AN-And here we go with chapter 3!

"Hey Kat, what is 2X times the quantity of 3X-5?" Maddie asked.

Her and Katie were currently trying to understand their math homework. They were sitting in their dorm room. The one good thing about Katie's parents was that they let her move into the dorms and made sure Maddie would be her roommate.

"No clue.'' Katie said. "I despise math.''

''Ditto. We should have it banned from school. They should teach something else, something better!'' Maddie exclaimed, throwing down her pencil.

''And what should they teach?'' Katie asked.

Maddie's happy demenor deflated and she sighed.

''I do not know, but anything is better then math." she declared.

''Except Science.'' Katie said.

''And Gym.'' Maddie added.

''And those stupid foreign languages.'' a voice said from the doorway.

The girls turned to see one Charlie Conway leaning against the doorjamb, grinning brightly at them.

''I think you're stalking me, Charlie.'' Katie said.

She might have been right. For the past week, Charlie had been popping up right by her locker, right outside her classes, by her favorite tree at lunch and now, her dorm room.

''No, just babysitting. Adam pays me by the hour." Charlie quipped, as he strolled into the room and sat down next to Katie.

''Excuse me, but we are not babies. We are young women.'' Maddie said.

Katie grinned while Charlie rolled his eyes.

''So why are you here Charlie? Surely you have better things to do then hang out with a couple of freshman.'' Katie said.

''Uh, I think you mean awesome freshmen and no, I don't think he does.'' Maddie said.

"Well, I came to invite you guys to the first game of the season, but if you're going to act like this, then maybe I take back my offer." Charlie said.

''Good, take it back. I'm not coming anyway." Katie said, turning back to her homework.

''Why not?'' Charlie wondered.

''She never does." Maddie explained, but the other two ignored her.

''Because, Charlie, I hate hockey." Katie told him, in a calm voice.

Charlie's head turned towards her slowly, his face held a flabbergasted expression.

"Uh-oh." Maddie murmured silently. Again, she was ignored.

''You...you...don't...don't...you..you hate...hockey?'' the words were so unusual on his tongue, never once being said. Ever.

Katie nodded, not even turning away from her complex Algebra.

"Have you ever even played?!'' Charlie asked.

''Of course. Who do you think helped Adam practice?'' Katie asked.

''Well, how can you hate it?'' Charlie wondered.

''Because, it's a stupid, dangerous sport.'' Katie explained.

Charlie's eyes bulged and he took a deep breath to calm himself. Suddenly, he was struck with an idea.

''Play one game against me.'' Charlie said.

''Why?'' Katie asked.

''Because, if you win..." he trailed off, grinning.

"A bet. Way to make things interesting.'' Katie said. "Fine, if I win, you can't ever bug me about hockey again.''

''Ok and if I win." Charlie thought for a moment.

''Don't hurt yourself.'' Katie said.

Charlie finally thought of something and grinned. "If I win, I get to read your notebook."

Maddie gasped. No one, not even her, was allowed to read Katie's notebook. There was no way she'd bet.

"You're on.'' Katie said.

Charlie reached out his hand and Katie took it. They shook quickly and then Charlie stood up and stretched.

''Well, I'll see you lovely ladies tomorrow. Kat, how you feel about playing tomorrow?''

''That's fine. See you then, Spazway.''

Charlie waved and left.

''Are you crazy?" Maddie asked.

''Always.'' Katie replied, nodding.

Maddie sighed impatiently. ''Kat, this is your notebook on the line. Your prized treasure!''

''What you don't think I can beat him?'' she asked.

Maddie shook her head and Katie smiled.

''Well, that's fine. Even if I do lose, he never specified which notebook to read.''

Maddie smiled along with her.

''Kat Banks, you are one smart cookie.''

Katie rolled her eyes and threw a pillow at Maddie, who caught it with a yelp.

''That was lame, Mads."

The day passed quickly and soon, Katie was walking down to the arena. She had put her old skates and her brother's old Duck jersey that didn't fit him anymore in her gym bag. Entering the building, she went into the ladies locker room to change. Once she finished lacing her skates, she went out to the ice.

Charlie was skating around, practicing. He spotted her and grinned.

"Ready to lose, Kat?'' he asked.

''In your dreams, Conway!'' Katie called.

She skated out to center ice to meet him.

''Ok, the rules are simple. Anything goes.'' Charlie said.

''Ah, ah ah, no. No hitting me, knocking me down, tripping me or causing me any bodily harm whatsoever.'' Katie said.

Charlie sighed but nodded, reluctantly.

''Fine, a nice, clean game.'' he said. ''Ready?''

"Whenever you are.'' she replied.

They bent into position and Charlie threw the puck into the air, it landing on the ice with a thunderous sound. Charlie went to for it, but Katie was quicker. She quickly skated down to the net, her eyes focused, her grip tough, her ears searching for a sign of his approach.

Suddenly, before she could even bat an eyelash, Charlie was in front of her and the puck jumped from her stick to his. He quickly began to skate towards the other net and Katie was skating right behind him. Sadly, she was too slow. Charlie scored the first goal.

''Whoo!!" he cheered, throwing his arms up in victory.

While he was distracted, Katie quickly stole the puck back and began skating down to the net. By the time Charlie noticed, Katie had scored her first goal.

''That was cheating.'' Charlie said.

Katie leaned casually against her stick and shot him grin. "You said it yourself, Charles, no rules. You didn't call a time-out, not my fault you were distracted.

Charlie glared playfully at her. "Fine, you got the goal. That's the only one.''

