The Best That You Can Be

PG-13 (just in case)

DISCLAIMER- I don't own the Mighty Ducks or the characters except for my own that I made up. If I did then well I would be rich and doing other stuff.

Author's note- I know I don't have the exact wording for Gordon's speech to the board, but I am going off what I remember and adding stuff- don't sue me. :)

Chapter 9

The next morning at 9 AM a special board meeting had been called to discuss the removal of 14 Junior Varsity Scholarships. All 14 were present along with most of their parents. Those that were missing were the Gaffney's, Portman's, Robertson's, Tyler's, Mendoza's and Wu's. The parents that were at the meeting were representing those six. Casey Conway, Philip and Jennifer Banks, Jared and Maggie Monreau and Gordon Bombay had power of attorney on the six youngsters since they lived the closest to the school.

Dean Buckley was at the head of the table asking the board for a motion to withdraw the removal of the scholarships. No one raised a hand or spoke up.

Charlie and Cate looked at each other then at the rest of the team that was present. Adam was to Cate's left and Julie was on the other side of him. Connie looked like she was going to cry and Fulton and Portman looked like they wanted to hit someone.

"I'm sorry folk unless someone seconds the motion, the action stands." The Dean said turning to the Ducks.

"Then you leave us no choice but to bring up our attorney." O'Rion said as he nodded towards Casey Conway.

Casey stepped out of the way and allowed Gordon Bombay to step forward.

"Ladies and gentlemen of the board, I am the legal representative for the Junior Varsity Team or as they were know at the time the scholarships were presented to them The United States Ducks." Gordon began.

"These scholarships that were presented to the Ducks are a legal contract that both the students, parents and school signed together. I know for a fact being present at all 14 signings that there are only two ways to the removal of the scholarships the first being that the student decides to withdrawal from the school or the second being that they drop below the recommenced GPA of 2.0 for more then two semesters or grade periods. I know for a fact that these 14 students are choosing to remain here and that they all are maintaining a GPA of 2,95 or better at this time. In fact 5 of the Junior Varsity members are maintaining honor's classes at a freshman level." Gordon stated

Charlie and Cate looked at each other and grinned. Julie leaned over to Coach O'Rion and whispered something to him. O'Rion looked back at her and nodded his head.

Gordon continued his speech to the board going on about how if they did revoke the scholarships that he would take them to court and keep the Ducks at the school and get injunctions and stuff long after they completed college and make sure that they were compensated for their emotional well-being.

Cate was impressed. Charlie was right- it was good to have Bombay on their side. He was a great lawyer even though it was not his passion.

There was some silence then one of the female board members spoke up, "I move that the scholarships be reinstated." She said in a dejected voice.

"I second." A man said. Then all the board members raised their hands to agree.

Cate was so happy when the Dean announced that their scholarships were reinstated. She hugged Charlie, then Adam then Connie and Julie. Then the room was cleared because that was the only thing on the agenda. When they came outside into the hallway- they found the Varsity team waiting for them. As soon as they saw the faces of the JV team, they got upset.

"You guys are just a publicity stunt brought in here for fun." Riley said.

Charlie came forward to say something but Connie and Cate managed to restrain him. Riley was going to react but O'Rion, Bombay, Wilson and the parents came out. Wilson and O'Rion came up to the two teams.

"Adam Banks is returning to the Junior Varsity team." Wilson said to both teams.

The JV team began hugging him while Wilson walked his Varsity team away from the group and to the outside of the building.

"How?" Adam asked O'Rion.

"Your dad." O'Rion said.

"I knew that you were miserable without your friends so I had a talk with the Dean and the coaches yesterday." Philip Banks said to the team.

Adam hugged his dad. Cate was so happy; finally Adam was back where he belonged. She was suddenly aware that the group was moving towards the parking lot.

"Where are we going?" Cate asked Julie.

"To eat- the parents are paying for it." Connie said coming up on Cate's other side.

"Oh" Cate said.

"Cate we are celebrating." Charlie said. "It's 11 am and your mind is already wondering?"

Cate just shook her head and got in the car with Charlie, Bombay, her mom and Russ.

- - - - - -

The JV team's good news was soon spread throughout the school. They had managed to stay away from the Varsity team for most of the weekend. But they were dreading breakfast Monday morning.

"Well here goes." Charlie said as they made their way into the Dinning Hall. They spotted the Varsity team- it wasn't that hard they were the only ones openingly glaring at the JV team. Charlie told them to ignore them and get something to eat.

They were doing a good job of ignoring them until Riley, Cole and a couple of seniors came up to them.

"You guys better watch out next Saturday." Cole said.

"After we are done with you, you're going to wish that your scholarships were revoked." Riley said.

Charlie had enough. "We are not something that you can push around. We have the same rights as you to come here." He said.

The rest of the team stood up and agreed with Charlie.

"Just because your are older than us, doesn't mean you will always get your way." Cate said.

"No body wants you here, so why don't you just leave. You disgrace the Warrior name." Cole said.

"Well, we aren't Warriors now are we." Portman said. "We're Ducks."

"Well nobody wants here." Cole tried to reiterate.

