

"Hey, Banksy. What can I do you for?" I grinned at him and sat on a bench.

"Well, first of all," he sat down next to me, "you can tell me what's up with Lillian."

I sighed and told him that 'she' was terribly depressed and sitting at her big house, eating ice cream and watching soap operas. "Why?"

"Well," he started, rubbing the back of his neck. "For a while, I thought you were her. But then the rumors about how she was taking a week off started around and her brothers were calling you 'cuz' and I just was curious…"

"Curious about what?" I turned to him.

"Curious about whether or not she is still as miserable as I am." He looked up at me with unshed tears in his eyes.

My heart nearly broke again. I was making him cry. "Oh, Adam. I'm sorry you're still hurt." Then I did something I never thought I'd be able to do again…I squeezed his hand. "You wanna talk about it?"

He nodded and drew in a shaky breath. "I fell for Lilly the first time I saw her. The fact that she even talked to me blew my mind. I thought she was too good for me. But then she let me take her out and, I don't know, I just became totally caught up in her." He looked at me with this heartbroken look. "I still am. And I feel I can talk to you because you're honest with me." He looked around and whispered, "If anyone ever lied to me again, I think I'll die, Gillian." He wiped off his face. "But I know you'd never to that to me."

I stood up and turned away from him. I closed my eyes. God, here we go again.

"Gillian? What's wrong?" He stood up, his voice full of concern.

If you tell him, he'll never forgive you. I rationalized. But if you don't and he finds out, he won't then either. Damned if I do and Damned if I don't. Here goes.

I turned around and sighed. The tears started down my face. "What Lilly did to you was horrible. No person with half a brain would go and treat another human being like they were nothing more than a pawn in a chess game." I paused. "I need you to promise you won't interrupt me later."

Adam nodded and took a step closer. "You have my word."

I pulled the chain with the ring on it out from under my new jersey. Adam gasped and I began to speak.

"I know I can be a little crazy, Adam," I said, breaking character and closing the distance between us. "But I needed you to talk to me again. I missed you so much. I couldn't stand being away from you. So I had the Ducks help me…They weren't trying to hurt you, I swear! They just wanted to make sure you were happy again." I looked into his eyes. Betrayal, pain, everything he was feeling was right there in black, blue and white. "I made up Gillian. I wanted to tell you exactly how I felt about myself. I'm a worthless, heartless shell of what was once a human being and I don't deserve to even have you as an acquaintance. But I still do…and always will love you." Then I kissed him really fast and ran from the rink crying.

==========================

It was about nine o'clock that night when the phone rang. I was in the dorm, alone as usual (Myranda was at Nick's giving him 'the news'), watching TV.

"I wonder who that is," I murmured. "It can't be Randa; I know where she is."

I got up and walked over to the ringing machine. "Hello?" I didn't even bother to sound cheerful.

"Hey. It's Connie. How are you?"

"I'm fine. What's going on?" I slipped into a chair.

"Adam told us you blew your cover." Connie paused. "Why did you do it, Lilly?"

"Because I couldn't lie to him anymore," I said, crying. "I love him, Connie. I really, really do."

Connie sighed. "I know. Charlie knows. The whole team knows. I think it's just starting to dawn on Adam that you do."

"Really?" I mumbled, still depressed.

"Yeah. He said you kissed him." Connie lowered her voice. "He told us that he missed that."

I perked up. "Really?"

"Yeah. Maybe he'll forgive you." Connie sounded distracted. "I've got to go. The guys will wonder where I am. I just thought I'd give you a call and make sure you were doing okay."

"You're at a pay phone?" Now I was worried. Curfew was in a half an hour.

"Yeah, but we're just waiting for the check. Besides, only, what, five of us have to stay in the dorms. The rest of us are Minneapolis-St. Paul born and bred." She laughed.

I grinned. "Yeah, but so am I and I stay in a dorm."

"Too true. Got to go. See you tomorrow."

"Bye." I hung up the phone and went back to my bed.

Maybe this thing wasn't a bust after all, I thought as I turned off everything and snuggled under the covers. Maybe Adam can forgive and forget.

A/N: Two more chapters!! I'm oh so excited. R/R, please! Nellie