The Mighty Ducks Imagines

Secrets

"There's no love triangle." Julie tries to de-escalate the situation to get the unwanted attention off of her.

"Yes, there is!" The whole team sounds as a choir.

"It's been like 4 years - figure it out and get over it!" Fulton continues - though it feels pointed more towards Dean.

"Yeah, well, Y/N and Charlie are always bickering, but I caught them making out at the back of the hockey store like a week ago!" Adam gets defensive in the worst way - causing eyes to dart to Charlie and I (who just happen to be sat together) as we stare daggers at Banks.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Y/N and Portman made out because they act the same." Russ can't help but get involved.

"It was one time." Portman casually confirms, causing my eyes to become as wide as the moon in shock.

"Dude! Stop talking!" I scold him.

"Ooo!" Luis turns into a high-pitched little girl. "Now, that's the real love triangle."

"Shut it, Mendoza, or I swear I'll make you a real hockey player by removing the teeth from your stupid face." I spit, making him back down.

"I cussed at Portman one time!" Dwayne blurts out in and attempt to lighten the mood at his own expense.

"You what?" Connie questions as we all stare at him with wide eyes.

"I didn't mean to." The cowboy starts defending himself. "I was just tired and super frustrated because he wouldn't listen to me when I was trying to help him. I'm surprised I'm still alive after that."

"How didn't you tell any of us?" I ask Dean.

"You told me that was a dream." Fulton recalls.

"I was in so much shock that I thought it was." Portman shrugs. "But I'm honestly impressed. I'm proud of you, Tex." He beams with support.

"I promise, it won't happen again."

"Don't spoil it."

A myriad of shocked comments fly around the open air. Not one of us can  fathom the idea of Dwayne swearing. No wonder Dean thought it was a dream. Eventually, it becomes clear that Dwayne is getting uncomfortable, so the subject is changed like 20 times before another blow.

"I don't think that Goldberg's baked goods are actually that good." Averman admits, crushing his best friend.

"Are you serious?"

"They're good, they just could be better, ya know?" Les tries to salvage what he may have broken.

"It might be time for a little shakeup in the recipes, Goldberg." Russ pipes up.

"I don't believe this!" Goldie is obviously offended.

"It's just a few minor things, Goldie. It's not the end of the world." Charlie states.

"We can taste test if you want." Ken offers.

"I think we need to check up on Averman more." Connie changes the subject. "He's always joking around, but he's probably more dead inside than all of us." They've always been close, so I know she's heard some stuff that most of us haven't.

"What? That's... That's not true." Averman laughs nervously, making it easy to read him like a book.

"It's ok, man." Russ pulls an awkward face of sympathy.

Averman just looks at his untied shoes as the group goes fairly quiet - unsure what unhinged thought they have left to share. In this time, I reflect on an incident that has plagued our team for the past 2 years. Even the slightest mention can trigger the whole team. Should I say anything? I've been sitting on this for 2 years. They'll kill me, but Charlie said no more secrets. I'm gonna regret this.

"I ate the last ice cream cone." I mumble.

"What?" Julie didn't hear.

"I ate the last ice cream cone." I announce loud enough for the mob to hear.

"I knew it!" Luis exclaims as he springs to his feet and points at me harshly.

"That was you?" Julie joins him.

"You made me think it was Kenny!" Portman yells.

"How could you?" Fulton is betrayed on multiple levels.

"I'm sorry!" I shout over the collective disgust.

"Y/N, I trusted you..." Dwayne states calmly with a look of immense disappointment. That stings the most.

"Oh, God, even Dwayne hates me."

"I don't hate you - I'm just disappointed." He's making me feel more guilty than my mother would.

"I'm sorry, okay? Really, I am. Look, I'll take everyone out for ice cream after this to make it up to you." I throw the idea out there as a plea for forgiveness.

"Make it the fancy place 5 blocks away." Goldberg demands.

"Yeah!" Scattered agreement accompanies him.

"Fine." I sigh.

Once again, the group quiets down. As pressing as some of these things have been, they don't provide us with a good enough reason for our continuing slump. Then it hits us. It's so obvious. Bombay made us a promise, but of course he ditched us again. Time and time again, we put all our trust in him. When will we learn that it never ends well?

"He's done a lot for us, but that doesn't mean he can play us like this all the time." Adam sets it straight.

"Yeah, we have to take what he says with a grain of salt." Guy shares the gloom.

"We have Orion. We can trust him. We're not alone without Bombay." I remind them.

"That doesn't make it hurt any less." Charlie always takes it the hardest.

"Well, we have each other. We had each other long before Bombay." I reinforce my point.

"That's not gonna change, Charlie." Adam helps from the other side of him.

"Yeah." Fulton agrees as the others nod.

"Come on, let's go get that ice cream."

With the true issue discovered, we can figure out a way to go back to the players we know we can be. We grab our skates and flood the streets on our way to the most expensive ice cream parlour in town. I'm about to lose all my money. I'm never gonna live this down. At least we can end this slump.