Disclaimer: We don't own the Ducks and probably never will because they belong to Disney. 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 23
Bella's POV
"No, I think I am good. I need to go and use the restroom," I said and then I bolted my way out of the room.
I quickly ran into Portman who was dancing with a chick. "Portman, Portman can you take me home please?" I asked.
"What's wrong Bella?" Portman asked.
"I can't answer your questions right now. I don't have a lot of time, I need to get out of here, now," I said.
"Oh okay.' Portman said then he turned to his dancing partner, 'I'm sorry Amy,"
"It's okay Dean. I know your friends; I will see you on Monday?" Amy asked.
"Right see you in 4th period," Portman said as he smiled.
"Let's go Portman," I said.
"Fine do you have your stuff?" Portman said.
"Yes, let's go," I said.
Portman and I got into Julie's car, and I cried the entire way back to Eden Hall.
Once we got back to the dorm's I told Guy, Connie, Julie, and Portman what was happening, that Mark snorted a fine powdered substance.
"Cocaine, Mark's snorting cocaine," Portman said.
"Cocaine are you sure?" Guy asked.
"Guy trust me, its cocaine," Portman said.
"Are you sure Portman?" Connie and Julie asked.
"Yes, because you smoke everything else. My cousin died as a crackhead," Portman said.
"Well what do I do?" I asked bawling.
"First of all you have to break up with him," Julie said.
"No first of all we have to get him caught in the act," Portman said.
"How?" Guy asked.
"I don't know how, but he has to get expelled. Then you can break up with him Bella," Portman said.
"Why doesn't Bella go to Dean Buckley?" Connie asked.
"Because it will be my word against his," I said.
"And coke does not last that long in the human body. It's out within 4 days. Unless," Portman said looking at me.
"Oh no, no way. I am not going to Charlie to ask him to ask Reese to throw a party," I said.
"Bella, we have to get Mark busted for this. If he's smart, he will be able to dodge the testing," Portman said.
"I will ask Charlie, but I get invited to this party," Guy said.
"Done. In the meantime Bella you need to go to Dean Buckley and tell him that you know that Mark is breaking the honor code. Then you need to play it cool with Mark, so he doesn't suspect a thing," Portman said.
"Yeah but you can get into trouble for providing the booze at the party," I said.
"Yeah well the next party it isn't going to be me providing the booze," Portman said.
2 days later, March 29th, 1999
I was at Dean Buckley's office the first thing this morning, during my study hall. I had told Buckley the truth about Mark.
"Bella this is some heavy accusations. Are you sure about what you saw?" Dean Buckley asked.
"Yes Dean Buckley. I know exactly what I saw," I said.
"Bella, I'm proud of you but mark my words, if Mark is caught for breaking the honor code. He will be expelled from Eden Hall Academy," Dean Buckley said.
"Thank you Dean Buckley, for doing that to my now ex-boyfriend.' Buckley looked at me with a weird look and I explained, 'I decided to dump Mark on Saturday, he just doesn't know about it yet."
"Hmm,' Dean Buckley said. Just then the bell rang indicating the end of the first period. 'Well Bella you better go to class."
As I was exiting the administration building I heard the following announcement over the outdoor PA System from Dean Buckley's secretary, "Mark Higgens please report to Dean Buckley's office."
Mark had caught me just before I went into the gymnasium building. "What's Dean Buckley want with me? Because I noticed you came from the wrong building," Mark said.
"Play it cool Bella," I said to myself. I shrugged my shoulders, "I don't know. He wanted to see me too for some reason," I said.
"Hmm, well alright, I will see you next period?" Mark said.
"Of course, Mark," I said.
Mark kissed me on the cheek. He tried to go for my lips, and I turned my face at the right second. "Love you," Mark said.
As soon as Mark was out of my ear shot I stuck my finger in my mouth and made a gagging noise. Then I turned around and saw that Mark was looking at me, he waved at me, and I waved back. He then turned around and walked into the administration building. "Whew," I said to myself. I saw Guy come out of the Gymnasium as I was walking into it.
"Guy," I said as I pulled him over to me.
"So did Charlie buy it?" I asked.
"Hook, line and sinker. I am good. He is going to ask her, during 3rd period," Guy said.
