Chapter 15: Welcome to the rumor mill

A/N: Alright, kiddies… here's another chapter!

Disclaimer: Don't sue me, I don't own 'em!

"I'm not so sure about this, Adam." Connie looked fretfully at him. It has been a few days since they got back from the hospital, and so far she had been very comfortable with his company. Today, however, he could almost see second thoughts flitting into her mind when they stepped inside an ice skating rink. "I don't think I can do it."

"What are you talking about?" He exclaimed incredulously as he stopped tying on his skates. "Of course you can do this!" Connie shook her head in disagreement. "Yes, you can," Adam calmly, but forcefully, told her. "It's just like, you know, riding a bike." He assured her with a laugh. He then turned his attention to her skates, which were only halfway done, and proceeded to tie it himself.

"But I don't even remember if I ever learned to how ride a bike!"

"No, actually you didn't know how to ride one, but that's beside the point." Adam smirked, looking up. "What I mean is that it's one of those things that people just don't forget."

"I think you're just in it for the laughs." She eyed him distrustfully. "At my expense, no less."

He sighed dramatically, and then gave her a sweet smile. "Look, I'll hold your hand. I promise I will never let you fall." His offer almost seemed nonchalant, but deep inside his heart was angrily thumping at his chest. If she could only hear his heartbeat right now, it would quickly betray every emotion he felt right now. He wondered what Guy would do if he saw them like that. Probably chew my arm off.

"Come on," he called, holding out his hand to her. It took a second or two before Connie finally took it and held on tight as he led her out into the rink.

"What'd I tell you?" He playfully held his free hand behind his ear as he waited for an answer.

"Um, that it's just like riding a bike, but then went right on to tell me I didn't even know how to ride one." Connie responded dryly. "I wonder how people could even trust you when you put things like that." But Adam had been right. The moment she stepped on the ice, it was like her feet had a mind of its own and she was on auto-pilot. "This definitely beats riding on a bike, though," she finally conceded with a smile.

Adam gave a tiny shrug. "You think this is fun, but wait 'til we got some sticks and puck."

She raised an eyebrow. "You mean as in like ice hockey or something?"

"Exactly as in ice hockey." He turned his head to face her, a proud smile on his face. "And you, Connie Moreau, are part of the three-time state champs Eden Hall Mighty Ducks. Oh, did I mention about the part where we won in the Junior Goodwill Games too?"

"Cool. I hope I outdid you every time we played together." She teased.

"You wish." He retorted.

She rolled her eyes, but it quickly darted to her side. Adam had still not let go of her hand, even though she has been skating on her own since they both stepped on the ice.

And also, he was grinning like an idiot.

Connie tried to hide her own smile.

She didn't mind it at all.

"So, do you really think something's going with Banksie and Connie?" Fulton asked conspiratorially. The whole team was gathered around a big bonfire that night, save for Guy, who was off doing something in his room. Not one of them had any idea what.

"Yeah, and I'm dating Katie Johnson," Russ scoffed from across.

"Oh, come on. Two weeks, all alone, together? Don't tell me nothing's going on there." Fulton paused, and turned to Russ, completely confused. "Who's Katie Johnson?"

"Girl from Chemistry class, second row, beside the window." He replied with a shrug.

"Hey, I know her. She's a member of the track team, and she's hot," Luis approved with a sly smile. "I can get you her number, if you want." Julie rolled her eyes at him.

"Thanks, man!"

"Anyway, yeah, I think something's definitely up," Luis offered casually.

"No, I don't think so," Charlie, who was seated between Russ and Ken, disagreed. "You see, even before they joined the Ducks, they have always been 'Connie & Guy.' They're a packaged deal. Practically attached to the hip." He said as a matter-of-fact.

"So how do you explain the thousand mile distance between them now, huh?"

Everyone was watching the whole exchange between Charlie and Luis with keen interest. None of them were sure where the conversation was going. Even Portman was being uncharacteristically silent.

"And your point would be?"

"Dude, Banskie is so in to Connie. Has been for ages. I mean, haven't you seen him. He trails her like a lost puppy every single time she's around." He looked around and saw their blank faces. "Haven't you noticed?"

