Chapter 16:
I woke up to a mass of kisses on my cheeks, forehead, temples and lips. I kissed him back for a minute and then pulled away. “Merry Christmas!” we both said at the same time. “Come on! You never let me say it first!” I cried rolling over on top of him. “Sorry! Okay here, let’s redo. Ready go” he said, then shutting his mouth quickly. “Merry Christmas” I said, satisfied at my chance to say it. No matter what, every year he would always say it first, and we would argue over it all the time. “I love you” he said before kissing me. A minute later the door opened and I quickly rolled off Sid.
“Mom said it’s almost time to open presents!” it was Brenna, screaming. “Okay Brenna. Can you give us a few minutes to clean up and we will be down?” A frown appeared on her face for a millisecond and then her adorable smile returned. “Sure! I can pour you guys some juice!” she said, shutting the door with a little too much strength and yelling to her mother all the way down the stairs. We both laughed for a moment before I sat up and pulled him off the bed.
“Where are we going?” he asked. I turned around and smiled, slipped his shirt over his head and pushed him into the bathroom, shutting the door behind us.
No, we didn’t do what you think we did.
*
We got re-dressed and made our way downstairs to meet the wide eyes of the kids and the tired eyes of the adults. “Don’t hold back! Go ahead!” Sid said as we sat down on the floor next to the fireplace. He handed out gifts to the adults and some to the kids. We watched as their faces lit up and they laughed in pure joy.
When things settled down, I handed Sid one gift. He rolled his eyes as he pulled the paper off revealing a Sidney Crosby tree ornament. “I couldn’t resist” I laughed as he threw the paper at me. Then I handed him another box. He opened up the paper to find a few new brighter colored shirts, like red and light tan. “You have way too many dark colors” I said as he shot me a half an evil glare. “This is the real one” I said as I passed him another gift. He ripped the paper off and tilted his head as he opened a scrapbook. I had been working on it for a while, he had no idea. It had pictures and memories of us from a long time ago. There were some news articles and a whole bunch of pictures in it. I left a handful of pages blank at the end. “Why are these blank?” he asked. “Well the story isn’t over yet” I said. My favorite smile appeared as he kissed my cheek. “It’s not much, but I...” he cut me off. “It doesn’t have to be much. I love it.” He said with another big smile, and I was happy, it was genuine.
We spent the last few hours playing with the kids and their new toys and relaxing with the family. Soon we had lunch, and then they all packed up and we said our goodbyes.
**
We sat in our living room, looking at the giant mess that had appeared. “Funny how there has always been nothing here. And now it looks like a tornado came through” he said picking up some scrap pieces of wrapping paper. I laughed and placed some of the gifts underneath the tree.
He disappeared into the kitchen a few minutes later while I was vacuuming the rug, which somehow got crumbs and dirt all over it. I found him with his head in the fridge, eating peanut butter balls covered in chocolate, which my mother had made. “Sid! You can’t eat all of those!” I yelled prying the box out of his hand. “Stop!” I squealed as he popped yet another one in his mouth and holding the box above my head. “You know you’re going to have to skate that off and listen to your trainers complain that you are getting a little flabby” I said hitting his stomach, which was rock hard of course. He rolled his eyes and said with a mouthful, “Come on, if I eat like 15 it won’t hurt me.” I laughed again and he wrapped one arm around me and put the box above the fridge, where I couldn’t reach it. I frowned at him and he bent to kiss me. “You taste like a jar of peanut butter” I said pulling away. He ignored me and then looked at the clock. “We have somewhere to be.” “And that is?” He laughed and walked over to the back door, pulling open the curtains and vertical blinds.
“We should call it something cool, like maybe ‘The Crosby’” he said pointing to the back yard. “What are you talking about?” I asked walking over to the door. I then stopped in my tracks, and I found myself looking at a man made rink.
