Alright here is your next chapter. Aside from being just a little mad I have to leave my dorm room to post these because our network is down, enjoy the chapter and I was thinking about doing something with Kenny in the future. Linda will also make an appearance after their Christmas break is over. I own nothing and enjoy the plethora of flashbacks.
Chapter 16: A Plethora of Flashbacks
On the drive back I got to thinking about the first time I met or rather was introduced to Coach Bombay.
Flashback
Matt was taking me to Mickey's to see when Charlie's next practice was so I could find out whether or not I could play for the team. When I got there I saw Charlie in discussion with a man wearing a Ducks jacket. As I went to sit down I overheard Charlie get mad because the guy said he was turning the team over to some other guy. I followed Charlie out and into an alleyway.
"Charlie come on stop." I called out to him.
"Leave me alone." He called back.
"Charizard would you at least talk to me? Please?" He stopped and waited for me to catch up. "Please just tell me what's wrong and who was that guy?"
"That was Coach Bombay."
"Was? What's that supposed to mean?"
"He turned the team over. I finally get a coach I like and he bails on us."
"Hey Char don't be like that, it's probably better for the team. Who'd he turn the team over to any way?"
"Mr. Hall, you know Jesse and Terry's dad."
"Ok see at least Mr. Hall won't bail on you. I mean he's got kids on the team to think about."
"I don't care I don't want to play any more."
"You and I both know you don't mean that right?" I asked kinda worried.
"Of course I don't but I don't want to talk about it anymore please just let it go right now Lizzy." I nodded and he went off farther down the alleyway to where some of his other friends were. I recognized a few of them to be Karp and Peter but the rest I didn't know. I sighed and made my way back to the diner hoping that Aunt Cass wouldn't ask where Charlie was.
"Hey kiddo everything alright with him?" Matt asked when I got back.
"No." I answered. "But it will be eventually, you know Charlie." I added as an after thought.
"Oh sorry, Gordon this is my little sister that I was telling you about Lizzy Jacobs. Lizzy this is Charlie's hockey coach Gordon Bombay." Matt said.
"Charlie said you gave up on them." I said not shaking Gordon's out-stretched hand.
"Yeah but your brother here just knocked some sense into me."
"Hey Lizzy can I get you something?" Aunt Cass asked.
"The usual." I answered turning back to Gordon. "I guess it's nice to meet the guy that my cousin looks up to and has come to respect greatly." I shook his hand hesitantly.
"So Matt tells me you're good at hockey."
"So what of it?" I snapped taking a sip of chocolate milk.
"Wait a minute I've seen you before. You were with Fulton Reed the day my window was shattered and windshield was cracked in the alleyway."
"Yeah sorry about the windshield I didn't mean to hit it. You just happened to drive by when I missed the old trunk. Fult doesn't like shooting back into the alley." I answered scratching the back of my head.
"Lizzy. Dad's gonna ground you for a week when he hears about this." Matt scolded.
"No it's ok really. I've been looking for you and I wanted to see if you wanted to play. How do you know Fulton?"
"I live like five minutes walking distance from him. Right on the edge of districts 5 and 9. You've already bailed on the team once what's stopping you from doing it again?"
"Like I said your brother knocked some sense into me. Do you ever make a shot?"
"Four out of five. The shots I don't make are the ones Fulton does."
"How would you like to play for me?" Bombay asked.
"I don't know I mean you say Matt knocked some sense into you but I still don't know if I can trust you."
"If I promise not to bail on the team again will you play?"
"I'll have to think about it but if I do decide to join then I'll be at your next game." I answered.
End Flashback
Matt must have noticed I had gone quiet. "What are you thinking about?" He asked.
"The fist time I met Bombay. Well it was the second time I saw him but the first time I actually met him."
"Oh that day. Do you remember the first time you met the team?"
"Yeah." I thought about it.
