Chapter 9: The Calm After The Storm

(Linda)

I sigh slightly as daylight wakes me, stretching golden fingertips into the small room and over my face, warm and gentle, unlike so much in my life lately. I shift a little and stretch, feeling a solid form beneath me.

Of course…Fulton. I glance upwards to see his face, softened in sleep. He looks so much younger, so unlike his tough-guy image that it makes me smile. It's odd, to be curled up against him, to have his arms around me, comforting and strong. So unlike Charlie. He was never very affectionate or soft, never interested enough to curl up with me like friends rather than lovers.

I'd never seen any other side to Fulton either. I always had the impression that he was just a bully-boy figure. Just one of the Bash Brothers, someone rough and tough with little personality or intelligence. How wrong we can be eh? He's sweeter, kinder and smarter than any other guy I've met. People might say he's dumb but they don't know him. And neither did I, evidently.

He snuffles slightly in his sleep, making me giggle quietly, but it's enough to bring him round. He peers down at me and a smile lights his face.

"What're you laughing at?" He mumbles.

"You." I grin. He rolls his eyes.

"Was I snoring?"

"Not much" I tease, prodding him in the ribs. He squirms and fends me off. I laugh outright and raise myself from the bed, heading for the bathroom, pulling my hair into a ponytail and wrapping an elastic around it. I'm strangely light-hearted, despite…well I suppose I should call it my "predicament" but that just sounds…

"What're you going to do today?" Fulton calls from the room as I splash water over my face.

I pause, knowing what he means but feigning ignorance. "Well first I'm going to try sneaking back to my own dorm room without being given a lifetime's worth of detentions, then I'll probably take a shower, read over my homework-"

"Not quite what I meant." He muttered, appearing in the doorway, frowning slightly. I sigh.

"Yeah I know." I shrug. "I dunno. There's not many options open to me are there? I suppose I'd better phone home and…er…break the good news to my parents." I grimace as I say this. Fulton moves forward and puts his hands on my shoulders.

"Do you want me to be there?"

His sentiment touches me deeply, bringing fresh tears to my eyes. "No" I say finally "I'd rather do it alone."

"But you'll let me know how it goes?"

"Sure." I smile faintly. "Can't see as how you'd care but hey." I shrug and pass off the comment with a short, forced laugh to make it sound light hearted. Fulton makes an indistinct noise in his throat and squeezes my arms.

"Linda, you know I do. After everything we talked about last night? You know I care what happens. What Charlie did to you was wrong, you've been through so much, I don't want you to be hurt any more, and if I can be there to make sure you're not then I want to be. Okay?"

I nod, unable to speak, and give him what must be a rather watery smile. He smiles back and hands me some toilet tissue.

"Now. Clean up your tears! I'll escort you to your dorm, m'lady." He peers down his nose and offers me his arm. I give in and a burst of laughter erupts from me unexpectedly. I wrap own arm through his and we walk from his room, taking care to creep as quietly as possible past the other dormitory doors. Getting caught in the boys' dorms, in Fulton's room by his team mates…I'd never hear the end of it.

(Fulton)

I saw Linda back to her room. Her room mate didn't look impressed…shocked and excited at the possibility of fresh gossip, but not impressed. But what do I care? We both know nothing happened, and that I was just a friend in need for her. And as much as that thought stings me, it is the truth.

But now…I'm on my way to find Dwayne. I have no idea whose room he ended up in last night. He wouldn't have gone back to Charlie's room, not since I let him have Adam's bed in mine. But he never turned up last night. So…it's time to call on the other Ducks. My first stop: Portman's room. I knock loudly on the door and wait for several seconds. No answer. I knock again, much louder and hear a groan…no, several groans…what?

"Portman? You in there man?" I call. There are mumblings. A number of voices. What the hell? "Portman? Get your butt out here dude!"

Finally, the door creaks open and Portman's bleary face peers out.

"Dude…what? It's too early to be up. Why are you even awake?"

"I…was looking for Dwayne. He didn't come back to our room last night, do you know where he ended up?"

Portman steps back and opens the door wider. "Just take a look man, you'll probably find him on the floor there somewhere."

I blink into the shadowy murk of the room beyond and as my eyes adjust I see a number of dark lumps squashed on the floor…the rest of the Ducks.

"Dude…what happened last night?"

Portman grinned. "You missed it man! Alcohol. Lots of alcohol. After the movie we came back and Guy mentioned his stash of beer and…it went downhill from there." He gave a short chuckle. "Everyone's there. Except you. Where'd you go man? We missed you! Well, before the third beer anyway."

I shrugged. "I…was tired." Portman frowns vaguely then shrugs.

"Fair whatnots man. Well…good luck finding Dwayne." He yawns, runs a hand through his hair and shuffles back to bed. I sigh and begin to pick my way through the lifeless bodies on the floor, looking like the victims of some horrific road accident. As I gaze around, a chink of sunlight escaping under the blind picks out a head of curly auburn hair. I'd recognise it anywhere. I kneel beside my friend and shake him awake.

"Dwayne? Hey," I grin as I see his eyes open blearily "mornin' cowboy."

He squints up and tries to bring me into focus. "Fulton? What you doin' here? And at this time?"

"I came for you man. Didn't see you come back last night…" I nudge a few of the empty bottles on the floor. "Now I see why."

He lets his head fall back again and groans. "What d'you want Fulton? If it's to beat the crap outta me, I'm afraid I'm not entirely willin' to get up right now. You'll have to wait till my hangover's finished with me."

I sigh. "Dwayne…I'm not here to beat you up or anything like that. I just want to talk. Will you come for a walk with me?"

I can see mistrust shadowing his eyes briefly, but there must be a modicum of good judgement still rattling around amidst his hangover because he nods once, regrets it right after and pushes himself slowly up from the floor. I grin and slap his shoulder. "Atta man Dwayne!" He groans again and drags himself to the door.

"Look…Fulton…I'm really sorry about last night. I…don't know what I was thinking. I mean I know you're not…I guess…I'd hoped…" Dwayne's hands are twisting in his lap, he's sweating slightly. I feel pity for him, knowing how hard this must be. I put a hand on his shoulder.

"Hey, man, its fine really. All forgotten. If anyone's in the wrong, anyway, it's me. I didn't mean to be so…harsh last night. It was out of order. So…I'm sorry too Dwayne. I shouldn't have acted the way I did." He smiles a little.

"We're quits then?"

"Yeah" I grin, punching him lightly on the arm. "Quits."