Summary: When love turns into a game of lies and deceives; will love ever beat out friendship, or will friendship beat out love? Who will get involved in the game, and will anyone’s feelings actually survive the commotion? Emotions run our lives, when our instincts can’t be trusted...
Rating: R, because I just feel like it.
Cimmy's Notes: So, I was brainstorming about Forever and A Duck’s Tale when I happened to come up with this plot instead. It’s caused by my writer’s block, and it’s just like me to start on a new pointless project when I’m already busy with five others. Also, this is another stereotyped little thing, I believe those are my specialties.
Disclaimer: Disney owns The Mighty Ducks, and I own Erik, plus anyone else from my crazy bunch of OC’s that might show up.
There has always been something strange in the way we keep avoiding each other. At first I thought it was just one of those things that pass just as quickly as it arrives. That unsettling feeling of attraction, towards someone you should stay away from.
I’ve always been sure of what I am. Even in my darkest hour, there was never any doubt. I know that he’s aware of this. I’m also very sure that he knows that I’m familiar with the whole situation.
A few segments of all my memories throughout my existence are forever burnt into my mind as the most memorable ones. Like that day my sister was born. Or when we won the Junior Goodwill Games. Yes, even the day I went home with the announcement that I’d aced my History exam, and my Dad told me that he was proud of me.
Then there’s that day when I realized that I had feelings for my best friend. It sounds like a lousy concept, and it really is. Not only do you lose your friend, you also can’t concentrate on anything but this newfound problem. The first few weeks were the worst. I kept running into things, forgetting my homework, showing up late for practice. That of course resulted in him giving me a lecture, which only caused my mind to wander even more. I was almost killed out on the ice those days.
Connie left her homework in my room the other day. We had been studying Math, I think. She had to leave in a hurry, being late for one of her important dates with Guy. Along with her Algebra book, she left one of those girly magazines, and I had to read it. Jennifer Lopez was on the front cover, but since I’m gay, that had no effect on me whatsoever.
There was this quiz, though. Connie had already marked her answers, so I was curious on what result she’d gotten. The topic was ‘How Do You Act When You’re In Love?’, and there was a whole bunch of questions.
Obviously, I turned out to be the one who gets grouchy when my love doesn’t return the feelings. Although, I’m quite sure it’s not caused by PMS, but you never know, those magazines can be quite impeccable sometimes. Oh, and I also don’t look as bad without makeup as I obviously thought, but I think I already knew that. Connie buys some weird shit from time to time.
Right now I’m in my room, staring into the wall. This is my favorite hobby after practice, when I’m tired, but still not enough tired to sleep. I share room with Charlie, and he always throws his stuff around as much as he possibly can. Probably because he knows it drives me crazy.
It’s pure torture to live with him, at the same time as you’re trying to forget he’s alive. Especially when he’s doing his best to annoy you, every chance he can get. We used to be best friends, but lately, all we do is argue and avoid each other. I have a feeling it’s because he can’t deal with his emotions. Stonehearted as he is, he would never admit having any feelings for me.
Maybe not stonehearted, but stubborn as hell. We can’t be close anymore, since he’s convinced that being with me is the most awful thing since Vanilla Coke. I should get myself a life that doesn’t revolve around Charlie. I tell myself that it’s going to pass someday, it’s just a crush. By the time I reach college, I won’t even remember what I went through these last months.
Months, huh? I’ve been obsessing for months. It was easier with girls, I have to say. It’s always been easier with girls. Not that I’m complaining, what I’ve heard, love is supposed to be difficult.
But come one, give me a break! I’m suffering here! It might entertain Charlie when I’m in this much pain, but it’s sure as hell not any fun for me. I lost his friendship, because he’s too afraid to admit that he likes me. He does. I just know it.
Question is; how do I convince him to proclaim it to the world?
Eden Hall Academy - dinner hall. Oh, joy, how I adore this place. If I hadn’t been so busy complaining about it every single moment I get the chance to, maybe I would like being here?