Flashback
Matt had pulled up to the rink and dropped me off. It was right before the game against the Huskies. I stepped out and pulled my bag out of the trunk of his car. "Remember what I've taught you kiddo and you'll do fine." He said before going to park. I went in and was about to enter the locker room when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
"Hey," A boy said.
"Hey," I answered.
"What are you doing here?" He asked.
"I just got put on the team. Name's Elizabeth Jacobs but most people just call me Lizzy."
"Adam Banks, transfer from the Hawks, apparently they redrew the districts and I was playing for the wrong team. I don't really care just as long as I get to play."
"Same here I mean just playing hockey. Ready to meet the team?" I asked.
"I guess let's see if they'll accept us." He sighed. We went in and all the kids in the room stopped and stared. I glanced over at Adam just as Bombay walked in. He looked at the two of us and then at the team.
"Hey I didn't think the two of you would show up." Bombay answered.
"Yeah well we just want to play hockey." Adam answered for us.
"Well ok," he said turning to the team. "Ducks you all know Adam Banks and this is Lizzy Jacobs."
"On behalf of the Ducks I would like to say welcome..." Charlie said but a black kid cut him off.
"Cake-eater." He started until a kid with red hair and glasses made a few comments. "Shut up Averman." The red-headed kid looked over at a cubby one and muttered something. "Putting on a Ducks jersey doesn't mean you're a real Duck. Either of you." He spat sending both me and Adam dirty looks. I found out later that the kid's name was Jesse Hall. We ended up being close friends. I looked over at Charlie who looked worried and Fulton who looked mad. They both flinched a bit as he shoved past us. The rest of the team slowly filed out and Fulton gave me a sympathetic glance as he walked past.
"They're a good group once you get to know them." Bombay said.
"Yeah sure." I said.
"Well suit up I'll see you on the ice." Adam and I looked around.
"Maybe they'll come around."
"Yeah maybe." Adam didn't sound too convinced.
"Hey if they don't it'll be the two of us against them. We don't need them." I smirked. He smiled slightly and we changed.
End Flashback
We crept back into the house at one o'clock in the morning on the 28th and I slept until like noon that day. When I did wake up someone was shaking me. "What's going on?"
"You tell us. You were having a nightmare or something. I swear you were yelling and thrashing around." Julie said sitting on the edge my bed.
"You would have given Fulton a black eye if Julie here didn't have quick reflexes." Luis put in. I sighed lean back against my headboard. I looked around at Dean, Fulton, Luis, Julie, Dwayne, Aaron, and Kenny.
"Sorry Fult." I muttered.
"It's ok. What were you dreaming about?" He asked.
"The day I left the Ducks. Well the day I told you I was movin'." I sighed.
"What happened?" Kenny asked.
"It was the day Bombay went to try out for the minors..." I trailed off thinking about it.
Flashback
We were all standing at the bus stop giving him words of advice. After he got on the bus he turned back to us and said "Hey Ducks no matter what happens I'll see you next season. We got a title to defend." The bus door shut and pulled away down the street. Most of the team followed the bus to the corner waving until it was out of sight. After it was they turned around to go home and I started crying.
"Hey Skater-aide don't cry he'll be back next season." Charlie said.
"That's just the thing Charlie. He will, I won't." I answered.
"What are you talking about?" Fulton asked.
"I'm...I'm...I'm moving in a few days. Dad wanted to wait until after this season to sign. Since the last game was two days ago the season's over. He signed the contract and called the moving company yesterday."
"Where Lizzy, where?" Connie asked quietly.
"Texas, Austin to be exact. They expect him on Monday, so we're leaving in two days and probably get in sometime on Saturday. They decided to let Matt stay here so that it would be easier for him to stay in the minors."
"You can't go. You just can't we need you here." Fulton said.
"I tried to get them to let me stay with Matt but they said a 21 year old can't take care of an 11 year old because his schedule was too unpredictable. There's nothing else I can do." I explained.
