Argh sorry this took long, I usually get on a major muse setting, but of course stupid me I forgot to type it all on my hard drive first, I just uploaded it. (Because of hurricane rita and our evacuation of the Gulf Coast)
Anywho it's re written, grr...DAMN THE HURRICANE lol
Characters:
Joe Taylor: sophmore 16, tomboy star athelete, firery red head with lots of attitude
Tyler Taylor: Joe's twin, a prankster and Dean's best bud, another red head...think problem child
Eric Riley: 15 year old sophmore, metrosexual, rick's cousin, basic trouble maker
Kate Johnson: (NEW CHAR OOooo): The Ducks' tutor and Connie's roomie, 16 junior, your basic socialite, who's yes isa snob
Jeanie Miller: Rick Riley's girlfriend, a tall brunette soccer player, 17 Senior, one of the most popular girls in the Senior class.
Cat And Mouse
"Celebrate Good Times Come on!" Averman sang loudly and out of tune. Joe groaned plugging her ears.
"My god, don't quit your day job man!" Tyler grumbled as he walked up to where the rest of the Ducks were walking out from the locker room.
"Yea man, you'd break glass with that voice," Goldberg snorted laughing. Joe surveyed the whole group taking it in; Connie and Guy were holding hands giggling to each other; Julie was in a deep conversation with Charlie and Adam about hockey of course; Tyler, Averman, Goldberg, and Dwayne were talking about Averman's singing; Luis and Portman were talking about some cheerleader; Russ was giving Ken pointers on the Knuckle puck; and finally there was Fulton, he was standing on the side alone. Joe sighed as she took a deep breath walking over to where he stood.
"FULT..." she started but was cut off by a bouncy blonde coming out of no where.
"Hey Fulton," the blonde smiled as she stood up close to him giving him a hug. Fulton seemed to smile as he hugged the girl back. Joe surveyed the blonde, she was about her height, same type of build but skinner, she looked like a life size barbie.
"Hi Kate," he smirked slightly. Joe's eyes peirced through the two as they talked, she watched "Kate" twirl her hair and laugh flirttiously. She bit her lip and started to walk in their direction. But as soon as she reached Fulton and the girl, the two had started to walk away. She grumbled a line of obscenities as she turned heel walking briskly in the opposite direction.
"JOE! Wait Joe," Julie called after her, but Joe was already disappearing up the pathway to the dorms. Julie scratched her head, all she could hear was what Joe had just muttered under her breath. Something about a Cracked out Barbie from hell.Julie looked to Charlie and Adam, then over to where Fulton was walking away talking with some cute blonde.
"Who's that?" she asked looking to Charlie.
"You got me, I have no clue," Conway shrugged and looked to Banks who shook his head also.
"That'd be Kate, my roommate, and just so happens she's the Ducks' tutor," Connie rolled her eyes grumbling under her breath.
"I see.." Adam nodded.
"Well guys looks like we got more trouble in paradise yet again," Averman snorted as the rest of them headed towards the Pizza Parlor.
In The Dorms
Joe wipped away another tear as she stood by the mirror staring at herself. She was convinced there was something wrong with her. They're had to be, she didn't understand it. She never cried over anything in her life, except her mom. Frustrated she went to her bed and curled up in a ball. She could hear the murmur of her phone ringing. She picked it up and saw she had 10 missed calls. She glanced seeing the Pizza's joint number for the 11th time.
"Hello," she answered trying to sound somewhat human.
"Hey Joe, where are ya? We're all celebrating, and we're missing ya!" Charlie's voice came over the cell. Charlie, Joe smiled with relief. She was glad Charlie called, he had a soothing way of talking sense in to her.
"I know, I just don't feel like celebrating, I have a huge meeting in the am, I kinda need to catch some Zzzs," she fiddled with her pillow.
"Awww, one slice won't kill ya Taylor, come on," she heard another voice that she reconized as Goldberg. She laughed a little.
"Well Goldie you can eat my slice for me ok, I really do need to get some sleep guys," she lied again. There were hoots of boos and hisses.
"Well then if you insist, we'll see ya tomorrow then Joe," Charlie said.
"Yea ok, you guys have fun. I'll talk to you later," Joe hung up and laid back on her bed. She couldn't get the image of Fulton walking with that Barbie clone. She curled up in her bed reading the alarm clock, 8 pm. She sighed as she closed her eyes hoping to finally get that same image out of her mind.