Connie is on my left side, talking about how I shouldn’t eat a chicken sandwich every morning for breakfast. It’s presumable bad for your health to eat the same food over and over again, according to some article somewhere. I do have the opinion that the amount of hairspray she uses is probably just as hazardous.
“Some chickens live in very small cages,” Connie explains very matter-of-factly, which has nothing to do with my health. I see that Guy is watching us with a highly amused look on his face. He’s probably just happy that she’s not terrorizing him as usual.
“I’m still eating my sandwich,” I mutter, being my usual defiant self. “I bet your salad is just as disgusting. Maybe they never cleaned the lettuce before they chopped it up and stuffed it into that bowl. Think of the snails and worms. Oh, Christ.”
My attempt to make her nervous obviously pays off, because she stops chewing. “How gross!” she exclaims. Of course, this only results in her stealing my chicken sandwich. I have to starve again.
The conversation trails off into nothing, while we both turn our attention to Captain Charlie. He’s talking about yesterday’s practice, and obviously, we have been acting badly again. Lately, all he ever does is complain. Even when we do well. “We can’t behave like that against the Clairmont Cattle on Friday.”
“Clairmont Cattle?” I snort, even though I should try not to steal the spotlight away from him. He doesn’t like that. And he definitely does not like my comment.
“I forgot the name, alright?” Charlie snaps, barely even looking at me.
“Well, shouldn’t you at least try to remember the opposite team’s name before you start lecturing us about our lack of attention out on the ice?” I go on, not really sure why I’m still talking.
This time, he shoots me an angry stare from across the table, almost making my milk freeze. One of those stares. “This coming from you, who screwed up the entire line-up yesterday?”
“Way to put your priorities straight,” I say causally, shaking my head as I turn back to my breakfast. Oh, right, Connie stole that one.
“Guys,” Fulton speaks up, his voice irritated. “Get a grip.”
“Yeah, what’s with the annoying bicker?” Russ wants to know.
They all start to talk about our word exchange, while I don’t care anymore. Connie even hands back the sandwich, of course after leaving bite-marks over half of it. I don’t need her pity. If she only knew why we were really fighting... She’d have to buy me the whole lunch buffet.
When we’re done, we all leave to get to our classes. I have Chemistry with Mr. Thomas. For some reason, he hates me. I assume it’s because I keep breaking things. It could also be because I’m always failing my assignments. I can’t deal with Chemistry. Obviously.
While I’m walking towards my locker, carrying all my required books for the day, I suddenly walk right into someone when I turn around the corner. With my luck, it’s probably Charlie. He won’t think twice about yelling at me for my thoughtless walking, and then there’s the comment I slipped through during breakfast. If it’s him, there will be some serious shouting.
Luckily, it’s not him. It’s the new guy, I try to remember his name, but it’s totally lost.
While Eden Hall was pleased with our achievements officially, they did not like how we outclassed the Varsity like we did a couple of weeks ago. They brought in a few new players on the squad, to improve the status of the team. Or, as the intention really is, to make us have to work even harder to become a whole team again. If we can’t get along with the new players, or get organized by our next important game, Varsity will once again become the star team of the school.
This guy, whoever he is, was one of the four who was let in on an athletic scholarship. He reaches down to help me gather my books together, and then he recognizes me. “Oh, hi Adam,” he says. It’s nice to not be called Banks or Banksie all the time. But I guess the newbies will catch on eventually.
“Hi...” I desperately try to remember his name. I should know this. He’s Russ’s new roommate, I’ve met him several times. I’m usually not this bad with names.
“I’m glad it’s you,” the not-so-mysterious guy sighs with relief. “I was hoping it wasn’t anyone who would turn against me. I’m sorry. Here’s your book.”
He puts my History book on top of the pile I’m juggling on my arm. “Yeah,” I reply, trying not to drop everything on the floor. “Stay away from Varsity. They hold this tiny grudge against us, somehow.”
