So thanks to everyone who read the last chapter. I hope you enjoyed it.

Chapter 2: Study Hall

Lizzy sat down at the far end of the Ducks' table the morning after her breakup feeling less than refreshed as well as slightly out of place. "So what happened?" Luis asked, sliding into his normal seat which just happened to be beside her.

"Am I not allowed to sit here? It's not the first time," Lizzy answered.

"Of course you are, but after your questions yesterday, I kept an ear out for rumors and well ... darlin', they ain't great," Luis said.

"And they are?" Lizzy asked as Julie slid into the seat on the other side of her.

"Much of what I told you yesterday but now they're saying you broke up too," Luis said softly.

"They blame it on anyone?"

"They're rumors, Liz, you can't put stock in them. What does he want?" Luis asked.

Lizzy looked in the same direction as Luis and saw that the third baseman from the varsity baseball team was speaking to Portman. "You want something, Johnson?" Lizzy called to him.

Bastian Johnson looked up from whatever he was saying to Portman and noticed the brunette's eyes on him. "No, nothing from you. Portman and I were coming to an understanding," Bastian answered.

"An understanding that something is none of your business and you and the rest of your team are going to stay out of it?" Lizzy asked.

"Come now, you're the only—" Bastian started.

"If that sentence includes the word girl, Bash, I am going to slap you silly," Lizzy told him.

"Doesn't stop it from being true," Bastian said. Lizzy stared at him. She may have been the only girl on the baseball team but that didn't mean they had to protect her.

The brunette pitcher stood from her seat, her eyes narrowing at the blond and he swallowed. "And I've got four brothers who brag louder than diesel engines. I know how bad guys can treat girls. It has not escaped my knowledge and I did not go into this relationship blind. Back off or I will make you." The threat was clear in her words and tone so he shot Portman a warning look and then left. Lizzy turned her attention to the rest of the Ducks who had just joined them for breakfast. "That goes for the rest of you too. I get it, you just want to know what happened and you want to know which side to be on. I appreciate that but I'd appreciate it more if you supported both of us. You don't stop being a Duck because you screw up. This team has never picked sides when things go bad between Connie and Guy, don't do it because of this. I'm not going to tell any of you what happened, it's none of your business, plus you shouldn't believe everything you hear. He wants to tell you, that's fine, but since it seems that he can't remember, I doubt you'll find out that way either. Captain, I'm warning you. There is no second chance here."

"Loud and clear," Charlie answered as Lizzy sat back down. He knew if he didn't keep his team out of it she'd come after him full force and he wouldn't like that. Cousin or not, she'd make him regret it. Lizzy looked back at Luis and he looked down at his breakfast.

"Liz, I just want to know so it's clear," Kenny said softly. She turned her steely blue eyed gaze to him. He swallowed but continued, "you two broke up?"

"So it's confirmed, yes," Lizzy answered. What followed was the quietest breakfast in recent Duck history. No one quite knew what to say especially since it was widely known that both people involved had very quick tempers. No one wanted to make either one angry but they didn't realize that the only angry one was Lizzy. Since it was Wednesday that meant that Lizzy would have three classes with Portman; their first class of the day, Math, then a double study hall at the end of the day. Not to mention that she shared lunch with Fulton and Portman as the only two Ducks. It was going to be one awkward day.

"Lizzy!" a voice called from a distance. "Liz!" they called again.

"Huh?" Lizzy asked, shaking her head clear.

"You're staring again," the same voice said. Lizzy's eyes shifted from staring across the cafeteria at Portman and landed on Aly right across from her. She was once again sitting with the art girls at lunch. "I know it hurts, but you've got to let Portman go. Either confront him and talk it out or stop thinking about it," Aly told her. Lizzy briefly wondered why the girl wasn't sitting with her boyfriend but chose not to bring it up.

"It's not always that easy, Aly. Yes, I definitely understand why I have to, but part of me can't. I broke up with him yesterday. When I look at him I see a sweet, kind, chivalrous, prince charming. It's not until I realize that I'm staring that I remember what he's done."

