FULTON'S POV

If I hear Portman moaning about how the girls hate him one more freaking time I will decapitate him!

Surely he's not as dumb as he looks. Its plainly obvious that Julie's mad at him because (a) she's into him; and (b) she's not exactly thrilled with Portman's 'man whore' record at Eden Hall. Even I get surprised by the things he does occasionally and that's saying something.

And Connie's mad at him simply because Julie's her best friend. Its like girl code or something. At least I learned one useful thing from my sister.

Speaking of Connie I'm not at all surprised to find that her and Averman have managed to get caught in Dwayne's rope – at the same time!

I'm even less surprised when they leave the ice with eyes only on each other and proceed to the penalty box for yet another make out session.

Damn it! I thought we'd seen the last of the penalty box make outs when her and Guy broke up.

Speaking of Guy he seems to be taking this on eggshells. I can see that he's merely accepting this for the sake of the team but deep down he's not really that happy about it.

Can't blame him I suppose. They were together for a few years.

"Yee-haw! Look out Julie I'm a comin' for ya!" Dwayne yelled swinging his rope over his head.

Julie squealed and took off. She's a much faster skater without all of her padding on.

However, Dwayne's faster and as he got closer I saw Portman coming up alongside Julie.

Oh no I can see this ending badly.

Dwayne's rope was coming down.

At the last second he gently shoved Julie aside and she fell a awkwardly to the ice and the rope pulled Portman down to the ice where he landed with a thud face first.

Julie was wincing in pain.

"Portman what the hell?" Julie said trying to choke back tears. Her hands were clutched over her ankle.

Uh-oh.

"I'm sorry I was just trying to keep you in the game" Portman replied.

"So you try to break her ankle instead?" Luis stuck up for Julie.

"You want some Latino?" Portman stood up puffing his chest out.

"Guys don't fight!" Charlie tried to break it up before anything started.

"Julie are you okay?" Adam knelt down beside her.

"I think I sprained my ankle" Julie replied looking like she was three seconds away from tears.

It was strange – the Catlady never cries – unless it was over Portman.

He'd gone and done it again.

"Come on I'll help you off the ice" I offered before Portman could do anymore damage.

"Thanks Fulton" Julie looked up at me as Adam and I helped her to her feet.

We escorted her back to the locker room where Connie gently took off her skate.

"It's a little swollen but not too bad" she assessed.

"I got ice!" Portman pushed his way into the crowd with some ice.

"Thanks" Connie said tight lipped.

I could see she knew that he didn't mean anything by what he did and that he was just trying to make up for it now but she was still pissed that he'd managed to hurt Julie physically as well as emotionally.

We got Julie's ankle bandaged up and even managed to find her some old crutches in the Trainer's first aid room.

"I'm gonna find Coach Orion" Charlie announced.

Julie nodded. We all knew the Coach had to be informed of any injury.

"I'm really sorry Jules" Portman said hanging his head.

"You didn't mean to do it" Julie replied smiling at him. It looks like she was speaking to him again.

"Come on guys out – we need to get changed" Connie ushered us all out. Us boys had already changed whilst Connie was tending to Julie's ankle in the other room.

We all left the girls alone in the locker room and Portman looked a little pleased with himself.

"What's that smile for?" I asked as we leant against the wall all waiting for Connie and Julie to finish changing. We'd seen Cole and Rick hanging around earlier and wasn't going to let them anywhere near the girls without us there.

"I'm not in the shit anymore" Portman declared happily.

"I wouldn't be too confident just yet" Ken piped up.

"And why's that little bash bro?" Portman raised an eyebrow.

"Because they're girls, they always change their minds" Ken said simply and I had to laugh. It was true.

"Why are you guys still here?" Julie asked hobbling out of the locker room with Connie in tow holding Julie's bag as well as her own.

"Duh what does it look like? We're waiting for you girls to hurry up!" Goldberg replied cheekily.

"We're big girls now" Julie replied.

"We know" the boys including myself chorused. We'd had this conversation numerous times already.

"Well if it isn't the Ducks" Rick Riley and Biff Cole approached our group.

"I guess Ducks Fly Together includes injuring your own players huh?" Cole remarked eying Julie on her crutches.

"I could just as easily put you through that wall again if you wish" Portman leapt to Julie's side glaring at the big dumb Varsity player.

"Do that and you'll be kicked off the team" Cole retorted but Rick held his hand up to shut him up.

"So Moreau, I hear you have your little carrot top boy-toy now. When are you gonna stop dating Ducks and find yourself a real man?" he looked over at Connie who was fuming.

"Averman is more of a man than you'll EVER be. Did you forget your own girlfriend ditched you for a Duck?" Connie replied putting Rick back in his place.

"Watch your back little Duckies – we'll be coming for you when you least expect it" Rick delivered yet another empty threat before walking away, dragging Cole with him.

"So who wants pizza?" Goldberg piped up changing the subject mainly for Connie's benefit. She looked ready to blow a gasket.

"Great idea Goldie" Charlie had rejoined the group.

So it was settled – we were having another pizza and movie night in the girls dorm.

a/n - thanks for your reviews, there is only one more chapter of this fic left then I'll start the Julie/Portman one next week some time.