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Chapter 2: A Family Way

"He means well honey," Julie's mother sat on the bed, gently stroking her daughter's hair as she cried into a pillow, "He just wants to see you do your best."

"Nothing's ever good enough," Julie whispered.

"I'm very proud of you," Her mother said, "And you father is too in his way."

"I'll never be as good as Sean," Julie sighed, "Or as smart as Caitlin."

"You are every bit as good as your brother," She said seriously, "And just as smart as your sister," She lifted her face, "You are going to shine Julie the Cat, you just need to find out how."

"I think this was a bad idea," Julie said.

"Do you want to go home?" Her mother asked. "I really wasn't comfortable leaving Caitlin and Sean by themselves all summer anyway." Julie laughed thinking of her older siblings. Caitlin, who was eighteen, beautiful and completely brilliant, on her way to Notre Dame in the fall, which is where her father had gone. Sean was sixteen, funny, and popular and the captain of his hockey team, just like their father had been. They were both tall black Irish, with fierce tempers and endless determination, just like Dad. Julie on the other hand, took after her mother. She was soft and blond, even tempered and sweet. Her mom knew that the reason her father pushed Julie so hard was because he saw very little of himself in her and that worried him.

"So how was the first practice back with the losers?" Peter Banks, Adam's older brother said when he walked into the house.

"It was good," Adam nodded, "And they're not losers." Pete snorted and went into the fridge, taking out a carton of milk and drinking straight out of it. "We got five new kids."

"Any good?" Pete asked. He teased Adam, but when it came down to hockey talk, it didn't much matter whether he was a Hawk anymore or not.

"Really good, we've finally got a real enforcer which will help, and this kid from Texas who's an unbelievable puck handler, and the kid from Miami's got more speed than I've ever seen and a new ex figure skater," He stopped. "Then there was this goalie from Maine."

"A new goalie?" Pete asked, "Did Goldberg shit? Was he any good?"

"She was unbelievable," Adam said, "But Bombay's still playing Goldberg."

"Bombay's stubborn that way," Pete nodded, and then it hit him, "She?" Adam nodded, "Cute?"

"Pretty," Adam shrugged, "I mean, I guess, I try not to notice. We've had girls on the team before." Pete smiled, he could read his little brother. Obviously this goalie had caught Adam's attention. "I was the only one who got past her, she even stopped Fulton."

"Hm," Pete said, "Interesting."

"Did y'all think it would be that bad?" Dwayne said as the guys sat around.

"No way," Luis shook his head. "I overheard them talking, I think Julie got the worst of it."

"That Connie girl seems like a bitch," Portman shook his head, he'd overheard them too, and it had been mostly her.

"Cute though," Luis smiled. The others looked at him. "She is."

"Not my type," Portman shook his head.

"What is your type?" Ken laughed, "Sort of short, blonde, big boobs?" The guys laughed. Portman scowled. "It's OK to like her."

"I don't like her," Portman mumbled, "I mean, I like her, she's cool and all, but I don't like her, like her."

"So how were the new kids?" Casey Conway asked as Charlie cleared the table. He shrugged. "Wow, we're doing this now."

"They were fine I guess," He said. "I don't see why we need new kids."

"Charlie," Casey sighed, "You need to go into this with a good attitude. The rest of the team will follow you."

"Have you been talking to Coach?" Charlie looked at her. She sighed. "How does Grant feel about that?"

"Grant understands that Gordon and I are just friends," Casey said. Charlie nodded. "Charlie, as adults,"

"You can separate the different parts of your lives," He rolled his eyes, "I've heard, from both of you."

"Well it's true," She said, "And I still would like to see an attitude shift from you young man."

"Sure Mom," He nodded, "I'll try my best. But I don't know what you two see that I don't, they don't listen to me."

"So are you going to explain why you were such a hard core bitch earlier?" Guy asked as he and Connie walked watching the sun go down.

"Do you think she's pretty?" Connie said quietly. Guy looked at her. "Julie Gaffney."

"I mean I guess," He shrugged, "But I don't really like blondes, they remind me of my sisters." He kissed her. She smiled. "What about you?" She blushed and looked down.

"I may have noticed Mendoza," She said sheepishly. "But I was feeling very insecure." He laughed. "She's really developed."

"I didn't think stuff like that bothered you," He said, "I mean, Tammy's your best friend and she's pretty mature."

"I thought you don't like blondes," She pouted. He laughed.

"I don't," He kissed her. "I like you." She smiled. "Always have, always will."

"Always have, always will," She repeated. It was their mantra.

"We're gonna have a great summer," He said, "I promise you." They kept walking, "You know, you never explained the bitch thing."

"It's a girl thing," She shrugged, "It's our way of punching a guy we thinks being obnoxious."

"But she didn't do anything," Guy said. She sighed. "Maybe you could be friends."

"I doubt it," Connie mumbled. "Come on you know the other guys are going to be all over her, which means that even if she isn't now, by the end of the summer she will be a complete skank bitch."

"What are you doing?" Caitlin Gaffney said walking down the stairs seeing her younger brother Sean and his friend Connor dragging a keg in their front door.

"Um, Connor and I are having a small get together," Sean said. Caitlin looked at him. "Please Cait! Mom and Dad are gone all summer, and you're not going to let me have one little party," She crossed her arms, "A week."

"Sean," She sighed, "Mom left me responsible for you."

"Cait," He imitated her tone, "I'm not Julie, I can take care of my self."

"Hey Caitlin," Connor nodded at her.

"Hi Connor," She said. "Fine, you can have a party tonight, but that's it."

"You look really hot in that dress," Connor said. Caitlin looked at him.

"No, Connor," She shook her head. She moved past them.

"Dude, please," Sean looked at Connor, "Stop hitting on my sister."

"Because bros don't do that kind of thing to each other?" Connor said.

"No because she's not interested and it's embarrassing for you," Sean shook his head.

"Whatever man," Connor said, "You have hot sisters, deal."

"Julie's twelve," Sean looked at him, "That's disgusting."

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