When his dad picked him up from the school that night, full of questions about the summit, Adam felt so at ease from spending the day with Jesse that he easily told his dad tales of supposed drills he had done and what he had learned, a genuine smile on his face the whole time.
The rest of summer vacation went on much the same. Eventually came the day Jesse was to take Adam to practice with him for the first time. Adam's stomach was in knots but he tried his best to not let it show.
He needn't have worried.
As he had suspected, all the guys he met there sized him up at first, but, seeing that he was there with Jesse Hall, let him be, and by the end of the first day, they had all grown to respect him as a player and like him as a person.
If Adam's parents had paid much attention to their son, they would have noticed the changes in him. He was happy every day and much more agreeable.
Inevitably, school had to start up again.
The last day of the 'summit', James left work early and cooked dinner for Jesse, Terry, Adam, and Tammy. Due to how much time he had to devote to his job, it wasn't often that James got to cook for his boys, but when he did, it was always delicious, something Adam and Tammy quickly realized.
After dinner, Jesse and Adam went outside to talk for a bit before James had to bring Adam back to the school.
"I can't believe summer's almost over," Adam said, staring up at the oranges and pinks of the sky.
"I know. And then Monday it's back to classes and homework and strict teachers and crappy food," Jesse finished with a chuckle.
Adam laughed and looked over, studying Jesse in profile.
"I'm gonna miss this."
Jesse turned his head and their eyes connected for a moment before Jesse's quiet response came, accompanied by a small sad smile.
"Me, too."
He reached out and squeezed Adam's hand firmly before changing the subject.
"So...you ready for a whole 'nother year of math?" he asked with exaggerated excitement and an equally fake smile.
Adam groaned at the mere thought, throwing his head back.
"Don't remind me. I can't even imagine. You're definitely gonna have to help me again this year. I swear you're the only one who can make that stuff make even the slightest bit of sense."
Jesse laughed, shaking his head.
"It'll be my pleasure."
Soon it was time for Adam and James to head out. After a final hug and quick kiss, the boys separated, Adam setting off with James and Jesse heading back inside.
Monday morning came much too quickly.
On one side of town, a sleepy 12-year-old rolled out of bed and looked for some clothes through slightly cracked eyes.
Meanwhile, a similar scene was unfolding in an apartment across town, only here two semi-conscious boys were trying to maneuver around each other as well as everything else in their room.
Once school began, everyone fell back into their old routine.
Adam went to his Advanced classes, where he was immediately assaulted with work he didn't remember at all, and Jesse and Terry headed off to their regular classes where most teachers merely went over the syllabus while a couple reviewed things they should have learned the previous year.
Lunch was the only reprieve. All the Ducks sat together, discussing their classes and teachers. Some stories from the Junior Goodwill Games were shared, too, with the ones who weren't there.
By the time the day was over, everyone was exhausted. All they could think was that they had two more years of this.
And that was exactly what they got.
Two years of homework and teachers and stress. Two years of Jesse tutoring Adam so he would do well on his math tests, explaining theories in a way that Adam's mind could comprehend.
There were a few highlights of those years, though.
Like when some of the Ducks began to find out about them.
Looking back, they should have seen it coming. If anyone were to pick up on their relationship, it would be Charlie and Guy.
Charlie was Jesse's best friend, and Guy was Terry's, so they were both over the Halls' place all the time. Eventually, on separate occasions, they both pulled Jesse and Adam aside and asked them head-on. Both boys had noticed how often Adam was around the Halls' place and could see the little things between them.
They had both sworn secrecy, but it wasn't long before all of the original Ducks knew.
It was kind of funny, once you thought about it. Each new person that had found out had truly tried their hardest to keep it to themselves, but, one by one, they each cracked.
Being his girlfriend, Terry had let it slip to Tammy, who in turn had let it slip to her brother. Guy, for the same reason as Terry, had let Connie in on the secret. Charlie had accidentally let it slip to Fulton...and so on and so forth.
Surprisingly, or maybe not, considering how close they all really were, all the Ducks were cool with the new development. There was one thing they made sure stayed the same, though.
Besides James Hall, no adult was to know. Parents had their own weird network, so who knew what could happen if someone found out and it somehow eventually reached Mr. Banks?
Overall, though, everything was going smoothly. Relationships were maturing and feelings were growing more intense. Terry and Tammy had told each other they loved each other, and even though they were young, anyone who knew them could tell that they meant it whenever it was said.
Both Jesse and Adam had yet to say those words to the other, though.
Their feelings for each other had grown so much and yet neither of them could voice it.
Looking back on it now, a grown Adam Banks thinks it was what they both subconsciously knew those words would symbolize; a fact they both already knew but neither wanted to admit to themselves.
That they both depended on each other now. For their sanity, their comfort, their relief.
Still, they carried on as they always did, content with what they had, until 8th grade started coming to a close and two words came into the vocabulary of every member of the Ducks.
Eden. Hall.
TBC
Author's Note: I am so so sorry for not updating sooner...Between working and moving, it's been crazy, but I'm settled now, so I should be able to update more steadily. Thank you so much to those who have stayed with me!