Life's Full of Little Surprises
Disclaimer: I own absolutely none of the 'Mighty Duck' characters or the rights to the "Mighty Duck" franchise, that honor belongs to Disney. So I would appreciate that I wouldn't get sued over something I don't own.
Summary: Dani's life couldn't be going better. She has finally made it to the Olympics, doing the sport she loves the most. But... after arriving in Minneapolis, Minnesota things change. First she is constantly badgered by her brother, then she falls for one of his friends, and, of course, there is always a stalker!
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PrincessH- My computer has been a little weird lately as well. Maybe it's a computer epidemic? I hope not, I love my computer too much. Thanks for reviewing when you could.
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"Basically what happened was we had dinner at her place, went out for some ice cream, caught a late movie, and I dropped her off around 12:30. I forget what I was going in for." Jamie's voice came loud and clear through Adam's cell phone as Adam tried to adjust the wig he was wearing for the costume day, "That Witt guy practically kicked the door down. It was really... What the hell is that rustling?"
"Oh, sorry." Adam replied, "I'm trying to get this stupid wig to stay on."
"Wig?" Jamie asked, perplexed, "What wig?"
"It's a long story, I'll tell you later." Adam said, "How is everybody? I heard that Thalia had some broken bones and a concussion."
"Yeah, a couple of broken ribs and a broken wrist; not to mention that huge bump on the back of her head." Jamie told him somberly, "But all she cared about was how I was because it was almost two days before I woke up."
"Aw."
"Shut up." Jamie snapped.
"Sorry, Jamie." Adam said sheepishly, "How are you?"
"Fine, fine." Jamie sighed, "Cracked elbow, four crushed metacarpals, dislocated shoulder, bruised ribs, a massive headache, some cuts and scraps, and a black eye the size of Antarctica, but other then that fine."
"Nice to know it wasn't anything serious." Adam said sarcastically. How is it that Jamie was just shrugging this off? "What about the stuff that he stole?"
"Mr. Li's $10,000 incentive was enough to get some people's attention." Jamie said, "The guy took all of our stuff to a pawn shop in Henderson, just south of Las Vegas. The owner recognized him from the news story, and called the local police. They confiscated all of the stuff he had- not all of it ours, I must mention- and brought him and everything back to Las Vegas. The other stuff matched items reported stolen in several other robberies in the Las Vegas area. This guy is definitely not a first timer."
"So you got the ring back."
"Yup, Thalia said that she didn't need it, but I could tell that she was happy that she got it back." Jamie paused, "Probably a good thing we did to, at least it shows that they caught the guy. Thalia hasn't even been back to her apartment, she's been staying with Cara and Ava."
"It was a traumatic experience." Adam said, "It will take a while. However, it should cheer you up to know that mom hasn't talked to dad since we saw the story on the news. She says he's 'being a stubborn pain in the ass and that he's just proving her point'. Her words, no lie."
Jamie laughed, "Yes, mom was always the sane parent. But back to you..." Adam sighed, "Any relationships yet?"
A knock came on the door, "Come in." Adam called as he held his phone to his chest. Dani walked in and smiled at his costume, giving him a kiss before he went back to Jamie, "Why did I have a feeling that that was going to come up? You're as bad as the Ducks sometimes. I am perfectly fine with my love life situation." Jamie sighed, he had perfected the 'I'm perfectly fine' lecture. It meant that no girl was in the picture. Adam laughed, knowing what his brother was thinking.
Dani pulled Adam's phone from his grasp, "Me thinks he's fine to." She said. Adam raised his eyebrows and Dani shot him a coy look as she gave it back.
"Um, Adam, am I dreaming or was that Dani?"
Adam sighed, "No, you weren't. But I have to go or I will never get this outfit on."
"Sure," Jamie said, "outfit. Right, that's the reason." Adam sighed and shook his head, "I'll see you soon. Tell Monica I said hi."
"Will do. Bye." Adam closed his phone and sighed. He spoke when he noticed that Dani was staring at his costume, "What?"
"It's fabulous, I love it." Dani laughed, "Not many men would go this route."
"Yeah, well, I won't if I can't get this stupid wig to work."
"Sit."
