So here is the last chapter for the first part. I honestly wasn't holding out on you guys as it is now four times longer than the usual chapters and it took so damn long to write! Enjoy
Second part will start in a few days time.
The ride to the airport was surprisingly fun. I sat with my head nestled into Fulton's neck as I listened to Kenny tell the dirtiest jokes I had ever heard. Even Portman blushed slightly.
"Ken where the hell did you hear that one?" Connie asked. Her personality had done a complete 180 since she dumped Guy. Ordinarily something like that would have seriously offended her but today she was lapping it up.
"Figure skaters aren't all about classical music and being prissy and San Fran has some real dirty skaters" Ken answered.
"Hey there's one of the Ducks vans" Portman replied standing up.
I knew what he was about to do.
"Portman no! we don't want to see that" I exclaimed but it was too late.
Portman had mooned the van that contained Adam, Averman, Goldberg, Dwayne and Luis. I didn't even want to know who the adults in that van were.
I buried my face in Fulton's shoulder until I was sure he'd pulled his pants back up.
Connie was laughing hysterically as was Ken.
"Oh man did you see the look on Dwayne's face!" Connie choked out.
"Classic!" Portman high fived Connie.
I stole a glance at the front seat to see Tibbles not paying much attention to what we were doing and Jan was shaking his head with a small grin. Obviously he knew how to take a joke.
"Well here we are, lets go find your coach" Tibbles announced as he pulled up into the temporary parking zone.
"So who's first out of here?" Connie asked looking from me to Ken and then to Portman.
"I've got a noon flight with Russ then I have to fly from LA to San Fransisco" Ken announced.
"My flights at 2" Portman bent down so that Connie could climb onto his back.
Well that's a new revelation. Guy is going to be incredibly pissed off now.
The rest of the group looked at me "Mines a graveyard flight" I replied.
"A what?" Connie and Fulton asked.
"Graveyard flight, in the middle of the night. I leave at 11" I replied.
"So I get you for a while yet" Fulton whispered.
"Looks like it" I replied happily accepting the kiss he was offering me.
"I guess we'd better find the others" Connie ordered her little 'piggy' to carry her through the airport.
Fulton, Ken and I loaded the bags onto a trolley, including Portman and Connie's who apparently had forgotten they had their stuff in the van as they walked off towards the domestic flights entrance.
"So little Bash Bro, you'll be coming back for this preppy school thing will you?" Fulton asked Ken.
Ken nodded "Yeah, wouldn't miss it for the world, what about you guys" he asked.
Fulton shrugged "Depends on how preppy it is"
I remained silent. I didn't want to drop a bombshell on the boys just yet.
"Jules?" Ken asked.
I avoided Fulton's concerned gaze feeling incredibly guilty as I put on a fake smile
"Sure" I lied.
"Cool" Ken replied skipping ahead to activate the automatic doors so that we could push the trolley through.
"Hey guys over here!" I heard Charlie's voice ring out.
Well he sounds much happier.
I caught a glimpse of Connie and Portman wandering around the entrance looking for the rest of the team.
"I'm gonna go get them" I say to Fulton as I walk off before giving him a chance to follow.
"Guys we're over there" I pointed out Charlie and he rest of the Ducks.
"I told you it was them!" Connie scolded Portman.
"No you didn't" he protested.
"Yes I did!" Connie argued back.
"DID NOT!" Portman yelled charging forward with Connie still on his back.
The Ducks heard the commotion of Connie yelling at Portman to slow down and Portman laughing his ass off as he ran straight through the group of Ducks jumping over various bags that were in his way.
Most of the Ducks laughed except for Guy and Charlie who looked annoyed.
Coach Bombay shook his head. "Michelle what was in those marshmallows" he tried joking.
"Well lets get us checked in and we can all wait in the lounge together" Coach had recovered from the lack of response to his lame ass joke and was now trying to organise the group of unruly teenagers.
Portman had put Connie down and was now heading towards Fulton.
I took the opportunity to find out what was going on with him and Connie.
"Nothing we're just friends, as if I'd date that big ape" Connie was so convincing.
"You sure? You said he was pretty sexy" I teased her using the same lines she used on me when she was trying to set us up.
"Only cos I wanted you to think he was sexy!" Connie protested recognising the tactic I was adopting.
"Yeah right" I continue teasing her loving every minute of watching her squirm.
"Come on girls" I hear Charlie calling us.
