I wanted to say thank you to everyone who continues to read. I meant to have this up earlier but it seems that Fanfic has a problem with uploading at the moment.

Chapter 13: Adam Talks

After her talk with Fulton, Lizzy picked up the box and walked over to the varsity baseball table and set the box down. "Nice jersey," Mike said.

"Thanks, yours are in this box." Lizzy pulled out the top most one and read off the name. "White." Brick reached out and Lizzy handed him his jersey. "Marshall," she read pulling out another one. Mike took his. "Johnson," Lizzy said, handing one to the third baseman. She continued to pass the jerseys out until she reached the last red one in the box which she handed to Doug Moore, their left fielder. The rest of the jerseys were their white away jerseys and the white away and black home jv jerseys. "You can have the rest of your uniforms at practice. I know the hockey and basketball teams have a tradition of wearing their jerseys the day before the game, or day of if it's on the school day, and was thinking you'd do the same. If you'd rather not, that's fine too, however if we win both games on Saturday I fully expect everyone to have them on all day Monday."

"What color are the away jerseys?" Doug asked.

"White and red," Lizzy answered.

"You and Fulton okay?" Bash asked.

"Yeah, no matter what happens, he knows I love him so we'll always be okay," Lizzy shrugged. Bash looked at her concerned so she gave her best smile and even though it didn't quite reach her eyes, Bash seemed convinced by it. After lunch was Lizzy's psychology class and at the end of the class she approached her teacher. "Mr. Stewart, you're a psychologist right?"

"I have a psychology degree yes," her psychology teacher answered.

"Do you believe people can change?"

"There are parts of your personality that will never change, but yes, people can change."

"Even if they've done something terrible?"

"What's this about?"

"I know a guy who is trying to apologize for something he did four years ago. I know he was just a kid and since his dad worked a lot he really trusted his coach."

"This is about Todd McGill and Adam Banks."

"You know about that day?" she asked shocked.

"I'm a hockey fan from Edina. Everyone remembers that game. I can't give you the answers you're looking for. I can't tell you why he did it or if he is truly sorry for what he did. What I can tell you is that people do all sorts of things for all kinds of reasons. Everyone makes their own choices. What defines us as humans isn't our choices, but how we react to those choices. Don't ask if he's ever going to do it again, ask instead why it still bothers you so much. I'd love to help you out more, but I have a class to teach and you have one to get to. Here's a pass in case you're late."

"Thank you," Lizzy said as she took the pass and headed for study hall. As she walked quickly, she pondered what the psychology teacher had said. Why was she reacting the way she was? Did it have anything to do with her own mistrust in her Pee Wee coach that year? Was forgiveness really even necessary at this point? She got to class and handed the teacher her note before sitting down with the hockey team.

"Are you okay? You look bothered," Julie said.

"I don't know. Just thinking about a lot of things." Lizzy glanced at Adam then looked back at Julie.

"Holding a grudge just makes it harder on you. It makes you angrier. Letting it go could make you feel better," Julie told her.

"Yeah, I suppose." After practice Lizzy called Larson and he met her at a small diner in Edina. She sat down at a table and watched out the window. The dirty blonde boy walked in wearing a light blue windbreaker, and black slacks. He smiled gently and then sat down across from her, watching her. "Tell me, should I be mad at you?" Lizzy asked.

"Well, hello to you too," he said softly. His light eyes took in her Texas t-shirt, light jacket, and curious expression. She brushed the dark hair out of her face and he smiled.

"Hi," Lizzy answered, trying not to sound impatient. "Will you please answer my question?" A waitress came by and poured Larson a glass of water, handed him a menu and walked off. Larson placed the menu on the table then clasped his hands over it.

"I haven't done anything lately," Larson said slowly.

"I know you probably don't remember it, but the last period of the championship game—"

"You mean when I hooked your cousin's elbow with my stick and took him down giving your team the penalty shot that won you the game?"

"You remember that?"

"I quit hockey because of that. Switched to baseball. That and what happened to Adam." Larson played centerfield for the Hampton Academy Rams. He too was on the varsity team and Lizzy knew there was a chance she'd have to face his team for playoffs and quite possibly even State.

"Should I be mad at you for that?" Lizzy asked nervously.