"Okay, now get out of here, we don't want Charlie to know about this," I said.
I walked further into the gym and saw Charlie, "Hello Charlie," I said.
"Hmm," Charlie said back. Well that was better than his usual response to me which was anger.
By the end of the next day the rumor wheels were going at Eden Hall with a party on Friday night at Reese's. It was perfect because there was an all-city track meet the next day. I had to ask Averman if there was a way to shove Mark's name up to the top to get him drug tested.
"It's random, I would have to ask my computer friends. But if Buckley knows about this, it's more than likely Mark will be drugged tested," Averman said.
"Yeah, but I need to make sure, otherwise we are dead," I said.
"Alright. So long as there is a truce. I am tired of all of this, " Averman said.
"I will try, Averman. But the truce needs to come from Charlie too," I said.
By Friday night, the party was in full swing. Mark and I were dancing, and the liquor was free flowing from the Brockmeier's liquor cabinet. Luckily, Dr. Brockmeier had to work tonight, and Mrs. Brockmeier was in Indiana dealing with her mother. I had stashed Goldberg into the backroom in the closet, knowing that was where the drug deal was going to take place. Rachel told me all about it. That it was up to the host to decide where the drugs were going to be dealt with and knowing Reese it was going to be in her father's home office. I was dancing with Mark wishing that the drug lords would get here so the deal could be done. Mark was trying to grind into me, but I was not liking it at all. After 15 minutes of the grinding finally the drug guy came out and said, "The stuff's ready. Bring the girl. Maybe we can get her to try some."
"Alright, come on Bella, the first round is on me," Mark said.
I smiled at him. If only he knew what was coming.
"Alright Higgens, its $40 a line," the Drug king said.
"40 bucks? I thought our price was 30 a line," Mark said.
"Oh no," I thought to myself.
"What can I say, my supply price went up and so my asking price must go up," the Drug king said.
Mark sighed heavily, "Well alright, 5 lines. One is for Bella," Mark said as he pulled 200 dollars out of his wallet.
"Very good," The drug king said.
Mark had snorted the first three lines of coke, I prayed that Goldberg was getting pictures.
"Flying V, Flying V," I yelled.
"What the hell is a Flying V?" The drug king asked.
"Well this," I said and then I kicked him in the balls.
Goldberg had opened the closet door, took a few more pictures, ran out the door saying, "Thanks everybody I had a great time."
"WHO INVITED THAT LOSER!" Reese screamed.
"YOU BITCH!" Mark yelled at me as he grabbed a hold of me, I then kicked him in the balls as well and ran out the door.
"After her you Goons!" The Drug king yelled.
I quickly got out the front door and looked for Julie's car that Portman was driving. "Bella get in!" Portman screamed at me. I quickly ran across the Brockmeier's lawn and jumped into the car. Goldberg was still panting heavily from all of that running.
"Are you okay Goldie?" I asked.
"Yeah I might have a heart attack from that running but I will be alright," Goldberg said.
"Did you get the photos?" I asked.
"Yeah I got them," Goldberg said.
I laughed, hugged him, and then said, "Hurry up Portman we have to get them developed."
We drove to the nearest 1-hour photo mart, where it was guaranteed to have the photos done in 1 hour or you didn't pay. They were just getting ready to close for the night, when we walked in, "We are closing in 10 minutes," The guy said to me.
"I know we need this developed," I said
"No, I'm tired I want to go home. You can come back tomorrow at 8," The guy said to me. I pulled out a 20 dollar bill. My last 20 bucks, I knew that was triple the amount he was making an hour.
"Well when you put it that way," The guy said as he reached for the $20.
"No,'' I said as I stuck the $20 in my bra. 'First you do the photos and then you get Jackson."
"Fine but you have to help me close up," The guy said.
"Done," I said. Portman and Goldberg looked at me weird.
"Come on guys; it won't kill us to do a little manual labor," I said.
"Speak for yourself," Goldberg said.
