A/N I feel I'm getting worse at this whole updating thing. But never fear THE END IS IN SIGHT!! I can't believe I'm saying that but it's true! I've only got like three chapters left, four at the very most! Isn't that exciting? I will finish a story for the first time in my life! Also, the fact that I'm nearing the end will probably mean good things when it comes to my updating speed. It's getting so exciting from now on in that I won't have to force myself to write the bloody chapter! Ah, happy days!
This is a bit of a disjointed chapter to tell you the truth. It's got like four scenes in five pages, which is pretty impressive if you think about it! I hope you particularly appreciate the first scene, due to the fact that I had to write it twice because my computer buggared up! I was not a happy bunny!
This is most definitely and very guiltily dedicated to Ice Cube because it was definitely her THIRD review which spurred me to writing this. Honestly, she's better than any muse… So, Cube, this is for you! I hope it was worth it!
It was Wednesday morning and all the Ducks were seated in the dining hall, having breakfast. The mood was fairly relaxed. Tuesday's practice had been uneventful - well, as uneventful as any practice with Reily could be - and there was no hockey practice that evening. The school believed that the team needed at least one weekday, along with Sunday, to recover and this regulation had turned the two days in question into Reily-less beacons of hope.
"What lesson have I got first, Wu?" Portman elbowed the smaller boy next to him, almost making him drop the milk he was pouring over his cereal.
Ken gave him an angry look. "Ever heard of a timetable, Portman? It's a novel idea. You write down all the lessons you have so you don't forget. You can even colour coordinate it if you want. Why don't you get one?"
"Why do I need one when you know all the team's lessons, kennyboy? You're like my own walking time table!" The Bash Brother laughed.
"Oh, gee, thanks, Portman," Kenny said in a heavily sarcastic tone, his hurt dulling his eyes. "That makes me feel really needed." He pushed back his chair forcefully, shoved an apple into his pocket and picked up his untouched cereal. "Why do you need to know anyway? You don't learn anything on the rare occasions you do turn up to the right lesson." And with that he turned and made his way to kitchen, deposited his bowl, and made his way out of a side door to the hall.
Portman had reddened at the harsh remark and had started up from his chair but Fulton put a comforting hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "Let it go, man. He's just a little stressed is all."
Connie put down her orange juice and glared at Portman. "Yeah and you're not helping the situation. Why can't you just leave him alone?"
Portman turned angrily to the girl. "What did I do?" he demanded angrily.
"Oh what? So being called a human time table isn't an insult in your book?" Connie's voice dripped irony. "Very thoughtful, Dean. You could win an award for empathy."
Portman leaned back in his chair and waved her remark away. "Just because you got out of the wrong side of whoever's bed you slept in last night, Moreau, don't take it out on me."
Connie's eyes flashed but, before she could find something cutting to say back, Julie interrupted her, taking a stand, not only for her best friend, but for female solidarity.
"Slut can be a derogatory word for both genders, Portman, and last time I checked you were nearer to filling the requirements than Connie was."
"Bite me, Gaffney," Portman snarled
"No thanks. I don't know where you've been," was the cool reply.
"I am not a slut!" Portman ground out between clenched teeth.
Guy looked up from his toast and grinned. "He's right, you know. Luis is the resident male slut at Eden Hall."
Luis languidly raised one eyebrow at the fair boy. "Oh yeah? Just because I have a real girlfriend, Germaine. Whilst we're on the subject of real relationships, how's it going between you and Connie?"
Guy spluttered and choked. "Shut up!" he managed to force out between coughs, going red.
"And here was I thinking that you had started this trail of thought, Germaine." Luis smiled. "Why don't you go and barricade yourself in your room and borrow one of Portman's magazines. Maybe that will relieve your sexual frustration."
Guy turned an even brighter shade of crimson and stood up, his chair falling backwards and crashing to the ground.
Adam watched the proceedings in consternation. He could see that the insults were rapidly turning more serious and soon, he knew, they could turn physical. He felt totally helpless, knowing that the team would never listen to him if he tried to stop what was happening.
He turned quickly and looked at the boy sitting next to him. Charlie had been staring distractedly into space for the majority of breakfast, casually tossing an apple from one hand to the other, not taking any interest in what was enfolding around him.