"Well," Ken spoke up for the first time. "They are kinda best friends."

"But he hasn't dated anyone since… ever!" Luis waved his hand to make a point. "I try to set him up with some chick every night, and his answer's always the same."

"Hmmn," Beside him, Averman looked thoughtful, "I always figured that's just because he's gay."

There was on outburst of reaction from everyone.

"Adam's gay?" Dwayne asked incredulously amidst everybody's reaction.

"Of course he's not!" Julie defended, a little too quickly for everybody's taste. All eyes fell on her.

Charlie raised an eyebrow. "Well well, is there something Julie the Cat forgot to share with the team?" Portman looked homicidal.

"Shut up, Charlie," she angrily retorted, and turned her attention to her teammates. "Well, Connie would have surely told me about that," she said, pointedly ignoring their snickering.

Russ was confused. "About Adam being gay?"

"No," her icy glare stopped everyone from laughing, "the deal about her… and Adam. If ever there was one."

"I think that's just wrong. Guy and Connie, they're like peanut butter and jelly," Goldberg piped up. "You just can't eat one without the other. To say that they're not together would be like… like…"

"Eating twinkies without the filling…? Macaroni without cheese…? Spaghetti without meatballs…?" Averman helpfully supplied.

"Exactly! And 'Connie and Adam'? That's just like – "

"Steak with whipped cream…? Ice cream with ketchup…? Creamed corn with jello…?"

"Man, you take the words right out of my mouth." Goldberg nodded approvingly.

"Gross," Fulton made a face, and turned to Charlie. "What's up with them and food analogies?" Charlie shrugged, looking just as confused as he.

"Hey guys," A voice suddenly interrupted and everyone turned to see Guy approaching them. The conversation quickly ceased and everyone fell silent.

He paused, trying to read their inscrutable faces. "Were you just talking about me?" He asked suspiciously.

Their expressions changed andthey all looked like a child caught with a hand inside the cookie jar.

"No, not you!"

"Of course not!"

"Why would we be talking about you?"

"You're not that important to talk about."

The collective denial from them only proved to him that they were, in fact, just talking about him, or at least something that concerned him.

"No," Dwayne happily chirped, "we were talking about Ad – "

"Dolphin we saw this morning," Julie cut off, "Uh huh. I thought itlooked adorable, you know, while doing its thing."

"I thought you just hung around the pool this morning?" Guy flung a questioning look to Charlie. He didn't notice the quick glare Julie threw Dwayne's way and the little nod to Charlie afterwards.

"Um, yeah. It was on the tv." He covered. "Something about birthing… and feeding habits." Everyone tried to suppress a snicker, but most of them passed it off as cough.

Guy stared at them, completely puzzled. "Anyway, I have been thinking a lot – "

Portman snorted. "I would be, too, locked up in the room like that." Julie elbowed him. "Ouch!"

He totally ignored his comment. " – and I realized that I've done nothing but mope around these past few days. I know what you guys meant when you said that she needed some space, but I really think I've given her enough. So, I'm flying back home tomorrow, first thing in the morning. I'm sorry I ruined your vacation. You can carry on with me gone."

Blank faces stared back at him.

"Dude," Portman spoke up, "I hate to be the one to tell you this, but tomorrow is our flight back home."

"What?"

"Our two weeks is up. We're all going home tomorrow."

Guy stared at them incredulously, his mouth forming a small 'o', which opened and closed just like a fish.

"Two weeks? I've wasted away two weeks? I've been here for two frickin' weeks?"

They all nodded their heads slowly.

"I'm such an idiot!"

All right! I'm writing the next chapter as I upload this… I think surprises are in order… :)

Cakeeater: Is she, really? What if Adam just grew his hair longer… or dyed it… and wore contact lenses… or something…?

Hockey-girl90: thanks!

White Artemis: hey, you're back! haha, thanks for the vote of confidence.. i hope you'll stick around.. :P

Banskiesbabe99: lol! you rock! yeah, babbling is SO much fun! haha, i'm actually getting confused with this story. if my mind would not clear it out for me, maybe a toss coin will... :P