Chapter Four:

Life After Confrontation

The day seemed to drag on for all the Ducks. Their sophomore year didn't prove to be any easier as previous years academically. They were for the most part still rooming with their old roommates. Except forJulie and Connie,somehow they had been switched around and ended up with two complete strangers. They hadn't seen the infamous twins all day, and Julie hadn't even met her roommate yet. It wasn't till lunch until they really spotted the twins, and even then it wasn't a happy greeting.

Joe walked in to the cafeteria looking around holding her messenger bag close to her body,

"Well look what we got here..." a voice snickered. Joe turned to see a tall brown haired boy, "is this the infamous Taylor?" He walked in a circle around the girl checking her out slightly and smiling looking back to the group of friends.

"What's it to you," Joe growled slightly.

"Ha, attitude, I like…but I thought you'd be taller and well a man. And you're not a man now are you..." he smiled staring directly at her chest.

"Well I guess I'm in luck then, because you aren't one either. You're a cave dwelling fungus, now save the introductions boys, I'd like to actually eat sometime in this centaury," she tried to press past, but two of his team mates blocked her pathway.

"Well, well, well, you'll fit just right in with those losers. Sweetheart you better watch who you're messing with," he laughed slightly whispering in her ear. Joe could feel him up close to her back.

"Back off buddy or else you'll find out who you're messing with," she growled turning.

"Ha, lovely, well to let you know something sweetheart, the name you'll be screaming later is Rick Riley." he snickered. He got up real close to Joe, he was at least a almost a foot taller than her. She barely came up to his chest. He looked down at her reaching to touch a strand of red hair.

"Save it Riley, I don't want anything to do with you baboon. Just back off and we can settle this on the ice." She scowled slapping his hand away.

"Usually I'd kill someone for the way you act, Miss Taylor, but in your case I'll let you slide. You're kind of cute you know, and now a very lucky girl." he smirked. Joe smirked slightly,

"Well then lucky for you…." She leaned a bit closer to him. Riley's smirked leaning down with hopes to steal a kiss from the little spit fire. Joe had an evil smirk on as she delivered his prize, a knee in his groin area. In an instant he doubled over.

"Like I was saying, lucky for you Riley, that I'm in a good mood. And I won't kick your ass right now, I'll just wait till the ice."

"Dude are you ok?" a voice called trying to help Riley up.

"Taylor you haven't seen the last of me," groaned Riley as he limped away with help from his teammates.

"Wow really, that's special, just let me jot that down in my agenda and we can schedule another meeting in which I will kick your ass. Bye now, have a nice day nursing your male ego…" She waved a bit then flicked him off.

The Ducks table was silent, in fact all the tables were silent as they watched the alteration with Joe and Riley.

"My god, she has got balls," Russ nodded in amazement. The Ducks laughed as Riley hobbled past their table. Riley stopped looking at them,

"You think this is funny? Laugh now, we will win this year," he growled.

"See that's where you're wrong, you won't, you'll lose just like last year," Portman smirked.

"Confidence from a guy who got his ass beat by a girl?" Riley laughed. Portman growled.

"Funny Riley, but you see you just got your butt beat by a girl," Fulton snickered. Riley didn't say anything just mumbled about kicking their butts and hobbled off.

"Guys, look who's coming this way," Julie pointed. They all watched as Joe came in their direction. They stopped talking as she was walking by to an empty table in the back. They all stared at her, watching her every move as she sat at the table eating her lunch.

"I think we should ask her to sit here," Adam said finally looking to the team.

"Cake-eater are you serious? I don't want her sitting here," Portman exclaimed.

"You know he's right, we need to actually get to know her if we want to play this season," Charlie asked looking to them.

"Right I'd be all for this gets together, if quite frankly I wasn't afraid she'd kick my butt," Averman shivered a bit. Everyone looked to him.

"Come on you're all thinking it, she's a bit intimidating," Ken nodded.

Joe sat eating quietly; she pretended not to notice the team talking about her. She sighed as her cell phone rang. She picked it up quickly.

"Hey Joe, where are you?" the voice came through. She smiled looking up to see her brother at the door.

"Over here!" she stood up waving him down. He smiled as he walked over to her.

"I am so glad to see you, I've had run ins with those damn Varsity players all day," he laughed joining her at the table.

"Tell me about it, I feel like we're in a flipping aquarium." She motioned to the table over. Ty looked to the ducks then back to his sister.

"You apologized to Portman right?" he arched a brow.

"Yea several times," she shrugged.

"Well then, I think instead of sitting here we should be over there mingling," he got up and went over to the Ducks table. Joe sighed and made her way too.

Fulton looked up and was the first to spot Tyler.

"Hey guys how goes it?" he smirked. Everyone just stared blankly.

"You guys are good," Adam finally spoke. Joe stood by Tyler avoiding eye contact.

"Well comes from many years of practice and hard work," Tyler laughed. He smiled looking at Julie. Julie blushed a bit. Adam took notice quick and raised a brow.

"So what kind of stunts you guys pulling today?" Averman smirked slightly.

"None, what so ever, we're trying to have a pleasant conversation," Ty nodded.

"Hmm, pleasant, right ok then," Russ laughed. Joe didn't say anything as she looked up her grey eyes were somewhat sad. Fulton looked in to her eyes before he could speak,

"Hey so no hard feelings right at the game?"

"Yea, it's ok, I just hope that they aren't any from Dean," she looked to Portman. Portman studied the girl,

"You know for a girl, you pack one hard punch," he smiled.

"And for a guy you bite really hard," she smirked. Portman laughed, he was over it. The Ducks could tell and they finally let out a sigh of relief.

"Well then, I think we need proper introductions," Ty nodded looking to his sister and smiling.

"What my long winded brother is saying, is he wished we could start over and introduce ourselves in a more civilized manor." Joe rolled her eyes smirking. Fulton smiled as he watched her.

"Well yea, I'm Tyler Taylor and this is my mutuant of a sister Joesephine Taylor," he laughed.

"Oh you did not," Joe whapped him up the head, " I prefer Joe or Joey, do not call me Josephine or I will not be responsible for my actions." They laughed.

"What Taylor? You're my roommate?" Julie looked to Joey arching a brow.

"Yea, haven't moved my stuff in yet, waiting for it to come," she nodded. Julie sighed with relief at least she'd know her roommate somewhat. They went through the introductions down the line. Then they invited the new Ducks to sit with them. All through lunch it seemed to be looking up….