"Just Another Day of High School"

"You know what I hate most about being a freshman?" Carrie asked the next morning as the two roommates headed down to breakfast. Maurae looked at her, still half-asleep.

"Hm?" she mumbled, stifling a yawn. At least she and the others had finished all of their homework the night before, only ten minutes before curfew. She glanced at Carrie, half awed, half disgusted that her roommate could be so awake in the morning.

"The fact that everybody seems to know it. I mean, I know I'm shorter than average, but everybody assumes that means I'm a freshman. A few of your teammates could pass for seniors...physically. Mentally, they'll probably all remain freshman." Maurae grinned at that.

Though barely acquainted with the girl, Maurae knew Carrie was both a lesbian and highly jealous of the rest of Maurae's friends for the time they'd known and spent with her in years previous. "I think I have to concede that point to you, Carrie," Maurae yawned. "I do admit that sometimes, the guys don't know when to turn off the immaturity. But they're a good group of people...for all of their faults."

"If you say so," Carrie teased. Maurae smiled.

"I do say so."

"Morning, glorious," Charlie said as they walked past the team's table. Maurae grinned at him. "So, are you ready for a full day?"

"As ready as any of us ever are, Charlie," she retorted affectionately. Adam walked through the doors, then, trailing after Scooter and Riley. He waved when he saw them, but motioned apologetically at his two new teammates. Charlie and Maurae simultaneously waved and smiled back. "It's going to be different without him, isn't it?" she asked softly, her eyes glued to her friend. Charlie smiled and pulled her down into the chair next to his.

"It will be a new experience for all involved. But, hey, the world keeps turning." Maurae shot him a look that said plainly she didn't believe a word he was saying, and she knew he didn't either. "All right, but what kind of captain would I be if I just sat here lamenting? No kind at all. So I have to just roll with the punches, I guess."

"That was possibly the most mature speech I've ever heard coming from your lips, Charles Conway. Did you eat something bad for you?" she teased, putting a hand against his forehead in mock-concern. He laughed and dug into another plastic-looking omelet. She shook her head and went for cereal.

Fulton apprehended her seat while she was fetching her food, and she ended up sitting at the opposite end of the table with Connie and Guy, who were not the most interesting conversationalists when they were together.

She ate her breakfast as quickly as possible in order not to have to listen to the two croon at each other for very long. Then she threw her dishes away and headed over to where Adam was sitting with the other Varsity players. He smiled when he saw her coming and started to stand. Riley, sitting next to him, put a hand on his shoulder and forced him down again.

"You know you're not supposed to be over here," he said. Maurae smiled.

"Fortunately, then, I'm not a JV player here to talk to a Varsity player. I'm a girl here to talk to her friend. Good morning, gentlemen. Hey, Ads. Can I talk to you for a sec?" Adam nodded and started to get up again. Scooter was the one to pull him down this time. Maurae lifted an eyebrow.

"You know the rules."

"All I want to do is talk to a friend." This time she physically walked over and nodded her head in the direction of the door. He stood without obstruction and waved to his new teammates as she led the way from the room.

"They're not bad, mostly," he explained. They're just a bit jealous of their teammates, especially teammates with previous affiliations." Maurae nodded thoughtfully.

"We are still friends," she clarified. His eyes widened.

"How dare you think otherwise! You're my best friend, Maurae, and that is a proven fact. I just have to spend some time with them. You know, get to know them. Then they'll stop seeming so rude and start acting like normal people. I think they're afraid that I won't want to play you guys, that I'll somehow ruin they're chances for winning against the JV."

"It's a tough place to be, isn't it?" she asked gently. "You're part of their team, but you're our friend." He nodded.

"You understand, then. Yeah, it's like that. I mean, hockey is what I eat, sleep, and breathe, but you guys are who I am."

"I'm always here," she reminded him, as genuine as she knew how. "If you need me, I'm always here."

He hugged her. "I know you are. And believe me, I'll always remember it." She nodded, satisfied. "Now, how about we get ourselves to class number one?"

"It's a deal."

