Part Twelve

Picking Up the Trash

Adam pulled a clean shirt over his head as he listened to the talk in the locker room.

Instead of being tired, he and his friends were in high spirits. Maybe it was because they were roller blading and picking up trash off the side of the road today. They could have done Orion's drills or trying to stop flying trash from getting to Julie and the net instead. No, they would do that again tomorrow.

"Hey, Banks!"

Adam looked over at Goldberg. "Yeah?"

"Some of us are going get a bite to eat, wanna come?" the defenseman asked.

He had not eaten since lunch, but he was not hungry. "No, thanks. I'm not really hungry."

"Suit yourself." Goldberg said. Ken, Russ, Averman, and Dewayne left with him.

Saying goodbye to the rest of team, Adam left the arena. Not really wanting to go to the cafeteria or dorm, he started walking. Adam had done that a lot lately. Walking must clear his mind for some reason. Where could he go? Hum…the pond.

Once he got there, he sat in the grass looking out at the water.

Things really turned around in the span of a week. Hell, the whole month had been nothing but continuous up and downs. His life had been going out of control for the most part the past few weeks. But now that he was with the Ducks things could go back to normal, right? No nothing can go back the way it was, no matter how badly I want it to be.

Adam was startled out of his thoughts when he heard someone stop next to him. Looking up and seeing who it was, he asked, "Did you follow me?"

Charlie looked shocked. "What do you take me for, Cake-Eater? A stalker?" he said as he sat next to him.

The old nickname stung. Adam had gotten use to the scornful way his friends called him Banksie or Preppie. Not that it meant he liked them any better. But the name Cake-Eater had too started out as a scorn because of Jesse. Now that he was back on JV, his friends apologized for what had been going on. For the general apology, everyone had said "sorry" before they played the game of schoolyard puck, just as he had said. Adam had talked with his friends at different times before or after the board meeting. All of them except for Charlie that is.

When Charlie saw that Adam was not going to smile at his teasing, Charlie knew they were probably in for a long if not serious talk. "To answer your question, yes, I followed you. But if you want to be on your own, I'll leave." Even though Charlie wanted to clear the air with his friend, he would be happy to put it off.

Both boys knew that their friendship was strained to say the least. Neither knew if they could get the closeness of being best friends again or not. It could go in many ways. It could go one way – they could go to school and play hockey together for the sake of rest of their friends. But as friendship went, they would never be friends like they once were. Or it could go another way – this experience could bring them closer. They were kindred spirits; brothers. They both would be stronger for it.

"Why?"

"Why what?" Charlie had no idea what Adam was talking about. He probably wanted to know why he had followed him. He started to answer that when Adam started to speak. What his friend started to say surprised him. He had not been expecting it, and yet it was something he had been unknowingly wondering himself.

"Why did you just assume I was part of all of the pranks anyway? I told you myself I had no idea about the damn shower one! I would have told you about the dinner prank but Rick-" Adam stopped talking knowing what he started to say was too much information. Continuing on, "Charlie, do you even know me? We've been friends for nearly four years and yet you don't really know me. You were the first of the Ducks to befriend me when I started on the team. And yet you did exactly what McGill did when I went on Varsity."

Charlie bristled at being told he was no better then McGill. But he wanted to know about what happened with Rick before the dinner prank. "What happened with Rick?" his question held no room for argument.

"I found out about the prank just before the dinner. Rick basically said if I said anything I'd regret it. I tried to make eye contact with you, but it didn't work."

Charlie remembered that. It was when Rick said he had one more surprise in store for JV before the cake had came out. As Adam passed him, he had given Charlie a look. Getting confused, Charlie had not understood then. But now it made sense. Adam had not looked well that night. So when he passed Charlie, his eyes had a pleading look and an "I'm sorry." look all rolled in one.

Almost like he was reading Charlie's mind, Adam said, "I'm sorry about everything – the pranks and not being able to tell you about what was going on." Adam wanted to say more, but Charlie held up his hand to stop him.

"I'm sorry too. I should've believed you when you tried to tell me you had no part in the pranks. I think I did, but I just was so angry with everything that has been going on."

"Charlie-" Adam started to say.

"No, I know that is a friggin' excuse and I shouldn't have said all of the shit I did. I should-"

"Charlie!"

"What?" the one in question had not expected his friend to raise his voice.

"I accept your apology. Do I have your forgiveness?"

"Of course… Banksie." Charlie smiled. Adam never said so, but Charlie could tell that he did not like the nickname Rick gave him.

Adam didn't even bother saying anything about the name. Looking at his watch he said, "I've got to get going." Before the cafeteria closes for the night. With that he stood up.

