Chapter 2: Babes, bikinis, and Banks, oh my!

A/n: This chapter is the continuation of the conversation from the first one. Hope you enjoy!

Emily Henson: Hi there, Emily! I'm glad you liked it. Thanks for the little tip. I'll keep that in mind. ¤looks at Bruno¤ Oh no… Uh, hi..? I-uh, I'd just like to pre-apologize for whatever I might write in this fic that goes against the Connie/Guy pairing... Please don't hurt me! ¤dashes off to find a perfect hiding place¤ LOL!

AntiIRONY: Thanks! No, I'm not making Fulton gay. I like them just the way they are. J Glad you liked Julie/Portman too.

Disclaimer: You know that stamp down the ass thing? Yeah, it's still there… ;P

Adam watched as Guy and Connie cuddle up to each other. God, how he wished he were that lucky bastard that brushes aside strands of her hair across her face… To be the one feeling her silky, brown mane right down his finger tips…

His thoughts were shattered when Luis Mendoza suddenly spoke up.

"Hey guys, you do realize that we're not the only ones half naked in there, but these two beautiful ladies as well." The Latino pointed out, beaming. He winked at Connie and was about to wink at Julie, but stopped himself short. Dean was hovering behind Julie and was giving him the evil eye. Connie pointedly ignored him.

Before he could stop himself, a huge grin crept into Adam's face.

"Hey, whatcha grinning at, Banksie?" Dean Portman suddenly piped up. He had a very furious expression on his face.

Almost immediately, his hand flew to his mouth and tried to disguise his smile by rubbing his chin. "Huh? Nothing," he quickly mumbled, feigning innocence. "I-uh, just remembered something funny, that's all."

"No you're not. You're thinking about something else." He looked at him accusingly. "You're thinking about what speed boy here just said."

Adam almost lost it there. Did Portman know he was thinking about Connie when Luis made that comment? Wait, he backtracked, we're talking about Portman here. He probably thinks I'm fantasizing about Julie. He paused for a moment. Uh-oh, not good.

"Oh no, here he goes," Julie muttered under her breath, rolling her eyes.

"Stop thinking about her in a bikini, cake-eater. She's my babe, not yours." Portman glared at him menacingly. "Get your fucking own."

Adam flashed her please-help-me look, before turning towards Dean. "I'm not, really," he said a little too quickly.

"Quit it, Dean. Okay, first of all," Julie stepped in between them. "I'm sure Adam's not thinking about that." Adam smiled at her gratefully. "And second, you're babe has a name, you know… And it's Julie." She crossed her arms across her chest. "Now if you don't stop this nonsense, I guarantee you, you won't be able to see the real thing." A sly smile was plastered on her face.

The halls reverberated with 'ooohs', entirely from the male Ducks. Connie was chuckling lightly while Julie was smiling triumphantly at everybody else.

That seemed to have knocked some sense into him. Portman promptly stopped, and instead glowered beside his best friend, Fulton. "Stupid cake-eater, fantasizing about my ba-" He stopped muttering and quickly looked up to see Julie raising an eyebrow at him. "-Julie." A series of incoherent ramblings soon followed. No doubt still talking about Adam.

"Man, the cat lady has got you whipped!" Russ exclaimed. "Wapshhh!" He imitated a whipping sound and threw his arms around, as if whipping him.

Dwayne let out a snort, while everyone else was trying their best not to laugh.

Portman shot him a fierce look. That quickly wiped the smile off Dwayne's face.

"That's really great Portman," Fulton said sarcastically. "'Because even if Banksie was fantasizing, now so will everybody else. Thanks for painting that terrifically beautiful picture into our minds, bro." He winked at Julie, who laughed. Knowing Portman, he was sure that comment would totally drive him insane.

All the guys hooted in agreement.

Dean, however, looked like he was ready to swallow everyone whole.

"Cool it, bash brother," Ken held out his arm, seeing the enraged look on Portman's face. "Fulton here was just kidding."

