The Way Things Are

Original Work by Emaliar Malfoy

Edited and Reposted by Bobcatwriter

Summary:

Adam And Isabella Banks lives were hard there was no doubt about it. Their Father was the definition of tough love and that was if he displayed love at all. Phillip worked his children through the ground and whilst Bella learned to harness her emotions, Adam never did. This story starts just after The Ducks defeat Varsity. Mostly Adam POV.

Rated T

Prologue

Disclaimer: We do not own the Mighty Ducks. Anything you recognize belongs to Disney.

Life's tough. Phillip Banks made sure his three children knew that. Oliver was the eldest he was captain of the varsity ice hockey team at Eden Hall. Next came the twins; Adam and Isabella, they both played hockey for the Hawks in peewees. They were Coach Reilly 'hot shot' players, as he referred to them. Adam was an excellent scorer and Bella was one of the fastest skaters to ever put of the Hawks Jersey.

Phillip worked them to the ground, harder than he had ever worked Oliver at that age. Because his eldest son was good, but the twins were the jewels of his eye, for they had the potential to be the best. All had been well, until Adam and Bella were forced to transfer to the newly christened 'Ducks'. Phillip had wanted them to stop playing altogether and when they wouldn't, he did everything in his power to keep them on the Hawks. But Bombay would not give in.

Adam's POV

Bella and I had negotiated for hours as to whether we should attend our first game as Ducks. She wanted us to keep our dignity because they were so bad. At the last game we faced them the Hawks beat them 17 to 0, I got 10 goals. Bella wanted to keep her dignity and not play, opting for next year like Dad said would be best. I wanted to play. Though as usual the side that wanted to play hockey overruled.

When we walked into the locker room the team gave us dirty looks. Then one stood up, Conway, I think.

"On Behalf of the Ducks I'd like to say welcome- 'but he was cut off by one of the Hall boys. 'Cake Eaters."

"Ooh the Jess-man dissin' the new guys. The Jess-ster," The red headed one said.

"Shut up Averman," Hall said.

"It's just a joke," Averman muttered.

"Puttin' on a ducks jersey doesn't mean you are a real duck," Hall said.

The team trudged out.

"They're a great bunch once you get to know 'em," Bombay said.

"I will bet," Bella huffed.

"Well, suit up and I will see you on the ice," Bombay said before he exited through the doors.

I dropped my bag when I saw that my number had changed, 99 A. Banks. Bella's jersey was right next to mine 63 I. Banks.

"At least you get to keep your number," I said.

"Are you sure about this Adam?" Bella asked. I nodded my head. At least I thought that it was best. The game went okay. They were reluctant to pass to me and Bella, but they gave in eventually, well most of them did. The eldest Hall, Jesse, I think his name was is still shunning us but it's a start.

Despite winning, Dad was furious when we got home and as if we were still babies, he sent us to our room's. We used to kick and scream when we got sent up there. Then Bella took to sketching to release her anger. I continued to act like a fool, yelling and screaming at no one in particular. That was until I knocked over a glass and I saw it shatter against the wood floor. It gave me an idea. I picked up the shards and took them into the bathroom in my room. That was the night that I did the first cut, and to be entirely honest slicing though the flesh of my wrists felt incredible. Like the way Bella would draw, cutting became my release of all the pent-up frustration building inside of me. The hardest part was keeping it a secret. Keeping it a secret that I was a cutter said that I was a freak.

Things got better in 1994 after Bella and I got put on Team USA or so I thought. Until we played our first game against Iceland, the game when I hurt my wrist.

When Coach found out he was understanding, unlike my Dad.

I had pulled out my razors as soon as I got home from hockey camp that year. No one was the wiser. Even Bella, my sister who knew all my secrets, I had never told.

It was my secret, I wasn't proud of it, but I needed to cut, just like I needed food and water.

A/N: We know what you're thinking, it's a bit of doom and gloom. But don't worry though, it will get brighter and we will see more the other characters and some new ones very soon. Anyway, we hope you enjoy the rest of the story which will be set just after the Ducks defeat the Varsity in D3.