"Huh?"
"Sit down and I can help you." Adam obeyed and sat down on the chair in front of his desk. Dani pulled the skewed wig off of his head and pulled his hair back, keeping it in place with hairpins that she pulled out of her pockets. Adam opened his mouth but she cut him off, "Before you ask, Julie and Connie recruited me to help them, that's why I was here in the first place."
"Oh, really? So you can tell me what they are going to be." Adam replied, "They've been so hush-hush about everything." Dani made a motion as if she was zipping her lips shut, "Oh, come on."
"No." Dani said, "If they didn't tell you then it's not my place to tell." She straightened out the wig and placed it over his hair, "Besides, that would ruin the surprise element. Isn't that why you and Charlie had a sparing battle over who got the room?"
"How did you find out about that?" Adam asked as Dani pinned the wig in place.
"I told you before, I have my sources." Adam turned with an eyebrow raised, "You didn't get me to talk last time and it won't work now. And I mean that, so turn back around, I'm almost finished." Adam complied and Dani put the final pins in place. "Perfect."
"That's great Dani." Adam said. He sighed, "Aren't you just a little worried what will happen if your brother found out you were in here?"
"No." Dani responded simply, "If he does and blows a gasket, I'll tell him you recruited me to help you, just like Julie and Connie. And that isn't a lie." Adam shrugged, "Relax. Contrary to popular belief, Dean isn't a major hard ass all the time. And when we tell him the truth, he'll get pissed off and then simmer about it." She was a little worried about Dean, but she wouldn't let anything happen to Adam. Plus, Dean knew that the Ducks needed their star player.
"You say this, yet I recall a time that I heard Dean and your older brother literally threw a guy out of your house after your younger brother tripped him down three flights of stairs." Adam said.
"Technically it was two flights, he tripped down the third himself, but that's not the point." Dani sighed and walked over to Charlie's bed and sat on it, "Wilson is a complete jackass, and I let them do that because I was in a bad place at that point with him; I wanted him to feel the pain and hell he was putting me through. You aren't him, at least not that I've seen."
Adam silently cursed at himself, "Dani, I really care about you and I don't want to hurt you. I'm sorry. It's just the Dean Portman I'm use to is the big guy that doesn't have any trouble punching out the nearest person if he's pissed off enough. But you're right, I'm not Wilson."
"But you are wrong about one thing." Adam raised his eyebrows in confusion, "Dean won't hit women or gay men, it's his mantra."
"What?"
"Dean won't punch someone out if said person is a women or gay man, I made him promise that after I became friends with Doe. I think he might make an exception for Rick Riley, but that's beside the point." She smiled and Adam nodded. "He's not all bad, just a little rough around the edges."
"Let me guess." Adam said, "To you, he is sweet, caring, loyal, lovable, adorable, and friendly." He paused, "Wow, did I just describe a Golden Retriever or what?" Dani laughed, he loved it when she did that.
"You just gave me a new nickname for him."
"What was his old one?" Adam asked, his curiosity rising.
Dani shook her head, "Can't tell, family confidentiality agreement. You understand." Adam laughed lightly, "Look, Adam I have to go or I will be late for class. I'll see you later." Dani moved to stand up.
"One thing before you go." Dani nodded, "Go with me to get Ethiopian food next Saturday." He remembered the conversation that they had had on their first date and he was eager to try.
"I'd love to."
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Scooter, Charlie, Dean, and Goldberg were sitting at their usual table in the cafeteria waiting for the rest of the Ducks to arrive. Scooter had pulled out a fine -toothed comb and was combing back his already slicked back hair. "Dude, chill. You've done enough, don't you think?" Charlie asked.
"I'm just trying to make it authentic." Scooter replied. He was wearing what looked like something straight out of 'Grease'; he was dressed as a 1950's bad boy/stud. Dean thought that he could have filled it out better, but that would be closer to normal for him then what he was currently wearing.
"Yeah, whatever." Goldberg said before turning his attention to Dean, "I never thought I'd live to see the day that Dean Portman slapped on a suit and parted his hair. We already have one cake-eater, we don't need another."