"Mom you can do something can't you? You could let her stay with us right?" Charlie asked looking up at his mom.
"I'm sorry Charlie we don't have enough room and even if we did Robert wants her to stay with the family. I'm sorry."
"But we are family." Charlie argued.
"Sorry I've already tried and he said no." Aunt Cass said putting her foot down.
"Then I propose a party." Tammy said.
"A party?" I asked.
"Yeah sort of a going away/we're state champs party." Tammy replied.
"Great idea Tammy." I said. The rest agreed.
"Where at?" Connie asked bringing our sprits down a bit.
"We could have it in our basement it's fully furnished and big enough for the entire team." Tommy put in.
"Sounds great. When?" I asked.
"Tomorrow after school? Every one could talk to their parents tonight and call us after dinner with your answers." Tammy suggested. Everyone agreed.
"Alright see y'all later. Come on Fulton." I said starting the long trek back to my house with Fulton.
End Flashback
"I thought that was the worse day of my life. I was wrong." Fulton said after I had explained it.
"Could you guys give us a minute?" I asked pulling back the covers. The guys walked out leaving just me and Fulton. I picked up my stereo speakers and sat it by the door. Then I turned the sound almost as far as it would go and flipped it on to the CD I had in the player. After a few seconds I sat down in the far corner pulling Fulton down with me.
"What'd you do that for?" He asked leaning close.
"These walls have ears and I know what I want you talk about you don't want anyone else to hear." I answered. He nodded. "What did you mean you were wrong about that day being the worse day of your life?"
"It was bad but the day you left and the day after were worse. I needed my best friend."
"You don't mean that Fulton, not the way you said. When I told you I was leaving you said and I quote 'You can't go. You just can't we need you here.' You paused and then mumbled 'I need you here.' Fulton you didn't need me as your best friend you meant something else." I said.
"That's all I meant I swear." Fulton answered. I looked up at him and took in his facial expression. He was lying.
"You're lying again Fult." I said. "I've been your best friend since we were in diapers I know you too well. I know when you lie to me." I looked at him closer and traced the faint scar under his left eye with my thumb.
"Ok when we were younger I had a crush on you. I liked you a lot. Anytime I couldn't be with you I was torn a part. Then when you said you were moving, it felt like my world was crashing down around me. I thought that if maybe you had stayed then maybe some day we could be more than just friends. But as you can see things didn't quiet work out that way. You fell for my best friend." He explained looking away.
"Fult, do you still feel that way?" I asked making him look at me again.
"I don't know." He said looking at me. His eyes were filled with emotion.
"You know there's only one way to find out. Granted Dean might decide to kill us but it will help you figure out how you feel." I said leaning towards him.
"Are you sure you want to do this? I don't want to ruin anything between you and Port. You're both my..."
"Fult listen to me I'll handle Dean he'll be ok. The question isn't do I want to do this because I want to help my best friend, the question is do you want to know how you feel about me?"
"Ok." He said nodding. "How do we...?" He started but I cut him off.
"Like this..." I trailed off kissing him gently. My stomach tightened when he kissed me back but I didn't know if it was because I had feelings for him or if it was because the puzzle of me and Fulton was finally complete and I was worried about what Dean was going to say. He pulled back slowly and looked at me sheepishly smiling. "You didn't feel it did you?" I asked.
"No I'm sorry Lizzy, I'll be here for you if this ruins your relationship." He said. His face was saying that we were nothing more between us but the care and protection of being best friends. I nodded still running my thumb over his scar.
"Don't worry about Dean I told you I'd figure out how to work it out with him. I pushed you into this and he won't be able to hate you. If he gets mad at all he'll be mad at me and not you. Don't worry Fult." I said he nodded but I could tell he was still shaky on it.
"You are going to tell Port then?" He asked resting his left hand over my right on his cheek.
"Yeah, do you remember how you got this scar?" I asked brushing over it again. He nodded.
