Sophomore Year Duck Style
"You touch me one more time and I'll punch your pretty little face in." I threatened to Neil Sommers; he was my escort to the debutante ball. I had been planning on asking Adam but since he'll be playing in the state championship game at the same time it wouldn't work. Neil's mom was very close to mine so my mom asked him behind my back and now I was stuck with the guy who thought I liked him.
"Oh come on Susanna you know you like me." I wrinkled my nose as he called me by my first name.
"Please Neil I have a boyfriend and I wouldn't like you even if I didn't."
"Oh right Banks."
"Adam." I muttered, what's with everyone calling Adam by some form of nickname? Even the Ducks do it, Banks, cake-eater, Banksie. I swear I'm the only one besides his family that calls him Adam and that's pushing it. For the most part Mr. Banks just calls him son.
"Susanna, Neil it's your turn." Mrs. Flower, the head of the ball, called out. I sighed reluctantly looping my arm through Neil's as we walked up on stage. It was the night before the ball and we were having a rehearsal, luckily we didn't have to wear dresses that was only for tomorrow night. I fake smiled as Neil and I walked down the stage, the bright stage light nearly blinding me. We turned and walked by disappearing behind the curtains.
I pushed Neil away from me heading off to the dressing rooms where the girls sat as they waited their turn. I walked towards Tracy who was sitting on a chair at a mirror fixing her hair.
"Hey stranger." She called not even looking up as I slumped down beside her in the next chair.
"What's wrong?" She asked giving me her full attention seeing my sulky attitude.
"Neil Sommers." I muttered darkly crossing my arms over my chest, relaxing comfortably in my sweats and a long sleeve shirt. Very underdressed compared to everyone else. She smirked leaning back in her chair.
"Oh yeah, little moron isn't he? Let me guess he keeps hitting on you thinking you like him?" I nodded as she laughed.
"He's done the same to me for the past five years. You get use to it." I sighed leaning back into my chair rubbing my temples tiredly.
"Hey want to head back?" We had driven together in my car; oddly enough we had become close just like when we were children, what's with us? I nodded as we grabbed our things bid goodbye to everyone and hurried to my car before they changed their minds.
"I hate your radio station." She complained as she flipped through the stations. I was driving slowly being mindful of the ice and snow on the streets. I playfully rolled my eyes.
"Fine you can change it to your girly pop stations." She smiled gleefully as a Backstreet Boy song came on. I resisted the urge to bash my head against my steering wheel. School came up soon enough as I pulled into the nearest parking lot, we would have to walk awhile before getting to our dorm.
"It's snowing!" Tracy called spinning in a little circle as we walked. I laughed at her.
"You sure are weird." She rolled her eyes sticking her tongue out at me.
"This coming from the girl that is as tough as guys." I mock glared at her.
"Hey at least if I get in a fight I can defend myself." She snorted.
"Yeah but no one's going to fight with you."
"Because I can defend myself." I argued back as she giggled playfully shoving me.
"Ok no more arguments for tonight?" I nodded smiling as we continued on through the dark campus. We walked in silence before coming upon…the Ducks. They were all together, laughing and whatnot. Even in the dark I could see them all having their skates and hockey sticks. Seems they are all sneaking out to go play probably at the pond. They stopped in front of us eyeing us wearily.
Tracy could feel the tension between the Ducks and me and quickly said.
"Hey I have to go, see you later Su." I nodded as she quickly walked past the Ducks before heading to her dorm.
"Ducks." I acknowledged sticking my hands in my pocket shuffling on my feet.
"Su." Charlie said speaking for the whole team. A long moment passed before I gave a half hearted smile.
"I better go…good luck tomorrow. You'll need it going up against those cheating Hyenas."
"We've played them before; we know what we're up against." Portman sneered as I sighed nodding.
"Right…goodnight." I said pushing past them as I continued on, looking down. It had really come to this were I couldn't have a decent conversation with my best friends, and yet Tracy and I could talk for hours.
How did my best friends become my enemies and my enemy my best friend?
That's the only thing I thought about making my way back to my dorm. I opened it to find Tracy sitting on her bed, flipping through a fashion magazine.
"How'd it go?" She asked without looking up as I collapsed on my bed sighing.
"That bad?" I nodded looking over at her.
"Hey Tracy, can I ask you a question?" She nodded setting her magazine down.
"Fire away."
"We're friends right?" She nodded.
"But why? For so long we've hated each other. Why now are we again friends?" She shrugged hugging her knees to her chest.
"I don't really know, I guess I just thought back to when we were the best of friends and I remembered how much fun we use to have and I guess I wanted that back. You know I use to be so jealous of you." My eyes must have doubled in size as I asked.
"Jealous? Of me? Why?" She rolled her eyes as if the answer was obvious.
"Hello, you've always had a way with guys. I remember as kids you were always off with guys playing sports and whatnot when I couldn't even say one thing to a guy without stuttering. It drove me crazy and then I started to resent you when you got into sports and stopped hanging out with me."
"Yeah sorry about that, hockey took up my life."