"That's where you are wrong." A voice said. Cate and Connie turned to the sound and saw Alice and her team standing to the right of the JV team.

"Yeah- you guys think you're so great for winning all those titles. You aren't the only champs at this school." Another voice spoke up.

The JV team soon found that the Track Teams, the Football Teams and the rest of the Equestrian team (the Varsity) came to stand behind the JV team.

"Yeah- this isn't just your school" the rest of the team captains said.

Riley and the Varsity team were shocked- suddenly the whole school (well mostly the Freshman, Sophomores and Juniors athletes) were backing the JV team up.

"So when we win the Ducks fly and the Warriors die." Russ said.

The Varsity Hockey team glared at them and stormed out.

"Real good Russ, make them even madder then they are." Averman said.

"Charlie what are we going to do?" Luis asked.

"Go to class, then after school we have work to do." Charlie responded

The team nodded then everyone went to class

- - - - -

Cate went to the Training Room before practice each day to heat her shoulder and get it checked out. The Trainers were taking every precaution to make sure it wasn't reinjured. She was happy to be back on the ice on Wednesday- she went a week and a half with out practice and she was dieing to skate. She was also happy that the JV team had a bye week meaning no games but many days of practice.

While she was sitting the bench- O'Rion began teaching them how to block the puck from the goal. He explained that the Varsity team took every opportunity to get the puck in the goal not from the first shot but from the bank shots in front of the goal. The JV team needed to clear the puck and help Julie in order to stay alive in the game.

They worked hard everyday- scrimmaging, clearing the puck, working on defense and their stamina. They were so tired coming out of practice- none of the budding romances had a chance to progress since right now their main focus was the game. But Adam and Portman made it a goal to spend some quiet time each day with their girls. In fact on this particular Friday when there was no game- Portman and Adam were acting kind of strange.

Cate, Connie and Julie were sitting outside the Athletic Hall waiting for the boys to walk with them to dinner. They heard the door open and Cate looked up. She noticed everyone but Charlie, Adam, Portman, Dwayne and Fulton not there.

"Where are the others?" Julie asked standing up.

"They will be done in a minute." Kenny said with a smile.

"Well then I guess we'll start walking." Cate said.

Averman made a move to grab her and keep her still. "They said to wait." He explained.

Dwayne then came out the door with Alice and Karen and Fulton behind him. The two girls had smiles on their faces and Fulton looked a little embarrassed.

"What's going on? Cate asked.

"Homecoming Dance." Alice said bouncing down the stairs to Julie and Connie.

"Dwayne just asked me and I of course said yes." Alice explained.

"And Fulton asked me." Karen said.

Everyone looked at Fulton who got even redder. "Hey she's the only girl besides you three that I know and won't get killed for asking." Fulton tried to explain.

"If it makes you feel better, I have two older brothers." Karen said.

"No it doesn't." Fulton said.

"Ok, that explains Dwayne and Fulton, but what about the other three?" Cate said.

She suddenly saw Charlie and Portman come up to them from the direction of the parking lot.

Charlie went up to Connie and presented her with a bunch of lilies. "Connie will you go to the Homecoming dance with me?" he asked.

Cate jaw dropped. Connie of course agreed. What?!? How?? When did this happen?? She thought to herself.

Then Portman came up to Julie and gave her two pink tulips and asked her to go to the Homecoming Dance with him. She too agreed. That pairing wasn't a shock because everyone knew since the third day of school that they liked each other. But Connie and Charlie- since when did that happen?

Cate then snapped back to reality and noticed that Adam still had not returned. She was about to ask the group if they knew where he was when Kenny spotted him running from the direction of the Library.

"Sorry, lost track of time. English paper due by 7pm." Adam said.

Cate remember that Adam said that his English teacher gave him an extension because there was a mix up because the teachers still thought he was on Varsity- who were currently at a game. He asked to be able to turn the paper in like the rest of the class- but turn it in later in the day.

The team walked down to dinner. Connie and Julie beaming and Cate a little confused. Was Adam going to ask her to go to the dance or not? Adam made not attempt to ask her during dinner or even after.

Cate was a little disappointed Saturday morning. They JV team had a early practice- but O'Rion made arrangement to take them to their old District 5 rink to practice. He claimed it was to keep prying eyes away from practice. Adam still had not made any mention of the dance.

She sighed as she climbed into her mom's car. Recently Casey purchased a new slightly used SUV on the urging on Adam and Connie moms. It was much more reliable then her old station wagon. Casey and Maggie were taking Connie, Julie and Cate dress shopping for the dance.

"I don't see why I am going?" Cate complained. "I haven't been asked yet."

Maggie turned in her seat to look at the three girls behind her. "Don't worry Caitlin, you'll get asked before the weekend is over." She said.

"Huh?" Cate responded. But instead of an answer she say her mom playfully slap Connie mom and give her a look.

The girls came back to the school after 3 hours of shopping for the "right" outfit for the Homecoming Dance. They quickly ran up to their rooms and put their new purchases into their closet and ran to dinner.

- - - -

The weekend came and went, Cate still had not been asked and was getting frustrated. Adam liked her, why was he not asking her to the dance?

TBC...