4:00 AM
"BEEP BEEP BEEP!" Joe's alarm sounded through the room. Joe groaned as she woke up looking to see Julie stir a bit but not wake fully. Joe sat up reaching for the alarm quickly turning it off. She sat a minute staring at her toes, she grumbled about chipped nail polish and how she needed to buy more Army Green. She got up quickly changing in to a sports bra, a wife beater, and a pair of running shorts. She pulled her red locks back in to a bun, then put on her socks and running shoes. She looked at the clock 4:10, she sighed putting her walkman on as she was heading out the door. She popped in her Nickelback CD again and walked down the stairs and out the building. She looked to the foggy morning, it was a bit chilly, she shivered a bit, but began to run. She'd warm up fast with the rate she ran.
As her shoes pounded on pavement her mind was going through the events of the past two months. She wondered if she was doing the right thing, playing hockey again. She wondered if it was right to be playing for the ducks. But most of all, she wondered if she was really in to Fulton or the fact that he had been her real first boyfriend. She sighed, she didn't admit to anyone, at all. The fact she had never really kissed a guy before. It seemed weird, but Joe had spent her life so involved in hockey, that she didn't have time for boys. And now when she needed her mother the most, for the guidance about her actual steps in to woman hood. She wasn't around. Her phone conversations with her father were short and sometimes odd. Her dad was involved with work as usual. He had just retired from the military and currently working with Scientist on some top secret weapontry. Tyler wasn't good to talk to, he was too involved in fitting in with the Ducks. She stopped at the weeping willow staring at it. She had been running a good 15 minutes when she bent to finally tie her shoe.
"HEY JOE!" a voice called out. Joe looked up from where she was tying her shoe to see Scooter.
"Hey Scooter," she nodded to him, she rolled her eyes under her sun glasses.
"You jog every morning now?" he asked. She nodded to him as she stood up pulling her head set off.
"Pretty much, need to stay in shape," she pushed back her bangs.
"Mind if I join you?" he asked. Joe shrugged. He nodded as they began to start jogging at a slow pace heading towards the rink area of campus.
"So you and Fulton, were a big deal huh," he asked. Joe bit her lip looking to him.
"I don't see how it's your buisness, but yes we did have something. What I wasn't sure, but something," she shrugged heading the east side of the Arena.
"I know how that guys, Julie and I were like that. Over the summer, we kind of hung out. But it got weird," Scooter pushed back some of his brown hair wipping sweat from his forhead.
"Wow you and Julie, didn't expect that," Joe nodded to him.
Scooter smirked a little, " Well there is a lot of things you don't really know about me or this school for that matter." Joe snorted slightly,
"Look for the millionth time, Scooter, I do not want to play.." she started. But she was cut off by Scooter placing his hand on her mouth.
"I know, I'm not really talking about that. Look Taylor, it's Friday. The day in which people have social lives, and I'm wondering if you'd knock down your Duckish pride and be in the stands cheering me on for tonights Varsity game. And then perhaps go with me to our victory party, it's supposed to be a big bash," Scooter said, when he finished he lowered his hand.
Joe grumbled slight," Gah you didn't have to cover my mouth, you sweat too much Scooter." She wiped her mouth off on her tank top making a few chose bleh sounds.
"Well Taylor?" Scooter asked again arching a brow at her. Joe thought for a minute putting her hands on her hip.
"You're not going to let me finish my run until I say yes are you," she looked at him. He smirked shaking his head.
"There shall be no running for you, until you do in fact agree," he smirked playfully backing her in to a tree. Joe rolled her eyes laughing slightly.
"Fine then Scooter, I'll be your little cheerleader, one condition, any mention of me joining your cloned armies and I'm so out," she pointed a finger menacingly at him. Scooter laughed and nodded,
"Point made loud and clear!"
"Alright then, I need to finish my run then, so if you'd please release me from your grasp of doom now.." Joe snickered. Scooter smirked slightly and nodded moving his arm. He gave her one last look then winked as he started off down the path towards the dorms. Joe watched him running away and thought to herself, What could this hurt, Fulton's moved on, time I do too..
7:30 am
First Bell
Fulton barely made it in to homeroom. He yawned as he took his seat near Portman.
"Hey dude," he nodded to him. Portman smirked slightly,
"Long night with Kate eh?"
"Yea Fult, you didn't come in until the wee hours of the night.." Tyler teased. Fulton rolled his eyes.
"If you must know Kate is my Chemistry partner. We've got a huge project due on Monday. We were in the library," he scratched his head adjusting his bandana.
"Sure that's what they all say," Tyler snorted. Fulton looked at Tyler meanly then turned his gaze to where Joe was sitting in front of Tyler. She had her head down in a book, apparently trying to ignore them all.
"Has she talked to any of you?" he whispered to Portman.
