Disclaimer: We don't own the Ducks and probably never will because they belong to Disney. Also don't own Every Morning Song by Sugar Ray, Quit Playing Games With My Heart by Backstreet Boys, Pretty Fly For A White Guy by The Offspring, The Bible, University of Wisconsin, Jeff Sauer, and Mark Johnson. However, Emaliar Malfoy does own Bella, Ollie, Seraphina, Alex, and Patrick "Paddy" Ridley. Bobcatwriter owns Annie, Mike, Travon, all the characters at Lakeshore Academy, Baby Hans, Paddy's family, The Lebrie family, Reese, Mark, Judge Stone, Judge Murray, a few of the other students and teachers from Eden Hall.
A/N: This is the sequel to the other Mighty Ducks story's: "The Way Things Are", "The Way Things Were" and "The Way Things Should Be". We recommend you read those three first. However, this can also be read as a stand-alone story. Please read and review.
Chapter 18
January 25th, 1999
Bella's POV
Charlie and I were on the way to Wisconsin to do a campus visit. Charlie was driving and I was riding shotgun singing along to Every Morning by Sugar Ray.
"Every morning there's a halo hanging
From the corner of my girlfriend's four-post bed
I know it's not mine, but I'll see if I can use it for
The weekend or a one-night stand
(Shut the door, baby, don't say a word)
Every morning
Every morning when I wake up
(Shut the door, baby, shut the door, baby)
Every morning (Turn me around again)
Every morning
(Shut the door, baby, don't say a word)
Every morning (Do it again)
Every morning When I wake up
Every Morning
(Shut the door, baby, shut the door, baby)
Every morning when I wake up"
I had grabbed Charlie's right hand as he was driving, we were doing that a lot. As the famous guitar riffed of the next song that came on the radio, and I just had to turn it up. I loved these guys, I so wanted to see them in concert.
"Baby, oh
Even in my heart I see
You're not bein' true to me
Deep within my soul I feel
Nothing's like it used to be
Sometimes I wish I could turn back time
Impossible as it may seem
But I wish I could so bad, baby
Quit playin' games with my heart
Quit playin' games with my heart
Before you tear us apart (my heart)
Quit playin' games with my heart
I should've known from the start
You know you got to stop (from my heart)
You're tearing us apart (my heart)
Quit playin' games with my heart"
Charlie immediately let go of my hand and turned down the music. "What?" I asked.
"I don't get what you see in those guys," Charlie said.
"Have you not seen what they look like they are hot," I said.
"Oh and I'm not," Charlie snapped at me.
"No Charlie, of course you are. But I can't help it if Connie and Julie buy the magazines that they are in and I read the articles," I said.
"Yeah right, read the articles. There is nothing in those articles about them except garbage. Which is what they are," Charlie said.
"What is with you today? You have been awful," I said.
"Nothing," Charlie said.
"It is not nothing, Charlie. You have been snapping at me since we left Minneapolis this morning. I can't help it that you forgot your precious Pantera at home," I said.
"It's not that I forgot it. I can't find it, Gunnar hid it somewhere," Charlie said.
"Sure blame Gunnar for hiding a CD of yours," I said, as I reached into the back and grabbed my bible out of the bag and turned it to Galatians chapter 5.
"That's another thing that's been bugging me," Charlie said.
"What?" I asked.
"Ever since you and your Grandma were reintroduced you have been spending more and more time with her including reading that," Charlie said.
"Is there something so wrong with wanting to spend a little time with God," I asked as I glared at him.
"No, of course not as long as you spend time with me too," Charlie said.
"What are you talking about? I am spending time with you," I said.
"No not in that way," Charlie said.
"Are you talking about in bed?" I asked.
"Yes," Charlie said.
I rolled my eyes before I said, "Maybe I have changed my mind about sex."
"Yeah and maybe your mind was changed for you," Charlie said under his breath.
"What was that?" I asked.
"Nothing," Charlie said.
"You know I think it would not kill you to spend a little time in the word. After all, you told Grandma that you believed in Jesus," I said.
Charlie scoffed, "You are unbelievable."
"What?" I asked.
"Nothing," Charlie said.
