Disclaimer: We don't own the Ducks and probably never will because they belong to Disney. Also don't own The Capital Grill, Kay Jewelers, The Mars Company, The Milky Way Bar, Subway, 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. Reviews are good for the writers soul.
Chapter 19
January 26th, 1999
Charlies POV
I am really concerned about Bella she had never done anything so stupid in her life, I don't know what is going on with her. I feel like I am losing her again. Granted that things have not been the same since Adam went to rehab. But I loved Bella so much. I had started to save for a promise ring for her. Granted I didn't have much yet, as I was helping my neighbors with little things that they didn't have the time to do themselves, Guy gave me the idea. The landlord said that this summer he wanted me to help with cleaning and repainting walls in the vacant apartment houses getting them ready for the next tenant and other things that need to be done. I was going to get $5.50 an hour.
I had the perfect ring already picked out for her at Kay Jewelers a 1/10 Carat Diamond Promise ring: in 14K Gold. It had two hearts connected with one of the hearts all in diamonds and 8 diamonds down each side of the ring. I was going to have it engraved with "My Angel" on one side. Her and my initials on the other side. It was going to cost me $360.00 for the ring alone. I took Julie with me to the Jewelry store to get her opinion on the ring that I should buy. Which was not easy sneaking around Connie and Bella, Julie agreed that was the ring. The ring would be paired with an engagement ring and hopefully her wedding band. Then of course there was the dinner that I was going to have to pay for at the Capital Grill to present the promise ring to her, plus flowers, a limo and if she accepted a hotel room.
I figured about 150 bucks for dinner, 850 bucks for the limo, 45 dollars for her flowers. My tux and the Hotel was going to cost me 165 each. Plus I needed to take Ollie, Adam, Grandma Lebrie and Coach out to lunch to ask them for her hand in eventual marriage that I figured was going to cost me about 65 dollars. The total cost was going to be $1800. Did I mention that I love her?
Jan said that he was going to pay me for the back money that he owed me for the years of work that I had put in which was about $350 plus the 275 that I had saved. I worked a couple of shifts at Mickey's Diner helping Matt with the cooking that was nearly $300. I figured that if I worked 20 hours a week for the landlord at least at $5.50 for 13 weeks I would have about $1,100. Which would have been a grand total of about 2,000 I was looking at earning.
Minus whatever discretionary things that I might need over the summer. Fred and Mom said that if I needed to borrow up to $300 it was mine. With the understanding that I would pay it back before graduation. I was going to have the entire night paid for to take Bella out for her 17th birthday, a few days early. Mom had advised me to wait until the adoption went through before I bought the ring. In case she decided to change her first or middle name. But everything was on the D.L until I had the money saved.
I was lucky to get another 24-hour pass from Ms. Wilson. I had told her that Bella had gotten sick overnight and that I was not comfortable letting Bella ride in my car the 4-hour journey to go home. When I was leaving the Union Hall, who did I happen to run into none other than Coach Johnson himself.
"It's Charlie right? You were with Bella yesterday," Coach Johnson said.
"Yeah, she's not feeling so good. I don't want to make her travel over 4 hours since she's so sick," I said.
"Oh that's too bad," Coach Johnson said.
"Yeah well I suppose I better get back to her," I said.
"Well before you leave, I wanted to talk about your future with Wisconsin. I had spoken to Paul Dimango, he came out to Eden Hall to see Bella play in October," Coach Johnson said.
"I remember he came then and November and December," I said.
"He said that you were rather good at skating. The other coaches and I wanted to see if he wasn't blowing pink smoke up our butts. Do you have time for a try out today?" Coach Johnson asked.
"Well, I don't know. I didn't exactly bring my skates," I said.
"That's okay I am sure that we have a pair somewhere that you can borrow, what do you say?" Coach Johnson said.
"I should really stick with Bella, in case she needs me," I said.
"Oh I understand, perhaps another time," Coach Johnson said and then he turned and walked away.
"Charlie, you have the opportunity of a lifetime, you should totally try out," Theresa said.
"Jesus where in the hell that you came from?" I asked.
"The admissions office I work here," Theresa said with a duh look on her face.
"What if I don't want to go here. I don't even want Bella attending here. I think that she would be happier at the U," I said.
"I think that you might be wrong Charlie. At least find out his opinion, then you can decide if you want to pursue College Hockey," Theresa said.
"But I want to go to the NHL," I said.
"This is just a step until the big leagues. Besides, the NHL does not draft kids out of High School, except for maybe once in a blue moon. It's either College or the Junior leagues," Theresa said.
I sighed heavily before I said, "I didn't want Bella to go here. I didn't think that I would have enough grades to make it in." My grades were decent, usually all B's but I did have a few A's mixed in there somewhere.
"You don't know until you have tried," Theresa said.
Something in me snapped and before I knew it I was running outside to catch up with Coach Johnson.
"Coach Johnson, wait," I yelled after him once I was able to see how far he was. He turned and waited for me when I caught up to him I had to bend over to catch my breath.
"Take it easy, son," Coach Johnson said.
