Author's Note (Chelsea): ::sighs:: ... ::glances around:: ... ::sighs again:: ...Yes. Another one from me...and I only procrastinated a little bit...Hehehe...Yeehaw, two Chelsea updates in one day! Pretty darn amazing, I must say. Perhaps she can be on-task every now and then, huh? I hope you like.
Banksiesbabe99- Yay! We shocked you!
Sarah- ::grins:: I'm glad you like our plot! Yay!
Rachel- Thanks bunches! Mary and I always glad to hear from you! I'm glad you like the story!
DramaticArtist- Thanks so much. It means a lot to know that people are enjoying the story. Thank you for reviewing, and we're very glad to hear you're enjoying it!
-Chapter 10-
[Charlie's POV]
I slung my backpack over my shoulder and walked out into the nearly-empty living room of the appartment. It was kind of weird not seeing John there...even if I hated his guts, I had somewhat grown used to his presence. Now only my mother sat alone, curled up on the couch and deep in thought.
I still thought I was going to hurl...Everytime I thought about what my mother told me, I felt the blood rush from my head and a dizzy feeling come over me.
Coach Orion? My father?
It wasn't possible. It...it couldn't be.
The sick feeling returned and I shook my head, desperately trying to make it stop. I didn't want to think about that...couldn't think about that...
"Bye mom..." I mumbled as I opened the door and rushed out, not really wanting to face her. Looking at her would only remind me of what she had said...Of what she might have done...Of who she might have done it with...
Of who might possibly be my father.
I stumbled down the stairs, skipping steps as I broke into a run. I needed to stop letting my mind return to them...I needed to stop letting them and their choices cloud my thoughts. This was not a subject I needed to be analyzing at the moment...
By the time I reached my school, the first bell was already ringing, so I jogged inside the walls of the public school. It wasn't Eden Hall, and that's all that mattered. Anything was better than Eden Hall.
The Ducks and Orion were at Eden Hall.
The Ducks betrayed me.
Orion was...no...not thinking about that. Evil. Yes, evil...
I walked aggresively through the hallway, too angry to care who I bumped in to. All my thoughts were begining to simmer in my mind, and the more I tried not to think about them, the worse it got. I was trapped.
"Hey, watch where you-" a voice snapped at me before pausing and trailing off.
I looked at the source of the voice, and to my surprise saw Fulton standing there. I jumped back in surprise, my eyes whipping to the others standing next to him. Several of the Ducks were there, but there was not a single out-of-state Duck in site. In fact, they were all there save Adam and the out-of-state Ducks.
"What the-" I stuttered out in reply. What were they doing here? Why were they in my school? They were supposed to be at Eden Hall...
"Charlie?" Connie said, blinking before looking around at the others.
I swallowed my shock and voiced the only possible reason I could think of. "Did you guys-?"
"No...Our scholarships were revoked," Guy answered, cutting me off. He had a sad look in his eyes; it was the same look I could see in all of their eyes when I glanced around.
So they could no longer attend Eden Hall because their scholarships were gone? It had nothing to do with me...They still didn't care.
I felt my face harden and my eyes narrow as I shifted my backpack on my shoulder. "I'm sorry to hear that," I snapped sarcastically.
"Hey, Charlie, really-" Goldberg started, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I jerked away, glaring at all of them in turn. They still had no clue. They left Eden Hall because they had to. It had nothing to do with sticking with me. They could still care less about me.
"Screw you, okay? Just leave me alone..." I said before bumping past them. I didn't want to look at them...not any of them...
I stormed into the classroom just as the second bell was ringing and the teacher was standing up to start class.
"Thank you for joining us, Mr. Conway. This time you were almost on time. Take a seat," the middle-aged teacher said, motioning to the seat in a commanding voice.
I rolled my eyes and collapsed into the seat, glaring at the teacher's back when he turned around. Screw 'em all...I didn't need them. Just because they go to the same school as me again didn't mean I had to forgive them. They didn't deserve my forgiveness...
Pulling out a pencil, I surveyed the room and again found not a single friendly face. I hadn't bothered to make any new friends...I didn't want new friends...but I didn't want my old friends either.
A snap was heard when I slammed my pencil on the desktop in frustration. The teacher looked over at my with obvious distaste.
"Having problems, Mr. Conway?" he asked sharply, looking harshly at my from behind thinly-rimmed glasses.
"No, sir," I said with a biting edge to my voice as I stood up. "My pencil broke, and I need to sharpen it."
"Make it fast. We don't have all day," the teacher said, giving me a pointed glare as I walked across the room to the electronic pencil sharpener.