"Nah, hear that she even isn't talking to Cat Lady, Charlie or Banks, and that's her normal crew," Portman shrugged. Tyler stared at the back of his sisters head. He sighed slightly. He felt like a jerk, the past two months he'd completely ignored her. He couldn't help it sometimes though, she looked a lot like mom. And everything she did reminded him of their mother. She didn't even try sometimes to interact with people, it's like she enjoyed being the social outcast. For once in Tyler's life, he wasn't just Joe's little brother. He was a somebody, a Bash Brother, and a Duck. He looked to Fulton and Portman then to Joe.
"Joe, hey Joe," Tyler called out.She didn't respond, so he tapped her on the shoulder. Joe turned slightly looking to him,
"Oh so now you want to acknowledge my exsistence?" Joe rolled her eyes. The morning announcements were coming over the intercom. Joe turned back to listen to them. Tyler tapped her on the shoulder again. Joe growled slightly,
"What do you want Ty?"
"Are you okay?" he asked arching a brow. He actually did look concerned, because he really was.
"I'm fine, I'm just, uh tired," she looked to him," didn't get much sleep." Tyler nodded,
"So what about that big meeting today? You going or what?"
Joe nodded," It happens to be mandatory and gets me out of Chem, so yea I guess I'm going."
"Gonna fill me in on the meeting after?" Tyler asked raising a brow. Joe rolled her eyes fully turning to look where Portman and Tyler sat behind her.
"Sure," she shifted her gaze to where Fulton was sitting. In the back corner about three seats away from her, she watched him as he stared out the window tapping his fingers slightly.
"You going to with us to the game?" Portman asked. Joe snapped back to look at him.
"With us? Huh, who's us?" she questioned. Tyler snickered slightly and Portman laughed.
"That's right you've been out of the loop, it's a tradition for JV to go and survey our competition for the inner league JV, Varsity game," Portman nodded.
"Oh, well yea I'm going to be there, but uh I'm going with someone else," Joe bite her lip. She had just met up with Scooter and Rick, where she had met Rick's new girlfriend, Jeanie, who seemed really nice. Jeanie had agreed to go ahead and sit with her while the game was going on.
"Oh, well then, you going with us to the Pizza Parlor after?" Tyler perked up.
"Umm, no can't, I've got other plans..." Joe stood up as the bell rang gathering her book and putting it in her backpack.
"Other plans, with who!" Tyler exclaimed as he jumped up along with Portman following out of the classroom to her locker.
"Just people, it's no big," Joe shrugged putting her backpack in her locker and pulling out her English Litt book. Portman crossed his arms slightly making sure he could see Fulton out of the side of his eye. Fulton was standing no more than 5 feet away pretending to be searching for something in his own locker.
"So you and Reed getting back together then?" Tyler asked excitedly. Joe shut her locker and gave a look to the two boys.
"My social life is none of your business, so butt out okay," she tucked her book under her arm and turned heading down the West Wing to her first class.
Fulton had heard it all, he sighed slightly. He had hoped that Joe was going with them tonight, he wanted to talk to her, but he felt weird about it. Julie, Charlie and Adam had been giving him advice on it, but nothing seemed to work. He didnt' have the courage to just go up to her.
"So she's going out with a guy huh," he said as he approached Portman and Tyler.
"Maybe, dunno, what you think Tyler?" Portman looked to the shorter red headed boy.
"She's going out somewhere, if it's a boy I don't know," he shrugged, " why not just see at the game?"
"Yea, that or ask Julie, she knows everything!" Portman perked up. With that they skidded down the hall to their first classes but making sure to arrange a gossip attack on Julie during lunch.
8:50 am
Dean Buckley's Office
Joe sighed crossing her legs and grumbling. She pulled her skirt down again. She hated being dressed up, even more she hated this skirt. She didn't have many professional looking dress clothes so she had ended up borrowing a skirt from Julie. And well Julie seemed to be somewhat more shorter than her and a little bit heavier. It was two sizes too big, and safety pinned in the back. Never the less she did look presentable, she had dorned the black skirt, along with a nice white button up shirt with a marroon vest over it, she had on a black tie that was tucked in to the vest, she wore some nice plain Mary Jane shoes, and her hair was pulled back in a nice french braid. Julie had cut out of her first class early complaining of a stomache to help braid Joe's hair for her. It was getting harder and harder to manage, it had grown past her shoulders now. Joe was staring at the braid wondering where she could get a good hair cut when her thoughts were interupted by Dean Buckley's door opening and Coach Orion storming out. The coach stopped to see Joe and shook his head slightly.