"No it's not nothing, what is it?" I asked.
"I am telling you it's nothing," Charlie said.
"I am not believing you Charles Alexander Conway," I said.
"Look it's nothing. We are finally here, where do we have to go to check into the campus tour, again?"
Charlie said.
I grabbed the paperwork that included where we had to go, where we could park and our campus map, and the directions to get to Madison "We have to go to Union Hall 1308 W. Dayton Street. Apparently there is a parking lot behind Wendt Commons 215 N. Randall Ave. So I guess head for Camp Randall Stadium," I said.
"Pfff Badgers," Charlie said.
"What? What is so wrong with being a Badger?" I asked.
"Nothing," Charlie said.
"See I knew I should have taken Julie and Connie with me on this road trip, at least we would have had
fun," I said.
"YOU FORCED ME TO GO WITH YOU! Besides how would you get here, you don't have a car?" Charlie asked.
"Uh borrow Grandma's car, that's how. I can drive and put gas in the car. Despite what some ape's think that I can do," I said.
"I am not an ape," Charlie said.
"Well you sure are acting like one," I snapped at him.
When we finally got to the campus I took one look at the multileveled buildings and said, "I guess we are not in Kansas anymore are we Charlie?"
"At this point I would prefer Kansas, I feel like I am cheating on my home state," Charlie said.
Once we found the parking garage that we were looking for, Charlie said, "I guess park in the Visitor Parking?"
"Yep," I said.
When we found the admission's office we were greeted with, "Good morning, you must be Bella and Charlie. I am Lynn Wilson, Welcome to Wisconsin!" said Lynn.
"Charlie be nice," I whispered in Charlie's ear.
"Yeah," Charlie said.
I turned to Lynn, "Thank you so much, we are so happy to be here today."
"Yeah, Right," Charlie said.
I ignored my boyfriend's comment and asked, "So Lynn are you going to be providing the tour today?"
"Oh heavens no that will be Theresa Hillman. She should be up here in a few minutes; I do have a parking pass for your car. So that you won't be towed in the middle of the night," Lynn said as she handed Charlie the parking pass.
"I will go and put this in the car. I will be right back," Charlie said as he left to go and put the visitor's pass in the car.
I had waited about 10 minutes when I heard, "Hi you must be Bella. I'm Theresa Hillman, are you ready for your tour?" Theresa said. She was about 5'7 and had the most gorgeous red hair.
"Uh almost, we are waiting for my boyfriend, Charlie," I said.
"Great and I heard that you and Charlie are staying the night with us?" Theresa said.
"Yep," I said.
"Good, you will be staying with me, and my roommate and Charlie will be with my boyfriend Matt and his roommate," Theresa said.
"Very cool," I said.
"You cannot believe how crowded it is in that parking garage," Charlie said.
"Oh Theresa this is my boyfriend, Charlie," I said.
"Hello Charlie, it's nice to meet you," Theresa said as she held out her hand.
"Likewise," Charlie said as he reached out to grab it.
"Well let's get going," Theresa said.
Once we were on the tour, Theresa asked, "So is there any particular programs that you are looking at going into as a profession, Bella?"
"I don't know. I thought of Engineering or Art or maybe Law," I said.
"Pfff… Law, Cake eater!" Charlie said.
"Are you getting recruited for the women's team in a couple of years?" Theresa asked.
"Yeah the 2000-2001 season, I'm excited. I never thought I would be able to play college hockey," I said.
"What about you Charlie?" Theresa asked.
"Easy hockey and girls," Charlie said.
I rolled my eyes at my boyfriend before I said, "she meant what are you thinking about majoring in?"
"Is there any other major besides hockey?" Charlie asked.
"Oh Charlie," I said.
"Don't feel so bad Bella, Matthew is the same way. I will definitely have to show you the Kohl Center, it is awesome and then we could tour the dorm's," Theresa said.
"Ok," I said.
After we finished touring several of the classroom buildings we went to the Kohl Center to check out the arena, Theresa was right the arena was awesome. "And this is where the Coaches offices are at," Theresa said.
"Awesome do you think that the head coach for the men's team is in?" I asked.