“How did I not notice that?!” I said in disbelief. “Well, if you haven’t noticed, I’ve kept all the curtains to the back of the house closed for about 3 days, and the only time you really see the back is at the kitchen sink, but you are only by there when its dark. And I had them put it in when you had to work late the other day.” “And I’m supposed to skate how?” A grin appeared on his face as he walked to the closet where he kept his bag and took out a box. “With these of course” he said holding up a pair of shiny white skates. I smiled and pulled them out of his hand. “Oh, and I got you a stick too. So you can help me practice.” I laughed and brushed passed him, heading up the stairs.
“Where are you going?” he called. “To change my pants and to get a jacket” I yelled back. I could practically feel his smile and happiness radiating from the kitchen. When I got back down to the kitchen, he was standing there, already in his skates and a jacket. He pulled out a chair for me and I sat down. I put on the right one first and started to tie it, but I was stopped immediately. “That isn’t how you do it” he said. I just laughed at him and let him do it.
A few minutes later he was pulling me across the yard full of snow. He took a puck out of his pocket and put it down at ‘center ice’. “First to three wins” he said before flipping the puck passed me and skating to the goal. “Cheater!” I yelled. “You’re right, that was a cheap shot. But a goal is a goal.”
I tapped his skated with my stick, “Prepare to lose.”
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Friday, January 2, 2009
Lost & Found-4
Chapter 4:
We were lead to a semicircle booth in the back corner, secluded from the rest of the people in the small Italian restaurant. We moved to the back of the booth and were handed two glasses of wine. I shot him a look when the waitress walked away.
"What?"
"I'm not legal."
"You aren't?"
"No I'm only 18. Well, 19 in a month."
His eyes widened briefly, like he was worried he was robbing the cradle, before a sly smile spread across his face. "When you're with me it doesn't matter. Just live a little. One glass won't kill you."
"Well, I would except there's one problem."
"And that is?"
"I'm allergic to red."
He laughed, "Well youngin' you can have water then."
I laughed and rolled my eyes, taking a sip out of the water glass after he clinked his with mine.
We ate dinner slowly, mostly because we were talking the whole entire time. We talked about everything. From what our favorite things were to what we hated. We talked about the present and the future. Then he unconventionally brought up the past.
"So what is the real reason you want to get away? There has to be more then college bringing you here."I sighed, it was time to drop the family story.
"Well, my family is very dysfunctional. It’s a long, complicated story. I don't think you really want to hear it."
His gaze narrowed softly, "I want to."
"Okay. Well my father is a businessman. He had a local job around home up until I was around 8, then he got a job sending him off all over the world and he was hardly ever home. So my mom had to basically take on the role of a single parent for me, my brother and my sister. He slowly started acting less and less like a father and now the only thing he does is buy things and give us money to make us happy. Right now, I don't even know where he is.
"Then a few years ago my brother was driving home in a snowstorm and he hit a really icy patch and collided with a tree" I paused and took a breath before continuing, "He was killed on impact. The worst part of it all was that my mother had her own way of dealing with it. She pushed it away and pretended like it never happened. She wouldn't cry or grieve and she didn't take care of my sister and I. So for a while we dealt with it on our own. There was really nothing else we could do but sit back and wait for everyone to self destruct. She finally caved in last year.
"My grandma, her mother, was diagnosed with cancer. My grandma didn't handle it well. She would lie to the doctors and tell them she was fine and couldn't admit she needed help. After her 2nd treatment she became depressed, but denied that too. After many fights with my mother and aunts, she finally agreed to take antidepressants. But now she can't take care of herself. And one of my aunt’s lives a few hours away and she can't help out. My mom and aunts are fighting all the time, along with my grandma. It’s just bad. They don't realize the effects it has on me. It’s like I had to learn to take care of myself after everything has happened."
He was silent for a moment.
"Don't you think it would be better to stay and help? Wouldn't it be easier for them?"
"For them yes, me no. The best thing for me to do is start over in a new place, with positive influences and the chance for opportunity."
He smiled a bit, "I don't know how you can be so independent."
"Sometimes, I don't either. It's hard having no one around. Being alone when you're young is very hard. "
"I know what you mean."