Dean chuckled, "Goldie, I may be dressed like a preppy, but I can still beat your ass into the ground. Remember that, will you." Goldberg nodded. "Good boy. And at least I'm not wearing a dress."
"It's not a dress." Goldberg shot back indignantly, "It's a Toga. I'm Caesar, see the blood stains." He pointed to the red splotches on his white toga.
"Oh, that's suppose to be blood? I thought it was strawberry stains." Dean shot back sarcastically. Goldberg laughed back showing that he was not amused. "Off of Goldie, what were you thinking Charlie?"
"What? You can't go wrong with being a 1920's gangster in a Zoot suit." Charlie said defensively.
"What, Linda didn't pick that out for you?"
"No, she didn't. We broke up." Charlie snapped.
"Oh, sorry man."
"Whatever." Charlie said as he looked over towards the door and smiled as he saw Guy walk in, "Hail, good Sir Knight." He called. Dean, Goldberg, and Scooter looked over in Guy's direction and saw him dressed as if he was a medieval knight. "Connie finally has her knight in shining armor."
"Ha ha." Guy replied, unenthusiastic. "Very funny, how did I not see that coming?" He asked sardonically.
"Come on, Guy. It's all in good fun." Dean said, "By the way, did Connie or Julie tell you what they were wearing? They've been more tight-lipped then any of us." Guy shook his head, "Scooter?"
"I tried to get Julie to tell me, but she got out of that conversation faster then Dr. Atkins in a doughnut shop." Scooter replied. He jumped as he felt a hand clasp his shoulder.
"Make love, not war." A voice said. He and Charlie, whose shoulder had been clapped as well, turned to the voice and laughed at what they saw. Adam had on a wig down to his lower back, a shirt with long and flowing sleeves, and a pair of pants with legs in a similar fashion.
"Oh my God." Dean said, "Cake-eater is a flower child."
"I thought it would be a nice change." Adam replied as he saw down. "I'm a flower child, and you're preppy." Dean rolled his eyes knowing that none of them were going to get over this costume thing soon.
"Holla, holla, my playas." A voice said as it approached the table. Russ was joining them. He had on a large red hat with a zebra print strip around it and a red suit with zebra print on the inside. In his hand was a straight wooden cane, "The P-I-M-P is here!"
"Russ, sit down." Charlie said; Russ complied.
"Hi guys." A female voice said. "Hi hubby." Piper swatted Dean on the shoulder, indicating that he should pull out a chair for her. He did so and she sat. She was wearing a brightly colored robe with a huge belt, or something, around her torso. Piper noticed the looks she was getting, "Before any of you have to ask, it's a kimono. Traditional female Japanese wear." The boys nodded, "Oh my God!" She exclaimed.
Everyone looked over as a person in a pink rabbit suit, full head and all, walk into the room and towards their table. Everyone was thinking the same thing, "Oh God, Averman." Dean said, "What were you thinking?" He asked the rabbit suit person.
"What?" Averman's voice asked from a completely opposite direction, "You don't think that I'm West Side and Gangsta?" Everyone turned towards his voice and saw that he was wearing a pair huge sweat pants, a white wife beater, and a lot of gaudy jewels and chains.
"Man, don't ever say that again." Russ said as he poked Averman with his stick.
"And if Averman is attempting to be like my people," He turned to the rabbit, "then who is that?"
The rabbit hands moved upwards to it's head and pulled it off. Dean choked on his milk as he exclaimed, "Fulton!"
"What? I'm a rabbit, leave me alone."
"And you make a very nice rabbit Fulton." Max said as he clapped him on the back. The occupants of the table burst into laughter as the got a full view of him. He had on pink leggings, a huge floral print top, skewed hair, bad high heels, and horribly done make-up.
"Well aren't you just the trailer trash princess." Dean scoffed.
"I should be." Max replied dismissively, "That was what I was going for."
"Very nice." Ken commented as he joined the group. Everyone erupted in applause at the sight of his costume. He was wearing a blown up muscle shirt, complete with tattoos, leather pants, and a leather vest.
"Wu man! A biker." Fulton said.
"A butch biker." Ken corrected. "So, who else has to arrive?"
"Mendoza, Dwayne, Cons, and Jules." Charlie answered after a quick, captainly head count.