"I overheard Adam telling Averman that Bombay made Charlie captain" Connie told me as we walked.
"Gee how nice to tell the whole team" I rolled my eyes. It seemed like we were being left out of everything lately.
"I know, shouldn't the team decide who gets to be captain?" Connie replied.
"Oh come on, we'd pick Charlie anyway" I laughed deciding not to let anything get to me.
"But that's not the point!" Connie fumed.
"What's not the point?" Coach Bombay decided to butt in at that precise moment.
"Nothing" Connie sulked before walking off to share the news with Portman and Fulton.
"Was it something I said?" Coach asked me. I had half a mind to yell No it was what you DIDN'T say but instead I simply shrugged.
Coach seemed satisfied as he walked off to find Miss Mackay.
"Hey Julie when are you heading out?" Charlie had sidled up alongside me.
"Late, I leave at 11 tonight" I replied.
"Bummer about the late flight but hey we still get to see a little more of you" Charlie was acting as if everything was fine and dandy.
"Oh I heard you were made Captain. Congratulations" I find myself saying in a sickly sweet voice that makes me want to gag.
"Thanks but I wish Coach had've let the team decide" Charlie replied.
I stared at him. Suddenly he didn't seem so bad.
"I guess" I finally replied.
"Hey Captain" Portman cut in. I wasn't sure whether he was being nasty or just joking.
"Hey Enforcer" Charlie held his ground. Enforcer had been Portman's nickname before the Bash Brothers were born due to his brutal enforcing skills on the ice, well obviously.
"Julie!" Connie called me over to where she was standing with Fulton and Averman.
"We were thinking that since Portman is the second to last to leave at 2 and you have about 7 hours to kill after that we should go to the Mall of America for a few hours and then out to dinner. What do you reckon?" Connie bounced excitedly.
"Sounds good guys, um I think Portman might be about to rip Charlie's arms off about this Captain thing" I nudged Fulton for help.
"So?" Connie replied.
"So, I was talking to Charlie and he's just as upset that Coach didn't let the team pick the Captain as you are" I explained.
Connie's eyes softened.
"Really?" she asked. I knew she couldn't stay mad at her childhood friend for too long.
"Really" I confirmed as she marched over to Portman and Charlie.
"You know I'm still shaking from the ordeal of seeing his naked butt earlier" Averman leaned in and reported in my ear.
I had to laugh.
"Sorry Averman, I tried to stop him" I offer my sympathies to him. it had to be a pretty bad sight for them, now if it was Fulton's…..
Stop it! I scold myself bringing my mind back to the conversation at hand.
"Okay Ducks are we all checked in?" Bombay yelled above the commotion of the various separate conversations that were going on.
"YES" we all chorused. Believe me it wasn't fun standing in line for the past 20 mins.
"Okay then lets go wait in the lounge" Bombay had obviously seen and/or heard the comments from the other unimpressed passengers.
Damn it we just won gold for your country you ungrateful shits!
Well I am entitled to be a little self righteous every now and then aren't I?
United Airlines Flight 127 direct to Austin, Texas is now ready for boarding gate 42. All passengers must present their tickets and boarding passes for inspection at the gate.
The announcement tore into us like a bullet going through flesh. The first Duck was leaving and now it suddenly became real.
"Well golly that's me" Dwayne stood up
The rest of us looked at him sadly.
Dwayne broke into one of his trademark grins "Aint any of yas gonna give me a hug?" he asked cheekily as we all rushed forward.
You see we were suddenly acting like a little family again now that the flock was being separated.
My turn to hug the Cowboy came around.
"Now you'd be better practisin' your cat moves Julie if we're gonna be on this high school team" Dwayne joked.
I had to laugh, Dwayne was probably the only person who could say that without sounding like a condescending asshole.
"And you'd better be practising those puck skills Cowboy" I teased back "You're still to get a shot by me"
"Well dang Julie I'll just have to do that" he grinned before turning to Connie.
"I'll be seeing you pretty lady at that Eden Garden place" Dwayne told her.
Connie burst out laughing "Eden Hall Dwayne" she giggled.
"Oh right" Dwayne looked sheepish and he gave Connie a kiss on the cheek and told her not to be a stranger and that his horses would love to meet her.
We stood together as we watched the first Duck walk away from the flock.
I wonder who was next?