"Sorry I am not used to running so hard and so fast," I said while gasping for air. After I had caught my breath I said, "Is it too late to try out?"
"No of course not," Coach Johnson said.
"Good I would be glad too," I said.
"Alright Kohl Center, on the ice at 1:30. If you need anything before that you see the equipment manager before you are getting on the ice," Coach Johnson said.
"I will see you then," I said.
I quickly went to put the new visitor's pass in my car and then I quickly checked on Bella. Luckily, she was still asleep. As I was leaving, I realized that it was 10 after 1. Shit I had to get down to the Kohl Center and be on the ice in 20 minutes. I needed to borrow stuff from the equipment manager before I got onto the ice. I ran to the Kohl Center luckily it was 2 and ½ blocks from where we were staying. I was getting to the equipment managers office just as he was closing his office and getting ready to take off for his lunch break.
"Wait," I yelled.
"What?" The equipment manager said. Whose name I read as Bud.
"I have a tryout with the coaching staff in 10 minutes on the ice. Coach Johnson said that if I needed to borrow stuff that I could borrow from you," I said.
"I don't believe it," Bud said.
"Please I am begging you," I said.
"Make it quick, What size skates do you need?" Bud said.
After I was outfitted, I walked down to the ice. When I heard, "You better not be blowing pink smoke up my ass, Johnson." I assumed it was the head coach talking.
"Trust me sir, I guarantee I am not doing that I have seen the scouting reports on Conway," Coach Johnson said.
I skated out onto the ice and said "Hello."
"Charlie Conway, I presume. I'm Coach Sauer, Let's see what you've got you have 5 minutes," said Coach Sauer.
I did a couple of warm up laps then I shot the puck around a little bit and before I knew it, time was up.
"Thank you very much," Coach Sauer said and then he got up to leave.
Coach Johnson came down to the ice level as I was picking stuff up for him, "So what did Coach Sauer think?" I asked.
"I don't think that he was really impressed with you, maybe he will change his mind during next season," Coach Johnson said.
I knew what that meant, WORK! LOTS OF WORK! I was hoping Coach Orion would help me improve my game this summer so I can get a scholarship to a college.
"Thanks," I said.
January 27th, 1999
Bella's POV
I was feeling so much better this morning. Charlie and I started to head for home at 7:30 in the morning. I made sure that I thanked both of our hosts for letting us stay. Charlie was surly this morning. I knew that we were skipping school and possibly practice.
"WHAT?" I asked.
"Why Bella, Why Wisconsin of all places," Charlie said.
"I don't know, maybe because I wanted to get out of the state of Minnesota. I didn't want to be compared to Ollie or Adam. I think that it's time to strike out on my own," I said.
"Pfff… Wisconsin," Charlie said.
"Maybe if you looked at it with a friendly face, maybe you would see differently," I said.
"I don't want you going!" Charlie said.
"What?" I asked.
"If you go, what happens to us? I love you Bella. I want us to be together," Charlie said.
"We would still be together," I said.
"Yeah right, until the first guy comes along that gets you drunk," Charlie spat.
"That is not what happened," I said.
"Really then how do you explain Monday night?" Charlie said.
"I don't," I said quietly.
"What?" Charlie said.
"I can't explain Monday," I said louder.
"That seems to be about par for you lately, Bella," Charlie said.
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You can't explain anything to me. I think that we need a break," Charlie said.
"What are you talking about Charlie?" I asked with a big lump in my throat.
"Your Grandmother, Wisconsin, God, No sex, The Olympics; I am telling you that you are slipping away," Charlie said.
"I am not slipping away Charlie, I am right here," I said while trying to grab his right hand.
"Yes you are slipping away from me. I don't like it, we need a break," Charlie said removing his hand from mine and placing it on the wheel.
I started to break down in tears, I was crying for 20 minutes before I said, "Do me a favor and drop me at my Grandma's house."
"Why not at the dorm's?" Charlie said.
"Because I don't think that I could stand looking at Connie and Guy right now," I said.
"Fine," Charlie said.
Two hours later, I found myself standing in front of my Grandmother's house. Charlie practically pushed me out of the car and then sped off. Like he couldn't wait to get rid of me.
I slowly made my way up to the front porch and rang the bell and waited and waited. I thought that maybe Grandma was gone. I was getting ready to walk around to the back to see if the car was in the garage when the door opened.
"Isabella darling what are you doing here?" Grandma said.
"Charlie and I broke up, I needed somewhere to go. Is it okay that I stay here for a little while?" I asked.
"Of course my child, of course. Come in come in," Grandma said as she opened the door to the house.
"Thanks,' I said. When I got into the house I realized that Grandma had her coat and purse on a chair, and it looked like she was getting ready to go out. 'Are you getting ready to leave?" I asked.
"I was going to go to the senior luncheon and bible study that church does, but my Granddaughter needs me more now, then a silly luncheon," Grandma said.
"I'm sorry Grandma, I will walk to the dorms," I said as I zipped up my coat.
"Isabella, you will not do such a thing. It is far too cold for you to be walking to school," Grandma said.
I nodded as tears came down my face. Grandma let me cry for a few minutes on the couch before she handed me some tissues and asked, "What happened between you and Charles?"
