A/N

Hi! Hope that wasn't too long of a wait. I think im starting to get my writing streak back. I still have a lot of plans for this story so I hope you'll stick around. I do just want to warn you again that I will probably be taking dark and angsty paths with this story so if that stuff bothers you, read at your own risk. Thank you to all who have left me reviews, I really enjoy getting them. Don't be shy to leave one, I love hearing your feedback and I'm curious on what you think about the story and predictions you might have. Anyways, enough ranting, hope you enjoy this next chapter, And I don't own the mighty ducks.

"I cant believe the nerve of that man! Making you play for the Ducks. Not if I can help it!" Philip Banks huffed as he paced back and forth.

Adam sat at the kitchen table, an untouched peanut butter sandwich in front of him. It was true. He was forced to play for the Ducks if he wanted to stay in the peewee hockey league. Stupid district lines. On top of that, his old friends had completely shunned him. Larson and McGill won't even look at him. But he still wanted to play hockey. It was all he ever wanted. Sure he wasn't thrilled to be on the Ducks but maybe it wouldn't be so bad.

He was supposed to have his first game with them tomorrow, but his dad was very keen on making sure that didn't happen,

"Bombay has no right to take you off the Hawks! That's the only team you know and that's the only team you should know!" Philip ranted as Adam stared at his food.

Adam looked up and nodded before taking a deep breath and swallowing.

"Dad, I'm supposed to play with them tomorrow."

Philip ran a hand down his face and turned to him.

"And?"

"And I wanna play hockey. Can I least see if I hate it?" Adam pleaded, hoping he hadn't set him off.

Philip sighed and sat down.

"Fine. You can play tomorrow. But I'll be damned if you spend the rest of the season on that team."

Adam nodded and ran upstairs. He sat on his bed and sighed before walking to his closet and picked out his old Hawks jersey. 9 Banks. It oddly seemed so long since he played for them. It felt like forever since he touched the ice. He wasn't sure if he was ready for it tomorrow.

…

Adam anxiously gripped his stick as he pushed his way into the Ducks locker room. All the previous commotion came to a sudden stop the second he entered. He slowly walked in and kept his eyes to the floor as he heard the door open behind him.

"Hey, wasn't sure if you'd show up." Bombay said.

Adam shrugged.

"Yeah whatever, I just wanna play hockey."

"Good. Ducks, you all know Adam Banks."

All the Ducks looked around the room awkwardly, desperate not to make eye contact. Adam tried to look casual. He caught the attention of one boy with brown hair who gave a slight smile and stepped forward.

"On behalf of the Ducks, I'd like to say welc-"

He was suddenly stopped by another boy who gave him an unfriendly sneer.

"Cake eater."

"Oh! The jess-man! Dissing the new guy! The jess-ster!" Another boy with glasses started mocking before the mean one shut him down.

"Shut up, Averman!"

"It was just a joke." He mumbled as the mean one stepped forward, staring at Adam in the face with a dirty look.

"Putting on a Ducks Jersey doesn't mean you're a real Duck." He spat before walking out of the locker room. All the other Ducks shortly followed suit. Along with the one boy who tried to welcome him. Adam did appreciate that he was the last to leave though. Before long, it was just Adam and Bombay in the locker room.

"They're a good group once you get to know them." Bombay said.

"Yeah, I bet. Adam mumbled.

"Well, suit up, I'll see you on the ice." Bombay said before exiting the locker room.

Then it was just Adam. He set his bag down and picked up his new jersey. 99 Banks. Every fiber of his being told him not to put it on. He would be officially off the Hawks and onto a team that hated his guts. Who knows if they would ever accept him? Before he could stop himself, he shed his jacket and popped the jersey over his head.

Without his equipment underneath it was super baggy. The bright green was a major shift from his usual black, but it was a shift he'd have to get used to. His stomach starting to turn and he wished he could just run back to the Hawks. He just didn't want to be alone.

…

After an unpleasant dinner, (for Adam at least) Adam and Charlie were back in their dorm. Adam made Charlie lie down again with an ice pack to his head (even though he claimed his head felt fine) as he tried to concentrate on his book report but he just couldn't get what Averman and Russ said out of his head. He supposed that he shouldn't be too surprised, but it still really hurt to hear them say that.

He was slowly starting to regret saying anything to the Ducks. Maybe if he had kept everything to himself, Riley would have never found out. He should have known better. How could he have been so stupid?! He had kept it hidden for so long until he finally spilled it to Charlie. But now he was starting to question if that was a good idea.

He did trust Charlie but it was also Charlie who originally wanted him to be more open about it. He should've just kept it to himself. He hated himself for letting his guard down. And it made it worse knowing he couldn't take it back.

"Adam!"

Adam shook his head and suddenly snapped out of his thoughts.

"Huh? Sorry you say something?"

"Yeah, for like five minutes! Dude what's wrong with you?"

Adam sighed.

"I'm sorry, I'm just overthinking."

Charlie raised an eyebrow.

"About?"

Definitely not worth telling the truth in this case.

"Nothing in particular. School, hockey, my… situation. I guess it's all just a lot right now."

"But your not cutting right?"

Adam tensed up and suddenly his arm stung.

"No I'm not. I told you I stopped."

Charlie nodded.

"I'm glad. I hate the very thought of you doing that to yourself."

Adam felt guilty at this. He usually didn't put in too much thought about it but he knew that his cutting affected others, especially Charlie. He was usually just so wrapped up in his thoughts and emotions that he didn't stop to think about how it hurts others.

Charlie laid back down and Adam tried to go back to his homework but he turned back to Charlie.

"Can I ask you something?"

Charlie slowly sat up, ice pack to his forehead.

"For sure, what's up?"

"When I first told you about my cutting, how come you weren't creeped out by it?"