"I'll walk with you." Charlie said as he stood up as well.

It was a quiet walk back to Eden Hall. Charlie had not expected to come back to the school.

"You're staying in the dorms?" He asked when they reached the building in question.

"Yeah." Adam didn't want to get into the reasons why he was at the dorms. He might as well as show Charlie the dorm. Adam hoped Zack was not there, because who knew what would be said if he and Charlie confronted each other.

As they passed the common room, they heard Zack call out. So Zack is here. Great.

Charlie gave Zack a hard look. He had sworn he had seen him around school. But he had not been sure.

"Adam, your dad's on the phone." Zack held the phone in question toward his roommate. He ignored Charlie.

"Oh, no." Adam said very softly. Charlie just barely got what he said. What am I going say to Dad? Adam thought dejectedly.

Walking over to the phone, Adam grabbed it, "Hello, Dad?"

Zack had not heard what Adam had said moments before. Walking away from his roommate to give him some privacy; he passed Charlie. Nothing would have been said between them, except Ian Riley came toward them and opened his mouth.

Seeing that Adam was on the phone, Ian took his mocking out on Charlie. He found out really quick that Charlie was not going to take what Ian said laying down.

"Banks couldn't toughen it out with Varsity, so he came running back to the pathetic excuse you have for a team."

Zack was not happy to be around Charlie because of bad blood between their old teams. Adam and he may not be much of friends anymore, but what Ian said was uncalled for. "Shut up, Ian."

Ian was not expecting Zack to say anything. At least not defend Adam. But he did not get to chance to say anything to his friend.

Curling his hand in a fist, Charlie said in a low voice, "Toughen it out? Riley, you're a sniveling worm who has to run to Daddy or Big Brother to hide behind." If Ian said anything else, Charlie was going to punch him. He could give a damn if he got suspended.

Zack was not sure if he should intervene. Glancing back at Adam, he saw that his roommate was still on the phone. Both Ian and Charlie would not appreciate Zack getting involved in this. So he stayed quiet.

Ian gloated on, not worried but angry at what Charlie said. "You want to fight, Conway? Did you forget the fact that if you fight me, you'll get kicked out of school? Your precious lawyer will not be able to get you back in."

Pulling his arm, he started to aim his fist at the face of the mocking jackass that was Riley's little brother.

"Charlie, don't!" a second later Charlie felt his arm being grabbed and being lowered by force.

Three heads turned toward Adam. He stood next to Charlie but quickly let go of his friend's arm. He had heard part of the argument. Giving a short goodbye and hanging up on his father, Adam got to the three teens in time to see Charlie ready to deck Ian.

Now in a quieter tone, Adam continued. "Charlie, Ian has a point." He glared at other teen. Returning his gaze back to his friend, "You've got to stay in school. We need you for the game Friday."

Charlie knew what Adam meant, but he hated that his friend was right.

"Tell your dad you're playing on JV, Banks?" Ian sneered.

Adam wanted so badly to say the hell with his words and pound Ian himself. But that was not going to do any good. If anyone beat the crap out of Ian Riley, they would have Rick Riley and Varsity to deal with. If that did not finish it, Tom Riley would do everything he could to get the said person kicked out of Eden Hall. Especially if it was one of the Ducks.

Laughing Ian turned around to leave. He had his answer by Adam's silence. He stopped when he noticed Zack was not with him. "You coming?" he asked with a demanding tone.

Zack did not want to go, but he was not going to stick around with the two Ducks. Walking toward Ian, they both left the dorm.

"Why didn't you say something?" Charlie insisted.

"What did you want me to say, Charlie?" Adam was still angry with himself and Ian. Why can't I stick up for myself? "Tell the truth? 'No I didn't tell him.'?"

"You lied to your dad?" Charlie's voice grew quiet with disbelief.

"Really Spazway, you're smart. Seriously, Dad still thinks I'm on Varsity."

"Isn't he going to be at the game on Friday?"

Shaking his head, no, Adam explained. "He and Mom are on a trip. They shouldn't be back till some time next week."

Charlie knew that Philip Banks was going to be pissed when he found out Adam was playing on JV. Adam's dad was not an easy man to get along with. Oh, he was polite enough when he saw any of the Ducks. But Charlie and the old Ducks knew all too well that Philip Banks thought they were not good enough for Adam to hang around with.

"Ten seconds left." Josh announced. The JV/Varsity game was nearly over. Was Charlie Conway going to score and win for the Ducks? Or was it going to be a shutout?

