For the 34th time I do not own the Ducks or Eden Hall I just like to play around with them for the entertainment of others.
Chapter 34: Ladies Man
"Um...Hi. I don't mean to be rude or anything, but is anyone sitting here?" I asked.
"Nope, have a seat." They answered.
"My name's..."
"ER Jacobs we know. You played great game on Friday." One of the girls said.
"I'm Emma Benson and this is my friend Michelle Roberts." The other said.
"My friends call me Ellie." Michelle answered.
"Most people call me ER or Lizzy. You're both in the art club right?" I asked pulling out a small sketch pad and pen. I picked at my muffin and started sketching.
"Yeah how'd you know?" Emma asked.
"I overheard your conversation with the art teacher. I'm sorry I eavesdropped." We started talking and getting to know each other after that and I had almost finished my picture by the time someone approached us.
"Can I sit here?" A male voice asked.
"Sure," Emma answered.
"Lizzy, just hear me out." I turned my head and looked at Kenny then went back to my drawing. "Please Lizzy, I'm not going to try to get you to forgive Portman, what he did was wrong," he said. I put my pen down and rubbed my eyes with the heels of my hands. "Lizzy..."
I started fiddling with my drink as he looked at my sketch. "I don't know what you want me to say Kenny."
"Say you'll listen to me."
"Like Dean did?" He nodded handing me my book back. "Alright talk."
"I've never seen Port more obsessed with anything than he is with you and that includes hockey. He just wants to show you that and aside from being what you call a pig, he doesn't know how. You should give him time, but that is completely up to you. Now as for the main part of your Kabob there, I think, personally, you should forgive him. He tried to stop Port from touching you, but Port's a lot bigger than he is and all Banks could do was warn him not to touch you. As far as lunch goes, he really was in the shower. I saw him head down there and then Port went into his room and Charlie didn't come back until Port was at your door with you. You have to believe me, Portman rarely gives up when he wants something, and rarely does he let anything stop him. Last night wasn't Charlie or Adam's fault." I looked at Kenny and sighed.
"I still don't know, let me think about it today and I'll get an answer to them by dinner." I said.
"Dinner at the latest." He agreed.
"Oh Kenny, this is Emma and this is Michelle, but people call her Ellie. Girls this is Kenny Wu."
"Hi," they said in unison. I could tell both Emma and Kenny were fighting down a blush when they looked at each other.
"Excuse me ladies, but the team is getting together for video games in Dwayne's room and I'd rather not miss it. Lizzy you're welcome to join us."
"Not when I know the pig's gonna be there and besides I know you guys actually want to have even the slimmest chance of winning. Ask Charlie what I mean if you really want to know." I said when he opened his mouth to ask. Kenny nodded and stood.
"Alright." Kenny walked away and I looked back at the girls.
"So were you planning on doing anything today?" Ellie asked.
I pulled out my planner and turned to Saturday. "Mmm...It says day with Dean, but since he's a pig I could do some homework or sketching or something."
Emma looked at me then leaned over to Ellie and they started whispering together. "You could come hang out with us." Ellie suggested.
"Alright." I said. We spent the rest of the day hanging out in Ellie's dorm, which she shared with a girl in my English class named Maryanne, but they called her Anna. I looked around the room and noticed a half-drawn portrait of a boy in hockey gear with the outline of his face done but no features. Taking a closer look I saw that you could see the number two on both sides of his jersey sleeves letting me know that it had to be Luis. The only other JV player with the number two is Dean but you should see a one on one sleeve and two on the other. Besides the picture wasn't built like Dean.
"You like the portrait?" Emma asked softly.
"Luis Mendoza I presume?" I answered.
"Yeah, Anna's had a bit of a crush on him. It's her masterpiece for the art show this year if we can raise enough money to hold it. She's waiting for inspiration to strike her before she'll finish it though." Ellie added.
"I can never get his lips or the shape of his head just right to draw him." I said going back to my current sketch of Fulton. At lunch we ventured back down to the cafeteria where with one look at Charlie I had my inspiration to draw my lunch.
"You miss them don't you?" Emma asked when I glanced at the baseball team for the fourth time.
"A bit but I can't talk to the pig yet and they're taking his side so I won't talk to them." At dinner I walked up behind Charlie and Adam. Kissing them both on the cheek I said, "Don't let it happen again boys." I handed them both their sketches and with a small look at Dean I walked away.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I heard Luis ask.
"That we're forgiven but if it happens again it'll take longer for her to forgive us." Adam answered. I reached the girls' table and plopped down.
Dwayne's PoV
"It meant something else too." Kenny put in.
"What makes you say that?" Portman asked.
"It wasn't so much what she said but what she did." I said.
"What she said meant exactly what Adam said, but the papers, kiss, and look meant something else." Fulton added.
"Papers?" Connie asked. Adam and Charlie both held up small sheets of paper.
"What's on them?" Russ asked.
"Shredded Captain Duck and Banks Preppy Kabob." Charlie answered.
"Oh, that sounds awful." Julie said.
"Yeah but from what I saw Banksie's was pretty good." Kenny said.
