Disclaimer: I don't own the Ducks, songs, brands, etc. I only own the things/characters that you don't recognize from the movies or life.
Note to reviewers:
Nikkiloola: I know, sadly the fun little triangle is gone...I'm surprised you weren't sick of it. And you are another Julie/Portman fan! Where were you when I was deciding who she was going to end up with? I only had Adam/Julie fans. Oh well too bad. I'm so happy that you liked 'All is fair in love and war' because it was my first fanfiction story I posted and that you like Paige because she's my first OC! But you may find yourself not liking her in this story...I don't know I haven't decided on what is going to happy yet, it's a work in progress. Anyway I'm fulfilling your request and continuing.
CakeEater'sGirly99 (Katie): Hey! I was so thrilled to get your review and of course still am. I'm glad you are excited about the sequel...can I tell you a secret leans in close so am I. And you feel bad for Ken? Aw, even though that was kind of the point. I don't know what I would do without my mom too...I know where I would go and that's why I make sure she's in good health. I'm glad you can relate to Ken. I wrote something that someone can relate to! Yipee! Oh and I'll make sure that I use 'until' from now on, thanks for pointing that out. I hope you like this chapter as much as you liked the last one...oh the pressure is on!
Moshimoro6785(hard name to copy): First: hello! Second: I can't believe you read All is fair in love and war just to read this! Wow, And you liked it too! Double Wow. Third: About Paige being a Mary Sue. I thought she wasn't one anymore, or didn't come off as one at least...Oh well. And for the whole making one of the Ducks not really liking her, it sounds realistic but in the movie they all like each other (I assume you are talking friend wise). And so in the story they all like each other, but like in the movie they do get annoyed with each other and get into fights...but what fictional hockey team doesn't? Fourth: If you were talking about love and how Portman had kissed her, it wasn't that he really liked love her as she was there...and the only one who likes her in a love way is Charlie the others are just chums. So I hope that clarifies what I'm trying to say in the story. Fifth: For you request for more romance, I'll see what I can do. It's just that every chapter was planned to be for one character or couple, but now I don't know if that's going to be the case...we'll see how it unfolds. Sixth (and don't worry last): I'm glad you like Paige. Thanks again for your review! (I still can't believe you read All is fair in love and war to read this.... triple Wow)
Author's Note: I don't really read Luis stories to if I copied anybody's ideas I assure you it was unintentional. Other than that I hope you like this chapter. Oh and sorry for it taking so long but that's probably how it's going to be. And I have a good excuse for this time...I mean reason. I was out of town and there was no computer and my disk was at home! Anyway go ahead and read.
"I Can't Stop!"
On the morning of the first day of classes the Eden Hall cafeteria was filled with students from all grades. The hall was echoing with the slopping of food, scraping of chairs, slamming of trays and chatter of teenagers. By the exiting door the Ducks were gathering around their usual table.
Luis watched as Connie slumped down in a chair beside Guy sleepily. She leaned against him as she ate her apple with her eyes half closed. He comfortingly put his arm around her while keeping up his conversation with Dwayne. Luis slid his gaze down the table to Paige who was sitting in Charlie's lap kissing him affectionately. He raised his eyebrows in slight amazement; it even surprised him how they could make out this early in the morning surround by Ducks. Not to mention that they had been going out for close to a year and still want to make out this...passionately.
Goldberg, who had just picked up an elastic band, caught his attention. He put the band between his fingers and flung it at the couple. It hit Paige square in the head with a small snap. Luis stifled a laugh.
"Hey" she said in shock turning to face the culprit frowning. Charlie, leaning slightly to one side to see past Paige, impatiently waited for an explanation while readjusting her on his lap.
"Glad to see you could tear yourself away" he grunted from across the table, he had the unfortunate chair which sat across from them, "I have a small favor to ask"
"What is it Goldberg?" Charlie asked irritably looking at his girlfriend; it was easy to see that he didn't want to waste time talking with his fellow teammate while Paige, more specifically her lips were mere inches away.
"Could you guys get a room? 'Cause I'm trying to eat here" he poked his food with his fork, showing that his breakfast wasn't half finished.
