Disclaimer - I do not own anything even remotely related to The Mighty Ducks. I only wish I had thought of them first…
Italics indicate character thought.
"I want to know more!" Beau, Charlie thought, had her whining down to an art. And since he also wanted to know more about Adam's semi-mystery girl, he was thrilled to see her descending on their friend and shaking him playfully. "Give it up, Banks. Tell!"
Adam laughed, backing up until his legs hit his couch and he stumbled to sit in it, Beau finally releasing his shirt and crossing her arms. "Cool it." When Beau only moved to yell at him again he looked at Charlie with pleading eyes. "Control your girlfriend, man."
Beau's eyes widened in mock anger and Charlie laughed so hard that his eyes were watering. "Yeah right!"
Losing some steam, Beau sank into an overstuffed arm chair, tucking her legs beneath her and scowling at both of them. "Adam, it's not like we're never going to meet this Kimball character. Why won't you tell me any more than the fact that you've gone on four dates and you really like her?"
He looked at her, raising his arms and then crossing them over his chest defensively. His eyes cut over as Charlie sat down next to him on the couch. "She's not going to give upon this is she?"
Charlie looked from his friend to Beau and back again. "Not likely."
Sighing, Adam smiled in spite of himself. "Alright, look. I don't want to jinx it, okay?" Beau looked at him, her eyebrows raised and clearly meaning 'don't be an idiot.' Feeling like just that Adam sighed again. "She's great, okay Beau?" She was still staring at him in that silent accusatory way. It made him so uncomfortable that he started rambling. "She's cute and beautiful and funny and knows nothing about sports. And she's great at her job and I feel so comfortable around her and she reads all of these books and she's smart." He emphasized the last word on a heavy breath and then stared back at Beau a little unnerved. "Okay?"
She smoothed her hair under her headband, feigning boredom. "Okay." Finally, breaking into a grin, she clapped her hands once, eliciting groans from Charlie and Adam. "She sounds great, Banks. So we get to meet her at the premier tonight, right?" The Ducks and a few members of the Wolfpack were all converging on LA for the premier of "The Mighty Ducks." Beau and Charlie had been the first to arrive at Adam's, where they were staying for the night.
Walking into the kitchen, Adam stuck his head into the refrigerator, rooting around for drinks. "She's out of town this week with work, so sadly you'll have to hold off a little longer." He stood up, sure that Beau would be again glaring at him, but as he walked back in the room with three beers clutched to his chest she cocked her head at him.
"You're nervous about us meeting her." She tilted her head further. "Or her meeting us." She stood to help him with the bottles and flipped a finger under his chin. "Worried we'll embarrass you, buddy?"
He laughed at that, throwing a glance at Charlie. "Some of you more than others."
Charlie touched his chest. "That hurts, man." Hi tapped his body. "Right here."
Adam nodded, his look disbelieving. "I'm sure." Looking back at Beau he shrugged. "A little of both I think. I mean, I can't imagine dating someone you all didn't like, but I also think of you all as a reflection of me, so I'm nervous of what she'll think when she meets all of my friends."
Beau was getting ready to say something sweet and encouraging when Charlie swallowed and nodded seriously. "I'd be nervous abut her meeting Averman and Goldberg too, if I was you."
They looked at him with wide eyes before tossing two pillows at his head as hard as they could.
"Give me a date, Banks. That way I can hold you to it." Beau had her forehead against the limo window, watching LA roll by but she was still hammering away at Adam about Kimball. When she wasn't looking, Adam put his fingers to his head in the motion of a gun and looked at Charlie and Averman.
Still holding the motion he answered, sickening sweet, "The next time you're in town, Beau. Whenever that is."
She jerked her head around, not telling him she had been able to see his reflection in the window glass and garnered a moment of satisfaction as he yanked his hand away from his head and pretended to fix his already perfect hair. "Works for me."
There were nearing the theatre, and no one could miss the rapid staccato of Beau's foot on the limo floor. They eyed each other, Goldberg and Jesse suppressing laughter. Desperate to change the subject, Adam looked down to pick a piece of lint from his pale green dress shirt. "So are you nervous about seeing the movie for the first time, Beau?"
She smiled, looking at her watch for the millionth time, and stilled her tapping foot. "I really am." And before they could say anything else, the car was slowing to a halt and the door was flung open letting in the hot air and a throng of cheering fans and bright flashbulbs. Adam scooted out the door, followed by Goldberg and Less. They joined Rachel and Fulton who had just exited the car in front of theirs.
Charlie slid out, adjusting his jacket and offering Beau his hand. "C'mon superstar. Your fans await."
As the credits rolled, Beau couldn't stop a small tear from sliding down her cheek. Applause filled the theatre and Charlie leaned over to plant a kiss on her cheek while Devin and his father turned around from their seats in front of her to clap and give her thumbs ups. She squeezed his hand as the director and a few producers rambled through a list of thank you's. She was just starting to let her mind wander, in awe of the fact that several a-list celebrities and more than several b-list ones were sitting throughout the room with their children, when the director's words slammed a fist straight into her gut.