"Art is her passion; she puts as much effort into that as she does into baseball and hockey." Adam put in.
"So what else does it mean?" Portman asked.
"It means you really need to get to know your girlfriend. Maybe not as well as I do but better than you do right now. The artwork just meant that she is serious about what she said, and the kiss meant that she does love them and they mean a lot to her." Fulton advised.
"And the look?" Goldberg asked.
"The look meant the most," I started. "She was still really angry about what Portman did; she was relieved to forgive Adam and Charlie..."
"But...?" Portman asked.
"But she's also in pain and she misses her boys." Fulton said.
"Her boys?" Port asked.
"Her baseball team. She sorta had a fight with them when she found out that most of them are taking your side." Connie said.
"Really?" Portman asked.
"Yes, because they're like most of the idiots on this team, they don't think you did anything wrong." Fulton said.
"I didn't..." Portman started.
"Yes you did, because admittedly she does have a smokin' ass and while it's amazing to watch it's not something you should pay attention to while she's talking to ya. They think, like you do, that you should admire what you have while you have it, but she sees it as you can't control your hormones for the additional five minutes it would have taken to pick a movie you had no interest in." I said.
"You need to show her you love her and staring at her ass is not the way to do it." Fulton said.
"But I'm only 16, why do I have to..."
"Port, I know what you're thinking, but if you don't apologize to her and show her how much you care about her she's going to walk straight out of your life and you will regret it."
"But..."
"Port, trust me. How much do you like Lizzy?"
"More than I've liked any girl before." Portman answered.
"Then trust me and do what I say. I promise it'll work out." Fulton answered.
"How do you know all that?" Julie asked.
"Because he's Fulton, no one can read Lizzy better than he can." Connie said.
"Seriously?" Kenny asked.
"Sure they've been best friends for ages, close enough to almost read each others minds." Charlie said.
"Someone should go talk to her." Fulton said.
"No need." I said before anyone could answer.
"Why?" Portman asked. I raised a single finger and pointed to the Varsity table.
"Look little b-ball duck is all lonely and I bet she's crying." Jefferson's voice taunted. He pointed over to Lizzy where she was sitting with the two girls she had been sitting with all day. Scooter stood and glared at Jefferson.
"Do you understand what Captain means?" He barked.
"Sure it means that you're supposedly the best on the team, at something..." Jefferson muttered the last part under his breath probably hoping that Scooter couldn't hear it.
"And?"
"And you get to boss us around on the ice."
"For your information Captain means more than that. It means that I'm under more pressure than you can imagine. It means that I get bitched at by Wilson every time you or someone else gets in trouble, it means it's my job to keep you morons in line, that I get extra laps when you guys get into more trouble than you can handle, and above all else it means that Buckley and Wilson come down on me harder than ever when you and the three idiots you call cronies say and do stupid shit like this. I better not hear another derogatory, mean, degrading, or teasing thing about Jacobs or any other member of the female student body or the JV team come out of your mouth. Otherwise if I do, it'll be laps after practice. Do you understand me?" Scooter growled.
"Didn't know your boyfriend cared so much about her Julie." Luis said.
"Long story." Julie answered.
Jefferson glared at him but didn't say anything. "I asked you a question Andrew and I'm expecting an answer." Scooter spat.
"Why do you care so much?" Jefferson asked defiantly.
"If Rick were here he wouldn't've minded." One of the other players said. Jefferson nodded his agreement.
Scooter gave them a disbelieving look. "Wouldn't have minded? He would've decked you so hard it would have made Lizzy's punch look like a slap. I should tell her and let her deal with you. If you don't believe me about Rick then call him Kyle and put it on speaker because I would love to hear what Riley's got to say when you tell him you think Jacobs is nothing but a little slut who cries at the drop of a hat."
"You really want me to call him?" Kyle asked.
"No, not this time. But next time one of you say something like that about her I will have Rick called and you'll see what he has to say. I mean Lizzy did dislocate your jaw when she first got here Andy, I would love to see what she would do now." Scooter said but the way he said it made it sound more like a threat than a request.
"Fine I'll leave the little...Duck alone." Jefferson finally conceded.
"Good." With one last glare Scooter walked up to Lizzy and sat down next to her. He rubbed her shoulder and she turned to him. He said something, she replied, and collapsed into his arms. Linda came over and slid into Charlie's lap.
"Hey babe." Charlie said before continuing to eat.
"That's all I get? No how are you or a kiss?"
"Linda, please not now." Charlie said. Linda pouted and Charlie kissed her cheek. "Sorry but I'm a little distracted. I turned and looked back at Lizzy and Scooter and saw Max kneeling beside both of them. After a few exchanges Max stood and went back to his table and Lizzy started to shake again. Scooter pulled her up and guided her toward the door.
"You're just going to let her go with him?" Linda asked.
"Yeah," Julie answered.
"She's better off with him than out there driving somewhere." Fulton said. Most of the team looked upset, Fulton looked pained, and Portman buried his head in his arms on the table.
"Shouldn't you be the least bit worried that they're doing something?" Linda asked.