"Honestly, I hope you're not. I know that Charlie is closer to you than Adam is and if you were that torn up about what Todd did, then it should have hit you twice as hard what I did. Then we spent six hours in the hospital with Adam after the game and you were perfectly friendly. I figured that you realized it was just hockey and that I wasn't trying to hurt him on purpose. Then a few weeks later, Adam told me how hostile you were to Todd. I don't think I've ever understood why you were so hostile towards him but not me."

"I don't know if I can explain it."

"Try," Joey prodded.

"I really mean that. I don't know why it bothered me so much what McGill did and why it didn't with what you did. Maybe I knew it was just hockey or maybe it was because of the extent of the injuries. Adam was in the hospital and Charlie had a small bruise."

"Your dad is a lawyer, isn't he?" Lizzy nodded wondering where he was going. "Mr. McGill is the CFO of a major company in downtown St. Paul. Like your dad, Mr. McGill didn't make it to any games. Todd was left without a strong male influence. Coach Riley stepped into fill that. Look, I can talk until I'm blue in the face. Nothing is going to change your mind. I am sorry for what I did to your cousin."

Lizzy stared at him for a few moments. "Is he sorry?" she finally asked.

"I know that he wouldn't do it again. He and Adam have talked too."

"Have you forgiven him?"

"It took a while. I've known Adam since preschool. McGill on the other hand, we've only known since the third grade. McGill was always kinda bossy but we never thought he'd cross a line."

"What you're saying makes sense but I still feel bad. I mean, I should feel bad, shouldn't I?"

"That depends on why you feel bad. I was so angry at Todd for a while too. Do you feel bad for being angry about that? If so then no, you shouldn't feel bad. You had every right to feel angry about what he did. Do you feel bad for feeling angry for so long?"

"Should I feel bad for treating him so roughly but not you?" she clarified.

Joey stared at her for a moment then looked down at his hands. "I don't know. Maybe," he admitted softly. "Selfishly, no. I'm glad you're not angry at me. You should be but I'm glad you're not." He reached across the table and took her hand. "Thank you. Both for hearing me out and for not being mad."

Lizzy sighed heavily then smiled. Though this had definitely helped she still had no main answer to her question. The waitress returned and took their orders. After that, their talk dulled in to baseball and the weather and eventually the pair parted. Lizzy headed back for her aunt's house to make more food for the bake sale. She had made all the cookies she was going to and had just finished adding the batter to the cupcake liners when her aunt spoke. "Lizzy, Adam is here to see you," her aunt Casey said. Lizzy looked over at her aunt as the older woman stood in the kitchen doorway. When Lizzy didn't say anything or look angry at the boy's presence, Casey motioned him into the kitchen as Lizzy put the cupcakes in the oven.

"I know how angry you are and I never should've crossed that line. I apologize for putting you in a position to be embarrassed. It was not my intention," Adam said as gently as he could.

"You mean hurt." Lizzy looked at him seriously.

Adam shook his head. "McGill never would have laid a hand on you. And if he tried, Fulton was watching him the entire time. It was the only way Fulton would agree to get you to talk to Todd. To tell the truth, I don't approve of what he did either. The only difference between the two of us is that I don't blame him."

"Does it matter if I don't forgive him?"

"To him? No. He just wanted you to hear him out. To you? Only if it weighs you down. If you let this go, you could feel a lot better."

"That's what Julie said too. Is that why you did this? To make me a better person?"

"Part of it. After I was hurt, something in you changed. When you came back here six months ago, you were a different person. People change as they grow older, but it was almost like you were super angry about something. I wanted to fix that. My best friend was never super angry about anything. I don't know what changed; if it's about McGill, something that happened with your brother, or something you're not telling me about, but whatever happened, it's not you and I don't like it."

"If that only part of it, then what's the rest of it about?"

"I know you don't want to hear this, but another part was about helping McGill. It still weighs on him what he did. I know he doesn't want me to tell you this, but when it happened, yes, at first he was proud of what he did, but when he got home that night he got really scared." Adam stopped and looked at her almost as if a realization dawned on him. "You were scared. It wasn't anger, it was fear. Why were you so scared?"

"Seeing you laying there on the ice, not moving, not responding, unconscious, it terrified me. You and I both know that while Fulton is my best friend, you ... I will go to the matt for you every time. I promised that I'd always have your back, but I didn't and you got seriously hurt."

