Thursday, July 23, 2009

Chapter eight

My lips were still tingling the next day when I woke up. That was probably one of the most magical kisses I had ever experienced in my life. I want to relive that night over and over again. I knew I had to tell Emma eventually, but a part of me wanted to keep everything that happened all to myself. I shared practically everything with that girl. Is it a crime to want to be selfish every once in a while? No.
I dragged myself out of bed and into the kitchen where I started coffee. It wasn’t until I was halfway through the crossword that I remembered I was going to Sidney’s practice today. What time was that again? I couldn’t remember anything, which was very unlike me. I got up and trudged back to my bedroom and picked up my phone. 2 missed calls. One from Emma and one from Sidney. I figured I’d call Sidney now and then Emma later, at his practice, so when she asked me if I wanted to do anything, I could say no. Call me a bad person for avoiding my best friend, but I didn’t want her in my business just yet.

“Hello?” Sidney answered after a few rings.

“Hey,” I said, twirling my hair around a finger, something I hadn’t done in a long time. Every time I talked to him, I could just feel my stiff shell fall away.

“Hey,” he said back. I could almost hear his smile.

“What’d you need?” I asked, flopping myself down on my bed.

“Just to tell you I’m coming to get you at 10 to go to practice,” he said with a slight laugh.

“Okay,” I said softly, smiling to myself. “I’ll see you then.” I flipped my phone shut and realized I was still smiling. The effects this boy had on me.
-
Once again, he was right on time and I was still rushing around putting articles of clothing on, but this time he came all the way in and sat on my couch to wait instead of standing awkwardly in the hall.

“We need to work on your time management skills,” he said with a laugh as we walked out to his car.

“I know it’s terrible,” I replied, getting in his car and shutting the door. “I’m terrible.”

“You’re not terrible, just your internal clock,” he said with a laugh as he pulled away from my building and started towards the arena.

We arrived at the arena around 10:15, only about five minutes after when we left. I never realized how close it was. I guess I just never paid attention.

“I’d start mentally preparing yourself if I were you,” he told me as we walked into the arena, his hand on the small of my back, causing electricity to jump up and down my spine.

“Why’s that?”

“I’m going to introduce you to everyone. Just prepare yourself,” he said with a smile that made me want to melt into a puddle on the ground.

“Okay,” I answered a little timidly. He lead me down hallway after hallway and soon enough I was lost, and we were at the locker room entrance. “Can I go in there?” I asked, slightly scared, for what, I’m not sure.

“Yeah. No one should be changing right now,” he said, but as he opened the door he peeked around the corner, making sure his statement was correct. I had to smile at his attempts to impress me. And for the most part, they worked. He lead me through the door into a room that reeked of sweat and blood. The first thing I saw was the bare torso of one of his teammates. Emma would be in heaven right now, which made me feel slightly guilty that I haven’t called her, but that thought was moved to the back of my head as soon as this guy spoke.

“Yo, Sid, who’s the chick?” mystery man asked with a thick French accent.

“This is Avery,” he said to his teammate. “Avery, this is Kris Letang.”

“Hi Kris,” I said, reaching out to shake his hand. I could feel my shell slowly creeping back up.

“How’d you get this girl to be seen in public with you man? Did you pay her?” he asked with a grin as he shook my hand. I couldn’t help but noticing how good looking he was.

“Good one. When was the last time you had a girl?” Sidney shot back.

“Dude, not funny. Let’s see if you get any help today in practice.”

“Whatever,” Sidney said as he lead me down another hallway to the stalls. “This, is my stall,” he said with a grand gesture at a plaque that had his name on it. Beneath it hung all his equipment including his jersey.

“Very nice,” I said, running my hand over the wood.

“I chose this wood too,” he said behind me.

I turned around to face him, a smile dancing on my lips. “Oh really, Mr. Big shot? Just like your house?”

“Just like my house,” he said, taking a step to close the gap between us. I wanted to say something witty about the type of wood it was or something like that, but then I realized that would only make me sound like a dumbass, so I let him kiss me instead. Our lips were dancing across each other until he slowly pulled back. “I’ve been wanting to do that again ever since last night,” he said his right hand on the small of my back, pulling me towards him.

“Me too,” I said, slightly breathless.

“Now, I have practice. Why don’t you sit in the stands and watch? I’ll meet you afterwards and you can meet some of the other guys,” he said with a grin.

“Alright,” I said, stiffness creeping back into my voice.

“Go through those doors and you’ll be in the arena,” he said, and thought about it for a second. “Well, the ice area. Whatever you want to call it. You’ll be in the stands. There.” I nodded, giggling at his search for the right word. I went where he directed me and found a nice seat with a good view of all the ice.

I thought about everything that happened for a moment, and decided that that was one of the most electric kisses I had ever experienced in my life. Damn him. I never feel like this. I never LET a guy make me feel like this. I also decided it was time to call Emma, and let her in on what has been happening with me and Sidney. I knew she wouldn’t be happy.

“YOU WHAT!?” she screamed at me after I told her about my date. “You fucking kissed Sidney Crosby!?” Once again, spaz.

“Yeah Em. On the incline,” I said slowly, trying to get her to calm down. Just like how she never applies common sense, she never curses. This was bad.

“You think that’s okay!? Kissing a hockey player!?” she yelled into the phone.

“Em, it was just a kiss. It’s not like I slept with the guy,” I said, slightly exasperated.

“It’s not okay!” she said, sounding defeated. “You’re going to leave me high and dry for your new and better boyfriend.”

“No I won’t Em,” I stated. “And he’s not my boyfriend.”

“You kissed him,” she snapped at me. Hypocrite much? How many guys has she kissed, even slept with, and then never bothered to call, or return their calls. More than I can name. The most memorable was Scott Clearwater, a football player for Pitt. A good-looking football player for Pitt. Emma met him at Diesel when she was wasted; surprise surprise. She literally spent the whole night with him. The next day she came to my place a hung-over mess, claiming she now hated him and he was stalking her. Turns out he was stalking her via text message and Facebook. Creeper.

“That means nothing,” I said, suddenly getting angry. “You should know all about that Em. Making out with people and never answering their calls. At least I’m still on speaking terms with Sidney.” There was a pause as she thought about what I said.

“I’m sorry Aves,” she said softly. “I shouldn’t have overreacted. I guess I’m just so used to having you around all the time.” I heard a sniffle. Oh dear God, now she’s crying. Way to go Avery. Despite the fact that I know she’s just going for the sympathy card, I can’t help but feel bad.

“Don’t-don’t cry,” I said, feeling my face screw up in an attempt to find the right words. “I didn’t mean it!” I said quickly.

“YOU DID!” she wailed in my ear.

“No, no no,” I practically yelled. “How about Starbucks? I’ll meet you for Starbucks in a few hours!” I said frantically, trying to get her calm. I feel like I’m dealing with a 6 year old more than often. I heard a sniffle.

“Okay. Come get me at 3:00,” she said cheerily. “Bye Aves!”

“Bye, Em,” I said slowly, wondering what exactly just happened. Typical Emma. Sometimes I really think she’s bipolar.

3 comments:

  1. aw another kiss!
    sidddddneyyyy. ask her to be your giiiirlfrienddd!!

    great chapter!

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  2. Haha very cute! I love how she's trying to keep Em away from Sid. But holy! Jealous much from Em?

    Great chapter! Keep it up!

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  3. I think that you should cause some drama. With someone and avery. or with Sid wanting to go do something or have a surprise for her at 3. An she has to cancel on Emma.

    ReplyDelete