"Yeah and then you met the Ducks, went to California and got scholarships here, it just drove me crazy."
"Well I'm glad we're friends now." I said as she smiled and nodded.
"Yeah. Well I don't know about you but I'm going to bed. We've got a long day tomorrow." I nodded as she turned off the lights. I stared at the ceiling and sighed.
Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
--
I hate debutante balls! I thought watching as girls carried on like there was no tomorrow. All the girls were talking about how fabulous they looked in their gowns, how awesome their hair would be and some were having mental break downs. Like the poor sap in the corner who's mother wouldn't stop yelling at because she was eating a Twinkie.
Makes me glad my mother's not that insane. Even though she's probably really close.
"Would you hold still?" Tracy snapped as she applied eyeliner to my eyes. It was 7:00, and everyone was getting hair and makeup done. I was still in my sweats, but I had all my makeup done and my hair was already curled. Now I just had to sit around for the next half an hour till we got in our dresses.
"Sorry," I said as she applied a light foundation to my cheeks.
"I'm just nervous."
"Something tells me your nerves are not about the ball more like a certain hockey game going on." I looked down guilty, I didn't want to be thinking about hockey, but it's in my blood. I'm a hockey girl at heart, always was always would be.
"Yeah well you would be to if your team was going up against those stupid Hyenas." She shrugged looking thoughtful.
"I don't know that McGill, he looked kinda hot." I rolled my eyes as she giggled, she knew McGill, are families had been running in the same circles since before we were born. She was just messing with me.
"Ha ha, you're freaking hysterical Tracy. You should be a comedian." I muttered sarcastically as she pouted.
"What and give up my job as tormentor of your life? I don't think so."
"Glad we're on the same page."
"Well hey; you can listen on my radio if you want." She turned away ruffling through her bag before handing me a small radio. I smiled gratefully as she left, going to talk to her mom. I turned the radio on low and dialed to the station our games always played on. Josh's voice came over.
"The Ducks are fighting hard but it doesn't seem to be enough for our Mighty Ducks. Down by four points we are heading into the second period. The Ducks really need to step it up compared to the rough and tough Hyenas. If only Su Granger was here to save us."
I bashed my head down on the vanity table. This is just great! Now I'm being blamed for the Ducks losing! I'm not event here to be blamed! Man going to school on Monday is going to be a real drag.
"Susie?" My mother's cautious voice asked form behind me as I quickly turned off the radio. I turned to her a fake smile on my lips.
"Mom, how long have you been standing there?" I asked as she looked somewhat sadly at me.
"Long enough to know something's wrong, come on let's take a walk." I nodded allowing her to loop her arm through mine as we started walking. It was a relief to leave all the craziness of the debutante ball behind.
We walked till Mom stopped right by the entrance of the country club.
"I must admit Susie; I brought you out here for a reason." I nodded my head still on the ill fated hockey game. I started zoning her out like I had been for the past couple of weeks. When one sentence brought me hurtling to earth.
"I want you to leave and go to your game." My eyes become as wide as saucers as I stared at my mom.
"What?" I asked after several long moments, my voice an octave higher then usual.
"You heard me Su; I want you to go to your hockey game. I've been watching you and I know this isn't where you truly want to be." I shook my head quickly, my curls slapping me in the face.
"No Mom it is! I am so ready for this. I am calm and collected and pumped for this ball. It's going to rock! You know what I don't need the Ducks! I don't care that they are losing…badly. I don't care if they blame me…well I do a little. But you I am going to do this. Because I…I want to and you want me to." She shook her head taking my hands in hers.
"No Su, that's the thing you don't want to do this. It's written so clearly on your face, I can't believe I've missed it."
"But Mom…" She interrupted me continuing on.
"You love hockey, and as much as I've wanted to sway you away from it over the years you just keep coming back. So I'm not going to be in your way anymore. Su, go to your game." I shook my head tears coming to my eyes.
"But…but I just…I want to make you proud of me."
"Oh Susie! I am proud! So proud to have you as a daughter! No mother could have asked for a better daughter. You are willing to give up your happiness and your friends for me, and as great as that sounds. It's not fair to you. I've never realized how much you love hockey until a moment ago, when I saw you listening so intently to that radio. And when you bashed your head on the table because your team is losing and there is nothing you can do about it.
There is something you can do. You can leave right now and make it to your game. Be the person you were intended to be not the person I am trying to make you be."
"Even if I were to go, I could never make it in time. The second period should be ending in a few minutes, that's not enough time to race home and grab my gear and make it to school." She smiled handing me the car keys.
"Already taken care of, I placed your gear in the trunk. Now go!" She pushed me to the door as I turned back hugging her tightly.
"Thanks Mom." She nodded smiling.
"Go before I kick you out." I laughed wiping at my eyes, no doubt ruining all the time and effort Tracy had put in. Without another word I sprinted out of the country club ignoring the chill. It only spurned me on as I unlocked my Mom's car doors, since we had come in her car; I started the car and zoomed forward.
Ducks here I come!
(Please R and R! I do not own the Mighty Ducks!)
