Doctor Rankin insisted I start physiotherapy immediately and stay off the ice for two more weeks.
“Two more weeks!” I complained. I missed so much now, and I thought for sure Dr. Rankin was going to give me the green light. I hardly felt any pain when he was maneuvering my leg into various positions.
He finished off the appointment by warning me, “This could be the end of your career. We’ll have to see how it goes.” I never thought I would hear those words come from his mouth. It was upsetting to hear, but I didn’t want to fall apart in front of him and my mother. I kept myself together and stayed quiet the entire way home. When we pulled into our driveway, I fished my phone out of my purse and slowly went up the stairs. I texted Tara first:
Dalia: I have a pulled hamstring. My competitive skating might B over.
Tara: Keep U’r chin up! No way that’ll stop U.
Dalia: Adam wants 2 C me. I’ll tell U how it goes.
Tara: Text Me!
I flipped to my old text with Adam:
Dalia: I’m home.
Adam: I’m picking U up.
Dalia: Sure, text when U’r in the driveway.
Adam: K.
I knew this wasn’t going to go over well, I called down the stairs, “Mom, I’m going out with Adam, AS FRIENDS.”
Mom didn’t answer back for a minute, “This is going to stop when you start skating again.”
I took my long brown hair and pulled it back into a tight ponytail. My blue eyes appeared baggy, so I tried desperately to conceal them with concealer but I had no luck. I finished myself off with lip gloss and perfume, wanting to get outside before mom had a chance to embarrass me. My phone chirped when I was already half way down the stairs. I called out, “Bye mom!” and grabbed my things closing the door behind me.
He pressed the button and his door locks clicked to open. I let myself into his car and fastened my seat belt before I got a chance to admire him. He was wearing an expensive looking black leather jacket with lots of zippers on it and blue jeans. The smell of his cologne made its way to my side of the car and I swooned. His shaggy dirty blond hair was recently taken down to near stubble in length with the exception of the top which was left dangling down into his face. His new look was edgy, but I think I preferred it before.
I shook my head a bit thinking Harper, Harper, what the hell am I doing with him? Why does he want to see me? Why did I make it so easy for him? “Why did you want to see me?”
He ignored my question, “Tim Horton’s, okay with you?”
“Sure,” I answered. It didn’t matter to me where we went, I just liked being with him in his cool car, alone.
He joined the drive thru line, “What would you like?”
“Just a medium double double.”
When it was our turn he ordered, “Two medium double doubles.” He parked the car and turned off the motor. “How was your appointment?”
“Not good,” I said. I pulled back a section of the lid to open my coffee and pushed it down on the knob. “You cut your hair off,” I commented.
“Ya,” he snickered. “I did it because I know Harper hates it like this. You’re changing the subject,” he redirected. “What happened at the appointment?”
“I tore my hamstring. The doctor isn’t sure if this will be the end of my career. I have to go for physiotherapy and stay off it for two more weeks. Then my parents want me to try pair skating.”
“I’m so sorry,” he said sincerely. He turned the key onto accessories and music started playing in the car. He tore back his lid before taking a drink of his coffee and laying it on the dash. I looked into his eyes and asked, “Does Harper know you’re with me right now?”
“Its none of her business,” he said. Our faces were so close, I could feel his breath on me. “I broke up with her today,” he informed me quietly.
“I’m sorry, are you okay?” I didn’t know whether I should be happy that he wanted to see me the same day he broke up with her or not.
“It was a long time coming, Carter’s been bugging me to break up with her for weeks now.” He took another drink of his coffee and started running his fingers through his hair.
“Do you always do what Carter says?”
“No, I don’t.” He removed the elastic from my hair and started playing with my ends, sending cold chills up my spine. He entwined his fingers so they were knotted up in my hair and then he pulled my face to his, “I want to kiss you so bad right now,” he admitted.
“Then do it,” I goaded, “but if my mother catches wind of this, she’ll kill me and you!”