"Well, I'm here." Dwayne said as he walked in from the direction that no one was looking in. "What?" He asked as everyone stared at him, "What are y'all starin' at?"
"Dwayne?" Guy said, "Why are you wearing a skirt? And a plaid skirt at that!"
"It ain't a skirt." Dwayne replied, as if that was completely obvious, "It's a kilt. I'm a Scot."
"A what?" Averman asked.
"Don't y'all ever listen in history?" Dwayne asked in an exasperated tone, "A Scot is a native of Scotland." He slumped in his seat and pulled his cowboy hat over his eyes (yup, he was still wearing the hat).
"I swear, if I see Mindy and her snotty posse stare at me like I'm below them again, I'm going to jump out of a window." Luis's angry voice muttered as he stalked over to the table. No one was truly surprised about his costume, considering how proud of his heritage and background he was. He was dressed in a traditional male flamenco style outfit.
"Luis, don't worry about her." Scooter said, "She's been a holier-then-thou ho since the eight grade. Sooner or later something else will piss her off and she will forget all about making your life suck beyond all measure."
"Thanks, Scooter."
"Scooter, Scooter, Scooter!" An excited, little voice exclaimed as arms wrapped around Scooter's waist.
"Louise." Scooter replied, less then chipper. "What are you doing here?" He turned to he his father and stepmother walking with Dean Buckley, no doubt doing some Alumni work. But today? Why today? "Oh, no." He whispered.
"Bonjour, Scooter." His stepmother said, "Comment allez-vous?" (French: Hello, Scooter. How are you?).
"Très bien, Jolie. Merci." (French: Fine, Jolie. Thanks.). Scooter didn't mind speaking French around Jolie, he knew how much easier it was for her. After all, she had lived her life in France and only moved to the United States after Louise was born. She and his father had spent the majority of the first two years of their marriage on different continents. "Uh, Dad?" He asked, indicating his sister.
"Oh, right." Alexander Vanderbilt replied. He pulled his daughter off of his son, much to the younger child's dismay, "Don't you all look nice."
"Merci, Dad." His tone made it obvious that he was less then enthused.
"Well, we had better get going." Dean Buckley interrupted. "Important things to do." Scooter nodded and hid his happiness. He loved his family, but he didn't need them at his school.
Before they got to leave, however, a teammate of Scooter's from the basketball team walked up to the group and put his arms on Scooter's and Guy's, who was sitting next to Scooter, shoulders and whispered, "You lucky sons of bitches."
"Care to elaborate, Cook?" He asked.
"No need." The boy replied as he pointed to the door. Guy and Scooter followed his point and their jaws dropped, causing the rest of the team to look, making their jaws drop.
Connie and Julie had just entered and were getting stares from everybody. Connie was wearing a short, tight green dress with sheer green fabric hanging from it. She had on shimmery, green, open toed high heels and green-tinted lip-gloss and eye shadow. Tiny strips of green silk were tied into her hair and green bracelets shone on her wrists.
Julie was the exact opposite of Connie's bright demeanor. She was wearing a black leather tank top and mini skirt with deep purple velvet sown on to them. Her shoes were thigh-high boots that showed only about 1½ to 2 inches of skin on her legs. Lacey, black glovelettes that wrapped around her middle fingers covered the majority of her arms. A choker with a heart with a dagger through it rested on her neck.
"Hi guys." Julie said as she and Connie sat down between Scooter and Guy. She and Connie noticed the open mouths around them and began to close them all.
"Ms. Gaffney? Ms. Moreau?" Dean Buckley asked, deadpanned.
"Hi Dean Buckley." They replied in unison.
"Um, um. Shall we?" He asked the Vanderbilt's. They walked away as Louise looked over her father's shoulder and waved somberly back a Scooter, who waved back.
"Aw. You big softy." Julie said.
"What did Dani do to you two?" Adam asked.
"How did you know that it was Dani?" Connie asked with her eyebrows raised.
"I kind of recruited her to help me with this wig." He stated, "She told me that she was helping you two, but refused to tell me what you were."
"Ah, good old Dani." Julie sighed, "Such a trustworthy friend."