"How long have you known him?" Ellie asked.

"Like three months right?" Anna asked.

"Actually, I've known him for more than a year. Two summers ago he joined the Ducks for the Junior Goodwill Games and when they came home, Fulton introduced us online. We talked all year last year, all the way up until we met this year. We never met in person until this December. Up until then we only talked online. Everything I learned about him online matched everything he showed me up until maybe two weeks ago," Lizzy picked at her lunch.

"You mean it changed?" Emma asked.

"He got more ... I guess affectionate is the word. I mean, I knew that he's always been worried about how the team's seen him and that's why he held back. I just thought that he was finally over caring about what the team thought of him and that he was opening up to me." Lizzy set down her fork and went silent. She pushed her plate away, grabbed her bag, and then left the cafeteria.

Portman's gaze followed Lizzy out of the cafeteria then he looked at Fulton. Fulton sighed but stood and found Lizzy outside the cafeteria and when she saw him she instantly went into his arms. Fulton felt Lizzy's body wrack with sobs. "Shh, it's okay," Fulton whispered in her ear.

"I thought—he really—he—" Lizzy sobbed.

"He loved you, he still loves you. I don't know why he did what he did but I know he's sorry for it. Look, I can't sugarcoat it for you. You'd hate me for it. I love you and I hate that he broke your heart. I warned him that if he ever did ... well anyway. Liz," Fulton lifted her chin to look at him. "What did happen?"

"You mean he didn't tell you?" She stared up at her best friend as he wiped the tears from under her eyes.

"I told him not to. That I should stay out of it but I don't think I can or that I want to, even if I should."

"Maybe—that's the bell; we need to get to class." Lizzy hugged Fulton then they went to class. Deep inside Lizzy knew that it wasn't fair to put him in the middle as much as she wanted him to take her side. Fulton had never made friends easily. Most people took his tall, stocky appearance and quiet nature as unfriendly and mean instead of unsure of himself and had never given him a chance. Portman had been one of the first to give him a chance and Lizzy couldn't take that from him. She thought about all of that as they walked. "I'll be okay. It hurts but I'll be okay."

"I know you will. You're strong."

"Don't stop being friends with him; he needs you as much as I do."

"Okay," Fulton said. Lizzy entered the Psychology classroom and Fulton continued down the hall to his class.

"You doing okay?" Russ asked as she sat down in front of him.

"No," Lizzy answered.

"Portman?" Luis asked from her right. She nodded. "It gets better. Somehow."

"Thanks guys."

"You ever need to talk the school counselors and I are here," her teacher said, touching her desk as he walked past. Lizzy only looked at him. "If you listen to the gossip queens, Ms. Jacobs, good news travels fast."

"Good news?"

"According to them it's good news. Now," he said, gaining everyone's attention. The class continued and Lizzy did her best to pay attention.

When it came to study hall that afternoon Lizzy was the first to arrive. Luis and Russ had to stop by their lockers. Portman sat down beside her. She looked at him carefully and took a deep breath wondering what he wanted. "Go away," Lizzy said, trying to keep him from going too far.

"Look, I know I was a jerk but no one should make you cry," he said softly.

"Then why did you?"

"It wasn't—"

"Back off," Adam snapped. Portman and Lizzy both looked up at him. Adam held his ground though. "Go on."

Lizzy looked at Portman and nodded. He stood then moved to the opposite end of the table. "Thanks," Lizzy said.

"You and me against the world," Adam said.

"Yeah," Lizzy said.

Adam took the seat next to her and Dwayne slid in on the other side. "I know you aren't okay or anywhere close to it, so how about after school I take you to get some of your favorite ice cream?" Dwayne suggested. The entire team was well aware that Lizzy's favorite ice cream was only locally sold and if they plied her with enough of it, she'd probably be more willing to open up or at the very least cheer up.

"I can't. I got baseball practice," Lizzy said. "What about after dinner?"

