The song lyrics used in this are Evanescence's "Going Under."

Wow, this is such a short chapter...but it's the only stopping place I could find. I'm sorry that this is so short, but don't worry, it has lost of angsty-goodness so maybe that'll make up for it...I do hope I'm not over- doing it though. ^_^ I'm mildly obsessive-compulsive. Lol. I couldn't help but update! I'm sad that Kate hasn't reviewed yet, but she's probably very busy. Right Kate? *Kate nods* Thought so. I have this planned out for a LONG time...it will easily be over 40 chapters long. Give or take a few. I dunno the exact number, but from what I've already planned, we're looking at AT LEAST 40 chapters. It's turning into a dang NOVEL!

Adriana- Aw, thanksies! ^_^ Hmmm...spring? ^_^

Liz- Yay for Jesse! ^_^ Yeah, Charlie's friends are dense and stupid. ^_^ But hey, that's okay. ^_^ Yeah, George should die. Definitely. ^_^ But then my story would be all boring and un-suspenseful. ^_^

Chronicles Bailey- yes, Charlie has friends! Whee for Charlie! ^_^ Thanks for reviewing! ^_^

Banksiesbabe99- Thanks! ^_^ Jesse and Terry are uberly-awesome! ^_^ OoOoOo! I get to be a 'Great One'? SWEETNESS! *does happy dance* Now I feel all happy and inspired to write! ^_^

Sophie, My Little Bunnykins- Oopsies, sorry for confusing you! ^_^ Didn't meant to. ^_^ Yes, breaking glass is an unhealthy obsession of George's. And if you want to get all symbolistic, it has to do with something that happens LATER! Dun dun dun...well, kinda. Meh, I'll explain that little bit farther into the story. That way I don't give away any surprises (Meh, as if I haven't already ^_^). I'm gonna tell you the story of how the new title came to be (OoOoOo, exciting, I know. ^_^). I was sitting in church, listening to the sermon. I shamefully started spacing. Somehow I began to wonder what the new title of this was gone be. I had been thinking about changing it for a while but had yet to come up with anything remotely good. So I began thinking of the story and anything that could POSSIBLY have anything to do with it. I wanted it to be all dramatic and stuff. So yeah, I just randomly thought of it and I like perked up in my seat, all proud of myself. ^_^ No one seemed to notice though. I sat there the rest of the time, hoping I didn't forget it and trying to listen at the same time. I'm SUCH a multi-tasker! Lol. ^_^ Well that's my story. Aw, I made you happy! ^_^ Heh, I'm not sure what netball is but I can pretend I do! ^_^ *gasp* DIE EVIL GIRL! *whacks evil girl with sharp pointy object* OoOoOo! You won? Congrats! ^_^ Yep, I updated the other one too! ^_^ Aw, thanksies! *huggles Sophie* I couldn't have done it without you! *grins happily at approval of the entrance of Jesse* I'm glad you like! ^_^ Lol, I'm glad you liked the part. ^_^ I had much fun writing it. *grins* DUN DUN DUN! I love cliffhangers! Well, heh...I like WRITING cliffhangers. Reading them? Eh, not so fun. ^_^ Ah, no prob. Go! Wash your hair! BE FREE! Lol. ^_^ Okay...*tries to think of a way to describe JV-Charlie relationship* Hmmm...he is pretty much friends with Halley and Brice, but not the others. He was dismissive to them because they didn't say anything when the others insulted Jesse and Terry. I guess he doesn't have a close friendship with them and he was angry that they were all racist and stuff. He still thinks of them as stuck up snobs, he just had considered Halley and Brice the nicer ones. ^_^ I guess it's safe to say when they didn't disagree with Evan and Co, Charlie assumed they agreed with him so he was upset. I hope that explains it. It's kinda hard for me to explain it. Lol. It's all up here. *points to head* ^_^ OH YAY! More evil yet legal fun for the Ducks! ^_^ Yay! That means new chapter soon! ^_^ YIPPEE SKIPPEE! ^_^ *gasp* Dang you and Kate with your organization! Lol. ^_^ Just kidding. Thanks for telling me! Now I'll be all looking forward to it! *does happy dance* Yippee!

