Disclaimer: We don't own the Ducks and probably never will because they belong to Disney. Also don't own The University of Nebraska at Omaha, Bemidji State University, The SATs, BLACKstreet Boys, Backstreet Boys, WCCO News, AMEX, Land of Lakes Country School, Montessori Schools. 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 20
January 29th, 1999
6:30 pm
168 days until I see Gunnar
Adam's POV
I had been busy studying for the SAT's. They were tomorrow, I was not doing very well with the practice quizzes. I had blown through all the practice quizzes and had to use a separate sheet of paper to write my answers on. I had been batting around a total score of 1,450. Not good enough. On top of that I had been starting to get rejection letters from college's that I had FedEx my hockey introduction tapes to. Usually it started out the same:
Dear Mr. Banks
Thank you for the submission of your video to the {Insert College name} Men's Ice Hockey team. We regret to inform you that despite your excellent video, that you don't have the skills needed to play collegiate hockey. If you were to work on your hockey skills a bit more and joined a high school team we would be glad to send a scout to see you play.
Should you feel the need to re-apply once you have worked on those skills, please let us know.
Sincerely, Blah, Blah, Blah.
Eight of the division 1 schools had said no. I still had to hear from the rest yet. Only 2 division 2 schools called to see when they could come out to Periwinkle to see me. University of Nebraska at Omaha and Bemidji State University. They are supposed to come out in a couple of weeks. I only had hope that they would be impressed with me.
I was sitting at a table in the dining room working my way through a test, when Ollie came over, rubbed my shoulders, and said, "How are you doing?"
"I am stressed out Ollie. What if I am not good enough to get into college then what do I do?" I asked as I was grading my practice exam.
"Adam relax it's just a test. You will do fine," Ollie said.
"RELAX OLLIE SAYS. HOW CAN I RELAX? I HAVE BEEN STUDYING MY BUTT OFF OVER THIS EXAM FOR THE LAST MONTH AND I STILL CAN'T GET ABOVE A 1480," I yelled.
"ADAM CHILL, JEEZE. You need to take tonight off, get some sleep and then tomorrow you will be fresh as a daisy. You will be fine taking your test," Ollie said.
"No I can't take a break, I need to study which means I will be up all night long," I said.
"Adam, look I know you are nervous you will do fine. There will be a college somewhere that will accept you and you will play hockey again, I promise. Take a break," Ollie said.
"No can I finish studying," I said.
"All right fine," Ollie said as he walked away.
Ollie's POV
I was worried about Adam; he needed a distraction. He had been crying himself to sleep at night all week, I knew he missed Gunnar I had no choice but to call Gunnar.
"Hello," Gunnar said.
"Hey Gunnar, It's Ollie, Adam's brother," I said.
"Hey Ollie, vou know vou sound just like Adam," Gunnar said.
"Yeah I know,' it wasn't the first time that someone said that to me, 'how are you doing?" I asked.
"Tired, ve had just gotten back from Breck School in our match with them. Trying to study for the SAT's. Charlie has been a nightmare, since he and Bella broke up," Gunnar said.
"Whoa wait a minute Charlie and Bella broke up?" I asked.
"Vhats that mean to vhoa?" Gunnar said.
"It means to stop. You didn't answer my question, Charlie and Bella broke up?" I asked.
"Veah, over visconsin go figure," Gunnar said.
"If I get my hands around his skinny neck, I will kill him," I said.
"Vell it vasn't all his fault, Bella cheated first," Gunnar said.
"My sister? Why would my sister do such a stupid thing?" I asked.
"Vell apparently Bella vent to a party, got drunk and vas propositioned by a junior at Visconsin. Charlie is a very jealous man and he dumped her," Gunnar said.
"How's Bella doing?" I asked.
"Apparently she has been miserable. She hasn't been staying at the dorms since the breakup happened. Couldn't stand being around him and Guy," Gunnar said.
"Where has she been staying?" I asked.
"At vour Ammas house," Gunnar said.
"At my Ammas house? What is that?" I asked.
"Oh that isn't the correct vord in English, vhat is the vord not vour parents but their parents?" Gunnar asked.
"Grandma's house?" I asked.
"Vah that's it," Gunnar said.
I sighed heavily before I said, "Well at least she is staying somewhere. But why are you at the dorms instead of with Charlie?"
"After two days vith Charlie, vhy do vou think?" Gunnar asked.
"Charlie driving you crazy?" I asked.