"Coach Sauer? Probably, but I would bet that he is trying to get ready for their game against St. Cloud State this weekend," Theresa said. Just then we saw a guy walking down the hallway in the opposite direction of us. He was older than us but was wearing pressed blue jeans, a nice button-down shirt and vest on, and was wearing a Wisconsin coat. He was about 5'9 with brown hair, steel blue eyes and had a hawkish nose.
"Hello Coach Johnson," Theresa said.
"Hello," Coach Johnson said and then he passed right by us.
"Theresa is that… That," I asked.
"Mark Johnson? Yes he's an assistant coach for the men's team," Theresa said.
"He's a living legend in dad's house, he played against my dad. No, I take that back; he played with my dad before Dad got hurt. Charlie, Charlie you should totally talk to him. He could be your coach," I said with a sing song tilt in my voice.
"No, why don't you go and talk to him. YOUR THE BANKS? HE WOULD PROBABLY REMEMBER YOU MORE THAN I CARE TO REMEMBER! SINCE HE AND PHILLIP PLAYED TOGETHER!" Charlie snapped.
"Charlie be nice," I whispered to my boyfriend.
"Excuse me, but I couldn't help but to overhear. Phillip Banks, are you related to him?' Coach Johnson asked me.
"Uh huh, he's my dad," I said.
Coach Johnson just shook his head before he said, "Bella Banks? My God, I can't believe he's got kids old enough to be in college now."
"Well almost, I am only a Junior in High School. This is my boyfriend, Charlie. He plays hockey too," I said pulling on Charlie's shirt.
"Are you looking into Wisconsin too, Charlie?" Coach Johnson asked.
"NOPE!" Charlie said.
"CHARLIE!' I said to him and then turned back to Coach Johnson, 'I'm sorry."
"No problem, the last time I saw you, you were so high. Didn't you have an older brother?" Coach Johnson asked.
"Yes two, they are good," I said.
"Well you will have to tell your father that I said hello. I hope that you will become a Badger," Coach Johnson said.
I smiled at him and then it turned into a grimace when I heard, "When Hell freezes over," out of Charlie.
"I will," I said.
"Good, have a good day," Coach Johnson said and then he walked away.
Once Coach Johnson had disappeared I said to Charlie "You and I will be talking about this later."
Once I was settled into the dorm room that I was staying in for the night, we had gotten a phone call from the guys that Charlie was staying with. Apparently there was an off-campus party that was happening. I had borrowed a dressy shirt from Theresa's roommate Beth. I could not believe it; I was going to my first college party, and I was a Junior in High School. Charlie did not want to attend this party at all in fact when I asked him if he were going he told me no and if I were smart I would not go either.
"Too bad Charlie, I am going to this party whether you like it or not," I said.
"FINE GO! SEE IF I CARE!" Charlie yelled at me.
Theresa, Beth, and I arrived at Sigma Alpha Epsilon Fraternity house at exactly 10:30. I could not believe all the beer that was lined up against the wall. "Hey sweetheart have a beer," said a drunk guy as he placed his arm around me. I quickly removed his arm. I knew that he was far more than drunk off his ass. I went to the punch bowl, grabbed some punch, and made a beeline for the couch.
"Hey Sweetheart, I have never seen you around here before," said another guy.
"I don't go here, not yet; anyway," I said as I sipped on my drink.
"I'm Jon," said Jon as he held his hand out.
"Bella," I said as I took his hand, and he placed his lips to my hand.
"Pleasure to meet you Bella. Visiting Wisconsin, you like it?" Jon asked.
"Yeah it's a pretty cool place," I said.
"You have got to be coming here next fall, sweetheart," Jon said.
"I wish I was, it's going to be a year, before I will be coming here," I said.
"Oh I am saddened and disappointed that you won't be here," Jon said and then he groped me.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Trying to get a feel for you sweetie is that okay with you?" Jon asked.
"No that is not okay, I have a boyfriend you jerk!" I said.
"I don't see no boyfriend here," Jon said.
"Well I do, leave me alone," I said as I got up from the couch, Jon pulled me back down.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean it, please accept my apology. I promise it won't happen again," Jon said.
"Well alright," I said as I sipped on my drink.