"I didn't get seriously hurt. I was unconscious for about a minute and only had a concussion. Liz, I know—"

"I don't know how it happened," she said softly, interrupting him. "After that game I was scared. Even after talking with you, I was still kinda scared, but as days passed ..."

"The fear turned into anger and that turned into a grudge. It was easier to be angry than scared. Being scared wasn't an option for you. Sometimes, I think you're a little too strong. I mean, I love you and I admire your bravery, but sometimes I think you're too strong. Maybe breaking once or twice can help."

"I had a coach that said that once. I didn't understand what it meant, but Ben said it had something to do with getting stronger."

"When most people lose a game it tends to bring them back down to Earth and can teach them a thing or two. Consistently winning though ... just look at what it did to Coach Riley. Then there's the fact that science has proven that crying can relieve stress and make you feel better."

Lizzy pulled her fully baked cupcakes out of the oven and set them to cool on the counter. Then she turned to look at Adam. After staring him for a few moments, she bit her lip and tears began to leak out of her eyes. Adam instantly pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.

"Uh, Ads, what did you do?" Lizzy heard Charlie's voice behind her.

"Don't worry, I got this," Adam answered as he rubbed her back.

"Do you really?" Charlie asked.

"Yes, I really have this," Adam said. Lizzy cried for a bit longer but eventually pulled back and dried her tears. "Feel better?"

"A little," Lizzy answered, sniffling.

"Is there anything I can help you understand? Anything I missed?"

"Should I be mad at both of them? At you?"

"Larson, of course not. McGill, I don't know." Adam looked down at his shoes. "I just don't want you to be so angry anymore."

"I don't want to be angry either. I just need time. Maybe if I don't think about it for a while, I'll feel better. You ever do that to me again, and I'll never speak to you. Do you understand me?"

"Yeah, I get it."

"How do you feel though?"

"I feel fine," Adam said slowly, his brows knitting together.

"No guilt from manipulating me? Or Fulton?" Lizzy spat.

"I do feel a little guilty about that but it came from a place of love. I did this to make you feel better, so I don't feel quite as guilty as you think I should. I know that what I did hurt you emotionally and I apologize for it. I also apologize for talking Fulton into it. He's your best friend and I shouldn't have. You are a better person than you were. When I told you that I set you up, you didn't fly off the handle like I expected you to. You said one very powerful line and it had more punch than anything I've ever heard you say. I love you and I'm sorry."

Lizzy boxed up her cupcakes, opting to frost them in the morning, then nodded to Adam and he left. At the end of the double header that Saturday, they won both games, Lizzy met with Anna and Emma who were cleaning up the bake sale table. "Hey girls," Lizzy said.

"Liz, hey. We're not there yet. Almost, but not quite," Emma said. She, of course, was talking about reaching the goal of putting on the art show.

"That's why the car wash is next Saturday. We'll make the money, I promise," Lizzy said.

"Yeah. Thank Mrs. Reed again for me and congrats on the games."

Lizzy had correctly predicted the win of both games meaning they were third seeded for the playoffs. Their first game would be on Tuesday. "Of course, and thank you." Lizzy walked over to Nat thanking her and then the woman hugged her. "Uh, thanks?" Lizzy said softly.

"You looked like you could use a hug," Nat answered.

"So what's the plan?" Charlie asked as he walked up. "Are you flying down tonight or are you meeting us tomorrow morning?" Lizzy looked confused. "Tennessee. Chris is graduating tomorrow," Charlie said slowly.

"Uh, no, that's next weekend," Lizzy answered. Since Chris's birthday was in October, he had started school when he was almost 6, putting him only two school years ahead of Seth instead of three like their ages suggested. Then Chris had taken a year off between high school and college to travel the world after deeply spraining his throwing wrist in his state championship game which put him a year closer to their other brothers. Now he, Seth, and Ben would be graduating in consecutive years.

"No, Liz, it's tomorrow, May 15th," Charlie told her. "Mom got tickets for a flight tonight. Uncle Rob will meet us at the hotel."

"And by us?"

"I mean Mom and me. He should have sent you your ticket days ago."

"Nope. I should call Ben. Double check." So Lizzy called Ben who confirmed the graduation the following day and that her father had figured she'd be too busy to make it. Lizzy hung up and frowned. "Why can't something just be easy once?" Lizzy asked the air. Then a hand offered her a cell phone over her shoulder. "Hello?" she asked, pressing the phone to her ear.

