AN-I am in such an updating mood this weekend huh? Well, I feel bad for waiting every weekend to update, so why not do it now?
P. S. I don't remember all dialog, so I'm making it up as I go along, and I'm adding some as well!
Charlie was numb, that was the only way he could describe the feeling inside him. His Coach, the man he once thought of as a father figure, betrayed him, all of them, in the worst way possible. Then of course, the girl of his dreams flat out rejected him.
All in all, he was having a great week! It was now their showdown with Iceland. The team was getting ready in the locker room, and for once, Julie didn't sit by Charlie. Connie picked up on this immediately, but chose not to say anything. Julie would tell her when she was ready.
Charlie watched as Coach came into the locker room, looking nothing like he used to. He was in a suit with his hair slicked back. It didn't surprise Charlie that he looked different. He was different.
He saw Portman and Fulton walk over to him, and wondered if they were telling him what they saw. The way Coach looked at him, Charlie knew they didn't.
Finally it was game time.
They had heard rumors that Iceland was a mean team. Tonight the Ducks discovered just how true those rumors were. It didn't help when Portman got sent out of the game. Poor Adam shot their only goal...and wound up with his wrist slashed to prove it.
When Coach decided to send Julie out, Charlie watched her go, a sad expression on his face. He watched her as she got ready and watched as two Iceland guys skated over and looked like they were flirting with her. He grinned when she knocked them down, in true Julie fashion.
''So, what's going on with you two?'' Connie wondered, as she saw the emotions play out on her best friend's face.
''Nothing. Absolutely nothing.'' Charlie sighed.
Connie gave him a questioning look.
''I kissed her and she rejected me.'' he explained.
''Oh..Charlie.'' she said, softly.
Charlie shrugged.
''It's no big deal. I do wish this game could be over soon, however.'' Charlie remarked.
Connie nodded in agreement.
The game finally ended, saving the Ducks even more humiliation. They walked slowly back to the locker room, where they met a very angry Dean and quiet Julie.
''If I was out there we would have won!'' Dean shouted angrily.
As the team sat down, Gordon charged in.
''That...was a disgrace. I thought you guys wanted to win.'' he said. ''One goal, that's all we scored. I thought you guys wanted to win, but obviously, that's not right. Otherwise, I might have seen some actual playing!''
''They were ready for us!'' Julie suddenly shouted. ''That team knew everything about us.''
''Yea, did you and the Iceland chick have a fun conversation over Ice cream?'' Portman added.
''Where have you been Coach?'' Guy remarked.
Gordon looked around at the team and caught Charlie's eye. Charlie just looked away, disgusted with the man in front of him.
''Hey, what I do in my time does not concern any of you.'' Gordon snapped.
The Ducks started to undress.
''Don't take those pads off. We have practice, right now.''
The team lined up and did drills all night. As the team were lining up, Charlie skated over to Coach.
''This doesn't seem like too much fun here, Coach.'' he said.
''Who said it was going to be fun?''
''You did. When you coached the Ducks.'' Charlie reminded him.
''I don't see any Ducks here, just Team U.S.A. one loss away from elimination.''
Charlie's temper got the better of him, and before he could stop himself, the words came out.
''Yea well all I see is a washed up Coach who can't seem to keep his team together. Or maybe just doesn't want to.''
The team stopped and looked at the sight in front of them.
Gordon looked at Charlie for a few minutes as the young boy glared at him.
''Get in line, Charlie.'' he said calmly.
Charlie shook his head, and placed his helmet on, before joining the Ducks.
The team headed back to their rooms, hoping to get a few hours sleep. Julie caught up with Charlie.
''Hey.'' she said, quietly.
''Hey.'' he replied.
''Can we talk?'' Julie asked.
Charlie stopped and looked at her, before shaking his head.
''I'm tired Julie. Maybe another time.'' he replied.
Julie sighed as she watched him go.