- - - -

(Adam's POV)

Maurae was right, it was a hard position to be in. On the one hand, I grew up with the Ducks, and they're my world, even the ones we only met recently for Team USA. But I know what team means. So how do I keep my loyalties to my team, while still holding onto my loyalties for my friends?

It's as hard a position to be in as being in love with your best friend when she's in love with someone else...or even not in love with you. Charlie and I had had several conversations on this subject during the year we were apart and this past summer. It seems I wasn't as subtle in displaying my feelings for her as I'd thought. At least to those who know me well...except for her, which is odd.

She gave me a lot to think about. So much so, in fact, that I lost track of my classes and my thoughts until lunch. I was determined to eat lunch with the Ducks. I mean, if breakfast, dinner, and practice belonged to the Warriors, along with my free time, I was determined to at least spend one meal of the day with my friends.

Unfortunately, I didn't get very far...

- - - -

Adam had just gotten his lunch and was glancing around when he saw Ken being bullied (again) by his new teammates. While they'd assured him it was only the traditional hazing of JV players, he still didn't think it was all that cool. Another reason for him to sit with the Ducks at lunch.

He slipped by the Varsity table and set his tray down next to Fulton. "Hey, dude. Nice to see the whole Varsity thing hasn't gone to your head," the enforcer teased. Adam grinned, glad they were still treating him the same.

"No, see, I'm only here to remind you that you're the little people," Adam retorted. Maurae snorted as she sat down across the table from them. "What's so funny?"

"You said 'little people' to Fulton, who's probably four to five inches taller that you, and outweighs you by at least ten pounds. That's what's funny."

"But, see, I was referring to you, sunshine," he teased. She tossed a floppy French fry at him. "So...I was wondering...what's going on this Friday?" Maurae shrugged and poked her fork at the limp salad that sat on her Styrofoam plate as Charlie sat down next to her.

"Is this edible?" she asked instead. Fulton made a show of leaning across the table and putting his face up close to it.

"I think it's still alive," he said solemnly. "That piece of lettuce just moved." The boys and Maurae laughed, and Maurae attacked the indicated piece of lettuce with her fork. "So, Adam was talking about Friday...I dunno. I think the girls are going to have a mall day," Charlie said, shooting Adam a funny look that the other understood perfectly.

"Cons and Jules are still debating that point with me," Maurae spoke up, still glaring at her food. "I just don't see how spending all my money on new clothes I don't need is considered fun." She shrugged. "I think I'm going to skate around town a while. Of course, you know Orion will probably insist on a practice that afternoon. Honestly, I don't understand how he and Bombay were friends. They're so different!"

Charlie nodded. He raised an eyebrow at Fulton, who followed his pointed glance towards the Varsity table. Both boys stood and waved vaguely as they left. Adam sighed and turned his attention to his own meal. "They expect us to actually eat this stuff?" he asked, sticking a fork into his macaroni and lifting. The whole serving came with it. Maurae actually laughed.

"Apparently so," she replied. She set down her fork and leaned back a bit in her chair. "But I think I've misplaced my appetite for today." Adam nodded, glancing around.

"Where'd Charlie and Fulton go? And where's Russ?" Maurae looked around then, too.

"There they are. Russ has his tray, and the other two already ate. Oh no." Adam immediately saw the reason for her sudden statement. Riley and Cole had just gotten up and were now stealing Charlie's lunch. "This is not good." He had to agree, since, as Cole lifted a handful of green goo to his nose and took a big sniff, Charlie's shoulders shook with laughter and Russ got himself set to bolt.

Suddenly, dishes were flying everywhere and their three friends were racing through the cafeteria, chased by Varsity player. Adam was up, out of his seat and off after them before Maurae had shoved her chair back, but she was hot on his heels. Behind them trailed most of the rest of the cafeteria.

(A/N: I know a lot of you get tired of hearing how much Adam really loves his best friend. This DOES NOT MAKE MAURAE A MARY SUE!!! There are Mary Sue-ish things about her, but she isn't one. Get over it.)

Oh, and thanks again to all of you wonderful reviewers who tell me to keep writing. It's a huge confidence booster, and it helps me want to keep writing. Thanks a bunch, and keep reading!