"Guys, guys, before you start fantasizing about half naked bodies-" Connie interjected.

Adam turned his head and unexpectedly caught her eye. She smiled at him, the smile that always made him go weak at the knees. He bit his lip and smile back.

"I think you're forgetting that we still have a game against the Bears this Friday."

Guy was quick to agree. "She's right, you guys. Remember how those big goons almost wiped us on the floor the last time? Besides, the vacation isn't even until next week." Connie beamed at him, and he looked pleased with himself.

"Shut up, Germaine. You're probably picturing Connie in a little bikini too." Charlie knew he hit him big time when he saw Guy's face suddenly flush.

Adam quickly pinched his cheeks hard, trying to rid the huge smile that threatened to form on his face. Please don't let anybody notice me. Just please –

Tough luck. Goldberg noticed him. "Hey Banksie, something wrong?"

He stood there for a moment, silent. "Um yeah, I mean no! I mean…" he answered uncomfortably.

His teammates watched him quizzically, probably because of his cheeks that were now turning from deep red to frighteningly purple.

Great. A mere mention of a little bikini and already I'm acting like an idiot. Way to go, Banks! Adam inwardly cursed himself for his own stupidity. Now not only did he have to endure the stares of his teammates, he had to endure the stares of everyone else on the floor.

And his cheeks hurt, damn it!

"I just thought-uh, my cheeks were-uh, falling asleep." Adam offered lamely.

That earned him even more weird stares.

"Ah-I'm pinching it to-uh, stimulate blood circulation." He nodded his head vigorously. Finally, he let his cheeks go. "Well, I think it's okay now," he smiled at them reassuringly, lightly tapping his cheeks. Oww! I feel a bruise forming…

"…Right, whatever man." Averman replied, finally breaking the awkward silence. "I gotta go, guys. I need to find some book and then return it to the library. Mrs. Johnson said that if I didn't return the book I borrowed, she'd whack with an almanac next time she sees me. Which is bad… Since I see her almost everyday, and the almanac weighs like a ton." He wrinkled his nose. "I don't see why she's so mad, though. I mean, it's just a book."

"It's a book you borrowed a year ago." Ken clarified. "Come on, I'll help you find it. She'd probably whack me too since I'm your roommate, and you keep telling her I was the one using it." He grabbed Averman by the shoulders. "See you at practice, guys." They both turned to leave.

"It's at 6pm, don't forget. Orion will throw a fit if anyone's late again." Charlie shouted. Ken gave a small wave of acknowledgement, and walked off towards the male dorm rooms.

After the two left, the other Ducks seemed to go off on their own. Charlie left to meet with Linda. Dwayne and Goldberg went to their room to catch some snooze. Julie managed to persuade Dean into doing his Chemistry project, which was due on Wednesday. Russ and Fulton wandered off to victimize unsuspecting freshmen with their practical jokes.

"Hey man, I'll see you at practice. I gotta go too." Luis told his roommate. "Rachel told me to meet her after classes."

"Rachel, as in the head cheerleader, Rachel?" Adam asked.

"The one and only," he answered with a slight laugh. "Listen, if you want to hook up with somebody, just tell me, alright? Me and the cheerleading squad are kinda tight. I can hook you up with any of them, anytime."

Adam smirked. Some people just never change. Ever since they stepped inside Eden Hall Academy, Luis has been nothing short of pretty boy chasing cheerleader skirts.

"Sure, I'll let you know. Anyway, I need to finish some homework. So go, don't bother me." He shooed him away good-humoredly.

"Guess we'll see you at practice too, Banksie."

He turned around to face Guy and Connie. He smiled weakly at them. "Yeah – " Connie flashed him a smile and gave a small wave.

"Bye." She said before they too, turned to leave.

He watched as they disappeared around the corner. Adam watched as they walked away, hands firmly clasped together.

"Bye…"

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Oh wait, just a little question… why can't I use normal asterisks on my chapters??? They always disappear once I upload the document… it's driving me crazy!