"Lizzy? What can I do for you?" a female voice asked. It was really familiar but Lizzy couldn't remember where from. Then it hit her.

"Mrs. Nora?" That meant it had to be Portman's phone. "Um, I don't—"

"Dean said you needed help with your brother."

There was just something in her voice that made Lizzy want to tell her. "My older brother Chris is graduating from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville tomorrow. I want to be there for him but it's over 12 hours away and I'll never make it if I drive. The ceremony starts tomorrow at 10 a.m. and I'm really hoping to be there. I know it's real late notice and I shouldn't ask this—"

"You need a flight to Tennessee, one that will get you there last minute and one that won't cost you an arm and a leg."

"Yes, Ma'am. I'm not completely sure how you can help but apparently Dean thought you could," Lizzy said confused.

"Sweetheart, I own a jet. One that can get you to Tennessee faster than any commercial jet."

"What? I thought that was a one-time thing. Last minute, here's a cheap flight because I'm amazing."

"No. We buy cars all over the U.S. When an athlete wants something specific you have to be able to fly out last minute to go somewhere and look at a car. We bought the jet a few years back and from time to time lease it out to cover expenses. You're welcome to it because Chris is your big brother and you need to be there. Star has the jet right now. She and Matt are using it after his game today to get to Tennessee."

"So it can get me down there tomorrow?" Lizzy asked.

"Early in the morning, of course," Nora said. They hashed out the details then the pair hung up. After giving the phone back to Portman, Lizzy sighed and walked away. She was slightly surprised Portman didn't come after her but mainly glad. She really didn't want to yell at him for butting into her life.

"What are you up to?" Charlie questioned his enforcer.

"I'm just being a friend," Portman explained to the captain. "I don't want things to be awkward between us so I figured this would help."

"Or you think that you getting her to Tennessee for Chris's graduation would make her happy and having her happy with you means that she'd be open to taking you back?"

That was exactly what Portman was thinking but he couldn't let Charlie know that. If he did then not only would that mean admitting how strong his feelings still were for the small center but could also imply that he was looking to sabotage things between Lizzy and Dwayne and he didn't want their captain thinking anything of the sort. Especially since it wasn't true. He would never do that to a teammate. "Of course not. I would never hurt her relationship with Cowboy. She deserves to be happy and it's my fault she hasn't been. If I can make things easier on her then why wouldn't I?" Charlie didn't have an answer for that, instead he just walked off.

"Nicely done. Lizzy appreciates the help and deep down she'll feel better about what happened between the two of you," a brunette lady standing next to him said.

"Mom," Fulton chastised. Portman looked from Fulton to the woman and remembered he had met the woman before and she was Fulton's mother. Nat Reed smiled innocently.

"But, you break my goddaughter's heart again and you will never be back in her good books."

"Mom," Fulton said again. Nat only smiled.

"It's fine, Fult," Portman smirked. It wasn't the worst threat he received about his relationship with Lizzy, in fact the boy had threatened him with even worse, but he understood where the woman was coming from.

Lizzy arrived at the hotel her dad and brothers were staying at early Sunday morning, opting to sit and wait in the lobby. Soon Seth came down and sat down across from her with the sport's page and a mug of what she guessed was coffee. Lizzy watched him for a while but he never once looked up from his paper. She decided that it was up to her to go this attention. She cleared her throat, once, then twice and he put down the paper and looked at her. She could tell that the instant his eyes landed on her face, the question on his lips died. "Hey," he said softly. Lizzy didn't answer; she just continued to stare at him plainly. Seth swallowed hard looking about as nervous as he had after he had thrown a vase at her. "Should I apologize?"

"Feeling guilty, are we?" Lizzy asked.

"Should I be? You're looking at me like I should be saying something." Lizzy continued to stare at him. "I haven't talked to you in a while, so I'm sorry for that," Seth said, unsure.

"Thanks, but it's not that. To be honest, it's not really about you; I'm not sure what to say."

"Come upstairs, maybe Matt can help." They stood and went to the elevator.

"What's in the cup?"

"Tea. Tash got me into it. It's better for you than coffee and yes, she's okay with me calling her that." Lizzy smiled silently. The elevator opened right into the top floor suite. She instantly spotted Star at the counter making waffles.