"Sure," Dwayne agreed.

When Lizzy and Dwayne sat down at the ice cream parlor, Lizzy could tell Dwayne was nervous. "What's wrong, Tex? You know you can tell me anything. I don't judge, remember."

"I know. It's something I shouldn't be asking though."

"Tex, you were there for me in those dark months after I was told my brother was dead. You deserve, more than anyone, my honesty." Around Thanksgiving after she moved to Texas, Lizzy's oldest brother Matt had been picked up by the Detroit Red Wings. He had been playing for the Waves' minor league team but a couple of scouts had been to games and liked what they saw. He had the option of going to the newly moved Dallas Stars or the Detroit Red Wings and, having been a fan of the Red Wings for ages, he picked them. Lizzy's parents had gone ballistic and told her that he had died in a pick-up game which caused the once amazing forward to give up hockey and spiral into a dark place. Luckily she had met Dwayne that year and he had reached in and pulled her out.

That's what made his next question hard to ask. "Kitten, it's a sore subject."

Lizzy suddenly realized what he wanted. It should have been obvious. It was the one topic that had been highly speculated around the school but not once had it ever been confirmed. "You want to know how Dean and I broke up, but you don't want to push me because it's none of your business."

"Well yeah, but you don't have to tell me. It's not my place. And you said earlier that we should stay out of it. I know how touchy you can get about it." Dwayne stared at his ice cream and twirled his spoon through the whipped cream.

"Maybe not, but maybe you should know." Lizzy dug into her favorite ice cream, Mud Pit Fudge Chunks chocolate ice cream, and considered telling him. Maybe it would help. She wasn't sure but the chocolate ice cream with bits of fudge was thawing the ice that had settled into her heart over the past week. Dwayne was really sweet and though not the smartest of the Ducks, he typically gave great advice. She wasn't sure if it was because he always told her the simplest option or if it was because he never over-thought it, but it almost always worked. "On Monday, I was on my way to lunch when I spotted Port talking to Crystal Deam. I thought whatever. He can talk to whoever he wants. Then he leaned down to her and they kissed. I—" Lizzy stopped and stared at her ice cream.

Dwayne reached across the table and took her hand. "I can't say it'll be okay, you don't want to hear that, but it's not going to hurt forever. You'll always love him, but it won't always hurt."

"Can you promise that?"

"No, it may continue to hurt. The only thing that may soften it, if time doesn't, is talking to him about why. It won't fix things, but it'll soften the blow."

"Thanks Dwayne."

"Of course. And I won't tell anyone what you said. You've already made it clear you don't want anyone to know. I think Fulton should know, maybe Adam too, but that's your decision. What are you doing this weekend?" Dwayne asked.

"I have a ball game on Friday and then I think I'm just going to study the rest of the weekend."

"You do realize that Saturday is the start of Spring Break, right?"

"I did not." Lizzy swallowed. "That means school's out in two months."

"Yeah."

"How did you handle being trapped in a booth with Port during practice today?" A few weeks prior the school's Theater Arts teacher had approached Lizzy to help with the school musical. Lizzy had reluctantly agreed to do the lighting. At the time she was dating Portman so being stuck in the audio and lighting booth, as he had been convinced to help with the sound system, wasn't a big deal. Now though it was starting to get a little awkward.

"It's hard, but Julie's there so it's a little easier to deal with." Dwayne changed the subject and they talked about hockey for a bit longer before going back to the school.

On Friday, Lizzy was more aware of her surroundings than any other day of the year. The day however was completely prank-free. She wondered if everyone had learned not to prank her since she was the mastermind behind that year's prank war or if it was because of the dean's new rule against pranking. Anyone caught pranking would land themselves in detention for at least a week. On her way to lunch, Lizzy spotted a blue flyer on the wall. Not seeing anything else mentioning it, Lizzy brushed it off. That was until on the way to study hall she saw another flyer, this time pink, which claimed the same thing. She pulled the flyer from the wall and rushed to study hall. She approached the Ducks' table where most of them were already sitting. "Someone tell me this is a cruel joke. A terrible, horrible April Fool's joke," Lizzy demanded.