"Don't let them bully you in there Joe, do the right thing," he nodded looking her up and down once more and walking out. He was a bit suprised by her attire but not entirely. Maybe she did know something. He didn't think much of it as his storming rampage continued back to his office in the Arena.
"Josephine Taylor?" a voice asked. Joe looked up to see Dean Buckley at the door.
"Yes sir," she stood up nodding.
"Come in," he motioned and she followed him in,"as you can see Ms Baker and Coach Wilson will be joining us for this meeting." Joe looked to see them both sitting on the brown leather couch on the side of his office.
"Couch, Miss Baker," Joe nodded shaking both their hands, then she turned to Dean Buckley shaking his also. He nodded and sat down motioning for her to do the same.
"I'm sure this meeting has been somewhat of a mistery to you, hasn't it Joe?" Dean Buckley asked studying the young woman.
"Yes sir, I've been quite antsy all week," Joe nodded folding her hands in her lap.
"Well as you do know, you've already been a shoe in for Honor Society, we just need to get you to pull your American History grade up. Which Professor Peachtree has agreed to tutor you on the side and assign you some extra credit activities," Dean Buckley handed Joe a peice of paper with had Professor Peachtree's office number and telephone number on it.
"Thanks," Joe nodded and folded the paper putting it in the front pocket of her Day Planner.
"Also Joe, we've been concerned with your living conditions. We've discussed this with your father, as you know he's going to be overseas in Germany and Italy for the remander of the school year. We feel it's nessecary to move you to the Private Flat Dormitories. Your father actually suggested it, he has selected a nice floor plan for your room, which will be on the top floor of the WinstonChurch Hill Building.." Dean Buckley handed her a folder with all the information on the Winston Dormitory it held her key card along with her new Mailbox number and Room key.
"Isn't that the dormitory that is for Professors?" Joe asked a bit confused. She remembered very little from the tour.
"Mainly usually, but we do have a few other students living there. We mainly reserve rooms for students with Outstanding Academics, these are very luxurious quarters shall we say," Miss Baker spoke up. Joe nodded again looking to the Dean. She was still trying to figure out why Coach Wilson was there.
"Now, to the good stuff.Miss Taylor it's come to our attention that you've joined the JV hockey team," Dean Buckley looked at her folder again then up to her.
"Yes sir, that is correct," she bit her lip slightly.
"Well, we must ask, did you attend the Pre fall Season Hockey Try-outs?" Dean Buckley asked adjusting his glasses.
"No sir, I believe we moved here after that.." Joe stopped tapping her foot nervously.
"Ah I see, well then. Unforunately due to the innapropiateness of Coach Orion's actions, we've come to a desicion. Seeing as there were no proper try outs, we're going to split you and your brother amongst the two teams.." Dean Buckley stopped, " do you understand what this means Miss Taylor?"
"No sir, I don't quite understand..." Joe looked to Coach Wilson then Miss Baker.
"What he mean's Miss Taylor, is that you will no longer be playing for the JV team, if you chose to continue to play this semester. You are to be playing for the Eden Hall Varsity Team," Coach Wilson interjected. Joe's ears perked up, she was not hearing this right.
"Yes Miss Taylor, you are suspended from all further JV hockey activities. We are prepared to infact accept you on to the Varisty Team, and given your past hockey expierence, we'd like to extend to you a full Athletic Scholarship," Dean Buckley handed Joe another folder.
"I...don't know what to say.." Joe stuttered slightly. She was caught off guard. She didn't expect the Scholarship, she knew what this meant. It would help her father a lot more to only pay for one child to go to Eden Hall, even though his salary was quite good.
"Joe we understand these transitions may be hard. And with your expierences in the past, I along with Dr Jennings have agreed to give you some sessions weekly with us.." Ms Baker puta hand gently on Joe's forarm. Joe stared at her hand and nodded.
"I need to think about this.." Joe stuttered again.
"This is understandable, but we do want you to understand, that with your athletic skills and this scholarship, it'd look incredibly good on your transcript and college applications," Coach Wilson nodded looking at Joe.
"I understand.." Joe stared at her folders in her hands.
"You understand then, that you may not play hockey unless you're playing for Varsity?" Miss Baker caressed her arm softly.
"Yes Ma'am," Joe nodded. Great...Just beautiful she thought to herself.
"Good, Joe, this also arrived for you, it's your father's monthly check, he has advised us to give one to you and your brother monthly for you to spend on school supplies and leisure activities. Also there is another suprisehe sent you, it should be arriving tomorrow afternoon. So please be here at my office at 11:00 am sharp," Dean Buckley nodded handing her the envelope, then he stood, as did the other two. Joe stood up shaking their hands once again. She sighed as she left the office. This is going to be a long school year...she grumbled to herself.
