Connie spun around to come face to face with her new enemy.
She ignored him and continued pounding the bag, this time with renewed vigour.
Rick took a step forward admiring the rear view of Connie in her tiny shorts and a tight tank. He never knew muscles could look so good on a girl. His girlfriend Traci was just plain skinny.
She didn't know he'd moved closer to her until he spoke again.
"You know its too bad Captain Duckie and his bodyguard couldn't hack it. I would have had fun creaming them in the JV/Varsity showdown"
Connie spun around and threw her fist up connecting her hook with his jaw.
Rick wiped his mouth and smirked. If it had been anyone else he would have hit them back but with Connie Moreau it seemed to turn him on even more.
"I thought you'd like it rough" he said.
"Too bad you'll never have me" Connie replied angrily.
"I beg to differ Miss Moreau" Rick argued.
"Yeah you would beg wouldn't you" Connie threw back.
"And you wouldn't?" Rick challenged.
"Not from you"
"We'll see about that" Rick ran a hand down her bare, sweat-coated arm.
Connie involuntarily shivered at his touch.
"Hmm thought so" Rick swooped in and kissed her hard on the mouth.
The kiss lasted for a total of five seconds before Rick broke away and made a beeline for the door.
"See you around Moreau" he called over his shoulder with a wink.
"Jackass" Connie muttered under her breath and tried to resume her boxing.
After a few halfhearted punches she stopped, cursing loudly and ripping off the stick tape from her knuckles.
"DAMN IT!" Connie shrieked hastily grabbing her gear and making a huffy exit from the gym.
"Have you guys seen Connie?" Julie asked the Ducks at the lunch table.
It was only then they realised that they hadn't seen Connie since that morning's disastrous 'game'.
A collective "No" was thrown back at Julie.
"She must be pretty upset about Charlie and Fulton leaving" Julie mused.
"She's not the only one affected by this you know" Guy spat. He was still bitter about the 'let down' comment she grilled at him after their first game as Eden Hall Warriors.
"I know, I didn't mean…" Julie started.
"Yeah you never do Julie" Guy was now pissed at the other female on the team.
"Hey Germaine lay off" Russ spoke up rushing to Julie's defence.
"You want some Tyler?"
"Man I'd kick your ass all the way back to France and you know it" Russ waived Guy's threat away.
"Yeah Germaine, chill, we've got to stick together, we're all we have left" Luis consoled.
"Yeah especially since the other Bash Brother and the Captain decided to quit. I can't believe they ditched us like that" Goldberg was annoyed.
"Charlie'll come around eventually and when he does its guaranteed Fulton will too" Ken spoke up.
"Hi guys" a very soft-spoken Adam approached the table.
"Hey Banks" the Ducks replied glumly.
"I heard about Charlie and Fulton, I'm sorry" Adam told the group.
"What are you sorry for? You're on Varsity, you guys will pummel us now" Averman pushed his glasses back up his nose. He wasn't being nasty, just telling it like it is.
Adam nodded as if he understood, he wasn't really a Duck anymore; nobody was.
"I'll see you guys around then" he said quietly before leaving the table.
Connie had to run to make it to her next class realising that if she missed a class she'd be riding the pine pony and with Charlie, Fulton, Adam and Portman missing from the flock the Ducks couldn't afford it.
She passed Traci in the hallway making goo-goo eyes at Luis when she thought no one was looking.
"Cons where've you been?" Luis noticed the petite brunette rushing past.
"Just thinking about stuff" Connie replied stopping to chat briefly. Class seemed to fly out of her mind when she saw the tall dark and handsome Varsity captain heading her way.
"It's a bummer huh? I'm with Ken though, I reckon Charlie and Fulton will come back to the flock soon" Luis offered.
"I hope so, we're gonna need them in the showdown" Connie told him, half looking at Luis and half looking at Rick who was now engaged in a tonsil hockey session with Traci.
I'm not jealous, she's his girlfriend.
So why the hell did he kiss me?
Cos he's messing with you that's why.
The final bell rang which indicated that it was time to go to class or else suffer detention.
Connie said goodbye to Luis and stole one more glance at Rick.
She was surprised to find him starting straight at her. He gave her a wink and she took off towards her next class before he could say anything.
I must be crazy Connie concluded as she took her seat in English next to Linda, the only other girl in the class who had talked to Connie like a human being on her first day at Eden Hall.
"Hey Connie you know that Charlie guy right?" Linda asked her.
Connie raised a surprised eyebrow at her.
"Yeah how do you know him?"
"He talked to me the other day and tried to get me to go out with him" Linda explained.
"Oh so you're the hot girl he was talking about the other day" Connie was glad that Rick Riley was off of her mind for the time being.
"He said that?" Linda gasped.
"Yeah I've never seen him like that before, I think he likes you big time" Connie was glad to make Linda feel good about herself.
"I hope he does, anyway do you know where he is? I haven't seen him for a while" Linda asked.
Connie groaned inwardly.
"Sorry Linda, he's quit the team and school. If he pulls his stubborn head in anytime soon he might be allowed to come back but Charlie can really hold a grudge" Connie explained feeling like crap when she saw Linda's face fall.
"Oh, I'm sorry" she gave Connie a sympathetic look.
"We'll deal, we have to" Connie told her talking about the team.
"Miss Moreau, Miss Fairchild, may I ask what is so important that you feel you can interrupt my class?" Mrs Madigan barked at the pair.
"Nothing Miss we're sorry" Linda spoke up.
Linda knew exactly how to handle the teachers in the school and Connie was grateful.
"Good now can we please get on with our lesson" Mrs Madigan turned away and continued writing on the blackboard.
Connie busied herself with notes. She was concentrating so hard she was startled by the bell signalling that it was the end of the lesson.
"Argh one more class to go then freedom!" Linda sighed.
"For you maybe but Coach Orion has scheduled an afternoon practice to make up for the 'unofficial' showdown we had this morning. As if getting hammered by Varsity wasn't bad enough, oh well at least next period is a free for me" Connie groaned.
"Sucks to be you" Linda patted her friend on the back.
"I'll catch up with you later" she added skipping out of the classroom.
Connie was the last to leave the classroom and she wasn't surprised to find the hallways empty.
"Trying to avoid me are you?" a smooth voice caught her attention.
"So you're following me now? Jeez Riley can you get any lamer?" Connie hissed
"You love it Moreau, admit it"
"Okay I admit it, you are the lamest guy I've ever had the unfortunate opportunity to meet" Connie resisted all urge to stick her tongue out at him.
"And you're completely hooked on me" Riley moved so that his overpowering frame had Connie backed up against a wall.
"I wouldn't go that far" Connie replied.
"Yes you would" Rick leaned on his forearm against the wall above Connie's head and bringing his other hand down to cup her chin.
"I know you would" he whispered laying his mouth over hers.
A/N - thanks for the reviews, I've replied to them. Next chapter will feature Hans' death and a few other things!
