AN-OK, so welcome back to A Year to Remember. This is chapter 4, and I hope you enjoy it!
Charlie Conway walked down the hallway, his backpack slung over his shoulder. The sounds of the hallway seemed muted to him, not even showing up on his radar. His face, normally cheerful and cocky was now a mask, hiding the true pain he felt.
Katie Banks slid up next to him, taking his hand in hers. Without words, she was there able to comfort him, when he needed it the most. Thankful for her silence, he squeezed her hand. She knew, without a word, what he was saying.
They walked over to his locker. After it was open, he began to roughly shove the books inside. With a sigh, he slammed the door shut.
''Aren't you getting your books?'' Katie asked.
Charlie shook his head, slinging his backpack onto his shoulder once more.
''Why not?'' she asked.
''I don't feel like going to class.'' he muttered.
''Charlie, don't do this.'' Katie told him.
''Do what.'' he snapped. ''I don't want to be here, it has nothing to do with-''
''Please, it has everything to do with it. Don't let him ruin your life Charlie!'' she yelled.
People stopped to look at them, including Adam and Julie.
''I'm outta here. You can either come or stay.'' he said.
Katie looked at him, silently debating if she should.
''Fine, stay. Continue being little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes.'' he snapped.
With a final eye roll, he was on his way down the hallway. Making up her mind, she sprinted after him. He was surprised when she spoke up. ''Where we going?''
Adam looked after then, worry evident in his eyes. Julie smiled at him.
''He needs time. She needs to help get him through it.''
He sighed and nodded, but the worry wasn't lifted.
The morning passed quickly. Right before lunch, Adam was cornered by Maddie.
''Have you seen Katie? Because she wasn't in first hour!'' she exclaimed.
''Shh!'' he took a quick sweep of the hallway, before leaning in, ''Her and Charlie skipped. I don't know where they went.''
''This is really screwing him up, isn't it?'' she asked, softly.
''Yeah. Katie knows how he feels, hell I know how he feels. It sucks.'' Adam said.
He closed his locker door and they headed to the lunchroom. Taking their usual seats with the Ducks, they began to eat. Suddenly, Connie spoke up.
''Where's Charlie?'' she asked.
''Yeah, and where's Katie?'' wondered Dean.
''I'd like to know that too.'' the team looked up and saw Dean Buckley starring them down.
''Does anyone know where they are?''
''No sir.'' Adam said.
''Really? So, my whole group of bystanders did not see you and Ms. Gaffney watch them leave?'' he asked.
Adam groaned.
''Son, as you know, skipping class is a serious matter. Aiding those who skip, just as punishable.''
''Sir, we don't know where they went.'' Julie spoke up.
''Well, while we try to figure it out, why don't both of you come with me?''
He beckoned them to stand up and they did, following him out of the lunchroom.
Meanwhile
Charlie and Katie cruised the mall together. They had already gone on the roller coaster, this time, Charlie didn't eat anything beforehand.
''So this is what you guys did when you left?'' Katie asked, taking a sip of the pop Charlie had bought her.
Charlie nodded.
''Weak.'' she muttered.
''Hey, there aren't a lot of places to go.'' he defended.
''Right. Me being the Goody-Two-Shoes wouldn't know.'' she said.
He sighed, and looked over at her. ''I'm sorry. You know I didn't mean it.''
Katie grinned at him, bumping into him gently. ''I know. You were frustrated. Just don't do it again.''
Charlie smiled and took her hand. ''I'm surprised you came.''
She shrugged. ''You needed me. I could tell.''
He pulled her hand and they stopped near a fountain. They both sat down, and Charlie faced her, looking into her eyes.
''You're right. I do.''
She leaned over and kissed him lightly on the lips.
''Kat, does it ever get easy?'' he whispered.
She shook her head. ''No. At least you don't have to deal with parents who hate each other. Oh, and FYI, skipping school doesn't help.''
He smirked at her.
''Just...talk to me, whenever you need to. Please Charlie, don't do this. Don't pull away from school. From your friends. From me.'' she whispered.
He leaned in and kissed her. Pulling away, he whispered, ''I won't.''
They pressed their foreheads together, and she sighed, happily.
''What?'' he asked.
''Just thinking about us. And now much I love you.''
With a small grin, he leaned in to kiss her again.
Back at Eden Hall
The whole team, plus Maddie, were randomly scattered around the office, staging an impromptu sit in for their friends. Of course, it was after school, and probably didn't do much good, but still, Adam and Julie needed support.
Connie, who was leaning against Guy, spoke up suddenly. ''You guys will never guess who we ran into the other night.''
''Cons, I thought we were going to wait to tell them.'' Guy muttered.
''Who?'' Averman asked.
Connie kissed Guy's cheek and said. ''I lied. It was Tammy Duncan.''
There was a ripple of response from the older ducks. Luis and Dwayne shared a look.
''Who?'' Ken asked.
''Tammy Duncan, she was the other girl Duck. It was way before you guys.'' Goldberg told him.
''Tammy Duncan.'' Fulton whispered.