KShyne99- Thanks, and I'm glad you liked the appearance of Jesse. I'm ALSO thrilled that you like my portrayal of Charlie. ^_^ OoOoOo yay! You like the new title. ^_^ That makes me happy. Thanks for reviewing! ^_^

DodgerMcClure.aka.Drama-Queen- Thanks. Yes, once a Duck, always a Duck. ^_^ Yes, the preps found it very difficult when they were informed that there is a world outside of their happy bubble...*gasp* Say it isn't so!

Disclaimer- I don't own Mighty Ducks, Evanescence, or any of Evanescence's songs.

-Chapter 24-

Charlie got this unmistakable sense of doom as he slowly creaked the door open and snuck in, hoping his father would either be gone or extremely unobservant.

No such luck.

"Where, DARE I ASK, have you been?! And WHY are you home so late?!" he heard his father's voice boom from the kitchen as the man dashed to the door to meet Charlie.

"Um, it's only 7:30..." Charlie said quietly.

"I DIDN'T ASK YOU WHAT THE TIME WAS!!! I ASKED you where you have BEEN all day!" his dad retorted with a growl.

Charlie took in a breath and examined his father to see if he was drunk. The man seemed to be sober by the way he carried himself. He wasn't wobbly and his eyes looked normal. But that's what bothered Charlie. Usually when his father was sober, he at least PRETENEDED to be civil.

"Charlie, ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME?!" his father screamed, mere inches from Charlie face.

Charlie decided for sure that no matter how horrible his father's breath was, at least it didn't smell like alcohol.

"Y-yessir." Charlie said, avoiding his father's piercing gaze. "I was with Jesse and Terry." He added, biting his lip.

"And who are these two people?" his father demanded.

"Old friends." Charlie replied simply, trying to walk past his father and up the stairs.

George Conway sent Charlie crashing up against the wall of the stairs with a single whip of the arm.

Charlie didn't understand what was happening. Just at the hospital, his father had been rambling on about how sorry he was. This time there wasn't even any alcohol to blame it on. Charlie was beginning to wonder if he really WAS that bad of a kid or if his dad was getting some sick satisfaction from this newfound form of superiority.

Charlie stumbled forward and bumped his head against one of the stairs. He let out a yelp and his hand flew to his face. He could feel the now familiar throbbing in his head. He lay there, hoping his dad would go away and forget he was there.

No such luck.

His father bent down and grabbed the boy by the scruff of his shirt and pinned him up against the wall, knocking Charlie's head up against the wall for the umpteenth time.

Charlie's head was still swimming with confusion as he tried to figure out what was going on. The only other time his father had done this was when he was drunk. Well, excluding that one punch in the face before his mother's funeral. But that one didn't count. It was an...

Accident?

The boy was shaken out of his thoughts when he felt a blow to his face. He let out another pained yelp as he felt blood slowly trail from his nose into his mouth. He could taste the red substance on his lips and teeth as he blinked his eyes close to forbid any tears. He could handle this like a man. He hadn't cried last time and he wouldn't now. He couldn't give his father the upper hand.

"What kind of answer is THAT? How old are these 'old friends' of yours? Are they some of you little friends from Minnesota or are you referring to age- wise?" the elder Conway shouted, one hand on Charlie neck and the other pinning Charlie's chest against the wall.

Charlie choked on a cough and tried to respond.

When he didn't answer right away, George Conway tightened his grip on the boy. "I asked you a question!"

"Minnesota." He managed to whisper, closing his eyes again, bracing himself for the sure-fire onslaught.

His father expressed his aggravation with another hearty slam against the wall before knocking Charlie back on the ground with a blow to the side of the boy's neck.