"The fabulous author who we all owe so much to for bringing to life the Ducks, Beau Mayland!" Charlie and Devin's hoots and hollers ringing in her ears, Beau noticed that the director was motioning for her to come down to the front of the theatre. No way. No. Way. "Miss Mayland, come say a few words."
From behind her Beau felt a hand on her back shoving her harshly and didn't attempt to hide a glare at Rachel, who was grinning from ear to ear. She was on the end of the isle and as she made her way to the front in heels higher than she would normally wear, she was concentrating more on the effort to not trip than she was on the fact that she would soon be standing and facing all of these people.
When she finally got to 'center stage' she accepted the director's hands and accepted a kiss on the cheek. Turning, she felt her heart stop. Beau had never been nervous of public speaking, but this was a little intense. All of her friends and then a million famous people. Yikes. Taking a deep breath she smoothed out the front of her retro style dress and felt thankful she was wearing a cardigan. It was hiding the embarrassing red splotches she got on her chest when she was really nervous.
"Um…" She tried to speak, but people were still clapping and several kids of famous parents were cheering and holding up some of her books. Overwhelmed, she held up a hand to quiet them and then clasped her hands behind her. "For a girl from North Carolina, this is all a little overwhelming." She turned her head towards the director. "I thought the movie was just wonderful. Absolutely true to the story of the Ducks, which I think was immensely important to both them and me." She gulped, finding herself surprised that her mouth could actually be so dry. It felt like every set of eyes in the room was completely focused on her. Somehow, thankfully, the moment called to Beau's brain the day she had met Charlie. The day that her bra had been hanging out. Thinking of it, she smiled warmly at him and felt herself grow more at ease. "These books are very near to my heart because they are about my truest and closest friends. I think it's important that I thank them tonight, if you'll all bear with me."
Applause again, affirming her desire. She continued. "I should first acknowledge my biggest fan who reads every book before before it comes out and gives me a first hand opinion. He's also a wonderful friend. So thank you to Devin Kellerman and his father Archie for being here to support this." Devin turned bright red and slid down into his seat. His smile, though, was unmistakable.
Her gaze traveled to the two rows farther back. "To the wonderful friends that I've made while writing these books and who you'll all soon come to know in The Mighty Ducks #6: Coach Gordon and Team USA. " She winked at the crowd. "In bookstores two weeks from today!" Laughter followed and she blushed as she looked at Julie, Dwayne, Luis, Ken, Dean, and Russ. "I hope you like how you've been written. Thank you for allowing me to include you." They all smiled back at her and Beau felt particularly calmed by the huge grin from Russ.
She grinned herself, more at ease by the minute. "Thank you to my friend Cole," Cole gave a little Miss America wave, drawing chuckles from around the room. "…who I lived with when I wrote the very first book and who has been constantly supportive, if not a little distracting." She rolled her eyes and he pointed his finger at her. "I'm just happy to have you here today, kid." She had thought for sure she would get choked up when recalling his accident. It really hit her, though, when she focused on the subjects of the movie.
"And to my inspiration," she raised a hand, indicating many members of the original Ducks. "I have gotten to know a lot of you through writing these books, and it has been a pleasure." She looked to Charlie and saw him smile sweetly and her eyes filled momentarily with quick tears. "But I need to say something very special to a handful of people." Taking a brief moment she smiled, wiping her eyes. "I have had the pleasure of playing on a team with several of these men and they are, if I can be trite, amazing. You guys stand up - Greg Goldberg, Less Averman, Jesse Hall, Fulton Reed, Adam Banks, Guy Germaine, and of course Charlie Conway." They each stood up, awkwardly shoving their hands in their pockets and then sitting back down quickly. Beau shook her head. "These are seven men who have completely changed my life. They've taught me the meaning of believing in yourself and in others. I can honestly say that I think of them as brothers," her voice broke on the word and Charlie leaned forward in his seat, hands clasped together. "I love you guys. Each of you. And I hope that you understand that everything about this is for you." She looked around the room, trying to hold back her emotions, and raising her hands. "Thank you everyone here for your support of this endeavor. It's a wonderful story and I couldn't be happier to be telling it in this way."
An ovation roared across the room and Beau couldn't help but turn crimson. She did a quick curtsy – which Charlie and nearly every other man in the room found adorable - and flew back to her seat and her friends' waiting arms.
JoanK: I can't disclose important information like that! As for Fulton and Rachel, I'm not sure how much of it I'll cover. We'll see how it fits in.
Johnny: Guess Adam decided to follow your advice!
AdoptedThug: Thanks as always!
Hockey-girl90: Thank you and thank you!
Cc: I love you saying it so much! You know, I've never been that attracted to the Adam type myself, but then I wrote him in the striped dress shirt and BAM, I'm a fan. Too weird.
Aradia-rising: Well thank you. That is strangely flattering!
Duckfluff: Thanks! I think my favorite part is my titles. I think "It Boggles the Mind" was my very favorite though.