Across the hall, a tall, broad-shouldered boy stood by his locker, switching the books in his hand for the ones that sat on the metal shelf. He laughed at a joke made by the friend leaning against a nearby locker. As people passed by, the boy stuck his hand out to give high fives and handshakes. He was handsome, charming and Julie Gaffney just could not keep her eyes away.

"Jules?" Connie called to her with no response in return. "Julie...you there?"

"Huh?" the goalie blinked and turned to Connie. "Oh sorry, what were you saying?"

Connie smirked. "Forget what I was saying. What were you daydreaming about?"

"What? Nothing," she replied while grabbing a few objects from her locker.

"Mhmm…it's Sean isn't it?" The brunette lifted one eyebrow with a coy smile. "I saw you staring."

"Shut up, Cons." Julie turned red while Connie laughed. "He asked me out on a date on Friday night."

The brunette beamed with excitement. "And…?" she leaned forward waiting to hear the answer she had hoped for.

"And nothing. I said I'll let him know," Julie said casually and placed some items in the locker.

Connie scoffed. "You're going. End of story."

"No, forget about it, Connie. I can't go."

"What do you mean you can't go?" Connie asked in disbelief. "You'd be crazy not to go on this date."

"Cons, I don't know…" Julie looked unsure to which Connie rolled her eyes. "I mean, I guess I like him and all but first dates are just so awkward. What if we have nothing in common after all? What if he doesn't like me? What if I say something stupid?"

"Oh come on, Jules. I've seen you guys together. You look totally fine and cute. Plus, Sean's a nice guy and if I might add, a real hottie." Connie threw her a wink. "It'll be fun."

"But this is a date…like a real one…with romantic moments and whatnot. You're the expert at dating, not me!"

"First of all, breathe," the brunette paused to let Julie inhale and exhale. "Second of all, just because I've been on a few dates in my life doesn't mean I'm an expert."

"A few? Connie, you're out with someone new every month," she gave her a pointed look.

"Oh please, they're just friends. Absolutely no romance involved. Plus, I've only seriously dated one guy in my life," Connie replied matter-of-factly.

"True…but still you know way more than I do. I'm such a nervous wreck on dates." Julie slumped against the locker. She tilted her head up and scratched her chin. "Hey, I have an idea. What if…you tagged along on this date?"

Connie gave her a confused look. "Um well, you know I'm here for you and all, Jules, but the whole third-wheel thing doesn't exactly sound like a fun Friday night plan for me."

Julie rolled her eyes. "No, silly. I mean a double date."

Connie's lips turned to form an "O" shape and her eyes matched her expression. "I knew that."

Julie smirked and shook her head. "So will you? It'll be a lot of fun and would help me out a lot having you there. Plus, to make it easy, you can just ask that one guy you've only seriously dated in your life," Julie teased.

Connie rolled her eyes. "Well wish me luck with that. He's spent almost every weekend these past two months at those training clinics so he was looking forward to...ahem, some quality time with his best friend," Connie pointed out but failed to hide the small blush creeping on her face. "And honestly, so was I."

Julie looked defeated but Connie caught her expression and before the goalie could verbally concede, she sighed and stuck her hand to stop her. "But-," the brunette started and Julie's eyes glimmered with hope. "I'm sure he wouldn't mind helping you out for one night."


"Don't even think about it."

"But Guy, it's for Julie," Connie begged.

Guy groaned. "And you know I'd do anything for her but I haven't spent a single Friday night at home in forever. I really don't want to go on another double date you signed me up for…which by the way, you need to stop doing." He threw her a glare.

Connie chuckled and placed her hands on his waist. "I promise this is the last one for a while."

Guy sighed and looked at the brunette. "You know it's my only free night this whole weekend right? I have to be back at training on Saturday."

Connie smiled sadly. "I know and I want to hang out...just the two of us. But I really think Julie needs our support. We'll still be able to spend some time together…there'll just be two other people with. What do you say?" she asked and batted her pretty brown eyes sweetly.

The blonde boy threw his head back in defeat. "Julie better get some action on this date…"

Connie smacked his arm before engulfing him in a hug. "Thank you."


"Table for four please."

"Right this way, sir." The waiter led Sean and Julie to a quiet booth by the window. The two took their seats next to each other as the waiter poured two glasses of water. "I'll be sure to send your friends this way."

"Thank you," Julie offered a smile to the gentleman. She turned to the boy on her left. "Well, this is a nice restaurant," she commented nervously. "How'd you hear about it?"