"Goldberg you have managed to eat watching worse things" Charlie shot back "You're the one who ate through The Texas Chainsaw Massacre and-"
Paige put a finger to his lips bringing his speech to a halt "You know what Charlie, I think our good friend Goldberg is right. He shouldn't have to watch us go at" She removed her slim finger, wrapped her arm around his shoulders and continued whispering in his ear "You know we have twenty minutes before school starts and there's no one in my new dorm room..."
"Say no more"
Luis smirked as Charlie lifted her off his lap grabbed her hand and led her out of the large hall not stopping to greet Julie and Adam who had just entered.
The blonde girl was wearing an Eden Hall Ducks jacket that had 'Banks' clearly written on the breast.
"How cute, does this mean that the Cake Eater is going to wear Julie's jacket?" Russ asked with humor twinkling in his eyes.
"Very funny Russ" Adam scoffed as they passed the table and headed for the food line hand in hand.
Luis kept an eye on the couple as he ate, they soon returned and sat beside each other at the end of the table.
Looking at how Julie grinned with the same pride and joy she always did when she was wearing Adam's jacket Luis couldn't help think about how many girls have worn his jacket, and how all of their pleasure gained from wearing it combined was like a faint glimmer compared to Julie's beam.
A large group of teenage boys all in the same black and white jerseys entering the hall had caused all of the students to turn their head in their direction, filled with curiosity. The group left whispers in their wake as they walked confidently to the food line ignoring the obvious attention they were getting.
"Who the hell are they?" Fulton asked his teammates eyeing to gang dressed in black and white.
"They're the JV hockey team who will be attending that new private school, White Stone Academy that's being built, but until the school is finished they're going to be staying here along with other students from the school" Bombay explained to the Ducks before they started practice. The team in their hockey gear and equipped with hockey sticks were clumped around their Coach a cluster of white and red surround by a ring of ice.
"Why are they staying here?" Ken asked from the back of the group.
"Because the Dean of this school is buddies with the Dean of White Stone" Adam answered before Bombay could say anything.
"Ok Cake Eater since you seem to know the answers, where are these guys going to be staying?" Portman questioned arrogance seeping from his mouth.
"Probably that new wing"
"And what is the teams' name?"
"The White Stone Wolves" Adam answered the questions without flinching as Portman's superciliousness came from his mouth and hit him in the face.
"What kind of name is 'White Stone' anyway?" Averman scoffed interrupting Portman's interrogation.
"The founders, one's last name is White the other Stone"
"How clever" Averman sneered to his team.
"Guys" Bombay interjected chuckling "No need to feel threatened quite yet"
"'Threatened,'" Fulton echoed with defiance "We're not threatened by anyone, especially not the White Stone Wolves" he spat out their name like it had a bad taste.
"You said it man," Portman agreed punching him in the shoulder.
"If you aren't threatened then we can get on with practice" Bombay pointed out a shadow of a smile still upon his lips "Twenty laps"
The cluster broke and started to circle around their coach obediently. They were like racehorses on a track all trying to reach the finish as quickly as possible, Luis easily skated to the front of the herd. He passed Russ along the way who hollered "No need to show off Mendoza!"
"You're just jealous Russ" he heckled back gaining more space between him and the rest of the Ducks.
"At least I can stop"
Luis glowered at the stands past the fiberglass boards as he thought about his 'Achilles heel'; his inability to stop. He then began to concentrate; he could only hear his breath, his heart pounding and his skates slicing into the ice. His muscles tightened as he quickly turned and attempted to stop. He failed and went skidding along the ice. As he hit the boards, his concentration now broken he could hear some of the Ducks laughing and others making cracks. Fulton scrapped to a halt and pulled Luis to his feet.
"Thanks man" he muttered and went back to doing laps. Trying to out skate his embarrassment he gained speed and this time ignored Russ when he passed him.
Luis sat in his English class not paying attention to the debate that was happening around him. He was staring out the window at the lush green quad. From the top floor he could see the flagstone paths lined with flowers sprawled out all connecting, the picnic tables and benches scatted on the patches of grass, and the different kinds of trees bending in the breeze. Longing to go out side he let out a deep sigh and turned his attention to the inside of the classroom. Each of the sturdy shinny wooden desks had a student and were facing the large black board and the teacher's oak desk and chair. On one of the stone and brick walls of the classroom there were large brass windows on the rest were black boards, and paintings of the 'great writers' that the Eden Hall students have or were to study. There were two identical wooden doors, with windows held in with the same brass that the doorknobs were made off. Luis desperately wanted to grip one of the knobs, open the door and leave the school as fast as his legs would carry him, and for him that was pretty fast. He was just picturing himself running along the pathway when Julie's voice caught his attention.
