Disclaimer: This story makes no profit and the use of The Mighty Duck characters and plot line are only for entertainment and writing enhancement purposes. (Aka, Disney please don't sue me)

Adam impatiently tapped his pen on his desk as his American History teacher talked on about the American Civil War. He wasn't really listening to the older man's words, his mind was fluttered with other things.

He was faced with a mountain to climb and he didn't even know what tools to use to accomplish this goal.

However, as Adam's mind tried to wrap around an affective strategy, he had failed to take his usual pristine notes. In actuality he had written very little at all before his hand started to reflect his unnerved and impatient state.

A fact that did not go unnoticed by his tablemate.

"Uh Banks, you know without your notes, I probably have no chance of passing this class, right?"

Charlie Conway's question was simply met with an atypical glare from his best friend, which was more alarming than the absence of his usual perfectionist classroom attitude. A concern that left Charlie slightly agape as the period bell rang.

And it seemed that as soon as the bell finished ringing Adam was out of the classroom and halfway down the hall, leaving Charlie running to catch up with him.

"Adam!!"

"Adam wait!!"

"Banksie, dude!!"

Charlie needed to sprint a little finally catch up with his spaced out friend, and even needed some force to stop the star forward.

"Banks what's wrong with you?"

"Nothing, now let me go."

"No."

"Charlie…" Adam began warningly before he was cut off by his fellow offensive shooter.

"No Adam. There is something obviously wrong. You were all spaced out staring at nothing during history and now you're acting like an a**hole who doesn't give a s**t about s**t. It's like the Adam Banks I know was abducted by aliens and you were sent down as his replacement while they conduct their experiments. Which, although the idea is kind of cool, is freaking me out nonetheless"

Adam's entire body sagged as he let out a massive sigh. Charlie was, surprisingly, right. Well, not about the entire alien conspiracy theory, but Charlie's imagination was known to impact even his most focused thinking. But he had let the entire situation take hold of him, which was definitely not an objective of his. Losing himself in a struggle to overcome his brother's shadow would actually be completely opposite the point. He had struggled his entire life to be like Scooter just so that he could be accepted by his peers, his father. But that hadn't gotten him anywhere but entangled in never-ending comparisons with him. No, this time he needed to do it his own way and just stick to being himself.

It wasn't until Adam collected himself from his full body sigh that he turned back to the brunette boy next to him.

"Charlie where do you get up this stuff? Or is your brain just naturally littered with ridiculous ideas of aliens?"

Charlie smiled. Lecturing Charlie on ridiculous anything was something Banks frequently participated in. Which means his concern was true, yet he had gotten through to his friend.

Charlie Conway might be a little ridiculous, over the top troublemaker and a leader, but that didn't mean he could be perceptive, understanding, and when the occasion called for it, deep.

"Okay. Now that the thing that possessed you is gone, want to tell me what had your panties in a twist?"

Another sighed passed through the younger Banks' lips as he motioned his friend toward their dormitory.

"No way Banks, you don't get to hide this."

"I'm not planning on it Charlie, but I would like some privacy when I disclose my problems. The entire school doesn't need to know my woes."

"Oh right I knew that."

"Sure…"

And as Adam lead his roommate to their shared occupancy for some private story telling, he didn't notice the one person's gaze on him. And he didn't realize that Charlie wasn't the only one who had witnessed his episode of uncharacteristic behavior.

Okay I know this one is also short, but if I had gone much further I think the chapter would have ended very awkwardly and if I had added the conversation I think the entire basis of the story would have been repeated too much.

But I promise to have the next chapter out soon! I mean, I got this one up quickly! :)

I had to throw in a hint of mystery into this story, but I highly doubt anyone will be able to guess what I'm thinking at this point.

Anyway PLEASE REVIEW! They make me happy!

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Review?

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Thanks always,

Ciliegina