"Charlie, do something!" the words came out of his mouth desperately.
Charlie didn't even stop throwing his apple.
Adam grabbed his shoulder and shook him out of his trance. "Charlie! Listen to me! You've got to stop all of this before it turns into a real fight! We'll only get into more trouble otherwise! I don't know about you but I certainly could do without another detention!"
Charlie looked at the scene for a moment in shock, as if he hadn't noticed what was going on before, then shook himself and got up. He took a moment to assess the situation and then he put down his apple and picked up his empty plate. Looking around at the preppy-infested hall, he was satisfied to see that all eyes were on the commotion his team mates were making, none on him. He smiled, raised the plate, and, safely in the knowledge that he could pass off the petty act of vandalism as an accident, he threw the it on the floor where it shattered, sending whirling bits of china across the polished wood.
There was an immediate silence.
"Ducks!" he yelled, getting their attention as only a true Captain could. "Get a grip! We don't need this, not now and certainly not here!" He gestured to them all, "This is the team you're fighting with." The Ducks all looked at each other, shamefaced, none of them knowing what had come over them.
Charlie gestured them nearer, speaking in a lower voice. He certainly didn't need the entire student body of Eden Hall to hear what he had to say to his team. "I know Reily's been pushing us and I know none of us have been getting enough sleep, what with practice and schoolwork, but that's no reason for getting mad at each other. You're not angry at your friends, you're angry at Reily, and if you wanna fight him, come and see me first." He looked at them and grinned, "Of course I will be duty bound to take you to the school nurse immediately because, if you are considering taking on our good coach, you've got to be seriously deranged!"
All the Ducks laughed at that one, all that is, except Adam. He just smiled a tight ironic smile. If his Captain was being serious then he would be duty bound to take himself down to the nurse's office.
Charlie looked at the table, at all the empty plates. "It looks like we're all finished here…" He paused, "Goldie?"
Goldberg reluctantly nodded.
Charlie grinned. "Good, so let's go back to the dorms, collect our stuff and go to our lessons. We don't need to give Reily any excuse to be angrier than nature already made him, okay?"
The other Ducks nodded, picked up their plates, and began making their way to the kitchen to deposit them, giving all the students watching them frosty glares.
Portman didn't make a move to clean his plate away, only sat back in his chair, looking dejected. Charlie gave him an inquiring look.
"Sorry, man," the Bash Brother replied to his Captain's silent question. "However much I would love to go to lessons, I simply can't. I still don't know what I have first."
"I can help you there." Charlie picked up his apple and took a bite out of it before making his way to the double doors, stepping over the shattered remains of his plate, guiltlessly. "You've got American History with me and Russ," he called over his shoulder.
"Oh." Portman paused, then got up and started following Charlie back to the dorms "Why didn't you just say so to begin with?" he demanded.
Charlie took another bite of his apple and chewed it thoughtfully. "Wasn't really paying attention," he admitted. "Anyway," he shrugged, "it was more fun this way."
Portman laughed and clapped the smaller Duck on his back, almost making the boy fall over.
"So glad you approve," Charlie muttered, wincing.
They were on their way to the humanities block when Russ saw it. The poster. He was in front of Charlie and Portman and, when he came to the door to the history corridor, he pushed it open, then stopped and stood stock still, eyes fixated on a point which the other two couldn't see, his body blocking their view.
"Hey, dude, what is it?" Portman asked, warily.
"It's a poster," the other boy said, quietly.
"What?" Charlie joked. "Has Mrs Grangewood been trying to satisfy her insatiable appetite for Hitler again? I told her that people would be worried by the amount of posters she had of him."
"No, dude," Russ muttered. "For us, this is worse than Hitler." He smoothly stepped aside, revealing what had got him so worried.
*********************
LOST!
MY HUMANITY.
IF FOUND, PLEASE RETURN IMMEDIATELY TO COACH REILY, AS LOSS WILL DIRECTLY CAUSE ACTS OF CRUELTY AND MALICIOUS HATRED TOWARDS THE JV HOCKEY TEAM.
REWARD
KNOWING THAT YOU HAVE SAVED THE SANITY, AND LIVES, OF THE DUCKS.