She had just raised her hand when the teacher called upon her. Even though she seemed calm her tone was annoyed "We live in a sexist society that has undoubtedly improved since the Withering Heights time period but still has a long way to go before men and women are considered truly equal. There is such a double standard. Take for instance: dating. If a guy goes out with a lot of girls then he's considered a 'player' or 'ladies man'"
"And we've got a prime example right here" Paige added motioning towards Luis and with a wink added "But you can't blame him, I mean just look at those devilishly fine looks of his"
Luis grinned at the compliment that he was sure was hidden by the joke, even though that wasn't the case.
"Miss. Hunter, don't interrupt. Miss. Gaffney please continue"
"As I was saying" Julie started to say, unaffected by the interruption "Guys can go out with as many girls that they want and people just shrug it off saying 'boys will be boys' but if God forbid a girl goes out with a lot of boys then they're a 'slut'"
"Thank you for your opinion Miss. Gaffney. Miss. Millbrook do you have an opposing view?"
A brunette a couple of seats away from Luis began to speak "It's not entirely opposing. I think that Julie is mostly right except that after a guy goes out with certain number of girls" she then shot Luis a cold gaze "then other girls don't trust him. We're not complete morons, if we know that a guy keeps on going with multiple girls then he's obviously just a sleaze ball. So we don't trust him"
Luis tried not to pay attention to the glare he was receiving from the girl: shrugging off the frost. He barely even knew her, and certainly hadn't gone out with her. Luis remembered every girl he had gone out with.
"Thank you for your input" the teacher said, even though she didn't see what it had to do with sexism. She was about to call on another student when the girl continued.
"Word gets around. And girls have friends who they talk to and tell who to look out for" her freezing look hadn't left Luis "Let's say for example Boy A asks out Girl B and Girl B says 'yes'. Girl B automatically goes to her best friend Girl C and tells her what had happened. So Girl C helps Girl B get ready for the big date and is waiting when Boy A arrives. Boy A, being the ass-"
"Miss. Millbrook language!"
"Sorry. Anyway, Boy A, being the 'charmer' that he is" she said the word 'charmer' so coolly that it came out of her mouth frozen, jagged and heavy, "makes quick friends with Girl C and she can see why Girl B would want to go out with him. So they go out on a couple of dates and Girl B is really falling for Boy A" she was now speaking so fast, staring at Luis shooting him shards of ice that caused small shivers to the spread through his body. "But suddenly Boy A stops calling Girl B for no reason and Girl B is left heart broken. Boy A of course doesn't care because he's too busy with the next girl who probably was left with the same broken heart as he moved onto the next and the next!" Her voice was rising growing shrill, and the ice became sharper. "Boy A is such an insensitive jerk! He is a complete and utter asshole!"
"Miss. Millbrook, that is quite enough" the teacher who at first was too taken aback at first to say anything but snapped out of her shock.
"Hey! Watch what you're saying about Boy A" Paige said to the brunette. It hadn't taken much to realize who 'Boy A' was, and even though Paige knew that Luis had his share of girls, it didn't mean that she was just going to let the Ice Queen call him what ever she pleased.
"Miss. Hunter, please". But from the point on the girls didn't notice her or the rest of the students. The frost had made them still and silent; while in truth the teacher made soft objections and the students were watching, adding commentary along the way. But to the girls, mere ice sculptures.
"I can say whatever I want to say about Boy A! You don't know anything about what he does to these girls! Just because he's your friend and teammate you let what he does slid by!" she shouted directing her artic stare to Paige.
Her shell didn't let in the cold and easily with a calm voice talked back to the girl "Have you ever thought that maybe it wasn't Boy A? It was Girl B? Maybe she just wasn't good enough for Boy A"
"You don't know anything about Girl B!" She shot out of her sit as she yelled this, quick and sudden as a winter snowfall.