His smile grew, "But, you aren't alone anymore."
My stomach flipped about 8 times as he leaned over and traced his fingers along my jaw. I smiled and felt my face grow hot as his hand lingered and he leaned forward to kiss me on the cheek. He smiled warmly towards me as the waitress appeared and gave us the check. Like the gentleman he proved himself to be, he took it and slid his gold card under the flap and pushed it back to her. As his gaze never broke from mine I started to gravitate closer to him. The night was coming to an end, and needless to say I wasn't happy.
"I should probably get you back soon." He half whispered.
I nodded and gathered my things. He hooked his fingers with mine this time as we walked to the car.The ride back to the hotel was quiet for a while.
"What are your plans for tomorrow?"
"Well I have a breakfast date in the morning, then I'm going to Carnegie Mellon for a little while, then I'll probably get together with Sarah tomorrow night, she wanted to introduce me to some other people."
"Breakfast date?"
"Yes."
"With who?"
"The guy I was supposed to have dinner with tonight."
"Where did you meet him?" He asked slowly.
"What's with the 20 questions?"
"I'm just curious."
"At Pitt the other day. He showed me around the campus for like 3 hours. He is really nice."
"Interesting."
He seemed a little defeated, angry maybe. I don't understand why though, we only just met.
"When are you leaving?"
"5 more days, 4 nights. My flight leaves here around 7."
He nodded and we pulled into the hotel driveway.
"I'll call you?" I half asked.
He smiled, "Okay. If you want, I can get you and Sarah tickets for the game the day after tomorrow."
"That would be really great. Oh and that reminds me..."
He looked at me with a puzzled look as I pulled out my phone.
"Is there any way you could score Sarah Jordan’s autograph? Or um... Number?"
He laughed.
"She asked me, I thought I should try. You don't have to." I started to get embarrassed and looked away from him.
"Actually, he was hoping I could get her number from you."
We both chuckled and traded their numbers.
"Goodnight Sidney."
He traced along my jaw again, this time goose bumps spread down my back as he kissed my cheek again.
"Goodnight."
I bounded into the hotel room, probably as happy as I'd been in a while, and texted Sarah Jordan’s number.
'He has yours too. There are reasons why you love me. Too many details to tell now, call you tomorrow. Don't make any plans for the day after tomorrow. Superstar is scoring us tickets.'
She texted back immediately.
"YES. Thank you so much! I owe you! Can't believe it! I’ll be waiting for the call. Have fun with Braydon tomorrow. I already have my outfit planned." I laughed out loud, and then remembered Braydon.
Oh yes. Braydon.
We were lead to a semicircle booth in the back corner, secluded from the rest of the people in the small Italian restaurant. We moved to the back of the booth and were handed two glasses of wine. I shot him a look when the waitress walked away.
"What?"
"I'm not legal."
"You aren't?"
"No I'm only 18. Well, 19 in a month."
His eyes widened briefly, like he was worried he was robbing the cradle, before a sly smile spread across his face. "When you're with me it doesn't matter. Just live a little. One glass won't kill you."
"Well, I would except there's one problem."
"And that is?"
"I'm allergic to red."
He laughed, "Well youngin' you can have water then."
I laughed and rolled my eyes, taking a sip out of the water glass after he clinked his with mine.
We ate dinner slowly, mostly because we were talking the whole entire time. We talked about everything. From what our favorite things were to what we hated. We talked about the present and the future. Then he unconventionally brought up the past.
"So what is the real reason you want to get away? There has to be more then college bringing you here."I sighed, it was time to drop the family story.
"Well, my family is very dysfunctional. It’s a long, complicated story. I don't think you really want to hear it."
His gaze narrowed softly, "I want to."
"Okay. Well my father is a businessman. He had a local job around home up until I was around 8, then he got a job sending him off all over the world and he was hardly ever home. So my mom had to basically take on the role of a single parent for me, my brother and my sister. He slowly started acting less and less like a father and now the only thing he does is buy things and give us money to make us happy. Right now, I don't even know where he is.
