Even the Best Fall Down

I've done some bad things in my life. I regret almost everything leading up to December 1st, 1999. That was the day I joined the Ducks. Believe me, they changed my life. Before them I was a snob; a rich boy with nothing better to do than pick on little girls walking home from a library. I'm sorry for all the childish things I've done, and for taking six years to deliver a much needed apology.

September 7th, 1999

Walking home alone was not a good idea. But, for a ten year old girl named Rae, this revelation was realized too late. The second she heard the rumble of rollerblades on concrete she knew she was in trouble, and it was too late to run. The tall stack of books she was carrying began to wobble as her hands shook. Within seconds they were knocked out of her arms and into the street by a cruel swatting hand.

"Lookie who we got here," taunted a boy her age. He was in her mathematics class. His name was McGill, and he had a cruel, sneering face. "What are you doing in this neighborhood, little girl? You're stinkin' up the air." Rae clenched her teeth as the other two boys laughed at their friend's cruelty. Another boy spoke, "Funny thing, Rae, we just saw your mother working the street corner. She's really upped her prices lately; 5 dollars an hour? I wouldn't give her a nickel for a whole night." This boy's name was Larson. He was shorter than the first boy, but had the same jeering face. Rae clenched her jaw tighter and her hands balled up in fists but remained at her sides.

The third boy was about to speak and, though Rae has no classes with him, she knew Adam Banks and his reputation for being a snob. "What's this, guys? Books? When did the retard learn to read?" His friends laughed and high-fived him. Encouraged by his buddies, Adam picked up one of the books and viciously began tearing out pages. Tears began building up in Rae's eyes as pieces of Hemmingway fell to the ground. The other two boys followed suit and one by one ripped pages and covers off of classics. Suddenly Rae was seeing red and she tackled Adam Banks to the ground and bit down hard on his shoulder. He screamed and she tasted blood on her teeth. His friends pulled her off of him and threw her to the ground. Adam stood up quickly, red already soaking through his shirt on his shoulder.

"You little bitch!" he yelled, "You filthy piece of worthless trash, you're gonna end up in prison right with that sick fuck of a father you have! When's he coming home again? Huh? Oh yeah, NEVER! He's busy being some dude's bitch in cell block 9!" And with that he spit on the girl still sprawled on the ground and turned and skated off quickly with Larson and McGill close behind.

6 Years Later

16-year-old Adam Banks slouched lazily in his chair. It was only a week into his junior year at Eden Hall Academy. Still on athletic scholarship, Adam and his hockey team, the Ducks, were the new varsity. Almost all of the old varsity team had graduated last year and the few who were now seniors decided they would rather not play hockey at all than play on the Ducks' team.

Anyway, Adam was now sitting in chemistry class which he had with his best friend, roommate, and teammate, Charlie Conway, captain of the Ducks. Charlie was sitting at the desk next to Adam and was chatting up the pretty girl behind him. Neither of the boys looked up when the teacher, Mr. Billings, came in with an unfamiliar girl right behind him.

"Good morning, class, please get out your bookwork assignment from last night and pass it forward. Make sure your name and class hour is on it." Billings bellowed. Zippers of backpacks and the shuffling of papers were heard as students did as they were told. "And while you are doing that, students, I'd like to introduce a new student. Class, this is Rae, she is here on academic scholarship so let's make sure she feels welcome okay?" That's when Adam noticed her. Actually, every guy in the room noticed her now. She was ten times prettier than the prettiest girl in the room, Sophia Miles. She had long, light blonde hair that was pulled into a pony tail and incredibly blue eyes.

Mr. Billings directed the pretty girl to her seat which was next to the girl Charlie had been talking to. Adam could faintly hear Ashlee introduce herself to Rae.

"So you're living at the dorms?" Ashlee asked politely. Rae nodded her head 'yes'. "So am I. Who are your roommates?"

"Julie Gaffney and Connie Moreau." Rae answered. Adam was listening intently from in front of them but at this he turned around.

"They're on my hockey team." He interjected. Rae narrowed her eyes at him. She knew exactly who he was, she could never forget Adam Banks. She didn't answer him, but instead turned her attention to the teacher, leaving a bewildered Adam to turn back to his own desk.