"I know that she can't handle rejecting and is way too quick to cling to a guy. You said that they had only gone out a couple of times and she was crushed when he doesn't call again? It sounds like Girl B is pretty pathetic" Paige said this evenly letting the other girl's flakes of ice pass by her.
"Why are you even standing up for him? He's such an-" she paused, for second as a thought slid into her brain "Unless of course you're cheating on Charlie with him!"
Her chilly accusation was the only thing that had hit Paige and it hit hard. She stood up slowly, trying to remain calm and through clenched teeth told her "I would never cheat on Charlie"
Knowing what she said had affected her, the other girl narrowed her frigid gaze "It wouldn't surprise me considering you hang out with the likes of him. I bet poor Charlie doesn't even have a clue"
What happened next no had expected it was so fast. Paige had punched the other girl in the jaw sending her back in her seat. The ice sculptures sprung to life and in a frenzy had all leapt from their seats to see what the other girl was to do. At that moment Julie had came to Paige and stepped between her. She became a barrier and wasn't going to let either touch each other; she did this more for Paige's protection then the other girl's. She knew Paige could easily beat up this girl and even easier get suspended, kicked off the team or expelled.
Now that Julie had separated them the teacher's voice was heard "That is enough!" she shouted in a trembling voice. She looked towards Paige who was staring over the other girl; her fist still clenched "Miss. Hunter to the Dean's office now! Miss. Gaffney please assist her"
Luis like the rest of the students at first had just watched in his seat but as soon as the fist was thrown had stood, and was still standing as the two Ducks left the room, one fuming the other whispering rapidly as they walked down the hall.
He still felt the cold from the brunette who had returned to staring at Luis, surly blaming him for the bruise that was soon to form on her jaw. After all to her, every girl that Luis had came in contact had some how been hurt directly or indirectly.
After school that day Luis had gone to the ice rink to clear his head. He didn't wear his gear, just his skates. The sound of his blade cutting into the ice echoed off of the walls and through the stands of the large arena. He wasn't skating quickly, but at a more relaxed and slow pace. A cloud formed around his mouth as he breathed out and disappeared as he breathed in. He was skating steadily along the boards of the rink thinking of what had happened in English class. The girl speaking of how he had single handedly ruined a girl's life, broken her heart in such a way that it could never be fixed, in just a few dates. He also thought of how Paige had so quickly stood up in his defense, it was in ignorance though. He himself didn't even know if he was an 'asshole' or 'sleaze ball', he was never around to see the affects of the breakup.
He also wondered why Paige had hit the girl. Was it because she was accusing her of cheating? Or was it that she was accusing her of cheating on Charlie specifically? A question of honor? Or a question of love and devotion? If it was the former then he could understand, if someone had claimed that he had cheated on a test or worse a hockey game then he would have beaten them to a pulp. But if someone had declared that he had cheated on a girl he doubted he would have had such a need to harm them. He didn't care about a girl as much to have been as furious as Paige was; no such passion for one person ran through his veins. True, passion did flow through his veins, but passion for too many things, it could never stay on one thing.
Part of him wished that he could stick with one girl, the same part of him that wished that he could keep one interest besides hockey, the same part that wished that he could stop on the ice. He went through girls, hobbies, and interests rapidly. One week he'd be with Isabel, couldn't get enough of medieval history the next he was with Janet and couldn't stop playing with a yo-yo. He didn't know if it was from boredom or from his fear of commitment.
Commitment, or rather the lack of it reminded him of his father back in Miami on his third wife. That was one thing he learned from his father; women. How to romance them, promise them everything, telling them what they needed to hear, the whole time never really getting to know them. He took what he wanted and then went on. Just like his father, he left a long line of beautiful behind him.
This wasn't to say that he didn't like the girls, on some level he too thought like they did: This could be the one for me. But that feeling never stayed long it was a visitor that came whenever it wanted and left just the same. Maybe someday he would be able to find a girl who could keep the visitor and hold it forever, and then he could quit going through girls, maybe then he could settle and find a hobby that he could become devoted to. But then again he still can't even stop when skating.
End of Chapter
A/N: What do you guys think? That was my Luis chapter; to tell you the truth I haven't had very much experience with this character. He is hard to write and understand; I don't think I quite got his goofy side in this chapter though. Anyway, helpful criticism always wanted.