"Vas, practically tearing the team apart. I am so glad Adam is not here to vitness this. Speaking of Adam, how is he doing?" Gunnar asked.
I looked at my brother, who was currently contemplating a question on another practice SAT exam before I said, "Well he is doing okay, he is practicing for the SAT's. Almost going to tear his hair out, because he is trying to get past a 1480 and he is failing. But that is the reason that I am calling, he needs a distraction, and I was hoping that it was going to come in the form of you."
"Vou vant me to fly out to California and see Adam?"
"Yes," I said.
"I don't know. I don't have the money to come to California," Gunnar said.
"Can't you ask your parents?" I asked.
"Vah sure, but I can't tell them the truth, so I vill have to come up vith something," Gunnar said.
"Gunnar do they have any idea that your gay?" I asked.
"No, but please don't tell Adam. It vill crush him," Gunnar said.
"I won't tell Adam, but you are going to have to tell him and them eventually," I said.
"I vnow, I vnow. And I vill, but I don't know how. It vill break Mamma's heart," Gunnar said.
"Can you say something about coming out to visit a friend?" I asked.
"Vah that could vork. Maybe after school lets out in May," Gunnar said.
"Sounds like a plan, but let's not tell Adam this, let me know if you are able to come," I said.
"Vhat sounds good, I vill talk to vou soon," Gunnar said.
"Yep, I will call you next Friday," I said.
"Sounds good. Goodbye," Gunnar said.
"Goodbye Gunnar, Good luck on your test tomorrow," I said.
A week later Gunnar told me that his plane ticket had been bought, it took a few days to get his parents to agree to this. His mother had strong feelings that he does not fly out during spring break. He was flying into Reno on Saturday the 22nd of May, at about 12:00. I knew that it was perfect, I would pick Gunnar up from the airport it would just be trying to surprise Adam.
February 12th, 1999
Bella's POV
I had to serve a one game suspension for skipping practice the day Charlie and I returned from our visit to Wisconsin. Speaking of Charlie, I was upset over Charlie breaking my heart. I hated his guts so much, I tried my best to ignore him, I rolled my eyes each time that I saw him, I had two classes with him each day American Government and French. I and the other ducks that were on my side started to eat with the JV Ducks. I could not stand to be near him, let alone on the same line. "Pass it to Conway,' Coach Orion yelled at me, I did the opposite and passed the puck to Guy instead. Then a whistle blew 'FREEZE."
"Ace why did you pass it to Germaine, I told you to pass it to Conway," Coach Orion yelled.
"Guy looked open," I said.
"Well he obviously wasn't when he was covered by Portman. When I tell you to pass it to someone you pass it to them, you understand?" Coach Orion asked.
"Yes sir," I said.
"Alright on the line, let's run it again," Coach Orion said to the others on the team.
I banged my stick on my helmet and skated back to the line.
"Yeah Bella no heart," Fulton said to me.
"Shut up Fulton, you're on team Charlie anyway," I said.
The only people that I had on my side of the world were Julie, Connie, Ken, Russ, Luis, and Portman. On Charlie's team was Fulton, Averman, Goldberg, Guy, Dwayne, and Jessie. Only Gunnar said that he was not going to make a choice, because either way he lost. He would either lose a friend or lose a boyfriend. I think he started to sit with Linda at her table during lunch, or maybe he was in the library I don't remember.
After practice as Julie, Connie and I were coming out of the arena I saw the guy that I was seeing Mark Higgen's. He was a great guy; I loved his smile and his personality. He didn't take so much as seriously as what Charlie did. Mark was from North Oaks, Minnesota. On the soccer and track teams and a total babe. We had a couple of classes together: American Government and Pre-Calculus
"Hey babe," Mark said.
"Hi," I said as I kissed him.
"So there's this party tonight at Rachel McGee's house and I was wondering if you would be interested in going there instead of the movies," Mark said.
"Well I don't know. I wanted to see the new Brendan Fraser flick Blast from the Past," I said.
"I know but we can go see the movie tomorrow or Sunday, right?" Mark said as he kissed my neck by my ear, I loved that, so I giggled.
"Okay, we can go to the party," I said.
"That's my girl. I will pick you up at 8?" Mark said.
"Okay, I love you," I said.
"Love you too," Mark said and then he took off toward the gymnasium.
"Where are you going?" I yelled after him.
"Have to go and lift for soccer and track, babe. Love you, see you later," Mark yelled.
"Talk about a smooth operator," Connie said.
