For the 31st time I do not own the ducks or Eden Hall I just like to play around with them for the entertainment of others.
Chapter 31: A Slime Ball and a Hawk
"Hey Fult." Dean said sheepishly.
"Oh um...I um...wow I have the worst timing ever. I'll just um...I'll just go then." Fulton said.
I could tell by his voice he was embarrassed. I turned my head so that my cheek was against Dean's chest and I was looking at Fulton.
"Fult it's ok really. What can we do for you?" I asked.
"Um well...the guys are waiting outside and we were wondering if you guys were coming." He said rubbing the back of his neck. For some odd reason he still sounded really nervous.
My eyes connected with Dean's as he looked down at me.
"Yeah we're coming we just had to clear some things up first." I answered still gazing at Dean.
"I love you." Dean said quietly kissing me.
"I know." I answered smirking.
"Wait what?" Dean asked confused. I smirked again and broke out of his grip racing down the hall to Fulton.
"Fulton hide me." I squeaked.
"Oh no you don't." Dean said coming after me.
"Don't let the mean man get me." I went around him putting Fulton in between us. "Save me Fulton." I said as Dean stopped a foot from us.
"Hand over my girlfriend." Dean growled smirking slightly.
"I don't know dude." Fulton said pondering for a moment.
"Come on man; help your best friend out." Dean said.
"Yeah help me out." I answered from behind Fulton.
"Alright I'll help you both out. And the team at the same time." Fulton said turning around to face me. I looked up at him and saw a calculating look in his eyes.
"Um Fulton...what are you planning?" I said hesitantly.
"Up you go." He answered tossing me over his shoulder and slinging his other arm around Dean's shoulder. "Come on friends we're going to make the Captain angrier if we take much longer." I could hear the laughter in his voice. Dean draped his arm around Fulton's shoulders and rested his hand on my back running his fingers up and down a bit. I shifted trying to get comfortable and Fulton tickled my side. "Stop moving so much."
"I'm sorry your shoulder is digging into my stomach." I answered dropping my chin into my hands. "Put me down."
"No."
"Please Fulton. I'm your best friend let me down."
"Nope sorry."
"Powder Cake Bottoms put me down."
"No, Mr. Magoo now just stay put." I rolled my eyes and sighed.
"You don't look very comfortable or happy up there." Connie said as we met up with the team.
"Well duh thanks for stating the obvious."
"Why is she up there in the first place?" Averman asked.
"'Cause my blood is rushing to my head?" I answered.
"It was Fulton's idea." Dean answered.
"Fulton put your best friend down." Charlie said.
"He is down as far as I can tell." Fulton answered.
"As your Captain, I order you to put her down."
"Fine, as you wish Captain Spoil-Sport." Fulton answered placing me on my feet next to my car where half the team looked expectant. I spent a bit of time looking over each one trying to decide who was riding with me and who was taking the bus.
"At times like this I wish the three of you had your own cars." I said gesturing to Charlie, Fulton, and Dean.
"It's not allowed to leave Chicago." Dean answered.
"Seriously?"
"Yeah."
"Lizzy you know damn well my mom can't..." Charlie started.
"Damn it Charlie, she could if she would just bite back her damn pride." I said cutting him off.
"What the hell's that supposed to mean?" Charlie barked taking a few steps toward me.
"When was the last time you saw our grandmother?" He looked at me confused. "Do you remember the last time you, Casey, and her mother were in the same room?" I asked. He looked at me and then shook his head. "We were 29 months old. That Christmas was the last time Casey let her mother see you. The day Aunt Casey walked out on Bill was the day she swore she would never take help from anyone. My dad's only able to afford three college tuitions to high priced schools because his mother foots at least half the bill. She's done it since we were little. Every major event Dad did for us or took us to she's footed at least half the bill. If Casey wasn't as stubborn as she is your life would be at least five times as easy as it is." Charlie's jaw dropped open. I yanked open the passenger side door and dug through my glove compartment. "Here," I said extending a piece of paper to him. "This is her name, address, and phone number in Cambridge. She's lived there since that Christmas because she wanted to be close but at the same time not threatening to Casey."
Charlie glared at me but took the paper. "You're wrong."
"Don't start it Charlie." I answered. "She really misses you, maybe you could go see her sometime, or at least give her a call. It can't hurt. Luis, Julie, Kenny, get in the car the rest the bus is waiting."
"What just happened?" I heard Kenny ask.
"For once I don't know." Russ answered.
Once we got to Mickey's we were welcomed with open arms and motioned to the biggest booth they had. Someone draped an arm around my shoulders and steered me to a different table.
