Love in the Shadows ~ Dean Portman x OC

Ch. 28: Less Charlie, More Hockey

Pov: Adam Banks, August 18th, Minneapolis, Minnesota

"Please welcome to the podium, head coach and leader of the Ducks, Gordon Bombay"
We all applaud as Coach gets up and makes a speech about us. He's introducing us at Eden Hall Academy. My father went here 3 years after Bombay graduation. It's a big deal that I'm here. Charlie's here too standing next to Julie and I'm behind him trying not to stare at his hair or him in general. Going to school together isn't anything new so I'll be alright but I'm hoping to get closer to him. Emotionally I mean. He's not gay. I can't be so emotionally. Because he's my friend. My best friend.

Dean Buckley hands us our official scholarships an the Dean gives Charlie a hug for the picture. I squeeze in next to him and his arm goes on my shoulder and mine goes around his waist. For the photo...

I see Han, Ms. McCay, and Coach clapping for us as we step down. Coach pulls Charlie aside and they walk to the lake so I start taking to Kenny who's not excited to be a new freshman while the rest of us are sophomores and juniors. "Well you have Connie with you. Plus we might have some classes together. Or even lunch. Worst case we see you everyday at hockey practice"
"I guess so. I just wanna keep my head low to avoid bullying and stuff"
"I'm sure you'll be fine" (famous last words)

Charlie comes back fuming and I try to ask him what's wrong and he brushes me off. Somethings definitely wrong. But he leaves

2 days later, me, Charlie, Averman, Goldberg, Connie, and the rest of the Minnesota Ducks are skating to Eden Hall. Ny dad wanted me to look nice on my first day so he makes me wear a button up and a tie. Charlie comments on it and I thank my lucky stars. Well to be fair, he said "Nice tie Cake Eater" so not exactly a compliment but I'll take it. We're halfway there when Charlie and Goldberg suddenly disappear. The rest of us look around in confusion but continue skating. Eventually, they somehow get in front of us and Charlie is covered in goop. He looked great. Like really great. Like hot. He looked hot.

We skate by some polo horses as we get to Eden Hall and Charlie suggests we sneak in the back. Unfortunately, Goldberg looses control of his skates and we go barreling into the curtain right infront of the entire school. They laugh at us as Charlie says "Hi. We're the Ducks" I mentally slap myself because this is the opposite of looking good on the first day. Once we clean up and get our skates off, we are taken to the Dean's office. He has so many pictures on his wall and an ant farm.
"You could learn a lot from ants" Dean Buckley scares us "These Brazilian fire ants can teach you a lot about successful societal structure. you see there's one queen in there. And the rest are dedicated worker ants. Everybody pulls their weight. nobody complains. There's harmony and growth. Same here at Eden Hall. only you are the workers, the backbone"
Then Russ quips "And you're the queen?" so we naturally start laughing as he escorts us to our first class. Math.

She's a tight ass who assigns minimum 3 tests a week. Me and the other sophomores all look at her stunned. Math will kill me if I don't do it first.

Next history. He slams a book down on Charlie's desk with some dwarf doll underneath. He used it for a metaphor but I think it was a double entendres. He was talking to the Ducks. Also a wackjob.

In the halls as I'm coming out of history, I see Luis get shoved into the lockers and Kenny pushed around. "Sorry Kenny" I say as I pass him.

Me and Charlie have class in the same area so I follow him to our next classes when he gets stopped by some pretty girl. I'm behind her and I can see the second he looks at her he's in love. Crap.

Adam why are you surprised? She's an attractive girl and he's obviously attractive and also not into dudes so of course he likes her. He'd never like you Adam remember that or you'll do something stupid.

When she walks away I just catch up to him. "But I'm not a Warrior, I'm a Duck"
"Hey whatcha talking about?"
He pauses and looks at me for a moment. God he's gorgeous and just says "Nevermind" and resumes heading to class.

This is going to be miserable.

At the start of 6th period we head to the rink as that's our practice time. We scuffle with Varsity for a bit before playing round-up on the ice. Dwayne gets me first because I'm tired and don't wanna use too much energy before practice. We play around for a bit then Charlie gets caught and that's the exact moment our new coach skates onto the ice. He looks like a drill sergeant. He looks like my dad.

"My name is Coach Orian. You can call me coach or Coach Orian."
"Well you can call me Charlie" He's a dead man.
"That must be what the C on your jersey stands for because it sure doesn't stand for captain" Now he's a dead man.

Charlie stupidly calls the guy a rookie, gets told to do laps, then sasses him as he goes. If he's not careful he's gonna get kicked off.

Coach Orian starts talking about defense and two-way hockey and all that stuff. I think he sounds tough but that's what makes good players. The rest of the team, accept for Averman and Charlie, look almost scared of him. They'd hate my house. This is how my dad taught me hockey so I'm sure I'll thrive here.

After shots at the goalies for an hour. We shuffle into the locker room. He posts our positions and I go to look for my name
"I'm not even posted"
"Yea you are. Adam Banks, third line center... Varsity" Connie reveals.
I look at the paper and see it's true "I made varsity?" My dad's gonna be proud but I'll be alone. Maybe it's for the best. Less Charlie, more hockey.

WC: 1073

A/n: MERRY CHRISTMAS EVE! here's your present a bit of sad adam core and him being absolutely in love with charlie. enjoy this and happy holidays!