"A friend recommended it ...said it was perfect for dates," Sean answered with a smile and Julie blushed. "So which one of your friends is joining us?"

"Actually, there's two of them. Connie and Guy. They're on the team with me," Julie said.

"Oh, I think I know who they are. Those names sound familiar. Are they dating?" Sean asked and sipped his water.

Julie was unsure whether or not it was worth explaining their situation. Then again, she was never entirely sure herself. "Umm, hard to say. They're not exactly dating…right now. They're just…really close?" she offered.

Sean looked at her curiously but shrugged it off. "Well, I'm excited to meet them." He leaned in closer to Julie and looked at her sweetly. "By the way, you look very pretty tonight Julie Gaffney. Not that you don't look pretty everyday, but you know..."

Julie chuckled and grinned in response. "Why, thank you. You don't look too bad yourself."

Shortly after, Connie and Guy walked into the restaurant and the waiter gestured to Sean and Julie's table. Julie waved Connie over with an anxious smile.

"Hey guys," Julie chirped and motioned for them to sit. "This is Sean. Sean, meet Connie and Guy."

"Hi Sean, it's nice to meet you," Connie greeted him with a wave and flashed her pearly whites at the pair.

"Hey, I'm Guy," the blonde boy reached over and shook his hand then acknowledged Julie with a small, friendly squeeze on her shoulder. Julie felt the nerves settling down knowing Connie and Guy were right in front of her.

Sean smiled. "Nice to finally meet you guys too."


"Wow, so you guys are actually world champs?"

The trio looked at each other proudly. "Yep, you could say that," Connie replied after finishing their Goodwill Games victory story during dessert.

"I can't believe I'm hearing about this for the first time. That's pretty cool," Sean nodded in approval. "I did catch your JV/Varsity game freshman year. I gotta hand it to you. You really gave Varsity a run for their money." The group laughed as Sean placed his arm behind Julie. "And you single handedly kicked ass in that game." Julie blushed and Connie couldn't help but give her a goofy grin.

"I won't lie — winning that game felt good," the goalie replied.

"So do you all plan on playing hockey forever?" Sean asked genuinely and took the final bite of his ice cream. "I mean junior year is pretty heavy on scouting and recruitment so I was just wondering if you're thinking about it."

Julie looked at Connie who then turned to Guy and shared a look. The prospect of playing was always a touchy topic among the team. Some were confident about where their futures in hockey were headed while others simply knew it wasn't going to last. Julie was the first to answer.

"As much as I'd love to play the sport for the rest of my life, there are other things I'd like to pursue...things that are more promising, if you will," she spoke. "Honestly, ever since Goldberg attempted to sabotage my game with all that food freshman year, I think I might actually find my true calling in the culinary arts." The table laughed at the goalie's jab at her brief competitive rise and fall during their first season at Eden Hall.

Connie nodded and smiled with Julie. "I'd have to agree with Julie's first point. Hockey's all I've ever known and I might even want to play in college but after that, I think it's time to kick ass in something else." She chuckled. "I've always wanted to be a writer for the sports industry. I think that'd be cool."

The pair in front of her smiled and nodded in understanding. "What about you, Guy?" Sean asked.

Guy, whose arm was resting behind Connie, looked at the brunette briefly before turning to Sean. "Yeah, I'd like to play for as long as I can...go pro, if possible. Hockey has been my life since I was a kid and I'm not ready to give it up just yet."

"Julie's mentioned that you've been going to training clinics since the season's ended. How's that working out?" Sean asked, showing true interest in the athlete.

"It's been good...really good actually. College scouts and recruiters are watching like hawks but it really brings out my A game, if anything," Guy nodded. "I'm going back tomorrow."

"That sounds great, man. Where are you looking to get recruited?" Sean asked.

"I'd love to stay in Minnesota but umm…" he paused nervously. "If opportunities open up in the Northeast or other Midwest schools, I wouldn't be too quick to say no," the blonde answered without looking at Connie who had turned her attention to the little flower centerpiece sitting on the table. Julie noticed her friend's demeanor and could feel a fleeting moment of tension. Something told her that the topic at hand had yet to be discussed among her two friends.

"I get it. You gotta do what you gotta do. I feel that same way about playing baseball..." Sean continued and Julie was glad he changed the topic. While Guy was listening to Sean, she mouthed 'bathroom?' to the girl sitting across from her to which she nodded her head.