THANK YOU.
*********************
"You know what?" Portman asked, monotonously, after he'd read it. "If we thought we were in trouble before, we were wrong." He looked at the other two, "Now he's really going to hate us."
Russ nodded, numbly.
Charlie reached up and tore the poster down. "What's the betting that this is the only one?" he asked, forcing a smile to his lips.
They heard a shout and saw Julie, Dwayne, Guy and Averman running towards them, Averman holding a familiar piece of paper in his hands.
"Almost nil, I'd say," Russ said, dejectedly.
The other Ducks skidded to a halt in front of them.
Averman pushed his poster into Charlie's hands and, bent double, hands on his knees, gasping. "They're all over the place!" he nearly sobbed the words. "Whilst we were coming to find you we saw about ten!"
"Hey, that's not too bad," Charlie said, trying to comfort the boy.
"We only had to go down three corridors!"
"Oh."
Julie looked at her Captain, biting her lip worriedly, "Do you think it's worth us all skipping lessons and going around getting them all down?"
Charlie considered. "I doubt it. I reckon the damage's been done by now. All we can do is go to lessons and when they ask us about it, deny all knowledge." He smiled brightly, "They can't pin this on us - they have no proof."
Averman, finally recovered, looked up gravely. "I don't think he'll need proof."
No one needed to ask who "he" was.
Charlie threw himself down on his bed. "I felt really bad doing it," he said, flatly. "Some of the team were actually physically scared!"
Adam looked over at the curly haired boy from where he sat at his computer. "The team don't need to worry about it, Charlie. It's you, if anyone, that needs to be scared. When he finds out about it, you're going be the one he comes looking for."
Charlie nodded, absentmindedly. "That was the plan."
Adam looked at the boy, worriedly. "And it was a stupid plan from the beginning. Are you sure you want to continue with this, bearing in mind what his reaction's going to be like?"
"His reaction is what the plan's based on," Charlie said, resolutely. "He's going to let me go whether he wants to or not, and I am not taking you guys with me." He looked down at his feet. "He has to get angry with me," he said firmly, and Adam didn't think the words were directed at him.
Charlie got up slowly and moved towards the desk. "How many hits have you got?"
Adam looked at the bottom of the screen. "Twelve." He glanced at the brightly coloured webpage displayed on the computer's monitor and sighed, "He's going to take this personally, you know."
Charlie grinned, "That's the idea."
Adam frowned at the boy's cheerful attitude and looked up at him, eyes locked together for a moment. "This isn't a joke, Charlie. He's going to pissed."
"I know," his Captain said firmly. He looked closely at Adam's uncomfortable posture. "Not having any second thoughts are we, Banksie?" He pointed at the screen, "The website was all your idea."
Adam smiled despite himself. "Not entirely my idea… well, not the content anyway. You were the one who figured that this would get our lovable Coach the most angry. I worry about your mind sometimes, Conway," he joked.
"Only sometimes?" the boy murmured. He looked at the screen, preoccupied, "Twelve isn't that many to have seen it, is it?"
Adam stretched back and put his hands behind his head. "Oh I wouldn't worry about that. The website address was quite small on the poster, so not many people probably thought that much about it at the time. You can bet that some did though, and word will get around. Fast, I should think."
Charlie nodded, satisfied. He sat down on his bed and began pulling his shoes off.
Adam turned to look at him in surprise. "You going to bed already?"
The boy grinned at him. "Got to. I've got business in the night remember?" He walked across the room and began digging in his sock drawer, finally bringing out the recording device his stepfather had given him.
"What do you need that for?" Adam asked, puzzled.
Charlie smiled knowingly. "I thought I might record the whole thing."
Adam looked at him, then laughed. "His reaction you mean?"
Charlie nodded. "I'm not going to be anywhere near him at the time and I'd be so disappointed to miss out on the fruits of my labour. And anyway," he grinned, evilly, "I thought if it was that good, I might just accidentally have to play it in assembly."
"You amaze me sometimes, Conway."
Charlie nodded wisely, "That's because I'm amazing."
Adam threw a pillow at him.