"Yeah, almost too smooth, I don't like him," Guy said as he got caught up to us.
"Well Guy you have never liked him. Granted he is not like Charlie but still, I love him," I said.
"Are you sure about that? You have only been dating for five days," Julie said.
"I know that Julie, I can count. But I have known him for a long time," I said.
"Since when Elementary School?" Connie asked.
"Yep, Mark, Adam and I were in the same class together at Land of Lakes Country School," I said.
The three of us; Adam, Ollie and I went to the Land of Lakes Country School, it was a Montessori School. Dad would drop us off at school on his way to work and mom would pick us up after school and take us to hockey. All three of us attended both the Elementary and Junior High Side of the school and then it was on to the Eden Hall Academy. We could play with Edina Middle School for Hockey since Land of Lakes did not have an athletic program. It was weird how Mark and I started to go out, I was in the Library on Monday after Hockey practice.
{Flashback Monday February 1st, 1999}
"Hey Bella," Mark said to me.
"Hi Mark," I said.
"So how do you think you did on the SAT's? They were a killer," Mark said.
"I think I did alright, we will see," I said.
"So rumor has it that you and Charlie split up last week," Mark said.
"Yes we did," I said.
"Well you know that I have liked you for a really long time, since like the 1st grade when I first laid eyes on you," Mark said.
"Yes I know," I said.
"Well I was wondering if you and I could possibly go together," Mark said.
"I don't know, I don't think that I am over Charlie," I said.
"Oh come on Bella, do you want a boyfriend or not," Mark said.
"Well I do, but I need some time to heal from the pain and anguish that Charlie left," I said as I looked over at the table that Charlie was at with Guy.
"Baby I will help you heal from Spazway; besides, you need a good man in your life and,' Mark said and then he placed his arm around my shoulder, 'you know that I am that man, what do you say?"
"I still don't know," I said.
"Bella Honey, I deserve a chance at this. I am nothing like Charlie. You still like that group what's their name the Blackstreet Boyz?" Mark asked.
"Backstreet Boys, Mark," I said.
"I'm sorry I apologize they are too close in spelling. But I know that the Backstreet Boys said that they would never make you cry right?" Mark asked.
"Yeah they did," I said.
"Then I am going to do the same thing,' Mark said then he started to sing softly, 'I'll never break your heart I'll never make you cry; I would rather die than live without you, I'll give you all of me, Honey that's no lie."
"Mark stop you are embarrassing me," I said.
"Well?" Mark said.
I just nodded my head.
"Yes, what are you studying?" Mark said as he got in the chair next to me.
"English, I am going through my essay. Did you do yours?" I asked.
"Yep, last week," Mark said.
I stared at him with my mouth open and said "How?"
"Well it's the off season for soccer, so all I have to do is make sure I hit the gym for an hour a day 3 to 4 times a week. Extremely easy to squeeze in homework. But I will be running in Track and Field this spring, so I am trying to squeeze in as much homework as possible. I think that I am ahead in all my classes. You know you should come out for Track and Field, too," Mark said.
"I don't know, I have off season training for hockey. I don't think that I am that fast," I said.
"Come on conditioning starts in two weeks, I will bet you could skip that since you're already in shape for hockey season. The first meet is March 27th, what do you say," Mark said.
"Mark I can't do two sports at once, besides the ducks need me, especially with Adam gone," I said.
"Who need I remind you have your ex-boyfriend on the team, I know what goes on in Locker rooms. I would hate to see what happens in your co-ed locker room," Mark said.
"It's only co-ed for storage, Connie, Julie and I have to go to the girl's locker room to shower and change. Most of the guys are done showering by the time we are done with showering and changing, because we have to use a blow dryer to get most of our hair dry before we walk outside," I said.
"Still I don't trust Charlie in the same locker room with you," Mark said.
"Let me worry about Charlie and the locker room. Besides, I thought about talking to Coach Orion and Coaches Thomas and Murphy about us girls storing our hockey gear with the Girls basketball and Gymnastics," I said as I smiled. Coach Thomas coached the girls' basketball team and Coach Murphy coached the gymnastics team.
Mark sighed before he said, "All right, but you will come to my track meets right?"
"Yeah sure, If you come to my hockey games," I said.
Charlies POV
"That slut. Talk about a smooth operator," Guy said.
I looked up from my Pre-Calculus book at our library table and said, "What are you talking about Guy?"
"Take a look at Bella," Guy said.