The game went on and the two players were keeping up with each other quite well. Finally, near the end of the game, Charlie was skating towards his net, when suddenly, Katie appeared, hoping to pull off his previous move and steal the puck. Instead, both players went down.

They had both been too busy to think about helmets, which had been casually tossed aside. Thankfully, Katie's hair cushioned her head against the ice. Her forehead, however, was knocked against Charlie's and the two players lay there, breathing heavily. It was then, Charlie finally noticed how close together they were.

Katie licked her lips subconsciously, aware of his blue eyes burning into hers. He swallowed, hard, keeping his eyes locked on her brown ones.

''You ok Kat?'' he asked, his voice husky.

Katie nodded, unable to speak. A thought of them kissing passionately invaded her mind before she quickly pushed it away.

''We should get up.'' she whispered.

Charlie nodded, but was still staring deep into her eyes.

''Charlie?''

Charlie shook himself quickly and got up, offering her his hand. As she stood there, face to face with him, she was vaguely aware of his thumb rubbing circles against her palm. It was Katie's turn to shake herself and then she saw the puck. Without thinking, she broke the contact with Charlie and went for it, skating down the ice. One shot put it right into the net and that was it.

She won!

''Whoo!!'' Katie cheered, throwing her arms in the air.

Charlie grinned at her, before skating over and picking her up, twirling them around in a circle.

''Alright, you win. I won't bug you about hockey.'' Charlie said.

Katie grinned, and brushed back a lock of hair.

''That's right. Now, I have to go. Good luck for your game, I'll be there cheering.'' Katie said.

She turned to go, but he stopped her.

''What do you mean?'' he asked.

''I hate hockey but I love my brother and the Ducks. I need to cheer them on.'' Katie said.

Charlie just laughed as she skated away.

It was game day.

Katie and Maddie made their way down to the arena, happily supporting matching Duck jerseys. As they looked for a place to sit, Phillip Banks appeared and called the girls over.

''Kit-Kat, there you are. Hello Madeline. How are you girls?'' he asked.

''Fine.'' they replied.

''I saved us some seats next to the Dean here. A good friend of mine.'' Phillip said.

Katie and Maddie shared an eye roll before following her father.

''Stan, you remember my daughter right?'' Phillip ask.

''Oh yes, hello Katherine." the Dean greeted.

''Hello Dean Buckly.'' Katie greeted politely. Maddie did too.

The girls were saved when her father began bragging about Adam's god-given talents.

''Sorry we're stuck here.'' Katie said.

''No sweat Kat. I'm just here to focus on Dean.'' Maddie said.

''Well you're in luck Mads, we're sitting right next to him.'' Katie quipped.

Maddie rolled her eyes and bumped her shoulder against Katie's.

"Lame, Kat.''

Katie just grinned.

The game was actually entertaining Katie thought. Charlie had gotten into a real nasty fight with another player. Someone on the opposing team was taken out of the game. All-in-all it was a pretty exciting couple hours. Thankfully, now it was over.

Katie was aware of Maddie's constant looks whenever she had cheered. It was suspicious, since Katie never enjoyed her self at any of these. But this was different. Charlie was playing. Katie couldn't help but grin broadly as the team skated around in victory. Her eyes landed on number 96, and soon, she was making her way down the stands, to the doorway to the ice.

Charlie must have spotted her, because he got there when she did.

''Well, what did you think?'' he asked, softly.

''Charlie, you were incredible.'' she exclaimed, throwing her arms around him.

Charlie returned her hug, chuckling softly.

''Thanks Kat.'' he said.

They pulled apart and once again their eyes locked, only this time Katie ended it faster.

''I should go. You should celebrate.'' she said.

Charlie nodded and watched her go as she made her way up the stands.

The next day.

It was Katie's favorite time again. Not only because she got to eat, and she had a half hour away from classes. It was because Charlie usually came and found her. Not that Katie would ever admit this.

She heard his familiar footsteps and grinned as he sat down.

''Do I have to get a restraining order?'' she joked.

''No, I'm hiding out. I don't need fifty people walking up to me, congratulating me on the game.'' Charlie said.

''Poor baby.'' Katie said, sarcasm lacing her tone.

Charlie grinned and lay down on the grass next to her. Suddenly he felt something heavy on his chest. He glanced up and saw it was Katie's notebook. He sat up, confused.

''Kat...I lost.'' he said, holding it out to her.

She shrugged. ''By one point. I figured you could read one page. Uh, the one I marked please.''

Charlie grinned and opened it to said page.

The puck makes it's way down the ice.
The fans are loud, thunderous.
Like a constant buzzing in my ear.

The crowd's support is kinda nice
They shout, they scream, they all chant
it turns in to one big cheer

Our team has won, they kicked ass
they'll go celebrate.
The other team, goes home in shame.

The captain now rests on the grass,
his sighs loud and whiny
But rest he deserves, after that game

Charlie closed the book softly and handed it back to her.

''Well?'' Katie asked, softly.

''That was really good. Thank you.''

Katie grinned.

''Don't think I'll always be so nice.'' she warned.

''I would never.'' Charlie said winking.

Katie laughed and lay down on the grass. He watched her, a small smile on his face.

''What?'' Katie asked.

''I love your laugh.'' he said, quietly.

Katie blushed.

Yep, crush is still here she thought.

And that's chapter 3, kinda long huh? Well chapter 4 I'm gonna try to focus on the other characters/couple. No worries though, I have big plans for Katie and Charlie!

P. S. A review would be nice!! :)