CHAPTER 11 – Violet's Finest Day

"Pass the puck!" Charlie called to Fulton. Fulton slid the puck to Charlie and he goaled it successfully.

"Yay! Charlie! You are so awesome!" Violet was watching the team practice that afternoon and was being so loud. She kept on jumping up and down and screaming Charlie's name and giggling like crazy.

The ducks looked menacingly at Charlie. Averman and Goldberg looked at each other, grinning evilly. Charlie bowed his head in embarrassment.

"Who's that? And what is that girl doing in our practice?" Orion barked. Violet kept on giggling and clapping.

"Sorry, Coach. She insisted on coming." Charlie apologized.

"Bet she's been looking forward to your date so much she's afraid you'd ditch her." Goldberg whispered beside Charlie. Charlie elbowed him.

"Tell her to keep it down. She's a distraction!"

"Yeah, Charlie. Tell your girlfriend to keep it down. She's so irritating!" Russ said.

Charlie glared at him and skated towards Violet who was smiling widely. "Violet, could you please do us a favor and pipe down? You're distracting everyone. If you don't want the coach to kick you out of here, then shut up!" Charlie said without blinking.

Violet nodded, zipping her mouth.

"Good!" Charlie turned and joined the rest.

* * *

"Man, I'm beat! That was some practice!" Jesse remarked when they entered their locker room.

"I know what you mean," Luis said, sitting down hastily.

"I can't feel my arms!" Dwayne said.

"I think I'm gonna go home and sleep for the rest of the day!" Adam commented, taking his pads and skates off.

"Oh, no! I don't think so!" Guy said grinning evilly. The others looked at him.

"Oh, oh!" Connie exclaimed, finally getting what Guy's thinking. She cast a glance at Charlie, also grinning.

"What?!"

There's a chorus of "ooh's" and "aah's" in the locker room. Ken patted Charlie's shoulder, Averman, Goldberg and Jesse high-five, Julie and Connie are whispering and giggling to each other. Charlie and Portman looked confused.

"I don't get it!" Portman cried, frowning.

The door burst open and Violet came in. The ducks turned and faced her. "Oops!"

"Oh-ho-ho!" Portman laughed, getting it at last.

"Violet! What are you doing?!" Charlie roared.

"I just want to see you. Do you always take this long to change clothes?" she asked, obviously thrilled to be inside the Ducks' locker room.

"What're you talking about?! I've just been here for 5 minutes!" Charlie said, exasperatedly, trying not to scream.

"It seems forever!" Violet argued. "Can I stay around?" Violet invited herself in and sat down beside Goldberg, who was looking at her as if she's from another planet.

"No, you may not! We have to fix ourselves up! Wait outside!" Charlie dragged her out.

The whole team stared at Charlie. "What?" They went back to whatever they were doing.

* * *

"Averman, would you move a little?" Julie demanded.

"I'm trying! Portman is taking up a lot of space," Averman replied.

"Shh! You guys! You're missing the action!" Adam scolded.

The Ducks were sitting at a booth beside Charlie and Violet's in the Ice Cream Parlor. Charlie wanted them to join him and Violet but hey opted to give them "privacy", which was a favor to Violet.

"That's such a beautiful shirt you're wearing, Charlie," Violet cooed in a syrupy-sweet voice. "It really brings out the color of your eyes. And it definitely outlines your athletic body."

Charlie heard people cracking up from the next booth. "It's just a T-shirt." Charlie said, gritting his teeth. "I've worn this shirt to school like a hundred times already."

Charlie thought the afternoon would never end. He couldn't leave until Violet has to go home, but he didn't think he could endure her any longer. She had already complimented him five times since they got in ten minutes ago. It was getting really embarrassing, especially since the entire team is eavesdropping in the next booth.

"I'd like a banana split and a hot fudge sundae. Oh, and double on the whip cream!" Ken told the waiter.

Connie peered at Ken, "banana split?"

"Hot-fudge sundae?" Luis asked.

"Double on the whip cream?!" Fulton asked.

"You? Kenny Wu, the king of single scoops?" Goldberg asked, bewildered.

"What?! I'm a growing boy! Besides, practice made me famished!"

"A strawberry milk shake, please." Julie ordered. The waiter went off with their orders.

"I'd like a pecan praline ice cream." Violet said.

"I'd have a rootbeer float, a super sundae, and a frozen yogurt." Charlie said.

"Wow! You must be really hungry!" Violet giggled. "I guess being a hockey player makes you need your nourishment. But I'll never understand why you would want a yogurt!"

"Why? What's wrong with yogurt?"

"It's just that it's so sour. And so gross like it has bacteria or something. Well anyway, I guess you don't really care." Violet giggled again.

"Yeah, I don't" Charlie answered, rolling his eyes.

The ducks on the next table were having a blast watching them. Violet was looking like she's having the best time of her life, and Charlie… well… it's pretty obvious that he's feeling like hell and totally uninterested.

Please let her realize it's time for her to go home! The sooner, the better! Charlie prayed as Violet complimented him for the eighth time.

The waiter came back with their orders. Violet dug into her ice cream, not taking her eyes off Charlie. Charlie on the other hand, tried to eat his very fast.

"Slow down!" Violet said, giggling. "We have all the time in the world! I don't have to go home yet."

"That's what I'm afraid of," Charlie mumbled.

"Did you say something, Charlie?" Violet asked. Charlie shook his head. "I must be hearing things!" she giggled again, loudly. Charlie's neck stiffened. Violet's giggle makes him think of fingernails in a blackboard.

"OW!" Charlie yelled, suddenly clutching his stomach.

Violet stood up, "What's wrong?!"

"Stomachache!"

"I told you those yogurts have bacteria on them!" Violet said, panicking. "I guess I'll have to take you home now." Violet said, reaching out to help Charlie up. The ducks stood up and surrounded their booth.

"NO!" Charlie shouted. "I mean, you go right ahead. My friends can take me home. I know you're expected at your house in half an hour."

"It's okay, I don't have to be – " Violet started.

"I insist, Violet. I'm sorry." Charlie said, still clutching his stomach.

"Oh, alright! I hope you get well soon."

* * *

"Whew! I never thought I could ever get out of there!" Charlie said as they rounded up a corner.

"You mean…?" Dwayne asked in amazement. Charlie nodded, grinning.

"That was some gag, dude!" Fulton exclaimed.

"Yeah, you really had us fooled!" Jesse said.

"Hey Guy, I'm sorry, I just can't endure her anymore." Charlie said.

"Well, I guess you've suffered enough." Guy said, smiling.

"Truce?" Charlie held out a hand.

"Truce." Guy shook it.

Sorry it took me so long to update. I've just been very busy with school. I had a hectic schedule so I didn't have time to write. Sorry if this chapter kinda suck. Please review and tell me what you think.