"He said that I have been slipping away from him, between you, God, Wisconsin, having no sex and the Olympics," I said, then more tears came down I unzipped my coat.
"Have you been slipping from Charles?" Grandma asked.
"No, I don't think so," I said through tears.
Grandma wrapped an arm around my shoulder and said, "It's going to be okay, honey. I promise it's going to be okay. Maybe he isn't the one for you."
"Why is it so hard?" I asked through tears.
"Because it is, that's life. I don't think that I ever told you about mine and your Grandpa's love story," Grandma said.
"No," I said through tears.
"I told you that your Grandfather and I grew up together, right?" Grandma said.
"Yes," I said the tears were slowing.
"Your Grandpa was three years older than I was. We both lived next door to each other in Rosemount, Minnesota. He was my protector on the way to and from school. We were in a one room schoolhouse from Kindergarten to 8th grade. Each grade from was housed together in one classroom and we had the same teacher for all those years," Grandma said.
"What do you mean, Grandma?" I asked.
"Meaning I had the same teacher from Kindergarten until the eighth grade. It wasn't until high school that I got different teachers. Anyway your Grandpa and I were courting each other from when I was in seventh grade through 9th grade," Grandma said.
"So how long were you and Grandpa dating?" I asked.
"My dear in those days we called it courting," Grandma said.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Your Grandfather moved to Minneapolis, we tried the long-distance relationship, but it didn't work out," Grandma said.
"How come?" I asked.
Grandma sighed before she said, "It was our age differences. It wasn't a big deal when he was in high school, but afterward, well it was hard. It didn't help that he was working for the Mars company."
"The Mars Company? The people that make The Milky Way bar?" I asked.
"That would be the one," Grandma said.
"So what happened, how did you get back together?" I asked.
"Well it was a cousin's wedding of mine; I needed an escort. My original escort backed out on me. Your Grandfather was visiting his parents, I asked him," Grandma said.
I chuckled slightly before I said, "Go Grandma."
"It was very taboo in those days. I just asked if he would be my plus 1. I had a lot of guts back in the day," Grandma said.
"Grandma the term now is balls, you had a lot of balls. So was it immediate love at first sight?" I asked.
"You bet, he admitted he was stupid for letting me go," Grandma said.
"Wait a minute you guys got married in 1942, you would have been a freshman in college. What happened?" I asked.
"I dropped out within 8 weeks of the beginning of the school year," Grandma said.
"What?" I asked.
"Yeah, I didn't see how I was going to need a college degree. Because I had planned on getting married and raising kids. Besides my Aunt Florence needed help, her husband had died just before I turned 18, I moved to Minneapolis that summer to be with her. I worked as a secretary at General Mills and when it was time for me to go to college I went for 8 weeks. I didn't see the point and withdrew," Grandma said.
"Did you ever go back?" I asked.
"Nope and to be honest with you, I don't think that I want to. I will be 76 years old in a couple of months," Grandma said.
"Oh, I see. But in the meantime what do I do about Charlie?" I asked.
"There is nothing that you can do about Charles. He is his own person. But maybe you should have fun, go on a few dates, try to find the next courtship. But don't lose sight of finishing High School and getting into College," Grandma said.
"Yes Grandma," I said.
"Now I have a question for you. Something that I noticed about Adam," Grandma said.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Well and I am not sure of how much my eyesight is failing with me with my cataracts. But I swear I saw Adam kissing another boy at the New Year's Eve party that the Moreau's had," Grandma said.
"Grandma are you asking if Adam is gay?" I asked.
"Yes Bella darling," Grandma said.
I sighed heavily. I didn't know what to tell the poor woman, I could tell her the truth and have her heart break into a million pieces, or I could lie and tell her that he isn't gay, and I don't know what she is talking about. But then I knew eventually that Adam would come out of the closet and it would kill her. I said, "Yes Grandma. Adam is gay. He is dating Gunnar Stahl since last school year. I am sorry to disappoint you, and you are probably pretty angry or upset."
"I am not angry or upset, not in the least," Grandma said.
"Really?" I asked.
"Nope, but I wish he would have come out to me," Grandma said.
"Well don't say that I said anything. Because I know that Adam will be pissed. It was his wish to keep this under wraps," I said.
"No worries Bella dear. I will not say anything," Grandma said.
Just then the Grandfather clock chimed ding dong ding dong, ding dong ding dong, ding dong ding dong, ding dong ding dong. And then once more with a dong.
"Oh my is it One O'clock already?" Grandma said.
I looked at my watch and said, "yes Grandma it is."
"I am hungry are you?" Grandma asked.
"I'm starving," I said.
"Come on, let's go out to eat, then I can tell you all about your aunts, uncles and cousins. And maybe a few more stories about your Grandpa," Grandma said as she grabbed her coat and I zipped mine back up. Within a few minutes we were at a Subway. I was thankful for that; I didn't want to go to Mickey's Dining car and face Casey. Who has probably heard what had happened between me and Charlie.
A/N: So what do you think? Please be kind and leave a review! Thanks!