When Reily saw the poster, he stopped and stood, staring at it, eyes slightly narrowed, for almost five minutes, oblivious to the other people in the corridor's stares and remarks. Then, jaw clenched, he reached up and, with firm fingers, slowly tore the poster away from the wall. He held it in his grip for a few moments, motionless, before turning and making his way resolutely to his office.
He quietly shut the door behind him, then moved to his desk, sat down, turned on his lamp, and carefully placed the piece of paper directly in front of him. He looked at it, jaws clenching and unclenching, unblinking, for another moment, then he turned to his computer and connected to the internet.
He, unlike many, hadn't failed to see the website address, printed in small, legible characters at the top right-hand corner.
He typed the URL in with steady, controlled jerks of his fingers and pressed enter.
A bright green page flashed up, the colour reflecting on the Coach's skin, making him seem ill. The Coach studied the webpage, his breath coming out in harsh bursts and his hands clenching and unclenching into fists by his side as he saw what it contained.
Whoever had created it had been quite skilled with computers. Reily's face glared grimly back out at the Coach, superimposed onto a female body-builder's greased and nearly naked body. Underneath the lewd picture were the words: "DO YOU THINK THERE'S SOMETHING REILY ISN'T TELLING US?" blazing brightly in red.
Reily slowly sat back and stared at the picture. He shut his eyes for a moment, and, when he opened them, they were blazing in uncontrolled anger. His breathing was ragged, his face pale, and he smashed his fist down on the solid wood desk, making the whole structure shudder under the impact.
Slowly, his hand trembling in fury, he picked the poster up between one finger and thumb, as if it disgusted him, then opened his drawer and brought out a lighter. He clicked it once, the small flame sending strange, conflicting shadows across his face, then he moved it under the paper and watched intensely as the fire licked at it hungrily.
He dropped it into the metal bin by his desk, staring at it as the flames consumed it, turning it black. When nothing but ash was left, his breathing had returned to normal.
He glanced again at his computer screen and narrowed his eyes into icy blue slits. He snarled, got up, and wrenched the computer's leads out of their sockets. Immediately the screen died.
He knew who had done this. He flicked his tongue out and ran it lightly over his dry lips, thinking. He had thought his last warning had broken the boy. In fact, when he had left the boy in a bloody pile on the ice, trembling and crying, he didn't think he had just broken him, he thought he had crushed him.
Reily clenched his teeth together. The boy was stubborn and headstrong and he was beginning to seriously annoy his Coach. Why wouldn't he just give in? Didn't he know how dangerous it was to try and play with the Coach's emotions?
If the boy wanted to play without rules, so would he. He was better at this game than the teenager. He had played it before. He would crush him mercilessly until the boy had no stronger desire than to please him. He would destroy him.
Reily smiled icily. Charles Conway couldn't expect to play with fire and not get burnt, now, could he?
A/N I hope people got scared at that bit at the end there! I had quite a problem trying to describe Reily's anger without making him sound berserk - and he's definitely not berserk, more calculating. Two pranks in one chapter can you believe? I hope you found them suitably funny…
I also hoped you noticed the recording device was back in!! Can you believe it? I had my story planned enough so that Charlie didn't just appear randomly with said recording device! I was quite proud of myself *beams happily*.
Please review - you make my day, you really do!
IceCube: I bow down humbly to you, hoping you will forgive my selfish, nasty ways! Rereading your second review, I can't believe that it didn't make me want to chain myself to my computer then and write. I'm VERY horrid and I'm going to send myself to my room after posting this. I am incredibly honoured that you believe my story is worth three reviews and I am amazed at your stamina! Thank you. Seriously - I wouldn't have done this without you!
Adriana: Thank you - it's very sweet of you to say so! I hope you enjoyed.
