A/N thanks to those who reviewed (I would have mentioned it last chapter but I'd already written it before I'd seen the reviews). Emily, there may not be any D/J cuteness for a couple of chapters (sorry, but it should come back sometime – I don't know where the story's going just yet!)

(sorry, I could have sworn I'd uploaded this last Friday but it looks like I didn't!)

"Hey have you heard?" Charlie Conway, the captain of the Ducks got everyone's attention with that question. The rest of the Ducks stopped eating their breakfasts and leaned towards him intent on hearing the latest Eden Hall gossip.

"Heard what?" Dwayne Robertson asked. He could be a little slow sometimes but he was a well liked member of the Ducks team.

Julie sank back into her chair. She knew what Charlie was about to say. Gossip had been spreading like wildfire that Rick Riley got bashed last night.

"Rick Riley got the crap kicked out of him last night. Apparently Cole found him outside their dorm room door unconscious" Charlie said sounding every inch of the team gossiper that he was.

Connie stole a glance at Julie who remained silent. They both exchanged worried looks.

"Really?" Russ Tyler spoke up. He was one of Charlie's best friends and was just a big a gossiper as Charlie himself was.

Charlie nodded "Yeah, Riley's awake though. His face is all smashed up and he can hardly open his eyes but here's the weird part" Charlie paused.

The Ducks sub-consciously leaned even closer.

"Riley's claiming amnesia and isn't telling who done it or why" Charlie said with a proud grin.

"WHAT!" gasped the Ducks, including Julie and Connie who were both aware of what really went on.

"It's not like Riley to clam up about stuff. He's usually the first to tell the Dean stuff that would get someone else into trouble" Guy Germaine commented throwing Connie a wonder what's up with that look. Connie simply shrugged.

"Yeah, I wanna know who did it so I can shake his hand" Goldberg commented shovelling another donut into his mouth.

The Ducks chorused their agreement around the table.

Julie quietly slipped out of her seat in an attempt to leave the table unnoticed. She should have known better though.

"Hey Catlady where're ya going?" Averman shouted. All of the Ducks turned to look at Julie who almost looked like a deer caught in headlights.

"Oh, um I'm just going to see Mr White about what I missed yesterday" she said quickly hoping that they believed her. Connie had already filled her in on the story as to why she wasn't at dinner last night. According to Connie she had migranes and a violent stomach ache.

"Are you feeling better today? You still look kinda pale" Adam Banks piped up. The other Ducks nodded their agreement that she did look pale.

"Yeah, I'm much better today" Julie said. "I gotta go so I'll see you guys at lunch" she said turning and hurrying out of the mess hall.

…………………………………………

Fulton was still half asleep when Julie started knocking on his door.

"Alright, I'm coming" he called pulling on a pair of pants and grabbing a shirt off the floor.

"Julie! What the?" Fulton asked seeing the teams female goaltender at his door shaking visibly.

"Where's Portman?" she demanded glad that Fulton was there. She knew she shouldn't feel so scared around Portman but all she saw when she thought about him was the look of pure hatred on his face when he was ripping into Riley.

"Not here. Isn't he at breakfast?" Fulton asked confused.

Julie shook her head "No he's not, I've just come from there" she said wondering if Riley had finally told someone that it was Portman that beat him up.

Fulton looked over to Dean's side of the room. His bed was a mess but that didn't mean he'd slept in it since it was always like that. He grew worried when he noticed that he couldn't see Portman's leather jacket anywhere. He only wore that at night and would never wear it during the day.

"Do you think he's been out all night?" Fulton asked wide-eyed.

"God I hope not" Julie replied concern taking over her face.

"Julie, what's going on?" Fulton demanded. He could see the trouble behind her eyes and there was something involving Portman that she wasn't telling.

"Fulton, if I tell you, you have to promise that you won't tell ANYONE. Not even the other Ducks. If word gets out then Portman is in serious trouble" she said taking a seat on Portman's bed.

Fulton cautiously looked down the hallway to make sure it was empty and then shut the door behind him sitting on his own bed facing Julie.

Julie then proceeded to tell Fulton about Scooter and Riley and Portman coming to her rescue and beating up Riley. She left out the part about how Portman had scared her so badly that she didn't want to be in a room alone with him anymore.

------------------------

"Portman! Oh my god what are you doing?" Connie exclaimed when she came across him. His lips were blue, he was shivering and she could see that he'd been crying. "Have you been out here all night?" she asked as she wrapped herself around him for warmth.

"Go away" he growled as he tried to shake her off. He didn't need this right now. He just wanted to be left alone.

"No" Connie said simply helping him to his feet. She couldn't leave him out there like this. What if it was one of the other Ducks who didn't know what was going on had found him or even worse – the Dean or Coach Orion.

"She hates me Connie" he said suddenly looking up at her to give her a full view of his tear stained face.

"Who, Julie?" she asked. She shook her head "Sorry, of course you mean Julie" she helped him over to a nearby bench and sat down next to him. "She doesn't hate you Dean, she's just scared and confused, that's all" she said placing an arm around his shoulders.

"Connie, you didn't see the look on her face when she told me to get out. She was terrified of me" Portman said hanging his head.

Connie's heart almost broke when she realised how much this was affecting him.

"You're in love with her aren't you?" she whispered.

Portman acknowledged the question but didn't respond. He just stared ahead.

Connie left it at that. "C'mon, we'd better go. So far Riley's saying nothing and no one else knows what happened. Let's not make things worse" she said half dragging Portman to his feet.

"You're the only one Julie told?" he asked amazed that she hadn't gone running back to Banks to tell him.

Connie nodded.

Portman sighed "So is Riley alright?" he asked suddenly.

Connie shrugged "Who cares. He deserved it" she said.

Portman smiled for the first time since the previous morning with Julie. "I see why he's not saying anything though" he said the smile disappearing.

"Yeah, I know. He's scared that Julie'll make a sexual harassment complaint against him. Can't have daddy finding out what little Ricky's really been up to" Connie answered for him.

Portman just nodded following Connie into the dorm building.