Charlie put his ice down and scooted closer to Adam.

"Because you're my best friend and I wanted to help you. Adam I wasn't creeped out, I was scared. I don't know much about what you go through but I didn't want it to turn into anything worse than it was. And the fact that you've been dealing with it for so long just makes me want to help you even more. I just don't want you to suffer."

Adam couldn't help but smile at this. He always knew that Charlie cared, but he didnt know it was to that extent.

"Thanks. I was just curious."

"That's the only reason you asked me?"

"Yeah." Adam lied.

Charlie narrowed his eyes.

"Are you sure? There's really nothing else going on?"

Adam twitched and tightened the grip on his sleeves.

"Charlie, I'm okay. Now you should really lie down, make sure your head is okay." Adam said, desperate to change the subject.

"I told you, my head is fine. It wasn't even a concussion, and I'm sick of just lying around every night." Charlie huffed, setting his ice pack aside.

"Well there's nothing else to do besides homework. Have you even started you book report?" Adam questioned and Charlie smirked.

"Define 'started'. Cause no, not really." Charlie laughed and Adam groaned.

"Come on man! You know Orion expects a B or higher. You at least read the book right?"

"What I could stomach." Charlie said and Adam shook his head.

"What's so bad about To Kill a Mockingbird?"

"It's so boring! And they talk so southern.

"That's because they're in the South, dumbass." Adam laughed as he fished out his copy from his backpack, tossing it to Charlie.

"Read a couple more chapters tonight and I'll help you get started on your report. You do realize it's due next week, right?"

Charlie picked up the book and started paging through it before glancing up at Adam.

"I prefer to just ignore it till it goes away."

"How'd you even get into this school with your grades?"

"Beats me man, but thank god for hockey."

Adam chuckled and turned back to his own report.

….

The next day, Adam trudged back into Eden Hall with his new prescription under his jacket. His therapist was dead serious about upping the dose and Adam couldn't have felt more embarrassed when picking it up. Mainly because his dad had to go with him. He always hated that part. His dad seemed to pretend to be supportive but in reality, Adam felt that he was silently judging him.

He walked through the deserted halls back to his dorm. Class was still in session and the bell would ring at any minute. Much to Adams dismay, it went off before he could get back. Panicked, he ducked into the nearest bathroom and waited for the halls to clear out. But once he heard the door open followed by a chuckle, he tightened his grip on his meds.

"Oh this is just too good. Whatcha doing Banksy? Don't have a razor on you now, do you?" Riley said, followed by a laugh.

Adam took a breath and turned around. It wasn't just Riley this time. Both Cole and Scooter were there along with two other Varsity players that Adam forgot the names to. Adam just looked at them and then turned his eyes to the ground.

"What do you want?" Adam tried to sound confident but even he could tell he sounded just barely above a whisper.

"Hey, I don't want anything. We can all be friendly, can't we boys?" Riley gestured to his teammates who all nodded. Adam could tell it was all an act but nevertheless he attempted to push through them. He looked up briefly and made direct eye contact with Riley who smirked and swiped his hand under Adam's jacket.

"Hey give me that!" Adam yelled but was suddenly held back by Cole as Riley opened the small bag, taking out the orange pill bottle.

"Well, what have we got here? Adam Banks. Fluoxetine. Take 3 tablets every morning for depression. Well boys, Banks is on crazy pills!"

Cole laughed behind him as Adam tried to break free.

"That's not what they are!"

"Nope, pretty sure only psychos take stuff like this!" Riley laughed, still holding the bottle.

"Riley just give it back!"

Riley smiled once again.

"Of course, Banksy. How rude of me. Cole, let him go."

Cole did as he was told and Adam straightened his jacket and held his hand out waiting for Riley to give him back his meds. Just as Riley was about to drop it into his hand, he popped off the cap and dump its contents onto the floor. Adam could only stare, petrified as Varsity howled with laughter.

Riley came a few steps forward and patted Adam on the shoulder.

"Don't feel too bad Banksy, I'm sure there are other crazies like you. Just not at Eden Hall. Let that teach you to show your face around here. Lets go boys."

And with that Riley turned his heels and lead his goons out of the bathroom. Adam dropped to his knees, desperately trying to pick up the small pills before anyone else came in. Adam looked up as Varsity left and made brief eye contact with Scooter, who for some reason lingered just for a second. But before he said anything, he continued to follow Riley.

Adam gathered the pills and fast as he could and tried to jam them back in the bottle without any spilling. Once he figured he got most of them, he dashed out of the bathroom and ran to his dorm as fast as he could. Luckily Charlie wouldn't be there since it was lunch period right now.

He burst into the room and started panting before he shut the door. He threw his backpack aside and sat down on his bed and buried his face in his hands, but he wouldn't let himself cry.

No, Adam. Don't cry. Only psychos cry.

Instead he took some breaths, shaking the entire time. He jumped up from his bed and went to his dresser where he kept his razors. He opened the top drawer and was about to reach for the disastrous object but then stopped himself.

"Even if it is a little weird that he does it."

"Banks is on crazy pills!"

"I'm sure there are other crazies like you."

Adam couldn't get their words out of his head. He slumped down to the floor, razor in hand. He looked up to the ceiling as a few tears shed but he swallowed back most of what was inside of him. He watched the door in anticipation, hoping against hope that Charlie wasn't suspicious of his absence.

They were right. They all were. He was crazy. Crazy for cutting himself, crazy for taking pills, crazy for having mental health at all. He hated it. He hated it with all his heart and he wanted to cut the pain out.

He rolled up his sleeve and tried to put the razor to his wrist but the words rang through his head and he just couldn't do it. He just wanted to be normal. He cringed and put his sleeve back down. He threw the razor across the room as he let out a sob before he let the dam burst.