Chelsea: The fact that you see a chapter called "Blood on the Ice" and begin squealing in delight really makes me see how much I like you, lol. You really do make me laugh. I dunno if you can still vote for the Mighty Ducks Awards but I still suggest joining the group which hosts them. It's a yahoo group and I think it's called the MightyDucksMovies or something original like that, lol. It can be very… interesting sometimes. I don't post much but other people tend to and it can be very thought provoking - listen to me sounding like a teacher, lol! We can be talented, evil Charlie lovers together!! YAY! Evil folk?! Makes us sound like fairies, lol. Hope you liked this! Not as much violence in this but can't you feel it all building?! I feel that there is going to be a climax VERY soon! Hmmm… I feel I may dedicate my most violent chapter to you. I like dedicating chapters to people! Makes me all warm - like giving a present, lol. Hope you liked this as much as I liked Shattered Glass and One Way Ticket…
Beaner: Yeah. *shuffles uncomfortably* Sorry about the slowness of my update! I hope I haven't lost you as a reviewer forever! I will cry so much if I have! I am an easily traumatised person and I do so enjoy inflicting my pain on others *cough* Charlie *cough*. I hope you continue to love this story - makes me feel all happy that you do!
Banksiesbabe: My chapters keep getting better and better? *jumps happily* YAY! I dunno about this one though. It's more like a steppingstone between other chapters… Though some bits were pretty funny I thought… Ah well, I'll leave that up to you to decide!
Ashcake: I'm glad I have managed to spark some sympathy in you for Charlie! It makes my life more complete, lol! Are you an Adam lover? I tend to find that Adam lovers are the ones who like Charlie less, due to his insensitivity towards Banks in D3... I hope you can forgive me for taking so long to update!
Anne918: Hope you enjoyed the pranks! I can always imagine Adam as a bit of a computer nerd - dunno why - so it seemed a suitable way for him to contribute. Hope you liked!
Canadian-hockey-girl: YAY! A NEW REVIEWER! I'm sorry, I feel I may have frightened you away now! It always amazes me when people read my story from beginning to end and then still want more! It's a long story and I congratulate you on your stamina! I really do like your idea about Reily telling Banks to do something to Charlie and Adam having to choose but I can't… really I can't! And I can't tell you why because it would ruin the end! You're basketball coach sounds evil… give her a kick and then blame it on me… she can't do anything to me, I'm all the way on the other side of the Atlantic, lol.
Sloane Miette: I'm glad you wear the cheese and it's not the other way round, honestly I am! Sorry I didn't update sooner! Hope you enjoyed!
Flat*Out*Crazy: *Grins evilly* Was making Reily a laughing stock to the whole school payback enough?! I did laugh when I thought what his expression would be when he saw himself posing as a woman. Hee hee, me and my evil mind! Hope it was worth the wait! Sorry it took so long!
Shanks: ANOTHER NEW REVIEWER! *Nods in agreement* I also believe it sucks that I take so long to update! I hate this feeling of guilt I get when I reread everyone's reviews! Ah well, I deserve it I suppose! And you joined my story the one time when I updated the slowest. *Tries to hide evil grin* *fails* *gets hit over head by Shanks* All I was going to say was that it's funny the way fate works! I am truly honoured that you took the time to read my entire story and are still not bored with it! Hee hee, reading your review I'm thinking that maybe I should take my time over updating! I'd be VERY interested in seeing any parts you made up! I love pranks too! I'm that sort of girl! I like the whole love/hate relationship between Charlie and Adam, which is why I tend to think of them as best friends. It means they can have some extremely funny arguments. Love to them both! I know - it feels like this fic has been going on for AGES! But it hasn't, I'm almost sure on that! And Bombay will come! *Coughs* Two chapters time *Coughs* lol. I AM BRITISH! I like speaking in a posh accent, lol! You don't use "bloody" *jaw drops open* How do you survive? It's such a useful word. I strongly recommend it! *Looks embarrassed* Sorry again about the whole time period between updates!
SugarPlum: *Eyes widen excitedly* Are you one of those readers who just read without alerting the writer to your presence? I find that vaguely thrilling! It allows me to believe that there are many more people reading this that I don't know about! Meh, leave me to my deluded fantasies… they make my life so much more interesting, lol. I'm glad you didn't faint - I would have felt bad! Thank you for reviewing and I hope you enjoyed!
Hockey_Luvva: *Eyes brim with tears* That is SOOO very nice of you to say so! I was proud that someone nominated me for the awards and you saying that just makes me go all warm and bubbly inside! *Gasps* And another awesome compliment! I really like it when people comment on my writing style - no offence to the Ducks but it kinda gives me something more permanent to remember! I do so love NEW REVIEWERS! I get so excited that I just have to put them into capitals, lol. Hope you enjoyed.