"Sorry boys, we're just gonna run to the bathroom real quick!" the goalie chirped and the boys stood up from the booth to let the girls out before continuing their conversation on recruitment.


"So are you having fun on your first date with Sean?" Connie asked as she fixed her eye makeup in front of the bathroom mirror. "He really is a nice guy, Jules."

Julie chuckled as she dried her hands with some paper towels. "Yeah, I'm really enjoying myself. Thanks again for coming out, Cons. I really owe you one."

Connie finished touching up her makeup and turned to wrap an arm around Julie's shoulder. "Of course, Jules. We've got your back." Although polar opposites, the two Ducks had grown quite close over the years and having a close female confidante worked to their advantage in moments like this.

"Are you guys having fun too?" the goalie asked softly.

"You know us...as long as we're in the same room, that's all that matters," she said contentedly. "But thanks for doing half the job for us," Connie teased her friend with a squeeze on the shoulder.

Julie rolled her eyes. "You're very welcome, Moreau. I'm sure he's enjoying his one free night on someone else's date," she joked back. Connie smirked in response. Julie paused briefly before proceeding with her next question. "Were you okay back there, Cons? When Guy started mentioning recruitment, I noticed you were in your own little world," she said carefully.

"Yeah, I'm fine," she responded honestly but shrugged it off. "We haven't really talked about it so I don't exactly know his plans." Connie turned to wash her hands, hoping the action would shift the point of conversation. "I mean, he's not exactly obligated to tell me anything so..."

Julie ripped a piece of the paper towel off the dispenser and handed the brown material to Connie while throwing her friend a glare.

"What?" the brunette responded with a blank expression.

Julie chuckled. "Let's just say, I'm not buying the whole unbothered-by-his-major-life-decision attitude, Moreau. Just so you know, it will be something you both talk about, sooner or later."

"And what about talks on my major life decision?" Connie asked curiously with pride.

"Well I'm not the one you should be bringing that up to, am I?" Julie rebutted playfully.

Connie smirked and gestured to the bathroom exit. "Let's just go back out there and continue your date, shall we?"

"Don't mind if I do," Julie walked out graciously and Connie just shook her head in amusement.

The girls made their way back to the table and saw the waiter thanking the two boys and bidding them a good night as he slipped the paid bill into his pocket.

Sean got up from the table as Julie approached him. "So Guy and I were thinking. It's still fairly early in the night and there's a carnival going on not too far from here. It's only up for this weekend and it should be pretty fun. Would you like to check it out?" he asked the girls but was looking at Julie.

Guy, who was still sitting on the edge of the booth, looked up at Connie for an answer. She leaned against him to wrap an arm around his shoulders and nodded happily, knowing it would be a fun thing for Guy to do on his one free night. "I'm in."

"Yeah, let's do it," Julie agreed excitedly. Sean smiled and took her by the hand out of the restaurant.

Connie grinned stupidly at their interaction before turning to Guy who was equally fan-girling over Julie's date with Sean. "Ahh, young love," he quipped.

Connie laughed and stuck both her hands out to pull him up from the booth. "Come on, let's go win me a bear."


"Aw man! I totally thought I was going to win that one!" Sean exclaimed as Julie laughed at him losing his fifth carnival game. "It's not funny. I think these things were invented to rip people off."

"Oh come on, Sean. Don't be a sore loser." She stuck her tongue out at him.

"Alright Gaffney, I challenge you to this game. Winner gets cotton candy," he stuck his hand out.

"Deal!" Julie accepted and shook his hand.

As the attendant reset the game, Connie walked over to the pair, cradling a huge brown plush bear in her arms. "Hey guys. How's it going?"

Sean eyed the bear enviously, making Julie laugh even more. "What?! How'd you get that?"

"I personally didn't do anything. But did I mention Guy is a master at carnival games?" Connie played along and shared a few laughs with her friend.

Guy came up behind Connie. "Yeah, if the NHL doesn't work out, I know what my plan B is."

"Well great...," Sean said gloomily. "Anyway, watch and learn as I'm about to kick Julie's butt at this game. You ready, Gaffney?" he asked in a competitive tone.

"You're on!" Julie challenged excitedly.

As the pair started their game, Guy moved closer behind Connie and slipped his arms around her waist casually. "Jules seems to really like this guy," he said quietly into her ear.

