Callie

"That's right, the red is oxygen." Our science teacher said. I kept on taking notes as much as I could. "Now what are the blue balls?" He asked. We couldn't help but laugh a bit. "Tommy?" He asked Tommy. "Hydrogen?" Tommy asked. "Is correct!" He smiled.

"Now put them together and you got a molecule that is 96% of your body. What is it?" He asked. Water! It's water! "Pizza?" Tommy asked. We all laughed then I raised my hand. Until someone knocked at the door.

"It's the principal. I'll be right back." Our teacher said as he stepped out of the room. "Work on H2CO3. It's a goodie!" He smiled.

"How'd the forfeit go, Spazway?" Karp asked. "Yeah, did you score?" Peter added. "Leave me alone guys, I don't wanna talk about the team." Charlie said. "Oh yeah sure, coach's pet. We sure know he likes you best." Peter said. "His mom you mean." Karp laughed. "Guys..." I warned, knowing what was coming next.

Charlie lost it and stood up. "Take it back, Karp!" Charlie yelled. Karp stood up till he and Charlie were now pushing each other. I stood up too. "Take it back now!" Charlie yelled. Before I got to Charlie, Connie came near him and pushed Karp. "Leave him alone, Karp." She said.

Peter said something then pushed Connie. Guy saw it and he got up and pushed Peter. Everyone was now pushing and yelling at each other. Charlie was about to punch Karp then I grabbed his hand. "Oh yeah, defend your wimpy twin brother." Karp said. I snapped and yelled really high-pitched.

Tantrum mode: on full blast. "Nobody calls my brother wimpy! Take it back! I said take it back!" I yelled. "Aww, the little Conway is fighting back." Peter said. "Shut up Peter! You little tiny munchkin!" I yelled at him.

"Atom fight!" Someone yelled. We all started throwing the atoms at each other till two people came into the room. "You, sit! Sit down!" The principal ordered. We all rushed to our seats. I went back to mine but my table and chair were halfway across the room.

"In your seats now!" The principal yelled. Everyone took their seats except Charlie and I. "I have never in my life– What have you got to say for yourselves?" The principal asked.

"Quack!" Charlie piped. "Quack!" I piped up too. One by one, we were quacking. Until we were quacking all together. "Detention! All of you!" She yelled then left. I was in shock. My first detention! But I couldn't help but laugh.

+++

After classes we all went to this room full of chalkboards. We got our own chalk and our own area. We started writing.

'I will not quack at the principal.'

Pretty stupid if you ask me. "I will not quack at the principal." I laughed as I wrote. "Quack!" I said as I laughed again. "Shut up, Callie. Just keep writing." Charlie chuckled as he struggled to hold in his laughter.

We've been writing for an hour and I still haven't stopped laughing. We were all saying what we were writing so it was pretty noisy. Then I heard the door close. I stopped writing and looked.

It was Coach Bombay! He finally came to save the day! Looks like that pep talk of sorts I gave him worked.

"What do you want?" Karp asked coach. "I wanna talk to you guys." Coach said. "People!" Tammy corrected. "People, right." Coach said. "Sit down, please. All of you." Coach said. We all just stood there and didn't move. Awkward silence. "Okay, don't sit down." Coach said.

"Look, what's done is done. I wanna be your coach again." Coach said. "Coach a bunch of losers?" Averman asked. "No. I wanna coach the Ducks." Coach said. "But what about the things you said? You said we didn't deserve to live." Karp said.

"I was being sarcastic. Do you know what that means?" Coach asked Karp. "Noooo." Karp sarcastically said. "Okay, then you do. I didn't mean those things the way they sounded. You guys know what it's like to be misunderstood, right?" Coach asked.

"Yeah, of course. We're kids." Peter answered. "So, can you forgive me? Can I be your coach again?" Coach asked. "What about Banks?" Guy asked. "He can be on the team if they wants. He should've been with us all year. It's you guys who were cheated. Let's forget all that crap. We're a team right?" Coach asked.

We all agreed. "I made you guys. And I'm stickin' with ya." Coach said as Charlie smiled. "So? What's it gonna be? We can play tomorrow night, still have a shot at the play offs or we can forfeit again and the season's over? Peter, what do you say?" Coach asked.

"Well, I guess it'll help if we practice first." He replied. "Alright! Let me see if I can get you out of detention." Coach said and we all sighed of relief. "And did you really quack at the principal?" Coach asked before leaving the room. We all agreed and laughed.

"Are we Ducks or what?!" Coach asked. We all cheered.

+++

Coach got us out of detention and we were now in the rink. My wrist got better. A little swollen but good to go. We were all getting ready.

There were a new jersey hanging. I stood in front of it to take a good look. Banks 99. He's a 90 too. I stepped back and sat beside Charlie. The door opened and Banks came in.

We all stood up and there was an awkward silence. Great. How lovely! Coach came in and stood beside Banks.

"Hey! I wasn't sure if you'd show up." Coach said to him. "Yeah, whatever, I just wanna play hockey." Banks said. Charlie and I looked at each other. "Maybe he's not too bad." I whispered to Charlie.

"Ducks, you all know Adam Banks." Coach said. Charlie and I stepped forward. "On behalf of the Ducks, I'd like to say welcome." Charlie said as we were about to come near Banks. Jesse stopped us.

"Cake-eater." Jesse said. "Ohh, the Jess-Man dissing the new guy. The Jester." Averman said. "Shut up, Averman!" Jesse snapped. "Putting on the Ducks jersey doesn't mean you're a real Duck." Jesse spat at Banks.

The team walked out little by little. Charlie and I stayed. I looked over at Banks. He looked disappointed. Charlie left too while I stood beside coach. "They're a good group once you get to know 'em." Coach assured. "I bet." Adam said. "Well, suit up. I'll see you on the ice." Coach said then left.

I tapped Banks on the shoulder. "Can we settle things later? You and me?" I asked him. He nodded sadly. I smiled at him. "Things will get better." I said then left the room.