"Hello there gorgeous. What are you doing here?" A male voice asked. 'Oh great a slime ball and just in time for Dean not to be here.' I thought. The voice sounded vaguely familiar but I couldn't place it.
"If I said I was here on a double date with my friend Julie would you believe me?" I asked letting a ghost of a smile flicker across my face.
"Probably not. I mean why would a gorgeous babe like you date one of those losers?" It made my skin almost crawl to be called a gorgeous babe, sexy I could deal with, beautiful I loved, but gorgeous babe just irked me. "Then again it doesn't look like you have a boyfriend either. This jacket could be his although from the looks of it neither one would wear this and it might be a brother's." I looked up at him as he sat down and pulled me into his lap and I got the feeling I knew this guy. I glanced back over at Julie, Kenny, and Luis who looked ready to die laughing. I decided to play along and let Dean handle it when he arrived.
"So what are you doing here?" I asked playfully flirting.
"Well my friends and I thought we'd stop by to grab a bite to eat after the arcade and it's a good thing we did," he answered. "And you fair lady?"
"My friends won their game and we're celebrating." I answered honestly.
"Big booth for a small team," he commented holding me firmly, but still slightly loosely in place.
"They aren't all here yet, besides it looks like you're missing a few 'friends'."
"They had to stop to check in but they'll be here shortly."
"How many?"
"Just the four of us, you?"
"Four..." But he cut me off before I could continue.
"I thought you said..."
"Like I was saying 14."
"Now I know why you need such a big booth. It's like you've got a hockey team or something."
"You could say that." I paused trying to figure out if I knew this guy or not. "So how much longer on those friends of yours?"
He glanced back to the door and then smiled. "Here they are now," he said as the bell over the door jingled.
"Hey Peter and just which girl did you pick up this time?" I heard a voice say behind me. I knew that voice.
"Hey guys. She's a real looker tonight." The guy I was sitting on answered. When his friends sat down the guy's name sunk in. 'Peter Mark.' He sure had grown.
"Your right she is pretty beautiful. Jesse Hall's the name and this is my brother Terry. Think you're going to get anywhere with this one Pete?" Jesse asked slightly smirking. I smiled and sorta blushed before smirking right back at him. Terry's eyes almost popped right out of his head. I glanced back at Peter and really couldn't believe how much he had grown up.
"I don't know maybe." Peter said. I could see the mischief shining in his eyes and could tell he was going to do his damnest to get me to do something before the night was over.
"And if she has a boyfriend?" Terry asked.
"Then there are two possibilities. Either they won't be dating much longer or he won't have to know." Peter answered.
I leaned across the table to talk to Jesse. I knew I was giving Peter a good view of my rear but I really didn't care right then. "Does Peter know the team?" I whispered in his ear.
"Yes, but that won't stop him until he knows who you are for sure." Jesse answered. As I sat back down I felt something poke my leg and knew that he was really hoping for some kind of action. Too bad he wouldn't get any from me. I finally looked to my right and got a good look at David Karp. He had grown up too but then again most boys do when you haven't seen them in five years to include Terry.
"You're kinda cocky, that's a very interesting trait." I said as the bell over the door chimed again.
I heard laughter and someone say "over there." I glanced over my shoulder and saw that the rest of the team had come in gathering around the big booth with a smaller table that didn't seem to fit. Julie, Kenny, and Luis were laughing and Dean was headed our way. I nodded to Jesse and he shook his head.
"Well good luck with that, the only thing I'm wondering is what Dean Portman will say when he finds out you have your hands and mind set on taking his girlfriend."
"I'd say there's no chance in hell she's leaving me for you, now let her up before I introduce your face to my fist." Dean said from behind us. Peter's grip went slack and I stood up. I looked at Peter's pale face and knew it was from Dean's strong grip on his shoulder. I reached over to Dean's arm and made him relax.
"Dean won't hurt you I promise." I said.
"How in the world can you promise that?" Peter asked as very slowly the color returned to his face.
"He breaks your face I break his heart. It's always been good friends before boyfriends Petey old buddy." I smirked.
"I thought I was seeing things, but I was wrong. You are familiar." Peter said as Dean wrapped an arm around my waist pulling me to his side.
"But damned if we can remember your name." Karp added.
"Darn and I thought I left my mark before I left the Ducks Jesse." I said. That's when I knew they remembered me.
"Left the Ducks that makes you Lizzy Jacobs. You sure have grown and you're hot too." Peter said.
"Well duh I'm Lizzy. Connie would never date an enforcer."
"Wasn't there another female duck before Julie?" Dean asked.
"Yeah Tammy, she was blonde though." Peter stood and I could finally see how much he had grown. "Damn Petey what happed to the shrimp?"
