Portman knocked on the door. "Parker?"

Parker was sitting on the bed, back against the wall, with a laptop playing music sitting on her legs. "Hey, Portman. What's up?"

"Nothin', I just wanted to get some clothes, and wanted to check if it was okay to come in. You could've been naked or something, I don't know." He walked to his suitcase.

Parker laughed. "Oh. That's very polite of you. Usually the guys just open the door halfway and then me and Cooper start screaming bloody hell so they know not to come in."

Portman chuckled. "That works, too."

Parker nodded. "I guess Minnesota kids are just nicer. Oh, wait, you're from Chicago. Sorry, I forgot for a quick second."

Portman sat on the floor and looked ready for conversation. "Were you always from New York?"

Parker suddenly looked uncomfortable. "Oh, no, no. I lived in California and New Jersey before here."

Portman felt the awkward vibe coming from her, "Oh, that's cool. Man, I haven't been to Chicago for a while since we went to high school in Minnesota. I just go to visit my 'rents sometimes."

Parker nodded. "Oh, wait. So your girlfriend isn't from Chicago? Guy told me you had a girlfriend cause you loved how I had a lot of the stuff you like-liked-like?" Pause. "He explained it better."

He chuckled. "Yeah, I do, but I don't know, the whole long distance thing is real hard, and since it's college freshman year, we might just let each other experience it. It's in consideration now. We're talking about it and stuff."

"Sorry." Parker looked sympathetic. "The whole long-distance thing really sucks."

"Definitely," Portman agreed. "Some of the Ducks decided to go separate ways with whoever they were going out with, some of them went to college together."

"That's cute."

Portman smirked. "Except Guy. He didn't really have someone to leave behind. Connie and he broke up at the end of freshman year. They're still good friends, though. He's great like that. He's just a great guy."

Parker's right eyebrow rose slightly. "That's lovely, Portman."

Portman shrugged. "Just trying to talk him up."

Parker laughed. "I couldn't tell. Wait, so does that mean that he-"

"Portman," Guy said as he peeked into the room, "you're next."

Portman's eyes got wide and he smiled at Parker. "That was a good conversation, we should do that again."

Parker gave a nod and smiled. "Hell, yeah."

Portman patted Guy on the back and walked out.

Guy came into the room, his hair dripping wet. "What was that about that? Talked about something good?" He sat on the bed parallel from Parker.

"Uh, yeah, it was pretty good, I guess. Just talked about Chicago, California, and Ducks."

Guy looked confused. "That is a good conversation, I guess."

"Yep, yeah, it was." Parker quickly changed the subject. "So how's the city after living here for a day?"

"It's nice. Nice lights, nice people, nice..." He thought. "Uh, nice, big rats on the subway? No, it really is nice, though."

"Mm, nice. Well, you'll get to know it more, the Christmas season is coming soon, so it'll be all nice and pretty."

"It's the end of September." Guy raised an eyebrow slightly.

"What's your point? Christmas is the best, the absolute best."

Guy nodded. "Okay, yeah, Christmas is pretty damn great."

"Love the winter holidays." Parker put the laptop on the bed, "You talk to your parentals yet?"

"Yeah, they're worrying like crazy, but," Guy shrugged, "they're parents."

"Yeah, I'd worry if my child was a newcomer to the ol' Big Apple."

"They keep asking me how the Ducks and I are going to find an apartment but I don't-"

"Dude." Parker jumped a bit. "Live in mine! It's not like I use it all the time, just rent it from me until you guys find a place. Then Portman can use all my rock stuff and be constantly happy."

Guy smiled. "That's a good idea, I'll talk to the guys about it. I'm sure it'll work out, though."

Parker grinned. "Nice, nice. Joey will have a friend again."

"Joey?"

"I name a lot of things; I named the apartment Joey, because when me and my mom were looking for an apartment for me and I found that one, I was listening to a song called 'Joey' by Concrete Blonde. A really sad song, but good."

"Oh." Guy nodded. "Naming stuff, that's, uh, kinda cool?"

Parker glared playfully. "Don't make fun. I'm special and I do these kinda things."

"Special isn't quite the word for it." Guy joked.

"Ha-ha." Parker rolled her eyes but smiled.

"Does your mom live in the city?" Guy asked and the uncomfortable movement from Parker started again.

"Oh, uh, nope. She just helped me find the apartment. I think she's coming during Christmas, though, so it's gonna make it pretty freakin' awesome." Parker looked at her toes, painted black, and it just came out, "God, I miss her." Parker looked confused. "I don't know why I told you that. That's weird, sorry."

Guy's eyes concentrated on the girl who sat across from him, so together in appearance, but so broken by her facial expression. He sat next to her. "You can talk to me if you feel like it."

Her eyes looked up at him. "Thanks," she whispered.

A/N:
Hey, guys. Tell me what you think of the story, it's my first Ducks story, so I'm getting the flow of writing back since I haven't been writing in a while. Tell me if you think it's good, disgusting, or any of the sort. Please and thank you. Whoever is reading it, I hope you enjoy it so far.