I looked up at Bella and saw her with her hand in Marks hand, giggling. "That bitch, we haven't been over a week and she's dating Mark Higgens?" I asked.
"Easy Charlie, you don't know if that's the truth," Guy said.
"I'm the one that dumped her, I should be the one that has the girlfriend first not her," I whispered yelled.
"Well I guess you lost Charlie," Averman said.
"Shut up, Averman," Guy and I said together.
Then the next day in science class I got a note passed to me from the back of the classroom. It had my name on it with hearts drawn all over. I knew about Dr. Ronald's rules about passing notes in class. It was against the rules, the last note that got passed in class he confiscated and then read out loud to the class. Then he took the note and taped it to the blackboard and wrote above it "THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PASS NOTES IN MY CLASS!" I was so embarrassed for Connie. I quickly took the note down below my table and read it quickly, it said:
Dearest Charlie
So I heard through the grapevine that you and Bella broke up. I am so, so, so sorry that happened. I was wondering if you would like to hang out after your game tonight, I really, really like you, what do you think?
Yours,
Reese Brockmeier
Reese was a popular person at Eden Hall and Co Assistant Captain of the Cheerleading squad, Rachel McGee only beat Reese by 1 point in being named Captain. But Rachel was graduating in May. Reese had beautiful Golden long blonde hair and perfect blue orbs for eyes. I couldn't believe that Reese would pick me out of all people….. me. She didn't give 2 fucks about me, Freshman year. Of course I was trying to decide between Bella and Linda. Reese's parents were extraordinarily rich, and gave Reese whatever she wanted. She got a brand-new corvette on her sixteenth birthday in the middle of December. I knew that the Brockmeier's gave a lot and I do mean a lot of money to Eden Hall. They even had the football locker room named after them. Her father is the top Orthopedic surgeon in the state of Minnesota. I heard it takes months to get into his office to see him. I hoped to never run into him. I quickly turned around and flashed Reese the thumbs up sign and she smiled and waved at me.
As soon as the bell rang I quickly gathered my books and Reese walked up to me.
She giggled, "So I take that as a yes huh?"
"Yeah that's fine Reese, you are going to be cheering us on, right?" I asked.
"You bet, GO DUCKS!" Reese said with her hand up in a pump.
"So can I walk you to your next class?" I said with a smile.
"Our next class, American Government remember?" Reese said.
"Oh yeah with Bella and Mark Higgen's," I said as I shuddered.
"Now Charlie we don't need to be getting jealous at Mark Higgen's, after all' She said. Then she leaned into my body and whispered, 'My father has more money than his does."
"I guess, I don't even know what his father does," I said.
"Bill Higgens, Chief Meteorologist WCCO news?" Reese said.
"Oh yeah that's right, crazy Bill," I said.
"That would be the one. My mother said that she would like to bang him, just once" Reese whispered.
I snorted and then said, "Well Reese can I carry your books to class?"
"Of course," Reese said as she handed me her book bag.
Reese and I got to class just before the bell rang. Dr. Barber was taking role when Bella and Mark walked in. Bella handed Dr. Barber a hall pass and said, "Sorry Dr. Anderson kept us over." I rolled my eyes. I had Dr. Anderson last class of the day.
"Take a seat Bella," Dr. Barber said.
Bella and Mark grabbed hands and quickly found two seats together, Bella made Goldberg get out of his seat so Mark and her could sit together. I fumed at this. "Easy Charlie," Guy said.
"She is such a bitch," I said.
"Easy Charlie," Guy said.
"Yeah Charlie you're with me now, remember?" Reese said.
I smiled at Reese, "Right."
"Do you have something to say, Mr. Conway to the rest of the class?" Dr. Barber said.
"No sir," I said.
"Alright let's get started," Dr. Barber said.
{End of Flashback}
We had lost the two games against Breck and Waconia. Julie had to go to Maine for her Grandmother's funeral on February 8th, we had one Goalie quit in December and with the other Goalie injured, we didn't have any choice but to pull Goldberg up from JV to be the Goalie. With two games to go we were 11-11-0. Blake had already claimed their spot into districts, along with Minneapolis, Rochester, St. Paul Academy, Hopkins, Breck, Minnehaha. There were 2 spots left and four teams fighting for those two spots. Even the Eden Hall Chronicle had articles asking if we could make it to the districts this year? I was fuming at everything. We haven't won a game in almost a month; I was more than positive that Bella was letting us lose on purpose. We had the afternoon off from practice because we were at practice at 5:00 am. I hated the early morning practices but at least I didn't need to shower until after Gym class because that was the first period of the day. I and the guys all stayed in our sweats during breakfast, because we knew we would be back in the gym working out after that. I was walking down towards Coach Orion's office. Because I wanted Bella off the first line, I'm the team captain so I usually get what I want.