It seemed like Dwayne had been gone for like 3 seconds when the stupid announcer came over the intercom system
United Airlines Flight 279 to Miami Florida via Washington is now ready to board"Dude you have to go to Washington first?" Russ asked.
Luis nodded "Yeah I know it sucks huh"Luis took turns in hugging each and every one of us. I almost blurted out that I had a stopover in Cincinnati AND Boston before finally arriving in Bangor 6 hrs later. But no one wants to hear my woes; someone up there definitely hates me! The trip from Bangor to Minnesota in the first place took 9 hrs with stopovers in Milwaukee and Detroit. Whoever booked my flights has some 'splainin to do".
Well at least I get to piss my mother off with the 5am wakeup call.
So there goes the second Duck as we watched Luis and his gel-slicked hair exit the lounge.
I checked my watch. In an hour it would be Russ and Ken's turn. Those poor guys had to ride with Tibbles who was heading back to LA to resume his "president of vice" (ie Vice President) duties for Hendrix Hockey.
I sat down with Connie leaving Fulton and Portman to 'bond' with their little Bash Brother before he had to leave. I kept experiencing this wave of incredible sadness and couldn't help but wonder whether I would see any of these people again.
Then I was interrupted by Russ' loud voice.
"It'd be all good if Tibbles got us the flight with the Vegas stop over but nooooo he goes and gets the Phoenix one!" I overheard him telling Charlie who was in stitches.
"Dude that's classic" Charlie was laughing. I could see Guy and Adam talking quietly in one corner lost in their own little world. Every so often one of them would glance in the direction of Russ and Charlie with a sad look. I guess they never realised what things might be like if Charlie made a new friend.
And then the announcer went off again
United Airlines flight 1467 to Los Angeles California via Phoenix is now ready for boarding.
Well now that we had two teammates to hug this one took a little longer.
Then Tibbles decided he wanted hugs from everyone, including the Bash Brothers.
Connie and I stifled laughs as Tibbles grabbed each of Portman and Fulton in a big hug telling them how proud he was of them. Portman looked ready to kill whilst Fulton just looked scared stiff.
"Jules can I borrow your camera?" Fulton asked me as Portman shifted from foot to foot anxiously.
"Sure" I replied taking my camera out of my carry on bag.
"Well be back in an hour tops" Fulton told me and I couldn't help but be a little disappointed.
I could tell Connie was too; she'd wanted to spend a little more time goofing off with Portman before he left for Chicago.
"You wanna go get some donuts?" I asked Connie hoping that some chocolate iced donuts would cheer her up.
Connie nodded as Goldberg asked if he could come too.
"Sure Goldberg" I replied knowing that he would probably cry if we said no and I'm not that mean.
That prompted Averman to come too.
We returned to the lounge a good three quarter of an hour later just in time to see Fulton hastily shoving something into his backpack.
I wonder what he's hiding there? Oh well he'll tell me if he wants me to know.
"Hey just in time!" Portman yelled giving us a goofy grin. The pair of them had been up to something.
"In time for what?" I ask cautiously. Over the three weeks I have known Dean Portman I have found that he is always full of surprises.
"In time for lunch I'm starving!" he announced laughing hysterically.
I look at Fulton who simply shrugged.
"I guess he's hungry" he replied softly.
"Come on Cake-Eater lets get some grub!" Portman yelled to Banksie who was now sitting by himself.
Banks smiled awkwardly and followed the crowd of Ducks to the airport lounge cafeteria.
"We just had donuts Portman" Connie complained as he ordered her a cheeseburger.
"So? I'm paying so quit complaining" Portman replied turning back to the girl behind the counter. She was quite good looking for someone wearing a McDonalds uniform and I was honestly surprised when Portman didn't start flirting with her. Instead he kept most of his attention on Connie.
Connie rolled her eyes and accepted that Dean Portman was buying her lunch whether she liked it or not.
"Are you hungry?" Fulton asked me as he raised an eyebrow at his friend's antics.
"Nah I ate just before" I replied.
"Okay" Fulton replied softly taking hold of my hand. His touch felt nice at that moment.
Fulton and I stood to one side watching the rest of the Ducks eat and I must say it's not a pretty sight.
Charlie still hadn't learnt the concept of chewing with his mouth closed and it looked like I wasn't the only one disgusted by it, Adam was giving him a dirty look before he finally snapped.
"Charlie we want the news not the weather"
The rest of the Ducks looked at him in shock.
