Sorry for the delay, but my computer crashed the other week with 2 new chapters on it. I'm on my brother's computer, so my updating will be erratic. Thanks for reviewing my story--I love writing it!

Adam sat under an isolated mulberry tree on the far end of Commons Field, chewing his apple during lunch. Adam came here often, whenever he needed to get away from the Varsity guys. Last year, Riley and Cole pretty much forced Adam into sitting with them every day at lunch. It was not like they enjoyed his company or anything—Riley and Cole were just hell-bent on making Adam's life suck all of last year. What could he have done? Adam was just a scrawny freshman playing third-line center and he had no friends in that locker room. It was pure hell, maybe the worst year of Adam's life. But this year—this year was supposed to be different. Scooter was captain, and he always looked out for Adam. However, after that scene in the locker room, Adam realized that things weren't going to change. He could still see the sneering and laughing expression on Lunch Box's face. The faces changed, but that dejected feeling always stayed the same.

Adam looked down at his lunch—it was the same thing everyday...Deli-style turkey sandwich, bag of potato chips and an apple. Sometimes to mix things up, Adam had an orange. But just like his current situation, it never really changed. The symbolism that his lunch represented made Adam lose his appetite and he pushed it away.

"Hey, stranger." Adam turned suddenly and there was Averman, leaning back against the tree.

In Adam's experience, hardly anybody came around the mulberry trees during lunch—that was why he liked them—and nobody ever bothered him. Averman's sudden appearance startled him. "Averman...I didn't even see you there."

Averman smiled and smoothly transitioned into his best impression of the butler from 'Mr. Deeds.' "That's because I'm very, very sneaky, sir."

Adam weakly chuckled at Averman's attempt at making him laugh. "So, how are you and the Ducks? The last couple of days have been so crazy that I haven't been able to catch up with everyone since we came back from summer."

Averman spoke in his casual, always-joking tone. "Oh, yeah, everything's great. We had some freshman come in and they're working out great. Coach Orion is lightening up, too. Just yesterday at practice, he" Averman paused to give a mock gasp, "laughed out loud at one of my jokes. And you?"

Adam handed Averman half of his sandwich and spoke nonchalantly. "The same."

Averman gave Adam a questioning look. "Really?"

"No, not really." Adam smiled weakly. "Riley terrorized my locker, 'Carrie'-style. I just had to get away from those guys."

Averman picked off the tomatoes on his sandwich as he asked "Why don't you just come back? You'd be welcome, anytime."

Adam looked Averman straight in the eye. "We both know that that's not an option."

Averman laid himself out on the grass, placing his hands behind his head. "Why not?"

Adam shrugged as if he was just giving the subject thought for the first time, but in reality he went through all of his predetermined answers, perfected over several sleepless nights. "Uh, I don't know. For one thing, my dad would see his lawyer literally the next day to take me out of his will if I ever quit Varsity. I couldn't do that to him. Plus, how would it look to all the big schools if they saw that I quit Varsity to go back to JV? They'd all think that I couldn't hack it on the big stage. All those scouts would think 'Once that Adam Banks got some real pressure on him, became first-line center, he high-tailed it out of there.' They all see me practically every week, those scouts. They aren't supposed to be there, but I see them. This is my chance. And I guess I'm willing to give up a bit of my happiness for that." Adam stared straight ahead with glazed eyes.

Averman picked absently at the blades of grass. "You know, maybe I'm lucky that I never developed into the hockey star. I don't get all the fame, scholarships or hot chicks...But I don't have to make the decisions you do."

"Yeah." Adam followed Averman's lead and leaned back onto the grass, not caring in the least bit that he was wearing pressed khakis. "Averman?"

"Yeah?"

Adam's voice was strange. "Talk."

Averman did a double-take, which was difficult considering he was lying down. "Say what?"

"Talk. I come here to get away from all those Varsity guys, but no matter what, I can't get away from my own thoughts. It's driving me crazy. Maybe if you talk, I won't have to think about anything."

Averman found the request strange, but Adam's voice was pleading—so he talked. "People think that Tom Hanks was joking in 'You've Got Mail' when he says that the answer to any question can be found in one of the 'Godfathers'," Averman paused as if giving reverence to the movie trilogy, "But my friends and I did this official survey online and we found that..."

And so Adam drifted off. Time passed—Adam was not sure exactly how much—when Averman nudged him on the arm. "Hey, Adam...I think we'd better get going."

Adam shook off the remnants of sleep and looked at his black sports watch. "Oh, damn, we're going to be late." He stood up and patted the dirt off of his pants. "Thanks, Averman. That's the most peace I've gotten in a long time."

Averman smiled. "No problem. I just hope that you get everything figured out."

Adam's back was turned to Averman, so he could not see the grim expression on Adam's face. Under his breath he muttered, "I don't think that's possible."

"What's that?"

Adam spoke quickly as they walked. "Oh, nothing."