I jammed the end of my pencil into the hole, and instantly the whining, mechanical sound of the sharpener filled the void in the air. I knew the teacher hated me; why bother with pleasantries?
When the pencil was sharpened and the point was as small as it would go, I pulled the pencil out and walked back to my desk, sharing an angry glare with my teacher.
The teacher continued with whatever he was saying, and I'm sure if I had been listening I would have likely heard a remark thrown in my direction. Mr. Waters and I hadn't gotten along since day one when I showed up fifteen mintues late and had no clue what I was doing; Eden Hall had been on a completely different subject, so I had no clue what was going on...not that I had particularly paid a whole lot of attention at Eden Hall either.
My eyes darted around again as I tuned out the droning monotone voice of my teacher. Relief settled on me as I realized none of the other Ducks had come in yet. That meant that chances were they didn't have first period with me. I had no clue if I'd get that lucky in all my classes, but I had one guarenteed safe period. I didn't think I could take it if I had to see them all day...not after all that had happened.
"-And how about you, Mr. Conway? What are your thoughts on the matter?" the teacher asked, specifically singling me out; I had no doubt he knew I wasn't paying attention.
"I think that chances are even if I was listening, I wouldn't really care," I said, getting under his skin as he nearly snapped the wooden pencil between his fingers. He glared at me as his mouth twitched and formed a small, tight line and a small vein popped out of his forehead.
I couldn't surpress the twitching smirk on my face at the sight; what can I say? It was pretty funny. He looked like a psycho bulldog on crack.
"That's it; you're going to the office. I tried to give you a chance because you're new and everything, but I will not take disrespect in this classroom!" he yelled out, waving his arms wildly.
"Alright, alright..." I muttered, the smirk leaving my face as I shrugged. "I'm coming. Geez."
He was nearly shaking as I stood up and slung the backpack over my shoulder. I wasn't really sure why I felt the need to make the teacher's life miserable...I guess I'm just spiteful that way. Serves him right...
I figured they'd probably call my mom...She'd probably yell at me some...Then I might get grounded...or maybe not. But probably so.
Or maybe I'd get lucky and they wouldn't call my mom...
Ha. Yeah right. That's funny.
Maybe if they didn't hate me they wouldn't call my mom.
Man, I make enemies fast...
I followed the Psycho Bulldog On Crack down to the office as he sent random glares back at me. He really doesn't like me. I can't imagine why...
He dropped me off in the office before stalking away, making sure we got another glare in. I have no clue why he left the class all alone...weren't teachers supposed to call someone else to come get a student? The other kids could be burning the place down for all he knew!
Not like that would bother me or anything.
I quite like fire.
The principal walked around the corner and over to me. Hey...he called the principal? Come on...Come on, I wasn't that bad!
The principal groaned at me and rubbed his temples. "What is it?"
"The psy-y...uhh...Mr. Waters brought me down. I don't have any clue as to why, but of course I knew not to argue," I said, nodding at the man as I shoved my hands on my pockets.
"Uh huh," the principal said skeptically before giving me another glance and nodding towards the doorway. "Go back to class, Mr. Conway. On that note, be sure to not get on Mr. Waters nerves. You've been here for a very short time, and I've seen you in here almost every day at the same time. Not any other classes; just this one. No offense, but I'm getting rather sick of seeing your face. Now get on to class," he said dryly.
I nodded and saluted. "Yes sir," I said before turned around and leaving the office, heading back to the class. That went pretty well.
I seriously considered skipping...I really, really wanted to, but my better judegment seemed to take over. No matter how tempting the idea may have seemed, I knew that I was in way too deep already. It wouldn't help my case, and where was I going to go? The bathroom?
My, how exciting that would be.
The rest of the day ran smoothly until lunch time. Everything went downhill from there...
After actively ignoring them the entire lunch period, I had left for my last period only to find out that not just one of them, but five of them were in it with me. Yes. Five. Figures it would all catch up with me in last period.
I tried pretending that I didn't see them as I sat in a desk near the back. Just for the record, that only makes more people notice you. It never works the way it's intended.
So, of course, they get the bright idea that I might for some bizarre reason actually want them to come back and sit with me. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be a bizarre thing...but when I thought I had made it clear that I didn't want to talk to them, you would think they would get the hint.
Guess not.
Did they not realize that I had no intention of talking with them? Did they not realize I kind of hated their guts at the moment? Because I had been pretty sure that was clear...I didn't have the motivation nor energy to deal with them and the fact that they think some stupid scholarship is more important than me. Than us. Than the team. Well, they lost that precious scholarships, so now they expect me to just pretend they didn't brush me off? Prentend that nothing's wrong?