"Mmmph?" Charlie answered with his mouth full.
"CHEW WITH YOUR DAMN MOUTH CLOSED!" he yelled attracting the attention of other passengers.
Charlie stared at him in shock.
"What crawled up your ass and died?" Portman asked the smaller boy.
"Nothing" Banks mumbled before clamming up.
Charlie just shrugged and continued eating. Doesn't anything faze that boy?
"Portman you'd better hurry up or you'll miss your flight" Connie told him looking at the clock on the wall above his head.
"Oh okay" Portman gave Connie a look that I couldn't read. It was a mixture of admiration, disappointment and something else I couldn't quite place.
We got back to the lounge just as Portman's flight was being called. At least he got a direct flight.
"Well it was fun while it lasted" Portman grinned at us all.
I couldn't help but smile. For the enormous goon who was the first one out of Team USA I'd met, he turned out to be a decent guy.
"Jules, pity you didn't pick me but at least it was Fulton, anyone else and I'd kick their ass" he laughed pulling me into a bear hug.
"Umm thanks…..I think" I say hugging him back.
"You be good to him okay" he whispered kissing my cheek.
"Err okay" I replied.
Huh? What was that about?
When I looked up was hugging Connie and telling her to be good otherwise he'd come back just to annoy her.
Connie laughed and then it was time to move on to Fulton.
The pair butted chests before having a little "manly" hug and finally knocking knuckles.
"Take care bro" Fulton said to his new best friend.
"Cheers dude, don't do anything I wouldn't do" Portman laughed.
"Dude that doesn't leave much" Fulton joked back.
We watched Portman as he made his way through the lounge heading towards his plane.
All of a sudden he dropped his bags, turned around and ran back to the group making a beeline for Connie.
We all watched his shock as he lowered his head to meet hers and pressed his lips to Connie's.
When he broke away Connie just glared at him.
"What? I had to tell my friends back home I kissed at least one of you girls!" he laughed before running off to collect his bags again.
Connie's angry face was replaced by a laugh when she realised it was pretty funny.
"So, only one more left" Coach Bombay tactlessly announced when Portman's huge form was out of sight.
Fulton instinctively moved closer to me and placed a tight grip on my waist.
I smiled politely secretly wanting to rip Bombay's head off. He'd been nothing short of a jerk during the camping trip.
"So Mall of America?" Averman asked excitedly.
"Yeah" I exclaimed. I've always wanted to see the huge mall.
We ditched Miss Mackay and Coach Bombay and took one of the buses to the Mall of America. When we arrived I was in awe, this place was huge!
"Ride the coaster with me?" Fulton asked sweetly. How could I resist that face?
"Sure" I replied making him smile even wider.
He grabbed my hand and we got the front seats with Averman and Connie behind us, Charlie and Jesse behind them, Adam and Guy behind them and Goldberg on his own at the rear.
"This is awesome" Fulton gushed and I had to wonder whether he had a secret fetish for roller coasters.
"Yeah its fun" I agree holding his hand the whole way.
We got off of the ride and the others all announced what it was they wanted to do. In the end we decided to see a movie since we didn't have much money and Averman could get us in for free.
I let the others pick the movie and Fulton and I got a seat far away from the rest of the group.
"Hey Fult, don't you wanna see the killer robots?" Jesse yelled out.
"Nah" Fulton replied giving me a cheeky grin. I knew what it was he wanted to do instead because it was exactly what I wanted to do.
After 2 hours of non-stop making out we emerged from the theatre with bruised lips and enormous grins. We ignored the kissing noises the other Ducks were making at us and Fulton teased them by swooping in for another long, fantastic kiss.
"Ugh!" "Gross!" and "Get a room" seemed to be the favourite sayings from the rest of the Ducks.
"So what do we want to do now? The malls closing now" Averman asked.
I glanced at my watch, it was already 5.30. Only five and a half hours left until we have to say goodbye.
"Pizza at Goldberg's?" Charlie suggested. I guess it meant another freebie.
"YEAH!" everyone agreed happily.
Goldberg opened the door to the delicatessen.
"Oh my baby returns!" a large jewish looking lady who I assumed was Mrs Goldberg gushed rushing forward to pinch Goldberg's cheeks.
The rest of the Ducks were laughing.
I glanced around the shop it looked like your average deli but when I looked at the counter I saw a huge trophy together with a big framed picture of Goldberg in his hockey pads above a sign that read "Our Son the Goalie".