12:00
The Mess Hall
Julie sat waiting anxiously for Joe to come in the hall. Joe hadn't been in most of the morning classes that her and Joe shared, she knew that she had a meeting with Buckley but didn't know how long it actually lasted. She tapped her pencil on her Chemistry book nervously staring at this morning notes she had taken for Joe.
"Ahhh the Catlady, just the woman I wanted to see," she heard a voice and turned to see Portman, Tyler and Fulton.
"Ugh hello boys," she turned back looking towards the door.
"We wanted to ask you a few questions.." Portman leaned over as he sat next to Julie.
"I'm not tutoring you, you guys have Kate as a tutor.." Julie looked to Portman annoyed.
"We don't need tutoring we need information," Tyler sat on the table in front of her.
"Information on what?" Julie looked confused.
"It's about Joe," Fulton said softly, he almost whispered it.
"Ahh, what do you want to know now?" Julie looked to Fulton.
"Is she..umm," Fulton tried to say it but before he could finish Tyler interjected.
"Is Joe going out with someone!"
Julie about jumped when she heard the question and stared at them oddly before she spoke she saw Joe come in. She looked frazzled she was walking with Jeanie Miller, Rick Riley's fling of the moment.
"No not that I know of.." she said watching as Joe went with Jeanie to a table in the middle of the Mess hall, where most of the athletic girls sat, some were cheerleaders, there were a couple of dance team girls, some softball players, cricket players, and a few girls from the Lacrosse team.
"Hmmph why is she sitting with Jeanie Miller?" Jesse asked as he came up to sit by the group.
"Ya, isn't Jeanie going with Rick?" Averman arched a brow as he, Goldberg, Kenny, Dwayne, and Luis joined them also.
"Ya she is," Connie nodded from where she had sat down by Guy.
"Something fishy is going on here.." Guy nodded as Rick Riley came in the hall. He went to Jeanie and gave her a hug, Scooter and Cole weren't far behind him. Scooter sat next to Joe smiling and talking to her. Joe smiled and laughed. Fulton's retneas practically burned in to Scooter's skull.
At Joe's Table
Joe was talking with Jeanie, who was suprisingly nice. She was talking about her new fall schedule and about her meeting with Dean Buckley.
"Well personally, I think you should take the scholarship, I mean you know how good full scholarships to one of the top ranked Minnesota schools look to colleges?" Jeanie exclaimed. Joe laughed. Jeanie was a bit over dramatic, but she was fun. Joe felt good sitting with Jeanie and her friends. She felt like an actual girl. Not to mention she was lucking out and they all seemed to be living on the same floor of the Winston Church Hill Building as she was.
"I know, I'm really thinking about it, I'm just concerned about my brother, he's well, not exactly going to take this lightly..." Joe fiddled with her bracelet.
"Forget him, Joe this is for you. I mean seriously you're only twins, not clones, you have every right to establish your own life, ya know. Plus I know for a fact that Coach Wilson has reserved a starting spot for you," Jeanie smirked slightly.
"But how'd you.." Joe looked flushed but excited. She had started out for the Ducks but only because three of their players were on the bench.
"You seem to forget who my boyfriend is.." Jeanie took a sip of her diet coke smiling.
"Ya who is your boyfriend?" a voice called. The two girls turned to see Rick come in trailed by Scooter.
"Oh shut up Rick," Jeanie rolled her eyes.
"Just teasing ya hun," Rick hugged her and nodded to Joe," so how the meeting go?"
"Good, wow does like everyone know?" Joe looked a bit confused.
"Only those who need to know," Rick smiled at Jeanie as he sat next to her.
"Hi Joe," Scooter finally said smiling.
"Hi Scooter," Joe blushed a bit. She stared up at him, he was cute after all. But she didn't really know, she still felt bad for Julie and Fulton.
"This seat taken?" he pointed to the seat next to her. She shook her head. He smiled again sitting next to her.
"So uh you still coming to the game tonight?" Rick asked.
"Ya, I'm going," Joe nodded taking a sip of her Diet Dr Pepper.
"She's even coming to our Victory party," Jeanie smiled looking to Rick.
"Oh wow really, you have an escort Joe?" Rick asked looking somewhat devious.
"As a matter of fact yes I do," Joe nodded looking at Scooter. Rick smirked at Scooter pretending to be suprised.
"Well good going Scoot," he slapped Scooter a high five. Jeanie rolled her eyes as did Joe. The four of them went on to talk about Hockey, the party, and they were filling Joe in on the social events that'd be happening in the next three months. Joe was having fun, which she didn't expect to be having with the likes of Rick Riley.