Part Five

Lone Duck Among Warriors

Adam had been right. He did not like having Biology as his last class of the day. Mrs. Madigan gave her quiz then handed out worksheets and the class was paired up.

His partner was none other than Linda Chavez, the girl Charlie must have been trying to impress the day before. She seemed nice enough, but Adam could not judge her after two classes.

"I was told yesterday that you were asking people to sign a petition about the Warrior name."

Linda was finishing writing down the answers they had agreed on to the questions on the paper. She spoke without looking up. "Don't start mocking me." Her voice was cold.

"I am not."

Giving Adam's expression a fleeting glance she did not see any contempt in his face. "Fine, who told you? Not that you be interested." She now was eying his Warriors jacket.

"My friend Charlie. He had on a green Duck jersey yesterday."

Linda's eyes brightened momentary, then as quick as it came, her expression turned blank. "I remember him." Her tone did not tell Adam what she was thinking.

"You know, he isn't all that bad," Adam told her. He hoped he was helping his friend and not making Linda dislike Charlie more.

Setting down the finished worksheet, Linda really looked at the newest Varsity player. If she had the choice, he wouldn't have been her choice for partners. He fit the preppy and jock look from his neatly groomed blond hair, Warriors jacket, the pressed khaki pants, finally to the loafers on his feet. Check that, as she glanced at his feet, not loafers, but sneakers. Brand new most certainly.

"Of course you'd think he's great. All of you jocks carry your brains in biceps."

Adam frowned at the remark. If she was going to be this difficult, why should he bother? Because Charlie's still my friend, despite the fact I am not on the same team.

Part of him wanted to tell the pretty brunette she was conceited. Keeping his voice low all he said was, "If that's the case, why is it so important to change the Warrior name? Besides the obvious reason for the Native Americans."

Linda's emerald eyes looked at him in astonishment. Adam genuinely seemed interested to hear what she might have to say.

The bell rang announcing the end of the day. Mrs. Madigan told them to have the review questions done for the next day.

Standing Linda asked, "So what you are really trying to tell me is that I am being too hard on you and the Warriors?"

"No, I am just telling you to give Charlie a chance." Adam picked up his books and left Linda there with her thoughts.

Adam waited for the last possible moment to go to his first Varsity practice, hoping to just go in change, practice, and be done with it. Ironically, he did that his first game playing with Ducks. Even sitting with Varsity at lunch, he felt like an outsider.

Standing in front of the locker room door, he paused inhaling deeply and then exhaled. He had done that too, the first time. And this time, like the last one, he didn't feel calm. Here goes nothing.

Adam heard chattering about one thing or another as he stepped trough the door. The talking halted momentarily when Varsity glanced up when he entered. Seeing it was just the new freshman, they continued to talk. Everyone was nearly ready to practice.

Rick walked over to him. "Nice of you to finally show up, Banksie. Better be here on time in the future. With your jacket." The Warriors jacket was in Adam's locker.

This said, Riley left the locker room with most of Varsity not far behind.

"Banks, your locker is over there." Scooter told him pointing toward back of the room.

Walking over to his locker in the corner, he put his stuff in it and quickly changed into the black and red practice jersey that was there. He got on the ice just before Coach Wilson began talking.

To say the practice was fun was a gross understatement. Adam felt like his new teammates where using him as a practice dummy. Adam was sorely tempted to go back on JV just to stay alive. Coach Wilson reminded him of Reilly and Coach Bombay when he was Captain Blood. But both times he had friends on his team to sustain him and vise versa.

"Pick up your feet, Banks!" Wilson yelled.

The freshman was well aware that he was not the best player. Now he was the underdog of the entire Varsity team.

He got checked once again. How many times he got slammed into the boards or pushed down, he had lost count. He lay on the ice trying to catch his breath.

But this time the player was Rick. "Get up, Banksie. You gonna lay there and cry?"

If it was Riley's intention to get him angry it was working. But Adam knew he did not stand a chance of winning a fight against the captain. Slowly getting back onto his skates, Adam glared at the senior.