"Yeah, she does, doesn't she?" she smiled and leaned her head back on his shoulder. "Let's go Julie!" she shouted towards her friend.

And when the bell went off to signal the winner, Connie and Guy couldn't help but cheer for Julie as she threw her arms up in the air and spun in a victory circle.

"So how about that cotton candy?" she teased a shocked Sean and he reluctantly took her by the hand towards the cotton candy stand.


"Ferris wheel anyone?" Julie shouted out after taking a bite of the pink sugary treat. The group agreed and headed towards the ride.

As they moved closer to the front of the line, Connie nudged Guy in his side and threw a look towards the other couple. He nodded in understanding.

Once Sean and Julie made their way onto their passenger car, the ride attendant turned towards Connie and Guy. "Getting on?"

"We'll take the next one," Guy replied. As Julie heard this, she quickly looked towards the pair who were throwing their thumbs up and winking. Julie's facial expression was one of panic and mouthed 'don't leave me alone!' But still, the blonde and brunette continued with their hand gestures and obnoxious winks.

"Oh, I guess Connie and Guy are riding their own car," Sean said as the ride started to lift, oblivious to their ulterior motive.

"Yeah, I guess," Julie said nervously and started to fan herself.


"Isn't Julie so cute when she's nervous?" Connie looked upwards towards their passenger car from her own. The thought of Julie hyperventilating at this moment amused her.

"I think she's about to throw up." Guy chuckled and mindlessly played with the large plush doll sitting in between the two. "Do you think we should have left her?"

"Guy, yes. It's about time they spent at least part of this night alone," Connie commented. "We've done our part. Now it's time to let the little birdie leave the nest." The blonde boy snickered at her imaginative view of Julie's date.


"Your friends are pretty cool. I like them a lot," Sean turned toward Julie and smiled.

"Yeah, they're awesome. They're some of my closest friends," she said genuinely.

"Honest question. What's the deal with Connie and Guy? They seem to be far closer than 'just really close' like you mentioned," he said with air quotes.

Julie chuckled, realizing that that front didn't go past Sean. "Connie and Guy have a lot of history together... and an even more complicated relationship, I guess you could say." Sean listened to Julie and was taking in the new information about her friends. "I mean, they've known each other since they were toddlers."

"Wow, that long?" Sean asked with surprise.

"Yep. So even though Connie and Guy say they're not together, they're still 'together'," she emphasized with air quotes, a theme she is finding to be quite common with the pair. "They're crazy about each other," Julie smirked and shook her head.


"What do you think they're talking about?"

"I don't know. Probably how sweaty Julie's palms are," Guy retorted, making Connie laugh.

"Stop it, be nice. You saw how nervous she was," she nudged.

"Five bucks says they kiss at the top of the ferris wheel," Guy said plainly.

"What? No way." she turned to look at him as he placed his arm behind her. "Don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for her and all but I don't think Jules would do it. You saw her, she's a nervous wreck."

"Oh come on Cons, they're alone...on a ferris wheel...overlooking the city...probably going on and on about romantic stuff. They'd be stupid not make a move on each other," he said as if he was giving a presentation.

"Nah, I still don't think she'll do it."


"Well, they're lucky to share something like that," Sean said softly and looked Julie in the eye. "I'm happy to have met them."

"Same here," she was lost in his eyes.

He grabbed her hand to intertwine his fingers with hers. Julie held her breath. Sean proceeded to move closer to her as Julie's heart was pounding. "And I'm really happy you decided to go on this date with me. To be honest, I thought you'd say no."

"To be honest, I was about to," she laughed nervously. And when she saw that he was laughing too, she composed herself and smiled softly at him. "But I'm really happy we did this too."

"Would it be too forward if I kissed you?" he said while caressing her cheek.

"No, I think it would be perfect."

And with that, Sean dipped his head down and kissed Julie softly on the lips.


"No way!" Connie screamed in a hushed tone as she witnessed her friend sharing a kiss with her date.

"Oh yes," Guy sat back and looked around in victory. "Oh and would you look at that, at the top of the ferris wheel too. I think you owe me five bucks."

Connie covered her mouth before bursting out into laughter. "Wow, go Jules. And you…" she looked at Guy. "Good call," she said as she raised her hand out for a high-five to which he enthusiastically gave.

"I try, I try," he said proudly.

Once the laughter settled down, Connie moved the stuffed animal onto her lap and relaxed into Guy's side, letting him wrap an arm around her shoulders. She intertwined his dangling fingers with her own and rubbed the inside of his palm with her thumb. "Thank you for coming tonight. Julie really appreciates it."