"I hit a growth spurt and decided that I didn't like being picked on all the time. Why you like?" Peter answered.
"It's definitely a change."
"Hey kids what can I get for you?" Aunt Casey asked.
"Can I borrow your pen?" I asked.
"Um...sure." She handed it to me hesitantly. I pulled out a napkin and ripped it in half scribbling my number down on both.
"Give me a call sometime boys we'll catch up." I said returning the pen. I went to sit down with the team and again I was pulled into someone's lap. "What is today; pass around Lizzy day?" I muttered.
"Aw chill out chica we know we can't get you to leave Portman." Luis said resting his chin on my shoulder.
I resisted the urge to shrug and instead muttered, "Alright." We sat for a bit just talking about the game and then Aunt Casey came up to take our order.
"The usual right kids? Five vanilla, three strawberry, and five chocolate ice creams?" The team nodded. "And for you Lizzy?"
"Just a glass of water I'm not that hungry right now." I answered.
"You sure?"
"Yeah."
"Alright 13 ice creams and one water coming right up," she answered walking away. I squirmed out of Luis's grip and went to the bathroom. When I returned I was pulled into another lap. I could tell almost immediately that it wasn't Dean's and the voice in my ear proved it. I also knew now why the table didn't look like it fit. It was to give the team room to get out without making everyone stand.
"Hey Kitten what brings you down here?" Dwayne asked.
"Well technically you pulled me into your lap so you tell me." I answered settling against him. He started talking about the time we made the principal believe that the sky was going to fall at the end of the day as the rest of the team settled into a different talk.
Fulton looked over at us and I was pretty sure I knew what he wanted. "What are you two whispering about?" He asked. I had been close.
"Oh nothing." I said innocently even though a smile appeared on my face.
"It has to be something." Connie said. Dwayne stopped mid-story and looked around.
"It's nothing y'all need to know about." He said. We sat there for a bit until everyone else started talking again then he continued his story. His arm tightened around my waist and his fingers started rubbing my side back and forth relaxing me a bit. I sighed contently and leaned against him letting him continue his story. As he finished the order arrived and I was passed on to Fulton who I bet was the only one who dared to eat with me on his lap. I sighed again as they started talking about the games. This time it was a sort of frustrated sigh.
"Aw what's wrong my Lizzy-gator?" Fulton asked.
"I should have been there with y'all now I feel sorta left out."
"Hey Gator don't talk like that. We love having you here now and don't even think we don't. As for the past five years well think of it this way you have memories that I don't have and I have ones you don't. I know you wanted to be with us but you're here now so that's all that matters."
"Stop that."
"No, you're my best friend and I like reading your mind."
"I hate you Fult."
"If you really hated me you would have used my last name."
"Right Fult?" Dean asked. "Right?"
"Um..."
"Were you even listening to us?" Guy asked.
"Of course he was, hot girls, Captain Blood, Iceland chick." I said.
"Yeah they were pretty hot." Fulton answered. I reached over and smacked Dean on the arm.
"Hey what was that for?" Dean asked rubbing his arm.
"Even if they were hot you're not supposed to say that in front of her." Fulton answered.
"Exactly." I said. Dean's jaw dropped.
"After games those two are so close it's like they're twins." Charlie said not even looking up from playing with his ice cream.
"Well they were hot but you're..." Dean trailed off as if looking for the right word.
"Sexy?" Averman volunteered.
"Gorgeous." Luis stated. My skin crawled again.
"She hates that word." Guy said. "Try stunning." That earned him a slap on the arm from Connie.
"The hottest thing to walk this earth?" Kenny said.
"Beautiful." Dwayne said with a shrug.
"Exceedingly beautiful." Dean said kissing my cheek. I blushed and looked down at my lap.
"After everything we gave you, you had to pick that one?" Guy asked.
"Who better to take a complement from than an ex who didn't break her heart?" Julie stated. I leaned over and kissed Dean on the cheek still slightly blushing.
"You're pretty handsome yourself." I answered. The team nodded and I could see that it did make some sense.
"Well if it ain't the team slut. See you've moved on to enforcers now." I heard a voice say behind me. I turned around and immediately knew who he was.
"If I'm the team slut you must be the jackass who doesn't deserve to live." I said smirking at him. Fulton's grip tightened before he too looked and loosened his grip.
"You're a no good rubber duck you know that right?"
"I'd rather be a rubber duck that can still float on the water than a rubber hawk who'd just fall out of the sky." I teased back. He opened his mouth and then promptly shut it again. "That's what I thought." I said getting up and hugging him. I heard Dean clear his throat behind me and I pulled back rolling my eyes. "Ducks you remember Joe Larson, Joey you know the Ducks." I said looking at the team.