On the next face off, Adam got the puck from Jeff Brown, a former Hawk. Skating down the ice, he headed toward the net. He had not been able to get the puck too often, as players on the opposing side, and some of his own, stopped him from making too many goals. He just had to make a goal. He had not been able to get anything by Scooter yet.

The fourteen year old was able to get pass the defense, Labine and Kabine. Riley was hot on his heels. Coming up on the net, Adam faked a right, then went around the net and shot it in on the unguarded left side.

Wilson was shocked, but impressed. He had seen the kid on TV from the Goodwill Games. Now he was really seeing how he could play. But the Varsity coach had not expected this. A lowly freshman was able to get a shot passed his starting goalie. Vanderbilt had been with him since his first year and not many pucks got pass him in the last two years. Banks was lucky with that shot, he would have to work harder to reach his potential. If he played that good all the time, just imagine how excellent he would be by the time he was a senior.

At the end of practice, Adam felt like he could not skate off the ice without something aching. He saw the Ducks coming out of the locker room. They were decked out in Warriors jerseys of red and white. He gave a halfhearted wave. Some of them returned it the others just ignored him.

After showering and changing back into his clothes, Adam walked back to the doorway of the arena; he could see the Ducks doing laps. Fulton was having trouble keeping up and Julie was lagging behind most everyone else.

"Hey, Banks, what are you still doing here?"

Adam practically jumped out of his skin. Whirling around, he came face to face with Scooter. "Watching the practice."

Scooter watched JV for moment, in particular their goalie. Julie was going behind everyone else and also looking a bit pale. "Come on, we better get going."

When they got outside, Scooter asked if Adam needed a ride home.

"No, my dad is coming to get me." He did not really know Scooter; he was not going to tell Scooter he was going to be in the dorms starting that Friday.

They stopped by the walkway in front of the arena. "So, can you tell me anything about Julie Gaffney?"

Adam rolled his eyes. Here we go again… Scooter seemed like a nice guy, but Adam hated to tell him that he did not even have a prayer with the Cat.

Observing his teammate's look, Scooter asked, "A topic you don't want to talk about?"

"Not really. It's just I don't think you and Jules would work out."

"Why? You like her?" Scooter conjectured there may be something between them. That was not a happy thought.

Adam began laughing, which caused the goalie to be taken aback, one, he had not expected it. Also, he had not seen Adam smile or laugh at all that day, and if he had, they were forced.

After getting himself to stop laughing some, Adam spoke. "Don't worry. I just like Julie as a friend. She feels the same way."

"What was so funny about it?"

"Because most of the Ducks thought we liked each other during the Goodwill Games."

Scooter could only guess at what that statement may fully mean, but he decided to leave it alone. "Why do you think that I don't have a chance with Julie?"

A car pulled up in front of them just then. It was Phil Banks.

"Because you just don't." Adam said and walked to the car to get in. He watched Scooter turn in the direction of the cafeteria.

"Which way are the dorms?" his father asked. Adam told him which way to go.

Arms loaded with suitcases and some extra hockey gear, Adam and his dad made it up to the dorm room he was suppose to stay in.

The room was basically like any other dorm. Someone had this room too, as Adam could see that one of the beds was covered and there was stuff on the dresser and desk.

Walking toward the one bed that did not have a cover on it, he set suitcase and hockey gear at the foot of the bed. His father did the same with the other suitcase and duffel bag.

"You can unpack your things on Friday. Come, your mother is wanting at the restaurant for us."

Just then, the door opened to reveal Adam's roommate. No.

Zack Larson. Adam had not seen his ex-friend since Fulton had tied Jordan McGill, Alan King, and himself to a tree in their boxers.

"Mr. Banks, Adam." He said as he came in. Behind him was Ian Riley.

Zack started to introduce Ian to Phil and Adam. But Ian interrupted. "Adam and I met, it is nice to met you Mr. Banks."

Adam's nerves stretched. Ian was being polite to his father and him like he wanted to be friends.

"It is good to meet you too, Ian. It's nice to see you again, Zack. I hope you will excuse us, but my son and I have dinner reservations."

"Of course."

When Phil left the room, Ian's eyes mocked Adam as he passed. Zack did not say anything to him as he passed.

When he and his dad left the dorms, Adam was relieved that the day was done. Could things get any worse?