When I heard "Honk, Honk."
"Get in, baby we are going shopping," Reese said to me.
I walked over to Reese's convertible and said, "Uh, I would like to, but I need to go talk to Coach Orion about Bella."
"Honey, baby, sweetheart. Why would you want to go and talk to Coach Orion about that LOSER?" Reese said with a smile.
"Because she needs to be off the first line," I said.
"And you need a better wardrobe than what you have on right now," Reese said to me. I looked down at what I was wearing. I had on a pair of jeans with holes, a white t-shirt with my plaid shirt tied around my waist and my letterman jacket on.
"What's wrong with what I am wearing?" I asked.
"Nothing, when you're around your friends. But when you are around my friends, well you must present yourself in a more fashionable manner. Come on, Charlie I have Daddy's Amex card he said I could get whatever it is that I want. I want to spend some of it on you, because I love you so much and you need to make an impression tonight at Rachel's party," Reese said.
"Well I guess I could talk to him on Monday," I said.
"That's my man," Reese said as she smiled big.
I had gotten into the convertible, and we sped off towards Mall of America. Reese had dragged me from store to store to store. I had gotten a few things to impress her friends with. I swore to myself that I would pay for the clothing purchases that were made on Dr. Brockmeier's credit card. After we were done with the mall, we drove up to her house in Edina. I was shocked. Her house was a mansion. Way bigger than Bella's dad's house, who was 5 and ½ blocks down the street from the Brockmeier house. She led me up the marble staircase to her room.
"And this is my room," Reese said when we got to her door. She opened it and I swore we stepped into the Master Suite.
I took one look into the bedroom and said, "this is your bedroom? It's huge." Then my jaw dropped.
"Yeah, I wanted to trade bedrooms with mommy and daddy. So they did, because I am a princess and I,' she said and then she closed my mouth, 'get everything that I want."
I gulped before I said, "Yeah." I never had that kind of power before I was from the south side of Minneapolis, I was lucky to get used hockey skates every year. When I first started in pee wee's mom could not afford the proper equipment, we had to make do with what Goodwill and Salvation Army Thrift Stores had. It wasn't until Coach Bombay came along and made us the ducks that we all got safe equipment.
"Now I am going to change into something a little sexier, and you stay right where you are," Reese said.
I gulped again before I said, "Okay." Then Reese disappeared into the bathroom, and I heard water running. After two or three minutes the water turned off and she appeared before me buck naked.
"I'm ready, are you?" Reese asked.
"Ready for what?" I asked.
Reese rolled her eyes at me before she said, "sex ding dong, duh."
"I uh, I uh didn't bring a condom with me there at home, besides, I am not sure if we should be doing this. You and I never talked about this step, we have only been dating for a couple of days, I thought you would need more time than that," I said.
"Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, Charlie we have been dating 10 days. The clock is ticking on me, I am not going to stay young forever. Besides sperm die in a whirlpool, so you would have nothing to worry about," Reese said while shaking her head.
I gulped again before I said "okay." I was led into her bathroom, and she stripped all my clothes off me.
"Get in the tub," Reese said. I did oblige her and the next thing I knew she was sitting on top of me, my cock was in her and we were having sex in her whirlpool. Funny though the whole time I was having sex with Reese, I thought about Bella.
When I got back to the dorm's Gunnar asked, "vhere vere vou?"
"Hi Gunnar, I was with Reese," I said.
"Vou know, I don't like Veese. Bella is much better suited for vou then her," Gunnar said.
"Well you don't like girls, so your opinion of who I date or don't date doesn't matter," I said as I started to take the tags off the clothes that Reese bought for me today.
"Vhat is that, new clothes?" Gunnar asked.
"Yeah, I need to make an impression on Reese's friends tonight, so she bought me new clothes. Is that alright with you?" I asked.
"No, dump her, get back vith Bella. I know she misses vou," Gunnar said.
"Look I know that you guys want us all back together for the sake of the team, but that isn't going to happen. You all will have to live with the choices that Bella and I are making," I said.
"But Charlie," Gunnar said.
"End of discussion, Now if you'll excuse me I need to get ready for tonight's party," I said.
A/N: So what do you think? Please leave a review! Thanks!