Flashback
We were standing in the alley where we always played target practice in. I had made about 8 goals to Fulton's 2. This was before we had joined the team but both of us were still wearing helmets with plastic glass face masks. The next one I hit bounced off the top and ricocheted back at us.
"Fulton duck!" I yelled.
"Wha...?" He said but 'crack.' The puck hit his mask and broke the faceplate inward and a piece cut his cheek. I got the piece out but we had to go back to my house to get it fixed.
Once Matt fixed him up he said it would scar and that it did.
End Flashback
"Did I ever apologize for that?" I asked.
"It was a day I will never forget because not only do I see it every time I look in the mirror but it was also the day you apologized every five minutes." Fulton said. I opened my mouth to say some thing but Fulton cut me off. "And you also apologized for apologizing. I forgive you Lizzy it was an accident, don't worry about it." He said.
"Hey Fult!" I barely heard some one yell. I clicked my stereo off and heard people yelling at us.
"Port must want us to go now." He said chuckling.
"Yeah I got to get dressed then I guess it's time to face the music."
"Are you going to meet the guys down at the pond?"
"No I think I'm going to stay here today." I answered. "But could you send Dean in after about two minutes?" He nodded and after wishing me good luck he walked out. After I finished changing I let Dean in.
"Fulton said you needed to talk to me and he wouldn't meet my eyes. What's going on ER?" Dean asked. I sat down on my bed with my back against the head board and a pillow in my lap.
"Yeah I do and it's probably because you're not gonna like what I have to tell you."
"You aren't dumping me are you?"
"No but you might want to sit down."
"ER." His tone was warning me.
"Sit down Dean." I said in a forceful tone. He swallowed hard but sat down at the foot of my bed. "Fulton and I were talking about the day I left and he told me something. He told me that he had a crush on me and maybe if I had stayed it would have worked out but that I fell for his best friend."
"Where are you taking this ER?" He asked.
"I'm getting there. I asked if he still felt the way he used to but he didn't know. I just had to find out Dean it would have ate at me until I did find out you have to believe that it wasn't his fault." I said looking at my hands and clutching my pillow tightly.
"Lizzy tell me right now. What did you do?" He demanded.
"We um...No I...Yeah I kissed him." I said quietly not looking up. He just sat there. I didn't know if he had heard me because I couldn't see his face and he wasn't moving but I hope he did because I didn't really want to repeat it.
"You did what?" He asked. His voice was strained and it was like he was choking on the words.
"I..." I started.
"No I heard you and I don't want you to repeat it but I just can't believe you would do that behind my back with my best friend no less. He and Charlie were the only two I thought you could be alone with without me having to worry about whether or not you were going to cheat on me but I guess I was wrong." He said in a low tone. I glanced at him then quickly looked back at my hands. He was mad. And I mean really mad.
"Dean please you have to understand. I get it if you're mad at me I can take that. Please don't be mad at Fulton. Dean I swear it was not his idea of fault at all. He asked how he could find out whether or not he still had those feelings for me and that was the only way I could think of to check. Please Dean I pulled him into it and he just sat there. Dean please if anything get mad at me, take it out on me, I don't care how but please I'm begging you don't be mad at Fulton and don't take it out on him. He doesn't deserve it. It was my fault please understand that Dean." I said begging.
"I understand ER, but this is a lot to think about. I'm plenty mad that the two of you could pull something like this behind my back and now I should go before I do or say something I'll regret."
"Could you tell Fulton he can take my car to practice?" Dean just nodded and walked to the door. "And could you send Matt in?" He nodded again and walked to the stairs. I swallowed hard looking at the ceiling trying to hold back tears.
There you go and yes I know it was short but that's only because what happens next I want all in the same chapter. As a side note Charizard the Pokemon didn't come out until 1996 where as the nickname would have been created in the late 80's early 90's. You should all review and tune in next time.