"We could," Adam said slowly, "but we've seen what you can do when people lie to you. So I can't," he finished.

"Jacobs!" The study hall monitor said sternly.

"I know, butt, chair, introduce them," Lizzy answered, sliding into a seat. There were only two rules in study hall: no yelling and stay seated.

"What school doesn't have Sadie Hawkins?" Ken asked.

"Yeah, it's tradition, Liz," Charlie said. "Something about equality."

"Hey, I'm all for equality, you see a guy you like, make your intentions known, but that's not what this dance is about. Not anymore. They should just call it what it is, a western dance."

"You mean a cowboy dance," Luis corrected.

"No, I meant western, though I guess you could call it modern cowboy."

"There's a difference?" Averman asked.

"Western is the generic term for all the so-called cowboy looks. Cowboy is more specific and originally referred to men who only herd cattle," Dwayne explained.

"What's wrong with Sadie Hawkins?" Julie asked.

"You're not scared these girls are going to outshine you, are you?" Russ taunted.

"Outshine Lizzy? I don't think that's possible," Dwayne said. "It only took me ten minutes to show her how to properly tack and mount a horse. She's a better roper than my sister who grew upon our ranch."

"Is there anything you can't do?" Julie asked.

Lizzy flinched then smirked, "plenty of things," Lizzy said.

"Let me get this straight, you believe in equality, but expect chivalry as well?" Portman asked.

"I don't see why they have to be mutually exclusive," Lizzy answered, staring at her fingernails.

"I don't see how that can work," Portman said.

"Yeah, well, there's a lot of things you don't—"

"Hey, Guy," Connie interrupted, "you, me, Sadie's?"

"Sure, when is it?" Guy asked. The blond looked at his brunette girlfriend and knew although part of her was asking to keep the pair from fighting, most of her really wanted to go with him.

"April 26," Lizzy said, looking at the flyer.

"That's a Tuesday," Ken said.

"Yeah, something about scheduling problems with volleyball," Charlie said.

"What about you, Julie?" Connie asked.

"I think I'll ask Banksie. Last year with Scooter was great but ..." Julie trailed off.

"What?" Lizzy asked. She stared at Julie in disbelief.

"I can't believe you fell for that," Julie laughed.

"I hate April Fool's Day," Lizzy moaned. The rest of the team laughed. Lizzy rolled her eyes. Then she looked at Adam who shook his head.

"Sorry Liz," Adam said.

Suddenly every guy at the table became particularly interested in said table. Lizzy locked eyes with her cousin who smirked. If Adam had turned her down, Lizzy would turn to the rest of the boys for a date to the dance and no one wanted to be seen as stepping on what might still be Portman's turf. Even though the team knew the two had broken up, there was always the chance they could get back together. "You know I'm surprised at you," Charlie said. Lizzy's gaze turned to him and her eyebrow rose. "I would have totally expected you to play some kind of prank today. It's your specialty."

"You do remember that about a month ago I was suspended for two weeks for masterminding an entire prank war, right? I get suspended again, I could lose my scholarship."

"Wait, what?" Charlie asked. "You masterminded the whole thing? I mean I always knew we didn't start the prank war but I never knew you did. You just told the dean that you pranked varsity with flour." After hearing major complaints from the baseball team being bored out of their minds waiting for baseball season to start and no snow to play in, Lizzy had concocted a scheme to get the two hockey teams involved in a prank war. It had ended with Lizzy taking the blame for a flour prank that Charlie and others had played and she was suspended. Her dad hadn't been happy about the prank war or the suspension but he hadn't punished her too severely.

Lizzy looked at Charlie and smirked before turning to Fulton. "Hey, Fult, you going with Aly?"

"Hoping so. You think she'll ask?" Fulton asked.

"Maybe. She's into you, right?"

"Yeah," Fulton answered.

"Then there's a good chance, but she is also shy and you've only been dating for a few months."