He was suddenly taken back into memories. Of the first time they met her, how beautiful she was. Or when the Hawks had pushed her down, how he'd gone to her rescue.
''Fulton? Dude you ok?'' Portman asked.
He waved a hand in front of Fulton's face, who suddenly came to and looked around. ''What?''
''You were like, starring into space. Everything ok?''
''Yeah, yeah. It's fine.'' Fulton said, with a wave of his hand.
Dean would have questioned further, but Maddie started talking. Immediately, he shifted his attention to her.
''Tammy was like my big sister. Katie was always close with Connie, Tammy and I kind of bonded.'' she said, fondly.
As the team started remembering the pee-wee years, a sound of shoes hitting tile made them all look around. Casey Conway was marching down the hallway, and she looked pissed.
Immediately, every Duck sitting down jumped up and out of her way. They knew better. Moments after she made her way into the office, Phillip Banks came from the other hallway and hurried inside.
The team could now only wait.
''Mrs. Anderson, Mr. Banks, it's a pleasure.'' Dean Buckley greeted the two parents.
Adam and Julie were also in his office, sitting on the couch across from the desk.
''It's Ms. Conway, please.'' Casey corrected, taking a seat.
''I'm sorry, Ms. Conway. Now, as you know, Charles and Katherine have both left school. Adam and Julia here, have both been placed by other bystanders, of being in the crowd that watched them leave. I'm pretty sure they knew where they were going.''
Phillip turned to his son. ''Adam, do you know?''
''No dad. As I already explained, we only watched them go. I had no idea Charlie was going to skip or that Katie would go with him.'' Adam said.
''And you didn't think to call me? Or your mother? Let us know what was going on. Lord knows what that boy is getting my daughter into.''
Casey turned her eyes of flame onto Phillip. ''What does that mean?''
He shrank back from the intensity of her stare, but didn't back down. ''My Katie knows better then this.''
''Charlie has been going through some rough things.'' Casey said.
''So has Katie. That's no excuse to go crazy and leave.''
''Oh? So your daughter showing up at my house last Thanksgiving, soaking wet and in a terrible state has nothing to do with what happened between you and your wife?''
''Ex-wife.'' Phillip said.
Adam and Julie watched the interaction between the two with wide eyes.
Charlie and Katie walked into school, not knowing what they were about to walk into too. As they turned the corner, they came across the Ducks, sprawled out in front of the office.
''What's going on?'' Charlie asked.
Everyone looked up and panicked.
''Dude, what the hell are you doing here?'' Russ snapped.
''I needed a book for tomorrow. What's going on?'' Katie asked.
Just then, the office doors opened and Dean Buckley stepped out with Adam, Julie, Casey, and Phillip.
''I won't be punishing Adam or Julia if they are telling the truth.'' he assured them.
Just then, Casey stopped Charlie.
''Charles James Conway, you are in so much trouble!'' she screeched.
''Katherine Rose Banks, you have a lot of explaining to do.'' Phillip demanded, when he saw Katie.
As the two parents began ripping into their children, the Ducks took this as their cue to leave. Slowly, they tiptoed away.
''Katherine, maybe you shouldn't see this boy anymore, if you're going to be skipping school.'' Phillip said.
''Daddy, I went with him. He didn't force me to go.'' Katie told him.
''Oh.'' Phillip said, suddenly feeling foolish.
Dean Buckley took this break in yelling to speak up. ''Neither Charles or Katherine will be punished. Just let off with a warning, this better not happen again.''
''Oh it won't.'' Casey promised, sending her son a look.
Once the Dean was back in his office, Casey spoke to Charlie. ''Go, wait in the car. We'll discuss your punishment there.''
''You too, Katie.''
''Can I please stop at my locker first daddy. There's a book I need.'' she said.
He nodded his approval. Charlie turned to Casey. ''Mom, may I-''
''No, go to the car.'' Casey said.
Charlie groaned and Katie giggled softly.
''Enjoying my discomfort?'' he asked.
''A little.'' she said.
She laughed louder now, and he joined in. Casey tried to hide her own smile.
''Katie, your book?'' Phillip asked.
''Right.'' Katie said.
She leaned over, kissing Charlie's cheek quickly, before sprinting off to her locker. Charlie grinned bashfully at the parents before heading for the exit. Phillip turned to Casey.
''I owe you an apology. I'm sorry for what I said, about your son.''
''I'm sorry too. For what I said.'' Casey told him.
''You know, when you're not screaming at me, you're a very beautiful woman.'' he said, boldly.
Casey smiled. ''Well, let's hope I won't yell whenever I see you.''
''Let's hope you'll see me soon. Perhaps dinner, tomorrow night?'' he asked.
Casey smiled again, this time nervously. ''I'm just getting out of a marriage, I'm not ready to-''
He cut her off, smiling understandably. ''Well when you are ready, give me a call.''
''I'll do that.'' she said.
With those parting words, the two adults walked back the way they entered, pausing every few moments to glance back at the other.
AN-Whoa, what could all this mean? Stay tuned to find out!