Thanks to everyone who continues to read. Would still appreciate a review or two or more to let me know I'm on the right track. Anyway:

Chapter 8: The Truth

Soon Lizzy was sitting down with the baseball team for dinner. "So I may have done something to help our team, but I'm not sure how much you're going to like it," Lizzy said nervously.

"Like what?" Their catcher, Mike, asked.

Lizzy sighed and then took a deep breath. "I spoke with the school board about our baseball field and made them a deal."

"What kind of deal?" Bash asked confused.

Lizzy paused for a moment. She was about to lie to the entire team but it was for their own good. She just hoped they'd take it well. "That we have three weeks to raise three quarters of the amount it would take to replace and improve our field. However they had a condition for them to donate the rest of the money and that was that we have to win the season." Telling them to raise three quarters of the money would get them the new jerseys and gear her team desperately needed.

"Just the field?" Bash asked.

"No, the entire stadium; locker room, dugouts, field, bases, stands, the whole nine yards. Or in this case 400-some feet." Lizzy smirked. The team rolled their eyes. "I know what you're thinking though. We play baseball and the people of this and surrounding towns only care about hockey so how are we going to raise 37,500 dollars?" A couple jaws dropped around the table. She knew they thought it was a lot of money. "That's easy. Charm, wit, the caring people of Edina. I know how to fundraise. It's practically the only thing my step-mom taught me. There are ways to get people to care about baseball since they already care about the school."

"So when do we start?" Bash asked, resigned to the work. They didn't like how she had gone about getting the deal but they agreed that they really needed the repairs to their dirt pit of a field.

"I'll have flyers for you boys tomorrow after school and a map of who hits which streets. Just try to cover them before Monday."

Monday at practice the boys all handed Lizzy envelopes of what they had collected. "You know," Brick, the shortstop, started, "I don't think your name was anywhere on the map. This was your idea; you should be working twice as hard as us."

"Okay, Brick, tell me, how many of you raised over a thousand dollars in the last four days? Anyone?" Everyone shook their heads no to Lizzy's question. In fact the most any of them had raised was close to five hundred dollars. "How about 10 times that," Lizzy said.

"How'd you raise more than 10 grand?" Bash asked. The rest of the team stared in disbelief.

"Well, while you guys were hitting the alumni and boosters, I was talking to businesses and firms. Five grand from my dad's firm, two grand from the firm that sponsored my Pee Wee hockey team, another three from local shops and retail businesses."

"But this is a hockey town."

"It is, but you do have people who will do anything to get a tax write-off."

"So is that what you're planning on doing for the next two and a half weeks?"

"Of course not, this should only take me until Wednesday and this weekend I plan on getting you guys to help host a car wash. And if that doesn't help, I plan on getting the dean's approval to put a table near the cafeteria with a bucket and asking the students for help. Not that many of them are into baseball but I'm sure they'll help."

"Worth a shot."

"Don't forget to ask your parents. I know they're already paying tuition but every little bit helps." Lizzy was the only one on the team with a scholarship. They all agreed then went to practice.

As she walked to dinner with Bash and one of their baseball trainers, Sam, Dwayne caught up with her. "Lizzy, can we talk?" Dwayne asked.

"Uh sure, does it need to be private?" Lizzy asked.

"No," Dwayne said. "I'd love to go to Sadie's with you." Lizzy looked at the tall forward and blinked a few times. "Yeah, really. Maybe we could see if there's anything left between us too? I know it's a week away and all, but we never really—"

"I get it. I'd like that." Lizzy smiled. Their relationship had never really gone wrong, they had only broken up because he was going halfway across the country to play hockey for his country. A few months after he came back, Lizzy had been moved to Ohio so they kept in touch but they always wondered what would have happened if he hadn't left. At dinner Lizzy sat with the baseball team while Dwayne took a seat at the Ducks' table.

"Did I hear right?" Russ asked, sliding into a seat next to Dwayne. "Did you really just ask Lizzy out?" He stared at the Texan in disbelief.

"Yes, I did," Dwayne answered simply.

"You can't do that," Russ said.

"Why not?" Dwayne asked genuinely confused.

"Because she's Port's girl."

"Lizzy is a beautiful and wonderful young woman with a mind of her own who doesn't belong to anyone."

"Woah, calm down, Cowboy. I'm just sayin'—" Russ started.