Adam was a few feet behind Charlie. He felt like he was watching Charlie in slow motion. Charlie's going to do a triple deke. And Scooter is prepared for it.

Charlie shot. Scooter lunged ready to stop it.

No wait, Charlie did not shoot. No, he passed the puck to Goldberg. Goldberg!? Involuntarily he stopped. Adam heard his teammates and Orion shouting to Goldberg to shoot. Shoot!

Goldberg looked like he was frozen. Adam did not yell out anything, but his thoughts ran like a runaway train. Come on, Goldberg! Shoot it in! But he was worried too. Could Goldberg do it? Adam hoped he would.

Whether or not Goldberg heard Orion and the team or just by gut reaction, he shot. And…scored! A second later he was knocked down by two Varsity players.

Yes!

As Adam skated toward Charlie and Goldberg, he heard Goldberg say, "Don't ever do that to me again!"

"Goldberg, you scored! We won!" Charlie called out as Adam skated up and grabbed them both in a victorious hug. The other Ducks were right behind to hug them too.

Hugging all of his friends, Adam remembered some past wins they had. He had not been with them when they won against the Hawks. But he had heard all about it later on, though he would have loved to be there. And the year before that when he was on the Hawks, they had won, but it was expected. Adam knew it had been also expected when he and his friends were Team USA. They were supposed to win. Not that Adam was not proud of that win, nor was it any less worthy of cheering about. But to him, this game with Varsity, like with the Hawks, was a game that he and the rest of his friends had not been certain if they were going to win. And their wins in the past times as well as this one, was not by luck. Perhaps it was the power of miracles.

Pushing the sobering thoughts aside, Adam saw Charlie talking to his mom just off the ice. Nearby them, he saw Luis and Mindy kissing. Scooter had mentioned these two to him before he got off of Varsity. Adam now knew that Scooter had done what he thought had been best at the time when he gave Orion his Duck jersey.

"Banks, nice save out there."

Adam looked at Orion, who had spoken to him. "Thanks, Coach," he grinned. Yes, he had been right. Orion was not a bad guy. Adam was not thanking the coach for just the compliment; he was thanking him for getting him off of Varsity. Adam did not think he could have played another game against his friends.

Ted understood what the teen meant. Slapping Adam on the back, he turned go say something to Goldberg.

"Hey, guys!" Charlie called out.

"Look what Bombay did!" Dwayne was one of the first to remark on the logo.

The Ducks looked at the new red and white Duck logo that covered the once proud Warriors emblem.

Glancing over at the Varsity bench that still had most of the team, Adam almost felt bad for them. They would have to learn and accept to be Ducks now. But he was not going to give them that much sympathy for their pride. After all, they did not even want the Ducks at Eden Hall.

He caught Scooter's eye. The Varsity goalie gave him a quick smile before turning his face neutral. Okay, not all of Varsity was going to mind the name change.

"This is great!" Guy said skated next to him.

"Definitely."

Both of them skated over and hugged Fulton.

"Look at Varsity!" Russ called out. Varsity was walking off the ice in defeat.

"Serves 'em right." Portman had heard all about what happened in Eden Hall from Fulton and the other Ducks. He still wished he had been able to get to Hans' funeral.

"Listen up!" Orion said loud enough to gain the entire team's attention. "Go hit the showers. We're-"

"Ouch, Coach. Won't that hurt?" Averman moaned. That earned a laugh from his friends. They were all on cloud nine. Which meant they could live with Averman's corny joking.

Orion shook his head, but he was smiling. "We're going to Goldberg's Deli to celebrate. My treat." Goldberg's parents had talked to Orion about letting the team eat at the deli after the game, won or lose.

Cheering, the Ducks quickly got off the ice.

Stepping out of the locker room about fifteen minutes later, Adam saw Zack standing a few feet away from him.

Spotting Adam, Zack grinned. "Good game."

As least he did not have to worry about Zack hating him and the Ducks for winning. Adam knew that Zack was not going to extend the comment to his friends. "Thanks."

Glancing over Adam's shoulder, Zack smiled quickly and said, "I'll catch you later." By the time he finished his sentence, Zack turned around and blended in the crowd.

Adam knew he and Zack would have to talk sometime. They would never be good friends like they were at age ten, but it would be nice to at least talk every now and again.

"Who was that?" asked Julie walking up to her friend.

"He's my roommate, Zack Larson." Adam saw that Charlie, Luis, and Goldberg were coming just a few steps behind her.

What did he want?"

"Goldberg-" Adam started but was interrupted.

"Adam."

Turning around, Adam came face to face with his father. And Philip Banks looked furious.