"Then a few years ago my brother was driving home in a snowstorm and he hit a really icy patch and collided with a tree" I paused and took a breath before continuing, "He was killed on impact. The worst part of it all was that my mother had her own way of dealing with it. She pushed it away and pretended like it never happened. She wouldn't cry or grieve and she didn't take care of my sister and I. So for a while we dealt with it on our own. There was really nothing else we could do but sit back and wait for everyone to self destruct. She finally caved in last year.
"My grandma, her mother, was diagnosed with cancer. My grandma didn't handle it well. She would lie to the doctors and tell them she was fine and couldn't admit she needed help. After her 2nd treatment she became depressed, but denied that too. After many fights with my mother and aunts, she finally agreed to take antidepressants. But now she can't take care of herself. And one of my aunt’s lives a few hours away and she can't help out. My mom and aunts are fighting all the time, along with my grandma. It’s just bad. They don't realize the effects it has on me. It’s like I had to learn to take care of myself after everything has happened."
He was silent for a moment.
"Don't you think it would be better to stay and help? Wouldn't it be easier for them?"
"For them yes, me no. The best thing for me to do is start over in a new place, with positive influences and the chance for opportunity."
He smiled a bit, "I don't know how you can be so independent."
"Sometimes, I don't either. It's hard having no one around. Being alone when you're young is very hard. "
"I know what you mean."
His smile grew, "But, you aren't alone anymore."
My stomach flipped about 8 times as he leaned over and traced his fingers along my jaw. I smiled and felt my face grow hot as his hand lingered and he leaned forward to kiss me on the cheek. He smiled warmly towards me as the waitress appeared and gave us the check. Like the gentleman he proved himself to be, he took it and slid his gold card under the flap and pushed it back to her. As his gaze never broke from mine I started to gravitate closer to him. The night was coming to an end, and needless to say I wasn't happy.
"I should probably get you back soon." He half whispered.
I nodded and gathered my things. He hooked his fingers with mine this time as we walked to the car.The ride back to the hotel was quiet for a while.
"What are your plans for tomorrow?"
"Well I have a breakfast date in the morning, then I'm going to Carnegie Mellon for a little while, then I'll probably get together with Sarah tomorrow night, she wanted to introduce me to some other people."
"Breakfast date?"
"Yes."
"With who?"
"The guy I was supposed to have dinner with tonight."
"Where did you meet him?" He asked slowly.
"What's with the 20 questions?"
"I'm just curious."
"At Pitt the other day. He showed me around the campus for like 3 hours. He is really nice."
"Interesting."
He seemed a little defeated, angry maybe. I don't understand why though, we only just met.
"When are you leaving?"
"5 more days, 4 nights. My flight leaves here around 7."
He nodded and we pulled into the hotel driveway.
"I'll call you?" I half asked.
He smiled, "Okay. If you want, I can get you and Sarah tickets for the game the day after tomorrow."
"That would be really great. Oh and that reminds me..."
He looked at me with a puzzled look as I pulled out my phone.
"Is there any way you could score Sarah Jordan’s autograph? Or um... Number?"
He laughed.
"She asked me, I thought I should try. You don't have to." I started to get embarrassed and looked away from him.
"Actually, he was hoping I could get her number from you."
We both chuckled and traded their numbers.
"Goodnight Sidney."
He traced along my jaw again, this time goose bumps spread down my back as he kissed my cheek again.
"Goodnight."
I bounded into the hotel room, probably as happy as I'd been in a while, and texted Sarah Jordan’s number.
'He has yours too. There are reasons why you love me. Too many details to tell now, call you tomorrow. Don't make any plans for the day after tomorrow. Superstar is scoring us tickets.'
She texted back immediately.
"YES. Thank you so much! I owe you! Can't believe it! I’ll be waiting for the call. Have fun with Braydon tomorrow. I already have my outfit planned." I laughed out loud, and then remembered Braydon.
Oh yes. Braydon.
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