"Pucca me tona ba toka me pa," Fulton said in a language that sounded more like baby talk than English. In fact it wasn't just any language, it was one their parents called Lizton. A language the two of them had made up when they were really young. Though both were rusty at it they remembered enough to get the gist of the conversation.

"Don't even start that," Lizzy said, punching his shoulder. "Just look at you. I know that a lot of people take you for granted, but you're a great guy. Aly really likes you. Stop doubting yourself." Lizzy smiled then told him how much she adored him. Then in their made up language she told him if he didn't have Aly, she would date him.

"You see, that's why most guys aren't asking you out," Luis said.

"You wanna say that again? And this time be more clear," Lizzy said.

"And don't you mean most girls?" Dwayne added.

"No, I was talking to Lizzy," Luis said. "I mean for Fulton, yeah, a lot of these preppy girls are backwards and won't ask him out, but that doesn't mean they'd say no if he asked."

"I know a lot of these girls, grew up with most of them, a lot of them would definitely love to date the stereotypical bad boy," Adam added.

"I'm not a bad boy," Fulton corrected.

"Personality-wise maybe not," Ken started.

"But just looking at your bandana, hard rock t-shirt, combat boots, leather jacket, and slightly gruff but silent attitude, you are the quintessential bad boy," Russ finished.

"What does all that have to do with guys not asking Lizzy out?" Portman asked.

"Sure, some of them are worried about you being protective of her but really that's just an excuse," Luis said. "What really scares these guys off is Fulton."

"What do you mean?" Lizzy asked.

"Let me put it another way. When was the last time you went a full day without talking to Fulton, Liz?" Luis asked pensively.

Lizzy thought about it. "Probably before I came here; four, five months ago."

"And that first weekend you were here, on Sunday, what'd you do?" Luis asked. "The two of you went to a local diner and talked for hours. I don't think we saw the two of you on campus all day. When I said 'that's why most guys weren't asking you out,' I meant because of your relationship with Fulton. You two have your own made-up language. That in itself could scare off most guys. I bet there's not a player on this team who wasn't afraid of Fulton the first time they met him, well except maybe Lizzy and Portman," Luis answered.

"Can't say that. I mean I figured I could take him, but just look at him," Portman said.

"Ewe septa me toda ray unta me-me," Fulton said to Lizzy.

"Don't," Lizzy said. "Besides," she turned her attention to Luis, "any guy who expects me to give up my best friend, a guy I've known since before I was born, is crazy and not worth my time."

"No no sapa top," Fulton said, in a low tone.

"Tupa," Lizzy answered quickly but just as lowly. Fulton stared at the table and Lizzy took his hand. "I mean that Fulton. And no buts. If Aly can understand, so can any guy who wants to date me." Fulton sighed but didn't protest any further. "So, about this spring break trip. I know I'm not allowed to go but what about the rest of you?"

"You know, we didn't go last year," Charlie said.

"Why not?" Lizzy asked.

"Prank war. We got banned when Dean Buckley found out we set his colony of fire ants on Varsity," Charlie explained.

"Doesn't stop you this year," Lizzy said.

"Well, me and Fulton can't go because your dad wants a get together since we didn't have one at Christmas and he has invited the Reeds down as well. Something about being prepared for the tension," Charlie shrugged.

"I see." Lizzy nodded. "What about the rest of you?" Portman mentioned a thing with his sister, most of the in-state Ducks didn't want to give up their break for a stupid class trip, Kenny and Luis would also be visiting family, Dwayne missed being on horseback, and Russ and Julie had passed when they found out most of the rest of the Ducks weren't going. Then the bell rang signaling the end of class.

I would appreciate it if you let me know what you think. Below are the translations as to what Fulton said and the last one is what Lizzy answered.

Pucca me tona ba toka me pa=Unless she doesn't like me anymore

Ewe septa me toda ray unta me-me=Now you see why I doubt myself

No no sapa top=Don't say that

Tupa=It's true