The next thing I heard was, "Gunter Glieben Glauten Globen'' from the speakers.
"Come on baby let's dance," Jon said as he pulled me up and out onto what I assumed was the dance floor.
Several dances later, Jon took me back to the couch and refilled my cup for me.
An hour and several drinks later, I was starting to get a bit tipsy, and Jon took advantage of me. He had his hand on my boob. "I'm just waiting for a room to open and then we can go upstairs,' Jon said as he kissed my neck, 'Is that okay with you, sweetheart?"
"What boyfriend," I asked.
"That's my girl," Jon said as he kissed my neck.
"HEY WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?" I heard Charlie yell at us.
"CHARLIE?" I yelled.
"Who the hell is that? Jon asked.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING WITH MY GIRL?" Charlie yelled at Jon.
"DUDE SHE OBVIOUSLY DON'T WANT YOU ANYMORE!," Jon said.
"CHARLIE WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING HERE?" I yelled.
"HERE TO RESCUE YOU, KITCHEN NOW!" Charlie yelled.
"MAKE ME CHARLIE!" I yelled.
The next thing I knew I was being carried across the living room upside down on Charlies shoulders.
"PUT ME DOWN CHARLES ALEXANDER CONWAY!" I yelled.
"NO ISABELLA LILLIAN BANKS!" Charlie yelled back.
I started to kick my feet on his shoulder trying to get him to drop me, the more I kicked the more he held on. When we got to the kitchen he quickly placed me on my feet, I started to feel my drinks come up my throat.
"HOW COULD YOU DO SUCH A STUPID THING? DO YOU KNOW HOW DANGEROUS THAT IS?" Charlie yelled at me.
"It's my life and you have no control over it, leave me be," I said quietly trying to keep the massive headache from splitting my head in two.
"Bella; I love you and I care about you; I feel that you are pulling away from me. What happened to the Angel that I love?" Charlie asked.
"There's nothing wrong with wanting to have a little fun," I said.
"Yeah a little fun with me who is the same age as you are ; is perfectly fine. A little fun with a guy that is 4 years older than you at least isn't okay," Charlie said.
"Oh, I have a splitting headache," I whined.
"How much have you had to drink?" Charlie asked.
"Two, Three, Seven cups of punch," I said.
Charlie sniffed my breath before he said, "Bella your drunk."
At that point I lost everything that I drank in the last hour or so all over on Charlie.
"OH Charlie I feel awful," I whined.
"That's it, the party is over," Charlie said, and he took me out of the house. We went back to the dorm's in his car.
The next morning I found myself waking up next to the toilet in the girls room, with Charlie right beside me.
"Oh God, what happened last night?" I asked.
"Well if memory serves you and I had an argument, you went to a party, got hit on by a Junior basketball player, got drunk, nearly went upstairs to have sex with him, I came to your rescue, you threw up on me, I brought you home and you have been praying to the great porcelain god doing the technicolor yawn for the rest of the night," Charlie said.
"God I have such a bad hangover," I whined.
"You should after drinking seven cups filled with punch that was spiked with Rum, Brandy and Vodka," Charlie said.
I groaned and then said, "Please tell me we are not going home today, I don't think that I could stand it. Or the looks Grandma will give me because of what happened."
"No I have already called Mom, the Moreau's, Coach Orion and your Grandmother. I told them that you got ill, and I didn't want to bring you home until after you were starting to feel better. Mom knows the truth about you getting wasted but she promised to keep it a secret from everyone else. Do you think you could eat something and take a couple of Advil?" Charlie asked.
"Something light, really light," I said.
"Well you can't get any lighter than a Banana," Charlie said, as he walked out with me to the couch that I was staying on while I was there.
After I ate the Banana I said, "I think that I need to lie down for a little while and sleep."
"That's okay Angel you sleep for a little while, I need to go and talk to that Mrs. Tanner, see if we can't get another 24-hour pass for us," Charlie said.
"Okay," I said. Within minutes, I was out I didn't even hear Charlie leave the room.
A/N: So what do you think? Could this be the start of the end for Charlie and Bella? Please leave a review! They are good for the writers soul, especially this one. Thanks!