Charlie choked air back into his lungs and watched his father walk back into the kitchen. He tenderly grazed the surface of his neck and felt the sore area left by his father's blow to the neck. He could feel his already bruised ribs up a notch on the pain scale whenever he moved. He should have known better then to leave without permission earlier. He was sure that was the cause of this interlude.

He felt the sticky substance drying onto his lip, leaving a red trail from his nose to his mouth.

"Well, that wasn't so bad..." he whispered sardonically to himself.

Charlie slowly rose to his feet, wobbling slightly as he climbed up the stairs and locked himself in his room.

He collapsed on his bed and flipped the CD player on, turning it up as loud as it would go. He didn't care what came on as much as he wanted a distraction.

'Now I will tell you what I've done for you

50,000 tears I cried

Screaming,

Deceiving,

And bleeding for you

And you still won't hear me

....GOING UNDER....

Don't want your hand this time

I'll save myself

Maybe I'll wake up for once (wake up for once)

Not tormented daily defeated by you

Just when I thought I'd reach the bottom'

He curled up into a tight ball, ignoring his throbbing ribs and his entire body screaming at him to stop moving.

The boy tasted something salty and realized he was crying. But he didn't bother to wipe his now-soaked cheeks. As long as his father wasn't there, he didn't care.

'I'm dying again

I'm going under (going under)

Drowning in you (drowning in you)

I'm falling forever (falling forever)

I've got to break through

I'm, going under'

His silent tears soon evolved into quiet sobs as he clenched his teeth, tasting the blood and salty tears mix into one pain-filled concoction.

The teenage boy was soon choking on his sobs, hiding his face in a pillow, and holding on for dear life.

'Blurring and stirring the truth and the lies

(I don't know what's real and what's not)

Always confusing the thoughts is my head

So I can't trust myself anymore'

He could hear his father screaming something at him, banging on the boy's door like a madman. Charlie just ignored him, letting all his pent-up pain and anguish flow out. His father couldn't hear him over the music anyway.

'I'm dying again

I'm going under (going under)

Drowning in you (drowning in you)

I'm falling forever (falling forever)

I've got to break through,

I'm, so go on and scream

Scream at me, I'm so far away

I won't be broken again

I've got to breathe

I can't keep going under'

He remembered his mother and how she had always been there for him. How whenever he even THOUGHT of crying, his mother's warm embrace always calmed him down. She insisted it was okay to cry, but he knew better. She had only been trying to make him feel better.

But now, whether it was okay or not, Charlie was releasing everything. The pain of his mother's death, the confusion regarding his father's changes in attitude, his longing for the Ducks...everything. They weren't there to pick him up when he needed them most.

'I'm dying again

I'm going under (going under)

Drowning in you (drowning in you)

I'm falling forever (falling forever)

I've got to break through,

I'm, going under (going under)

Going under (drowning with you)

I'm going under'

Once Charlie's sobs subsided to low cries, he brought his face away from the pillow and clutched his knees to his chest. The pain was excruciating but he was clenching his eyes closed, numbing out the pain.

When he slowly opened his eyes and stood up, he felt a wave of anger wash over him. He was angry with his mother for dieing, his friends for 'abandoning' him and his father for being a first-class jerk.

A mind-numbing crack echoed through the house as his fist connected with his wooden closet. His hand when straight through the door and shards of wood fell to the ground. Little splinters of wood burrowed in his flesh but he didn't care. He pulled his hand out and slammed it against the closet door again, this time less forcefully.

The pounding on the door to his room stopped momentarily before starting up again, much louder this time.

The next track on the CD began and Charlie allowed his body to slip carelessly to the ground as he blocked out his bleeding hand.

His hand was twitching sporadically and red blood oozed from the cuts. He watched as a few drops fell to the carpet.

"I knew the red carpet would be good for something..." He said quietly to himself, ignoring the morbid undertones.

Charlie the curled up into a fetal position and fell asleep, his hand bleeding, his CD player blaring, and his head throbbing.