"Considering what she's upset about no. Besides I trust my boyfriend." Julie spat.
"Jules..." Charlie warned.
"Portman are..." Linda started.
"She's fine with him." Portman answered not lifting his head. Fulton rested a hand on his best friend's back and sighed.
"What are you saying?" Linda snapped at both Julie and Portman.
"Only that Ducks fly together and would never go after another Duck's boyfriend or girlfriend. And that you don't trust your boyfriend with his own cousin even though them together is illegal in every state and frowned upon in most societies." Russ said.
"How'd you..." Linda started.
"It's hard for a team this close to keep many secrets Linda especially since a lot of people over hear things." Charlie answered softly looking at the mess hall doors.
"You should go Char she's gonna need you too." Fulton said.
"Char-lie she's fine, she doesn't need you. I do." Linda protested.
Charlie looked torn. "Charlie she's your cousin." I reminded him.
"But I'm his girlfriend."
"Friends or family Char, the decision is yours." Connie said.
"WWED?" Charlie asked.
"You know the answer to that one." Portman said.
"I'm sorry Linda, I'll make it up to you, she's hurting too bad right now." Charlie said getting up.
"But..."
"I'm sorry." Charlie said before he strode out the doors.
"If she was any good girlfriend she'd understand." Julie hissed.
"Come on Cat, I believe we have some stuff to do back in the dorm." Connie answered standing. Guy also stood.
"I'll walk you girls back. Never know who's out there lurking." He said. The three of them left dumping their trash on the way out. Fulton looked at Portman and sighed.
"Come on man lets take this somewhere else." He said and they too left.
"Is everything going to be alright?" Kenny asked.
"Eventually." I sighed.
"Isn't there something we can do?" Luis asked.
"To get them back together? No, it's best they work it out themselves. Anything we do will drive them farther apart. Lizzy hates when other people butt in and well you all know how Portman is."
"Isn't that what you want though?" Linda asked.
"Why?" Goldberg asked.
"Yeah explain that logic." Averman put in.
"I mean think about it. Her and Portman break up and you won't have to mediate any more fights or take sides. Then there's always the fact that if they do split Dwayne can have her back and they won't fight as much." Linda said. It was a good idea 'in theory' but when it came to reality it just didn't make any sense.
"Linda that's all good and well in theory, but he makes her happier than I could and that's all we want." I explained.
"Not to mention you only want no fighting so Charlie will spend more time with you." Goldberg said before the rest of us left.
Charlie's PoV
After I left the cafeteria I felt kinda bad. Linda was going to be really upset and I didn't want to have to deal with her, but the team was right. Lizzy needed me more than Linda did. When I reached Scooter's room the door was partially open so I pushed it open farther and he gave me a sorta sad half smile. I returned it and looked at Lizzy as she laid on Scooter's bed half on and half off of Scooter. He motioned for me to pick up the jackets which were lying on the floor at the end of the bed. I did and put them both over the back of his computer chair before taking a seat next to Lizzy.
"I just really miss him Scooter." Lizzy's voice was weak and you could tell she had been crying.
"I know Liz, I know, just rest up."
"But I want him."
"I could have someone go get Portman for you."
"Ye-n-no I don't need him...he's a jerk and an idiot." I opened my mouth to say something, but Scooter shook his head and rubbed her back.
"Ok then I'll let you rest for now and you can talk to him when you're ready."
"But I miss him and the teams so bad."
"I know you do."
"What do I do?"
"For now rest up and then tomorrow or when you think you're ready we can listen to what he has to say. How does that sound?"
"Alright, Scooter...?"
"Yes Liz?"
"Can I sleep in here tonight?"
"Sure." Twenty minutes later when I knew she was asleep I looked at him closely. "You really are a ladies man."
"Three sisters and one brother can do that." He answered.
"Three sisters?"
"Yeah two older one younger. Usually it's 'Scooter get out of my room,' 'Scott your annoying me again' or 'Scotty come play'. You learn to agree with them when they're this upset. As much as her and Julie talk about Portman I know he's not a bad guy he just has trouble controlling his hormones like any other teenage guy."
"You don't think they'll be fighting much longer do you?"
"No a few days at the most."
"What did she mean she misses the team?"
"Well obviously she can't hang out with you guys because of the situation, but the baseball team was also taking Portman's side and Lizzy was completely alone except for Emma and Ellie."
"Who?"
"Those two art girls she was sitting with."
"Oh um...take care of her will you?"
"Sure and Charlie?"
"Yeah?"
"I don't think much of your team likes Linda."
"She's my girlfriend and I will date her until something happens no matter what the team says."
"I know but I was just saying."
"Thanks I'll see you later." I said going to the door.
"I'm sorry for what Andy said about her."
"Thanks but it doesn't matter anymore." Then I left and went back to my room. A few days passed before anything major happened.
Well that's all you get for now. Once again I'm on Christmas break now so I should start posting faster but if not I'll blame it on working so much. I plan for the next one to be out on Saturday but I make no promises. Tune in next time to find out what it was that happened.