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, Judges Stone, 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 26
April 19th, 1999
Bella's POV
Paddy asked me at lunch, "So I guess Prom is Saturday night?"
"Yeah So?" I asked.
"Are you going?" Paddy asked.
"No," I said and watched Paddy's shoulders slump.
"Oh," Paddy said.
"Don't get me wrong, I am sure it's a fun event, but I am just not big on dresses. Give me sweatpants any day and I will be fine," I said.
"You know you don't have to wear a dress. The first lady doesn't," Paddy said.
"Really?" I asked.
"Nope and I should know, her husband is my dad's boss," Paddy said.
I looked at him confused and then Paddy said, "Bill Clinton."
"Yeah, I know who you are talking about. I don't know Paddy," I said.
"There is no rule about what you can and can't wear. Come on we will go as friends," Paddy said.
"Okay," I said. Connie, Julie, and I had work to do after school, finding me a suitable pants suit for me to wear at the dance.
"Alright let's go shopping for a prom dress," Connie said as we reached the top floor of Sears. I looked around until I saw the pantsuit I was going to wear to prom. It was a burgundy red color. It was perfect, especially paired with my black flats that I got at homecoming. The best part was that I could wear the suit again, if I wished instead of it being a one and done type of deal.
"Oh, Bella this would be perfect for you,' Connie squealed and holding up a dress that was pink in color, 'Bella?"
"There she is," Julie said.
Connie had grabbed the dress that she selected for me to try on and came over to where I was standing with Julie.
"What are you looking at, Bella?" Julie asked.
"My prom suit, what do you think?" I asked.
"That's a pantsuit we wear dresses for prom," Connie said to me real slow like I had taken one too many blows to the head.
"I know that Connie, and I am bucking with tradition. I like the suit. I think that I am going to try it on," I said.
"Bella," Connie whined.
"Connie if she wants to try on the suit. Let her try on the suit," Julie said.
I knew Julie would see it my way, she also likes being comfortable wearing what she wants to wear.
"But Bella, this is prom we need to show our best and we girls show our best in a dress," Connie said.
"It's either this or I don't go. And are you going to make Paddy disappointed in me," I said.
I ended up buying the pantsuit. I thought it looked awesome on me. And I didn't care, despite Connie's protests about the outfit that I chose.
Charlie's POV
"OH MY GOD!" Reese screamed from her massive walk in closet.
"What's wrong, Reese?" I asked.
"I gained 3 pounds, 3 pounds it might as well be 50!" Reese said.
"What are you talking about Reese?" I asked.
"God Charlie you are so stupid, I am trying on my prom dress," Reese said.
"Oh, come on let me see it, you can't possibly be that bad looking," I said.
"Yes, it is I am a PIG, a fat PIG. How can you stand the sight of looking at me?' Reese said.
"So, you let it out, I am sure that you can find a tailor to get the alterations done by Saturday," I said.
"No, you don't understand. You don't alter Vera Wang. You alter yourself to fit Vera! Jesus Christ Charlie, get a brain!" Reese yelled.
"Yeah, well maybe you should," I whispered to myself.
{Flashback to lunch earlier that day}
I had been sitting with Reese's table ever since we started to go out. I looked at her plate there was a small salad drenched in Ranch dressing.
"That's a small lunch," I said.
"Yeah, I am trying to avoid fats and carbs," Reese said.
"But honey your salad is drenched in ranch, which is full of fat that you are trying to avoid," I said.
"Like you would know, Cheese fries' man," Reese said.
{End of Flashback}
Bella's POV
When Paddy picked me up at the dorm on Saturday.
"You look great," Paddy said.
"Thanks, you look handsome too," I said.
"It's my dress uniform from AFJROTC, mom found it and got it ready to go for tonight," Paddy said.
"Huh?" I asked.
"Air Force Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. I was in the Corp at my old high school at Hampton Virginia. I was even on the Drill team," Paddy said.
"Oh," I said.
Now I knew what Grandma meant by how the uniform helps guys look extremely hot. I almost wanted to forgo the dance and take him back upstairs for a little tumble in the sheets.
Paddy broke me out of my trance with, "Should we go, we don't want to be late."
I smiled up at him and said, "Of course."
The dance went off without a hitch. Paddy and I had a great time. I think a few of the girls were jealous of me and Paddy being together. After the dance Paddy and I walked around campus for a little bit and we stopped at the lake and I said, "I love you, Paddy."
"Excuse me?" Paddy said.
"I love you,' I looked up at him and my heart was beginning to break, 'you don't love me?" I asked.
Paddy sighed heavily, ran his hand through his curls. Oh, how I loved when he did that and said, "I'm sorry Bella. But we are just getting to know each other. I am not exactly sure if I am over Melissa."
"Your ex-girlfriend," I said.
"Yeah, I thought that we were just friends. Besides, you have an ex that you are trying to deal with the pain of that one too," Paddy said.
"Mark used me," I said.
"I wasn't talking about Mark I was talking about Charlie," Paddy said.
"I am pretty much over Charlie," I said.
"I like you Bella you are a good person, but I am not in love with you. Not yet," Paddy said.
"Oh," I said I was extremely disappointed. Paddy walked me up to my dorm, kissed me on the cheek and we said our goodnights.
Charlie's POV
I was very pissed at Bella when her and Paddy showed up at the dance together. The rumors were true. Paddy and Bella were seeing each other. He had only been here less than a month. I was getting tired of being attached to Reese and I was looking for a way out. I was an idiot for letting Bella go and I realized that now. With Paddy here I knew I was sunk. I figured that Paddy and Bella would get married and Bella would follow him from base to base and house to house. On top of that I was even madder at Bella for what she wore to prom, a pantsuit. Who wears that?
"Charlie, right here," Reese said. She had caught me looking at Bella and Paddy, again.
"I am sorry sweetie," I said.
"You better be," Reese said.
I so needed to dump her.
A/N: So, what do you think? Please leave a review! Thanks!