"I'm having a lot of fun. We haven't done something like this in a long time," he responded.

"It's like we're on our own little date," she brought their connected hands down to kiss his fingers. "You were always my favorite date, by the way."

"Oh yeah? It wasn't that Todd Whats-His-Face who brought you to the zoo...for? What was it? Your seventeenth birthday?" he teased as she punched his leg.

"Sixteenth, for your information and it wasn't too terrible of an idea. I got to pet an elephant," she said proudly.

"Yea yea yea..." Guy said through a chuckle and nuzzled her hair with his nose. "How'd you get roped into this date, by the way? Did you volunteer yourself like you did with me?" He breathed in the sweet smell of her shampoo.

Connie grinned at his joke. "No, Jules guilted me into it. She said I was an expert at dates and that my presence would be a comfort to her," she proclaimed proudly.

"An expert, huh? Well, she's got something right…" Guy continued messing with Connie. He loved getting a little rise out of her.

Connie rolled her eyes. "Is that what you think of me, Germaine? Hmm, guess I'll have to find someone to take me off the market then," she added to their playful banter. "Know of any available guys?"

"I might know of one or two," he replied coolly in her ear. "But I'd have to kill them before they get to you."

Connie laughed at him and kissed his fingers once more, letting Guy know she just was teasing him. Despite the amount of uncertainty in their relationship, Connie and Guy tried to not let anything, or anyone, come in between them. These outings were just a way for the two to get to know new people, outside of their relationship and the Ducks. At the end of the day, he was hers and she was his.

As the ferris wheel was making its third turn around, Connie could see that Sean and Julie were still snuggled up next to each other in their passenger car. Connie couldn't help but grin to herself. She was happy that her friend was finally spending time with a boy she really liked. But the thought was quickly disappearing as she remembered how less frequently her and Guy were spending time together these past few months. Between school, training, work and family obligations, time just seemed to be slipping away.

"Is it true? What you said about playing outside of Minnesota?" Connie asked unexpectedly as she let go of his fingers.

Guy was caught off guard by the question and took a moment to think before responding. "I mean, I've thought about it...if it ever came to that. But right now it's just talk. It's too early to tell," Guy explained.

"Okay," she said quietly.

"Has this been on your mind all night?" he asked with a hint of worry.

"No..." she shifted slightly off of him and made eye contact. "It's just...I didn't know where you stood with all the recruitment stuff. We haven't really had a chance to talk lately...not that we have to or anything but I was just wondering..." she finished cautiously.

"I know it feels like we've barely seen each other. I'm sorry," he offered an apologetic smile.

"It's not your fault," she pushed away a short blonde lock from his face. "I'm just realizing how little I've seen you these past couple of months, outside of school obviously…" she trailed off. Guy placed his hand over her knee and caressed it to encourage her. "...And I guess all these thoughts about college got to my head. Look, I know it's not really my place and all right now to ask but I was just curious. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up…" She moved her body and eyes away from him, feeling slightly uncomfortable with the conversation she initiated.

"Connie, look at me." he said firmly as the brunette connected her gaze once again. "I do want to have this conversation with you one day...about college and us...you know, when we get to that point," Guy said, somewhat unsure of what that point was actually referring to. "But it's just not something we have to think about right now, okay?"

She nodded. "I've just been missing you," she said softly and caressed his cheek.

"Well, seeing as I really didn't have a choice in tonight's plans, I am all yours," he joked as she buried her face in the crook of his neck to stifle her laugh. Guy placed his hand on her head as he kissed her temple. "Let's just enjoy the rest of Julie's date, mmkay?" The pair chuckled together.

A few minutes later, the ride stopped to let Sean and Julie off the passenger car. He helped her off the platform and Connie saw that they were happily holding hands. Once the ride stopped to let Connie and Guy off, the foursome congregated next to the ride's exit.

"I think Julie and I are going to check out more games. Redemption, you know?" Sean jokingly told the pair. They laughed.

"Sure thing, we'll be around," Connie responded and slipped her fingers into Guy's. "Have fun, you guys."

Julie beamed at her best friend and walked away with Sean towards the carnival games.

"Come on, let's go see what that five bucks can get me at the food stand," Guy said happily and let go of her fingers to pull his arm around her shoulders. Connie smirked and the pair made their way towards the food area.