"That I don't deserve her? Or that I shouldn't be dating another Duck's ex? She asked me to Sadie's then she agreed to see what's left between us, not that it's any of your business," Dwayne defended. He normally wasn't so defensive against the outspoken boy but he cared about Lizzy and refused to let anyone bad mouth her. Down the table Portman heard their conversation and a feeling started growing inside of him. He wasn't sure what to call it but he knew he didn't like the feeling. Maybe it was regret, maybe it was jealousy, maybe even anger but he wasn't sure and he couldn't do anything about it.

Lizzy continued to speak with businesses in Edina and in downtown Minneapolis by phone between classes and practice on Tuesday which raised another 10 grand for the cause. When she tallied their totals so far and found they were at 24,282 dollars. She was impressed but also grateful at how hard the team was working. With just over two weeks left they were right on track for getting their new gear and uniforms before the playoffs started. Currently their uniforms consisted of long sleeve shirts that had read Warriors in black Sharpie and grey sweatpants. For that season though, they had taken masking tape and taped over Warriors and replaced it with Ducks since the team was now the Ducks. It wasn't good though since nearly every other team at the school had real uniforms.

After baseball practice on Tuesday, Lizzy called her dad and Matt, both of whom agreed to send checks of $500. Then Lizzy called the sport shop. Jan said he'd consider donating if she stopped by the shop. Lizzy agreed. So after dinner that night she rollerbladed to the shop. She entered the shop through the back door to find her cousin at the sharpener working on a pair of skates.

She looked past the sharpener to see Bombay and Jan on the couch sipping hot tea and talking. She shut the door loudly causing all three to look up. Lizzy smiled at her cousin then skated over to the couches. Jan stood and hugged her. Charlie made one more pass on the skate then shut off the machine. "Hello, Jan, sorry I haven't been here much. It has been too long," Lizzy told him.

"Four years," he said, reclaiming his seat beside Bombay and offered her the chair to his right.

"Bombay," Lizzy acknowledged as she sat down. He nodded back.

"I heard you moved and quit hockey," Jan said.

"Yeah, well being lied to and thrown into therapy didn't help things. My deepest condolences on the loss of your brother. I know it's not easy to overcome that."

"Thank you. Perhaps you can tell me why you've been in Minnesota four months and still haven't come by."

"They'd all be excuses." Lizzy shrugged, looking at the floor.

"Tell me, please," Jan said as she sat down.

She looked back up at him. "At first I was busy. Homework, fitting in at school, all that stuff. More recently the place reminds me of hockey and ..." Lizzy trailed off and swallowed hard.

"Hockey reminds you of Port," Charlie said.

"Yeah," Lizzy agreed.

"Have you talked to him since?" Jan asked.

"Not about what happened. At first I was too angry and now ... now, I just can't bring myself to."

"Maybe you should," Jan said.

"You've talked to him," Lizzy stated slowly.

"We both have," Bombay said.

Lizzy observed the two men for a few moments. "You both think I'm wrong in the way I handled it. You know, I've known you both longer than he has and I can't believe you'd take his side," Lizzy snapped.

"We're not taking his side, we just think you should give him a chance to explain," Bombay said.

Lizzy stared at them both. Then with both Adam's and Fulton's voices in her head, she sighed. It was time to attempt to treat Bombay the way she treated the rest of the Ducks. She had been about to try and manipulate both men into seeing her side. Not because she believed that she was right but because she was being selfish and bratty. That was the same way she had acted at home around her father. Knowing that Fulton was able to see her bratty side made her want to prove him wrong and show that she could be more like she was at school around adults that were like family to her. "Maybe you're right." Bombay looked at her stunned almost as if not believing that she would back down that quick. It was almost like he thought she would fight them on this. He didn't push it though. They talked a little while longer before Jan got up and left the room. When he returned, he handed Lizzy a check. "Three thousand dollars?"

"It's what Hans would have given you. I still remember the first time you came into my shop. You were about three years old," Jan said as he sat back down, "and you went straight to our display of hockey sticks. You picked up a hockey stick bigger than you were."

"Matt said he had to teach me to skate first before I could play hockey," Lizzy said, smiling. Though she couldn't remember it actually happening, she had heard the story a couple times.

"You were so upset until Hans brought you to our row of skates and showed you a pair just your size. You lit up. I don't think I've ever seen anyone so happy about getting a pair of skates."