No way. Not going to happen.
Banksiesbabe99- Yay! We shocked you!
Sarah- ::grins:: I'm glad you like our plot! Yay!
Rachel- Thanks bunches! Mary and I always glad to hear from you! I'm glad you like the story!
DramaticArtist- Thanks so much. It means a lot to know that people are enjoying the story. Thank you for reviewing, and we're very glad to hear you're enjoying it!
-Chapter 10-
[Charlie's POV]
I slung my backpack over my shoulder and walked out into the nearly-empty living room of the appartment. It was kind of weird not seeing John there...even if I hated his guts, I had somewhat grown used to his presence. Now only my mother sat alone, curled up on the couch and deep in thought.
I still thought I was going to hurl...Everytime I thought about what my mother told me, I felt the blood rush from my head and a dizzy feeling come over me.
Coach Orion? My father?
It wasn't possible. It...it couldn't be.
The sick feeling returned and I shook my head, desperately trying to make it stop. I didn't want to think about that...couldn't think about that...
"Bye mom..." I mumbled as I opened the door and rushed out, not really wanting to face her. Looking at her would only remind me of what she had said...Of what she might have done...Of who she might have done it with...
Of who might possibly be my father.
I stumbled down the stairs, skipping steps as I broke into a run. I needed to stop letting my mind return to them...I needed to stop letting them and their choices cloud my thoughts. This was not a subject I needed to be analyzing at the moment...
By the time I reached my school, the first bell was already ringing, so I jogged inside the walls of the public school. It wasn't Eden Hall, and that's all that mattered. Anything was better than Eden Hall.
The Ducks and Orion were at Eden Hall.
The Ducks betrayed me.
Orion was...no...not thinking about that. Evil. Yes, evil...
I walked aggresively through the hallway, too angry to care who I bumped in to. All my thoughts were begining to simmer in my mind, and the more I tried not to think about them, the worse it got. I was trapped.
"Hey, watch where you-" a voice snapped at me before pausing and trailing off.
I looked at the source of the voice, and to my surprise saw Fulton standing there. I jumped back in surprise, my eyes whipping to the others standing next to him. Several of the Ducks were there, but there was not a single out-of-state Duck in site. In fact, they were all there save Adam and the out-of-state Ducks.
"What the-" I stuttered out in reply. What were they doing here? Why were they in my school? They were supposed to be at Eden Hall...
"Charlie?" Connie said, blinking before looking around at the others.
I swallowed my shock and voiced the only possible reason I could think of. "Did you guys-?"
"No...Our scholarships were revoked," Guy answered, cutting me off. He had a sad look in his eyes; it was the same look I could see in all of their eyes when I glanced around.
So they could no longer attend Eden Hall because their scholarships were gone? It had nothing to do with me...They still didn't care.
I felt my face harden and my eyes narrow as I shifted my backpack on my shoulder. "I'm sorry to hear that," I snapped sarcastically.
"Hey, Charlie, really-" Goldberg started, placing a hand on my shoulder.
I jerked away, glaring at all of them in turn. They still had no clue. They left Eden Hall because they had to. It had nothing to do with sticking with me. They could still care less about me.
"Screw you, okay? Just leave me alone..." I said before bumping past them. I didn't want to look at them...not any of them...
I stormed into the classroom just as the second bell was ringing and the teacher was standing up to start class.
"Thank you for joining us, Mr. Conway. This time you were almost on time. Take a seat," the middle-aged teacher said, motioning to the seat in a commanding voice.
I rolled my eyes and collapsed into the seat, glaring at the teacher's back when he turned around. Screw 'em all...I didn't need them. Just because they go to the same school as me again didn't mean I had to forgive them. They didn't deserve my forgiveness...
Pulling out a pencil, I surveyed the room and again found not a single friendly face. I hadn't bothered to make any new friends...I didn't want new friends...but I didn't want my old friends either.
A snap was heard when I slammed my pencil on the desktop in frustration. The teacher looked over at my with obvious distaste.
"Having problems, Mr. Conway?" he asked sharply, looking harshly at my from behind thinly-rimmed glasses.
"No, sir," I said with a biting edge to my voice as I stood up. "My pencil broke, and I need to sharpen it."
"Make it fast. We don't have all day," the teacher said, giving me a pointed glare as I walked across the room to the electronic pencil sharpener.
I jammed the end of my pencil into the hole, and instantly the whining, mechanical sound of the sharpener filled the void in the air. I knew the teacher hated me; why bother with pleasantries?