"That's our pee-wee championship trophy" Fulton whispered to me.
"Cool" I replied.
"You must be Julie" Mrs Goldberg was coming towards me now.
I glanced at the other Ducks who were smirking knowingly at me as Mrs Goldberg swept me up into a big hug.
"Oh, your glove was just sensational!" she gushed.
"Um thanks" I replied starting to feel dizzy from the scent of her really overwhelming perfume.
She eventually let me go and Goldberg placed the order for the pizzas. Obviously the Ducks ate here a lot because Goldberg didn't even have to consult with the group to know what they wanted.
I squished into one of the booths in between Fulton and Connie. Averman was on the other side of Connie and trying to squeeze in the booth was Adam.
"Fult is there any more room down there?" Connie asked.
Fulton was jammed up against the wall. Then he had an idea and that was to place me on his lap thus creating enough room for Adam.
"Charlie you are not sitting on my lap" Goldberg commented as he, Charlie, Jesse and Guy crammed into the opposite side of the booth.
"Aw but Goldie" Charlie pretended to pout.
"No but Goldie" Goldberg firmly protested making us laugh even harder.
Once they stopped being mad at you these guys were really fun to hang out with.
We stayed at Goldberg's for another couple of hours and Mr & Mrs Goldberg even provided us with dessert after all of the pizzas. They were obviously glad that their only son was home.
"Guys we'd better get back to the airport" Adam suggested quietly. I glanced at my watch; 9.30pm. he was right.
We practically waddled back to the bus stop with over stuffed tummies. We made it to the airport at 10.15pm to find Bombay, Miss Mackay and Jan waiting for us.
Wow! I actually didn't think Bombay would see me off but there he was.
A feeling of dread came over me as we entered the now all too familiar airport lounge. We'd said goodbye to so many friends and team mates over the course of the day and now it was my turn to say goodbye to the best friend I ever made (Connie) and the only boy I've ever truly liked (Fulton).
Three weeks seems like such a short time but it feels like I've known them forever.
I sit on Fulton's lap for the remainder of the time we had left as the rest of the Ducks surrounded us.
I could feel Fulton's lips on my neck and I sadly think that this would be what I'd miss the most, the feel of his soft lips on my skin.
Damn it why couldn't I live in Minnesota?
"Julie" Coach Bombay interrupted.
I looked up at him.
"Yes Coach?" I ask
Coach Bombay enters the group and sits down in front of me.
"We have an Eden Hall press conference in six weeks time. I will be contacting your parents to organise a meeting with them to discuss the possibility of you attending Eden Hall. You know to answer any questions they might have, soothe any concerns, that type of thing. Is that okay with you?" he asked.
I felt like kissing him at that moment, if I had him fighting for me to attend Eden Hall then maybe my mother might just change her mind. After all, in her mothers eyes, a young lawyer from Minneapolis can't be wrong can he?
"Yeah, thanks Coach" I grin.
United Airlines Flight 7250 to Bangor Maine stopping in Cincinnati and Boston is now ready for boarding
Well this is it.
I reluctantly stood up and collected my carry on bags.
"Jules, I got something for you but don't open it until you're on the plane" Fulton instructed handing me a purple giftbox. It was the one he was hiding in his backpack earlier.
"Thank you" I said softly kissing him on the cheek.
"Group hug!" Averman announced as the rest of the group crushed me and Futon in a giant hug.
Coach Bombay, Miss Mackay and Jan all took turns in hugging me. I was so glad Tibbles had left. One hug from him was enough.
The last in line was Fulton.
"Well" I said not sure what it was I wanted to say.
"Well" he said with a sad look on his face. It was heartbreaking to see that.
"I guess I'll see you" I said wishing I had something better than that to say.
"You'd better believe it baby" he finally smiled as he stepped towards me for one last kiss.
I didn't hear the usual shouts of "Get a room" and "Gross!" from the other Ducks and I melted into his embrace one last time.
"I have to go" I whispered hearing the final boarding call for my flight.
"I know" he whispered back.
"Good…" I started but Fulton pressed his finger to my lips.
"Don't say it" he smiled at me before kissing me on the forehead.
"Go" he ordered.
I waved one last time to the Ducks and the sight of Connie crying was more than enough to make me burst into tears too.
I blew a kiss to Fulton as I exited the lounge and made my way towards the plane still wondering.
Would I ever see him again?