"Hey Adam." Joey said.
"Hey."
"I thought you hated Hawks." Goldberg said.
"Just the one that doesn't deserve to live." I answered.
"But..." Averman started.
"Look Joey was the one who first noticed what was wrong after the jackass shoved Adam in to the goalpost and he was the only one who sat with me in the hospital waiting room for six hours after the game while Mr. Banks was deciding whether or not we could see Adam. You learn a lot in six hours."
"Oh."
"So what brings you to town Lizzy?" Joey asked. I slid over to Dean and sat down in his lap. He set his ice cream on the table and wrapped both arms around me as Joey pulled up a chair.
"I go to Eden Hall now. I'm playing hockey again for a few weeks. What about you?"
"I got a call saying an old friend was here so I had to stop in and say hi, so hi Adam." He smirked.
"Oh that hurts. You cut me right to the core Joey. Besides I meant in Minneapolis."
"I still live in Edina, I go to Hampton Academy."
"Still playing hockey?"
"I switched to baseball. It's a lot less pressure and physical."
"What do you mean by physical?"
"Less direct contact."
"Pitcher, catcher, or outfield?"
"Center field."
"I pitch that's what brought me to Eden Hall in the first place I'm too strong for my own good."
"Tell me you're not on varsity."
"I would but that would be a lie."
"Man I'm going to have to play against you again?"
"Don't get away from me that easily."
"So you and..."
"Portman? Yeah. Can't stay away from hockey players." I said smiling softly.
"He treating you alright?" Joey asked concern flashing through his eyes for a brief moment.
"Fulton and Charlie would kill him if he didn't."
"I remember back when you had a crush on..."
"Say his name I'll kill ya."
"Who?" Goldberg, Guy, Connie, and Charlie asked.
"I value my life the way it is thanks." Joey said.
"Is it really that bad?" Fulton asked.
"Um well..."
"I thought it was cute." Joey said.
"You also didn't have a crush on your..." I started but slapped a hand over my mouth.
"Your what Lizzy?" Fulton teased.
"Yes please do finish that sentence." Dean added.
"Nope, don't think I will."
"I still think it's cute."
"You would."
"Just tell them it's not like you still have that crush." I opened my mouth to agree, but nothing came out. "Do you?" Once again nothing came out of my mouth.
"You do." Fulton said taking my silence as a conformation.
"Well is he still on the team?" Russ asked.
"May-be." I said dragging out the first part.
"That's a yes." Averman said.
"Nope it's a maybe, but I'm not going to say, nor is anyone else that knows." I said narrowing my gaze at Joey. Goldberg looked like he wanted to push it but Adam shook his head.
"This won't get it out of her. Just leave it be." Adam said.
"Then you know what will?" Russ asked.
"Of course he does he's Adam, he can drag just about anything out of her." Fulton said. I looked over at Charlie who was still playing with his ice cream.
"What's wrong Char?" I asked softly.
"It's nothing," he answered. I looked at Adam and he shook his head mouthing 'later.' I nodded and dropped it.
"Is that the time?" Dean asked looking at the clock.
"Last time I checked." I said, causing Fulton to smirk.
"We'd better go." He said prodding me up. I stood and looked at Charlie. Crossing to the outside I knelt beside him.
"Do you need this?" I asked pulling my credit card from my pocket. He finally looked up and smiled.
"You don't mind?"
"The entire check?"
"Yeah it was supposed to be my treat."
"I got it."
"You sure?"
"Grandma won't mind."
"Right." I walked up to the counter and looked for Aunt Casey who came out of the back.
"Hey kiddo."
"Hey the check for tonight." I said.
"You're paying it?"
"Yeah put it on this, Grandma will pay it."
"Lizzy."
"Please don't, she said it's in case of emergencies and I consider this one."
"Why?"
"Because Charlie can't afford it."
"Elizabeth."
"Aunt Casey, just put it on the card and leave it alone."
"Fine," she said not too happy about it. She handed me the card and a pen and receipt. "Just sign on the line." I signed and handed it back to her sliding the card in my pocket. "And this is yours." I nodded taking my copy of the receipt and walked back to the table.
"So where are we going?" I asked Dean.
"You'll see when we get there." Dean answered. I nodded and looked at Charlie. He stood and wrapped me in a hug.
"Thank you." Charlie said.
"Don't mention it." I answered.
Well that's all you get for now. I'm sorry for the long wait and I hope that the length made up for it. I'm on summer break now so I should start posting faster but if not I'll blame it on working so much.
Tune in next time to find out about another slime ball and where Dean takes her on their 'first' date. Also the reason Matt calls her Teddy Bear.