When the pencil was sharpened and the point was as small as it would go, I pulled the pencil out and walked back to my desk, sharing an angry glare with my teacher.
The teacher continued with whatever he was saying, and I'm sure if I had been listening I would have likely heard a remark thrown in my direction. Mr. Waters and I hadn't gotten along since day one when I showed up fifteen mintues late and had no clue what I was doing; Eden Hall had been on a completely different subject, so I had no clue what was going on...not that I had particularly paid a whole lot of attention at Eden Hall either.
My eyes darted around again as I tuned out the droning monotone voice of my teacher. Relief settled on me as I realized none of the other Ducks had come in yet. That meant that chances were they didn't have first period with me. I had no clue if I'd get that lucky in all my classes, but I had one guarenteed safe period. I didn't think I could take it if I had to see them all day...not after all that had happened.
"-And how about you, Mr. Conway? What are your thoughts on the matter?" the teacher asked, specifically singling me out; I had no doubt he knew I wasn't paying attention.
"I think that chances are even if I was listening, I wouldn't really care," I said, getting under his skin as he nearly snapped the wooden pencil between his fingers. He glared at me as his mouth twitched and formed a small, tight line and a small vein popped out of his forehead.
I couldn't surpress the twitching smirk on my face at the sight; what can I say? It was pretty funny. He looked like a psycho bulldog on crack.
"That's it; you're going to the office. I tried to give you a chance because you're new and everything, but I will not take disrespect in this classroom!" he yelled out, waving his arms wildly.
"Alright, alright..." I muttered, the smirk leaving my face as I shrugged. "I'm coming. Geez."
He was nearly shaking as I stood up and slung the backpack over my shoulder. I wasn't really sure why I felt the need to make the teacher's life miserable...I guess I'm just spiteful that way. Serves him right...
I figured they'd probably call my mom...She'd probably yell at me some...Then I might get grounded...or maybe not. But probably so.
Or maybe I'd get lucky and they wouldn't call my mom...
Ha. Yeah right. That's funny.
Maybe if they didn't hate me they wouldn't call my mom.
Man, I make enemies fast...
I followed the Psycho Bulldog On Crack down to the office as he sent random glares back at me. He really doesn't like me. I can't imagine why...
He dropped me off in the office before stalking away, making sure we got another glare in. I have no clue why he left the class all alone...weren't teachers supposed to call someone else to come get a student? The other kids could be burning the place down for all he knew!
Not like that would bother me or anything.
I quite like fire.
The principal walked around the corner and over to me. Hey...he called the principal? Come on...Come on, I wasn't that bad!
The principal groaned at me and rubbed his temples. "What is it?"
"The psy-y...uhh...Mr. Waters brought me down. I don't have any clue as to why, but of course I knew not to argue," I said, nodding at the man as I shoved my hands on my pockets.
"Uh huh," the principal said skeptically before giving me another glance and nodding towards the doorway. "Go back to class, Mr. Conway. On that note, be sure to not get on Mr. Waters nerves. You've been here for a very short time, and I've seen you in here almost every day at the same time. Not any other classes; just this one. No offense, but I'm getting rather sick of seeing your face. Now get on to class," he said dryly.
I nodded and saluted. "Yes sir," I said before turned around and leaving the office, heading back to the class. That went pretty well.
I seriously considered skipping...I really, really wanted to, but my better judegment seemed to take over. No matter how tempting the idea may have seemed, I knew that I was in way too deep already. It wouldn't help my case, and where was I going to go? The bathroom?
My, how exciting that would be.
The rest of the day ran smoothly until lunch time. Everything went downhill from there...
After actively ignoring them the entire lunch period, I had left for my last period only to find out that not just one of them, but five of them were in it with me. Yes. Five. Figures it would all catch up with me in last period.
I tried pretending that I didn't see them as I sat in a desk near the back. Just for the record, that only makes more people notice you. It never works the way it's intended.
So, of course, they get the bright idea that I might for some bizarre reason actually want them to come back and sit with me. Under normal circumstances, this wouldn't be a bizarre thing...but when I thought I had made it clear that I didn't want to talk to them, you would think they would get the hint.
Guess not.
Did they not realize that I had no intention of talking with them? Did they not realize I kind of hated their guts at the moment? Because I had been pretty sure that was clear...I didn't have the motivation nor energy to deal with them and the fact that they think some stupid scholarship is more important than me. Than us. Than the team. Well, they lost that precious scholarships, so now they expect me to just pretend they didn't brush me off? Prentend that nothing's wrong?
No way. Not going to happen.