The next morning, or more like later that day, the team attended class. Julie walked in and took her usual place next to Charlie. He was fast asleep and Julie had to admit, he looked so cute in his sleep.
Suddenly his eyes popped open and he stared at her.
''Hey.'' he said.
''Hey.'' Julie said.
''So..you wanted to talk earlier?'' Charlie reminded her.
''Yea. Charlie about...the other day I-''
Ms. McKay walked in and ended their conversation. Julie mentally cursed their tutor for her bad timing.
As class went on, many of the Ducks began to fall asleep. Ms. McKay looked around at the obviously tired children and wondered what the hell their Coach was doing to them.
Ms. McKay gave them the rest of the day off and the whole team headed back to their dorm to sleep some more. Julie caught up with Charlie.
''Charlie, we have to talk and it can't wait.'' she said.
''What's up Jules?'' he asked.
''I'm sorry about the other day.''
''You mean flat out rejecting me? Yea that did hurt, especially since it seemed like you really liked me, but I guess I was just thinking that.''
''Charlie I do like you!'' she shouted.
''Then why did you reject me?'' he asked.
''Charlie, don't you see? After this competition, I'll be going back to Maine. You live in Minnesota. We'll never see each other again! Do you really want to start something, only to finish it when this is over, or the next time we lose?'' Julie asked.
''No.'' Charlie reluctantly admitted.
''It's for the best.'' Julie said, trying to convince herself as well as him.
''Fine.'' Charlie said. ''We can at least be friends right?''
''I'd like that.'' Julie said.
Charlie managed a small smile.
''See you around Jules.'' he said.
Then he headed to his room for some much needed sleep.
Later that day, the Ducks decided to do some exercises to be ready for the game they had later.
''I don't get why we have to do this.'' Portman complained.
''Just because Coach isn't here, doesn't mean we can't be ready.'' Julie said.
''No one asked you babe.'' Portman said.
''Her name's not Babe.'' Adam said, immediately sticking up for his friend.
''Don't tell me how to talk rich boy.'' Portman yelled.
Soon the Ducks were having a yelling match.
''Hey Team U.S.A., you guys gonna play like wussies tonight?'' Russ Tyler called out.
The team turned around and saw the annoying boy. Jesse lost it.
''Look man, I'm sick of you dissing us!''
''Yea, we'll I'm stick of seeing you guys suck! You're team U.S.A. act like it!''
''Too bad you can't back up that big mouth.''
''Please, me and my boys can take you guys any day!''
''I don't see any boys.'' Jesse said.
''They're waiting. Get your stuff and come on.'' Russ called.
The team took the bus to an old basketball court, where Russ's boys were waiting.
''So my brother tells me you guys have been sucking lately.'' one of them said.
''Well your brother's got a big mouth.'' Jesse snapped.
The boy looked big and mean and the team stole glances, wondering what was gonna happen.
''Yea, he does.'' the boy finally said. Russ just grinned.
Soon the game began. Russ's team was giving the Ducks a lot of helpful hints, and Charlie had to admit. He missed playing for fun.
He took a gulp of water as he waited for his time to get back out there. Julie sat next to him.
''You're really good out there.'' she said.
Charlie grinned at her.
''Julie, we're friends. You don't have to suck up to me.'' he told her.
Julie smiled.
''Yea I know. I just want to make sure we're ok.'' Julie said.
''We're fine.'' Charlie told her.
As Julie got up to skate, Charlie thought about his answer. Were they fine? He really liked Julie, a lot. More then he could like any other girl. Was he okay with being just friends with her? In truth, he wasn't. He wanted to be more then friends...he wanted to be like Connie and Guy, minus the overzealous PDA of course.
As he sat there, Charlie came up with his answer. Julie liked him, it was the distance that kept them apart. He'd make her forget the distance.
He had a feeling that him and Julie were meant to be more. And he knew, he would do everything in his power to get there.
AN-And there was chapter 7!! Thanks for reading!