“What class do you have?” he asks, but I don’t have time to answer before all my books topple over. I lean down to get them again, when someone kicks at the mess, and the books go flying all over the hallway.
“Hey!” I exclaim, looking up, just to find Riley standing over me like a rain cloud. “What’d you do that for?”
“I hope you have pulled your team back together. I would hate it if Friday’s game didn’t turn out good for you guys. It would give the school such a bad reputation,” Riley smirks. “But I guess now when you’re back on your usual spot, winning won’t be a problem.”
“No, it won’t,” I mutter. “Don’t you worry about us. We won’t bring the school’s reputation down to where you guys used to keep it.”
Riley disappears, his team following him like a tail. Cole decides to kick my Algebra book even further down the hallway. Cheers, now I have to go get it. They act like third grade bullies. It’s so immature that I won’t even care. “What’s up with them?” my teammate wonders.
“Varsity,” I grimace. “That is the reason to why you should stay away from them.”
He helps me gather my books together, and I’m just about to dash off to my class when he looks up at me. “What do you have, then?”
Except from a broken heart, not enough time and an empty stomach, not much, actually. “What do you mean?”
“Which class are you taking?”
“Chemistry.”
“Me too.”
He hands me the last book, while quickly looking at the title. It’s the book I’m forced to read for my English class. “This is a very interesting book. It’s not as unbearable as it might seem.”
“Thanks,” I mumble. Any book that contains more than 500 pages is unbearable in my eyes. He smiles at me when I try to get back up with the books in my arms. I can’t read his expression; I’m bad at knowing what people are thinking. But he definitely has some interesting strains and features going on. The fact that he knows what my book is about makes him even more interesting.
“So, Captain’s a plague, huh?”
“Excuse me?”
“Charlie. He was giving you a hard time at breakfast. What was that all about?”
I try to give off the impression that I’m shrugging, but it’s not easy when you’re carrying your own portable library. “He’s always like that. Don’t hold it against him, he’s a good captain. And he treats most of his players with respect. Except for me, of course. It’s a personal thing.”
“He sounds like a nice guy, yeah. I just thought it was weird how he talked to you earlier,” he explains. Now I feel even worse, because I realize that I’ve been sitting at the same table as this guy for the past two weeks or so.
He smiles at me again. It’s nice to have some friendly people around you for a change. The same thing goes for the ‘Banks’ thing. Charlie would never smile at me like that. He probably would help me gather my books together, but while lecturing me about the risks of not looking where I’m going. Charlie has some sort of thing about giving out lectures. I’m the receiver for most of them.
This new, special, smiling, thrilling guy waits for me as I stuff my books into my locker. Why shouldn’t I be allowed to make new friends when Charlie clearly doesn’t give a damn about my exciting life? Well, I added the ‘exciting’ part for dramatic reasons.
“So, I guess we have Chemistry.”
At first I misinterpret what he’s saying. Then I realize that it’s the lesson he’s talking about. I should really get a grip and stop having so high opinions about myself.
I nod after a few moments of hesitation, making him smile again. I enter the room at the same time as Charlie exit, making our heads bump together. “Ouch, what the hell? Banks, what are you doing?” Charlie complains. “You’re late.”
Then he looks at the unnamed character to my right. “Hi, Erik. Was it hard to find here?” Oh, now he’s being nice! But giving me a concussion doesn’t matter at all?
Did he just tell me the name of the person I’ve been chatting it up with? Why can’t I ever pay attention? I’m just going to assume it’s Erik. I’m sulking while Charlie exchanges a few words with Erik, then he leaves, but not after glaring at me some more. I glare back, walking towards the door. This time I bump into Erik. Yes, I should learn to watch my steps. Instead of lecturing me, Erik just smiles, like always. “It’s okay, you can go first if you’re in such a rush,” he says, sounding amused.
I wait until he’s actually inside the room before I follow him. Chemistry, huh? I’ve always liked that subject.