The bell rang to signal the end of first period. Students spilled into the halls as they scrambled to get to their next class. Freshman ran, their large backpacks bouncing up and down on their backs, until an upper classman stopped them by the handles of their bags and reminded them they still had three more minutes.

On the way out of the science hall Adam caught up to Rae.

"Hey, I'm Adam Banks," he started, extending his hand out toward her.

Rae could hardly believe he was pretending not to know her. He had only tormented her as a child. But, she decided to play along and see where this was headed. "I'm Rae." She stated numbly, ignoring his hand.

"What class do you have next?" he asked trying to make conversation. She stopped and dug through her purse until she found her schedule.

"Art," she answered.

"With Ms. DeYoung?" Rae nodded. "Me too! I'll walk you there." He offered, being as polite as he could while she was being so rude. She sighed, sounding aggravated but let him lead her to the Fine Arts Hall.

Rae silently cursed the lack of assigned seating when Adam sat down next to her at the art table. He didn't say anything but took out his sketchbook and began working just like everyone else. The room was noisy because the 9 different art tables were allowed to speak freely with their friends. Adam caught on that Rae didn't want to talk so he just sat there quietly sketching 'Assignment #6: 3 animals playing instruments.' It really was the stupidest drawing he had ever seen. So far he had a duck playing a guitar and a fish playing the saxophone. Ms. DeYoung had loaned Rae a sketchbook too and was giving her time to complete assignments 1-5 first.

Suddenly Rae spoke up, "Don't you have any friends you can sit with?"

Adam shook his head in disbelief. "Are you always this rude? I'm just trying to be nice. I know what it's like being the new kid. When I joined the hockey team-"

"Oh please, I don't want to hear your sob story." Rae replied.

"What is your problem?" he asked, confused.

"My problem is you pretending everything is alright and that you can relate to me on any level!" Adam looked at her confused, still not recognizing her as the timid, poor little girl, who desperately needed a bath, from his childhood. Just before he could express his confusion, the bell rang and Rae was gone in a flash and headed straight for her dorm room for the twenty minute break between second and third period.

Her roommates were out and Rae lay down on the third bed that had been moved in that morning. How could he act like everything was ok? He didn't even have a hint of remorse in his voice for making her life a living hell. Suddenly the door to the dorm opened and her roommate, Julie, walked in.

"Oh hey Rae! How is your first day going?" she asked cheerfully.

"Ugh, not so good." Rae answered. She saw the look of concern on Julie's face and explained, "Just some asshole was bothering me."

"I could kick his ass for you if you want…what's his name?" Julie offered making Rae laugh. When she had met her roommates the day before, she had enjoyed them. They were nice people and she could tell they would all get along.

"Adam Banks, I think he's on your hockey team, right?"

"HA! Adam was being an asshole? No way! I don't think Adam has the ability to be an asshole…what'd he do?"

Rae shook her head, trying to shake off the major headache that was developing behind her blue eyes. "It's a long story." She answered hoping she wouldn't have to explain everything. Julie obviously thought Adam could do no wrong and as much as Rae wanted to prove her wrong and say 'I told you so' she just didn't feel like it right then.

MEANWHILE

Adam unlocked his dorm room and entered to see Charlie, Guy, and Guy's girlfriend and Ducks' teammate Connie sitting around talking.

"Banksie, you look frazzled." Connie stated.

"Ehh, I met your roommate today and she was a total ice-queen," Adam explained.

"Really? Rae? I thought she was a total sweetheart, what happened?" asked Connie.

"I was trying to befriend her and she attacked me…started accusing me of…well I don't even know WHAT she was accusing me of."

"That doesn't sound like her…she went to our elementary school, you know?" Adam's eyes widened, obviously surprised at this new information. "Yeah," Connie went on, "Charlie you got a yearbook from like…third grade?"

"Sure do." Charlie answered digging through a bookshelf and tossing her their elementary school yearbook. Connie flipped through it for a couple minutes before finding her. She handed the book to Adam and he stared at the picture for a few seconds, realization slowly coming to his face like a developing picture.

"Shit guys," Adam stated, "I'm such a jerk!" He sat down on his bed and put his head in his hands. "Uhh, I feel horrible."

"Why, what's wrong?" Guy asked, as confused as everyone else in the room.

"I'll tell you later, I gotta go fix something." And with that he was out the door, leaving a very confused trio back in the dorm.