Dedication:  Digital Tempest, aznJEDI13, Victory Thru Tears, Aqua Lion, and loads of other fic writers who've really inspired me.

          By Star

     My musings were started by an offhand comment from Averman a few years ago.  I can't even remember what he said exactly.  There was a photo in the newspaper of Adam handing the flag to Charlie after we won the Junior Goodwill Games, and Averman made a comment along the lines of 'Aww!  You make such a cute couple!'

     There were rumours for awhile after that.  As Averman was fond of saying, "There's no smoke without fire".  Naturally, he didn't really think something was going on, but it was gossip and it passed the time.

     Until the next rumour hit, and everyone forgot that they ever thought Adam and Charlie might have been together.

     Everyone but me, that is.

     I'm still trying to work out if they are or not.  Sometimes I look at the two of them and think they are and sometimes I look at them and just can't see it.

     I mean, there are so many examples that come to mind, but when you pick them to pieces, really they're just examples of a strong friendship.

     Maybe a little too strong to be just friendship at times.

     Take how strongly Charlie reacted when Adam made Varsity.  Some people thought he was jealous.  Some people thought he was disappointed about losing his friend to another team.

     I think both parties were right.  And then some.  I think Charlie was scared of losing him full-stop.

     Then again, that could just be friendship.

     Another time I saw them fight, just before we got Banksie back.  Charlie stormed off in the huff that was customary for that period in his life, and then Adam punched a wall, there were tears in his eyes before he decided to take on the wall.

     Again, they could just be friends.

     How about the unofficial Varsity vs JV match?  He was in a horrible mood before the game even started.  And the way he took on Banks was entirely personal.  Charlie knew that Adam had made a legal check.

     Then Coach Orion broke it up, as Varsity were skating out I noticed Adam look back, he was looking straight at Charlie.  He looked heartbroken.

     And yet again, it could have just been disappointment over the way things turned out.  I mean, when you and your best friend decide to punch each other out over a game you know things are bad.

     But if that person was more than a friend…

     I look over at them, Charlie is carefully checking Adam's wrist.  After the Junior Goodwill Games it's been a bit weak, every so often he'll bump it and it will act up.  Adam being Adam, he can't admit that.  And Charlie being Charlie, is constantly on the look out for it.

     Maybe Charlie's just being a good friend.  Who knows?

     Then again, it's taking a long time for him to check Adam's wrist.

     Occasionally they glance at each other, with small smiles.

     This is one of those moments when I just know they're together.

     Any minute now someone's going to say something and get my attention, and when I look back at them they'll have moved apart and I'll think I imagined it.

     It occurs to me that I have these thoughts a lot.

     Probably more than the rest of the team put together.

     And I'm not stupid enough to convince myself it's idle curiosity.

     I think the reason I'm so interested is because… well, if it's ok for them, it's…

     "Dean Portman is awarded…"

     I look up and see my best friend striding in as if he owns the place.

     His eyes seek me out first.

     I can't hide my smile.  Despite there being several people in the way, I'm the first one to greet him with a hug and a chest butt.

     I wonder if Portman ever wonders about the same things as me?

     When I look back at Charlie and Adam, they're still sitting together, looking at each other with those half smiles.

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