Goldberg, Portman, and I helped clean and straighten the store, which included doing the bathrooms. It only took about a half an hour for us to clean the store. So that way all the guy working had to do was shut down the machine and lock up. He closed out his drawer while we were waiting for the photos to develop. I prepaid for the photo developing. I waited impatiently for the photos, I wanted to see them. Finally the photos were done, and I handed the guy his $20 when he locked up the place outside. Plus an extra $5 for his trouble. "Don't ever come into this store and demand pictures be done with 10 minutes to closing time again," The guy said to me. I nodded.
The pictures turned out great. It was clear who was doing what. I could not wait for Mark to get busted for doing coke. I held onto the photos, I was going to stash them in Julie's desk, just to keep them from getting swiped until Monday morning. When I could present the evidence to Dean Buckley. I had to present a front to Mark at the track meet tomorrow, but I wasn't planning on showing up until near the end. Julie and Connie agreed to stay in our room to keep Mark from the photos, if he knew that was what Goldberg was doing.
I showed up at 3:15 at the track meet. It was over at 4:00, Mark ran over to me and said, "Hi."
"Hello," I said.
"Listen about last night...," Mark started to say, and I cut him off.
"Mark let's talk about that later, okay. I just want to see you run. You still have a running event left right?" I asked.
"Yeah, Four by Four hundred," Mark said.
"Have a good race, good luck," I said.
"Ok, Love you," Mark said and then he ran towards the team on the track. Once he was out of ear shot I whispered, not for long you asshole. I went up into the stands and sat next to Averman.
"So is it done?" I asked.
"Yep, his number will be called for drug testing," Averman said.
"How's operation thawing out, Charlie going?" I asked.
"Not well, Charlie was pretty pissed last night when he got back to the dorms. Gunnar had to stay in our room. I feel bad for him though," Averman said.
"Gunnar or Charlie?" I asked.
"Gunnar. He still wants to go home, he's on the phone every night trying to get them to let him come home. I guess his mother is putting her foot down. I have never heard so much Icelandic in my entire life. I don't think that his parents know a word of English," Averman said.
"What makes you say that?" I asked.
Averman sighed before he said, "Well he speaks English to his sisters. But the minute that his Mom or Dad comes on the phone it turns into Icelandic."
"Hmm," I said. We watched the last 4 events before the four by four hundred. The 800-meter Dash, the 200-meter Dash, 3200 meter run and the Girls 4x400 meter relay.
"And now the Boys 4 by 400-meter relay, in lane 1 St. Paul Academy there runners are,' I tuned out what the announcer said until he got to, 'in lane 8, Eden Hall Academy there runners are Mike Haden , Andrew Moore, Jesse Miller and Mark Higgen's. Gentlemen take your marks, set!" Then a gun went off and all the runners were off and running. Mike had the lead and was leading for much of the first lap.
"GO MIKE," I yelled at him.
Once his lap was done he handed off the baton to Andrew Moore and Andrew lengthen the lead against Blake who was running in second place. Then Andrew handed the baton off to Jesse Miller and he kept the pace that Andrew had with the lead. Blake was breathing down our necks but at least we were in the lead. Averman and I started to quack loudly and there were a few more that joined us in the crowd that started to quack. Then we quit the quack when Mark got the baton from Jesse. As Mark was coming down the home stretch Blake Academy overtook him on the track followed by St. Paul Academy, Minneapolis High, Southwest High School and Breck Academy. When Mark finally crossed the finish line we were in 6th place for the race. Man was Coach Thompkins pissed at him. The boys had enough points for first place in the track meet, before the race and after the race we landed in fourth place. "Will the following numbers please report to the medical tent 717, 123, 47, 668, 989, 555, 212, 187, 856, 975" said the announcer.
"Come on, come on call his number," I said.
A bunch of numbers were called, "and finally 595," said the announcer.
I looked at Mark's number, he was 595. "Yes, Thanks Averman," I said.
"Yep," Averman said.
A/N: Just so you know that this will be the last chapter for a while. As I am going back to my hometown to celebrate my 20th class reunion, this weekend. Which some of the members of the track team where named after. Then I will be spending much of the next 3 and ½ weeks focusing on finish writing Senior year. In between doing things with family and my birthday. I hope to post chapter 24 on July 15th. But we shall see. You also have an assignment and that is to write a review. So please tell me what you think and make this about to be birthday girl an incredibly happy PERSON!