"I still have those skates. They're in the attic in Stillwater. Dad kept all of our first pair of skates, Matt's, Seth's, and mine. He also kept Chris's and Ben's first ball gloves."

"What's the check for?" Bombay asked. Lizzy explained her plan and Bombay offered to have the Goodwill Committee contribute. When she questioned the plausibility of that he reminded her that it would never hurt to ask. The later it got the more Lizzy realized that she should get back to school. When she mentioned it Jan nodded.

"Try to come around more?" Jan asked.

"I'll try, but I can't promise anything. It's a busy season. But I will promise to send anyone who needs equipment up your way," Lizzy agreed.

"Thank you," Jan said.

"I'll walk with you, back to school," Charlie said. Lizzy lifted her feet. "You rollerbladed here. Oh, well I guess I'll see you later then." Lizzy smiled and after hugging Jan one more time she left the shop.

Wednesday, April 20th. That was the day everything started to change for Lizzy and Portman. Nothing different happened during the school day, in fact it wasn't until after play practice that things changed. After practice, Lizzy headed to dinner, but stopped short when she heard Crystal Deam's voice just outside of auditorium. "I just can't believe he dumped me," Crystal complained.

"You mean Dean Portman? I thought you were through with him. That you only wanted him because he was dating Jacobs," her friend said.

"Well, yeah at first but now ... I really liked him, Tash," Crystal said.

"More than any of the other boys you stole?"

"I don't steal them. I tempt them. It's not my fault if their girlfriends can't keep them."

"Is that how it happened with Portman?"

"Not exactly. With him it was harder. It took a lot more than just my normal flirting and looks. Mondays before lunch, Portman waits outside my class for Jacobs to come by so they can walk to lunch together. I met him outside the classroom and got him to stand in front of me like he was pinning me to the lockers. Then I told him I had a secret that he had to know."

"He didn't believe you?"

"He was suspicious but I convinced him and when he leaned close enough I leaned up and kissed him. You should have seen her face when she saw him kissing me. She was crushed. A few days later he was mine."

"Then why'd he dump you?"

"I don't know, but it's whatever. Let's go." Crystal and Tasha walked away and Lizzy leaned back against the wall. Her breath came in short gasps and suddenly everything Matt said came rushing back. He had been absolutely right.

"Lizzy?" Dwayne asked, walking up to her. "Breathe, come on, talk to me. Kitten, please, breathe for me, darlin'," Dwayne begged. Looking at Dwayne caused Lizzy to feel worse and she couldn't calm herself down. "Connie, get Fulton," Dwayne told her as she came out of the auditorium with Guy. Connie was in the musical and Guy usually stuck around to walk her to dinner. Connie rushed off and Portman and Julie came out.

"Lizzy? Talk to me, Mav," Portman said as his eyes landed on her.

"No, no, please, no," Lizzy gasped.

"Okay then, I'm just gonna go 'cause I think I'm freaking her out even more," Portman said, then he walked away.

"I couldn't find Fulton, but I found Adam," Connie said when she and Adam appeared in front of Lizzy.

Adam looked at Lizzy then sent the rest of the Ducks to dinner. "Lizzy," Adam started as he looked at her carefully. He wanted to hug her, but knew it probably wouldn't be welcome.

"I'm an idiot," she gasped out.

"Do you want to tell me why you think so?" He asked as gently as he could.

Lizzy sank to the ground and pulled her knees to her chest. Her breathing slowly normalized and then she looked up at Adam and told him what she found out. Adam only looked at her quietly. "I know what I have to do, but I don't really want to." Adam continued to watch in silence. "I know I don't have to talk to him, I'm not a kid anymore and no one can force me to do anything, but I feel like I owe him."

"Maybe you do," Adam said, crouching in front of Lizzy and resting his hands on her knees. "But he'd never force you to. I may not know Portman the way you and Fulton and Kenny do, but I know that he would let this whole thing go if it made you more comfortable."

"I don't want to be comfortable; I want him to know how sorry I am. I want my heart to stop breaking."

"Then I guess you have no other choice."

Lizzy looked up at him. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "Yeah, it's not going to be easy."

"You're strong though and I know you can get through this."

"Thanks Ads," Lizzy said. Adam offered her his hands and pulled her to her feet. "I'm not really hungry; I think I'm just going to go back to my room."

"Are you sure?" Adam pressed his forearm to her forehead.

She shoved his arm away playfully. She knew he was checking to see if she had a temperature or if she didn't feel good. It was always unusual when she skipped a meal. "I'm just not hungry."

"Okay." Adam nodded.

Lizzy was lying on her bed when Fulton entered. "Hey, you weren't at dinner. Adam said you weren't sick, so tell me what's wrong," Fulton said. Lizzy rolled onto her side and looked up at him. Fulton swallowed and walked over to the bed. She explained what was going on and what she had overheard. "So what are you thinking?"

"That I'm a terrible person. I'm a complete cliché. This kind of thing happens in books and movies and the girl is always wrong. I always said I'd be different. That I'd always give him a chance. Look at me now." Lizzy sat up and pulled her pillow into her lap.

"Now you're scared to talk to him because you don't know what to say or how he'll take it," Fulton said slowly as he sat down beside her.

"Exactly. That's why you're going to talk to him," Lizzy said suddenly as she looked up at him.

"Me? Lizzy ..." Fulton took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "We agreed I'd stay out of this."

"I know, I just want to make sure it really is that before I confront him. I don't think he'd tell anyone else."

"Okay," Fulton sighed. He stared down at his hands and looked sad.

There she went again. Manipulating her best friend to get what she wanted. Putting him in an awkward situation for her own benefit and there was nothing in it for him. Adam had been wrong. She instantly felt guilty. "Never mind," Lizzy said, seeing the look on his face. He looked like he really didn't want to say yes but at the same time like he didn't want to tell her no. "I promised I wouldn't guilt trip you into anything. I shouldn't do that, especially not if it could hurt your friendship with Port."

"You say things like that and I feel bad. I know you don't mean to, but I feel that way. Besides you were my friend first." Fulton looked at her.

"Am I a terrible friend? Because I'm starting to feel like a terrible friend. Tell me the truth, Fulton. Am I manipulating you just to make my life easier? Are you getting anything out of this?" Lizzy bit her lip feeling guiltier than she ever had before.

Fulton took a deep breath and sighed. "Aly decided that she has had enough of how close we are and Charlie is on me to improve my skating again," Fulton stated plainly.

"What? You said Aly was okay with us. You know what?" Lizzy shook her head. This was outrageous. That girl was so done. Lizzy had warned her when their relationship had started that hurting Fulton was the worst thing she could ever do. Now, though it was time to take care of her best friend. No one came after her best friend and hurt him without dealing with her. It didn't matter what her problems were, it only mattered that Fulton was hurting. Her pain could wait. She'd figure it out without him. "It's her loss. You are too good for her anyway. And don't worry about Charlie; I'll take care of him."

Fulton grinned. "And that's why you'll always be a great friend. You always have my back and no matter what you're going through you're willing to drop everything and help me."

"You're my best friend and, don't take this the wrong way, you have very few good friends who would take on the world for you." She watched him but he didn't look upset.

"Yeah, I know." He smiled as he wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Then you know that I can't take one of those friends from you. That's why you don't have to do this," Lizzy told him.

"I already told you I would talk to him. If you can drop everything for my hypothetical problems then I can help you with your real ones. So how do you want to do this?" She explained her plan and he nodded asking what she planned on doing when she heard what he had to say.

"If he says what she did, then I owe him an apology. I'm just worried that an apology isn't going to be enough."

"It won't be enough to go back to Lizzy&Dean, you know like Connie&Guy, but you can be like The Fox and the Hound." The names were said in the same breathe, like you couldn't have one without the other. She wasn't sure that was completely true about her and Portman but she got the gist of what he was trying to say.

"Separated by species?"

"Friends, no matter what."

"After Tod almost gets Chief killed, they weren't friends until Tod saves Copper's life from the bear."

"Well you could consider Crystal your "Chief" moment and the apology your "bear" moment."

"Thanks." Lizzy smiled. Then it really hit her what he had said. His hypothetical problems. "Did you really make that up just to prove I'm a good friend?"

"Aly and Charlie? Yes, to prove you're a great friend. You really are. You're always in tune with me and Ads and you try your best to help the rest of the team. The only time you manipulate us is when it'll help all of us or to keep us from getting hurt in the long run. In my opinion that makes you a great person and friend." Fulton gave her a hug and then gave her some food before leaving the room. Lizzy sighed wondering if he was right both about Portman and his response and about her not being manipulative.