“I’m willing to take that chance,” he breathed. His lips slowly, and considerately covered mine. My eyes fluttered closed and every part of me felt his kiss. I was floating. His mouth was warm and welcoming and I could taste the sweetness from his coffee.
He pulled away to look into my eyes, needing to see my reaction. That’s when I pulled him back in for another kiss. His kisses were becoming demanding. He wanted more from me, needed more. His lips pried mine apart and then his tongue caressed mine. I ran my fingers through his silky hair and the excitement I felt from him caused me to moan into his mouth as our kisses became more frenzied.
He freed his hands from the entwined hair he had done earlier only to grab fistfuls of it now and pull me closer to him. I couldn’t breath but it didn’t matter. I didn’t want to give up this feeling, it was euphoric, like landing a triple axel for the first time. The adrenaline rush was invigorating. It felt like I waited sixteen years for that one moment with the right guy.
His phone chirped, he pulled away to look at the screen. I was surprised he stopped kissing me to do it, “Who is it?” I asked, unable to mask the irritation in my voice.
Adam rolled his eyes, “Harper.” He looked around the parking lot, “She’s watching us.” He turned the key in the ignition and gunned his car in reverse. He threw it in drive and flew out of the parking lot.
“How do you know?” I said bracing myself. He was driving more recklessly than Tara when the aliens were in the car. He handed me his iPhone and I read the text:
Harper: U couldn’t even wait a day B4 starting up with some1 else?
“I think you should turn around and talk to her, or at least text her back,” I suggested. “She has to be really hurt seeing us like that.”
“She’s fucked up for following me,” he argued. “It’s not my problem anymore.”
I started typing into his phone. He looked over at me but couldn’t do anything because he was driving too fast. He had one hand on the shifter and the other on the wheel. “What are you doing?”
“I’m texting her back,” I answered.
“What? Don’t do that! She’s going to think it’s from me!”
“Yup, that is the idea,” I teased.
“What are you saying?”
“I’m apologizing on your behalf for hurting her,” I told him.
“Don’t send that!” He tried snatching the phone from my hands but I was too quick. “Give me the fucking phone,” he growled angrily.
“Take me home,” I insisted. His reaction startled me. His lack of compassion for her made me shudder. Would he treat me the same way when he was finished with me? His angry tone after such passionate kisses, was heartbreaking.
He dropped his speed to the limit plus ten, and drove the rest of the way to my house in silence. When he put the car in park I handed him his phone. He looked at the screen, and he saw:
Harper: U couldn’t even wait a day B4 starting up with some1 else
In the area where you type your text, I had playfully typed, ‘Tricked you!’ but never sent Harper any messages. I got out of his car as quickly as I could and scurried to my front door. When he finally realized my prank, I was already in the house.
One Hour Later
My mother had given up pounding on my bedroom door or asking if I was all right. The first tears I shed over a guy finally dried up. I pulled out my phone:
Dalia: Tara, U wouldn’t believe what happened.
Tara: Details.
I put my phone on dictate mode and started talking into it. There was way too much to type.
Dalia: He picked me up after the doctors appointment and we went to Tim Hortons. We stayed in his car. He asked me how it went. I told him that my skating career might be over, I would have to wait and see. The doctor said I had a torn hamstring. Anyway, I was upset and he was really nice to me.
He told me that he broke up with Harper. He kissed me. It was amazing. He said he wanted to be the first guy to ever kiss me. I reminded him of my psycho mom and he said he was willing to take his chances. It was so hot. Then his phone chirped. He said that Harper was watching us in the parking lot. He floored it out of there. I said that he should go back and talk to her and he said no way. Then I pretended to text her on his phone and he went ballistic on me. He told me to give him back his fucking phone. I told him to drive me home. I handed him his phone and all I had typed into it was ‘Tricked You!’ as a joke. He didn’t realize that I hadn’t texted her until I was already in the house. He’s called five times I blocked his number now.
Tara: What an asshole! U totally shouldn’t have played that trick on him though. What do U care how he treats Harper? He’s in2 U!
Dalia: Bcause I could B next 2B treated like that. I’m so done with him B4 we even started.
Tara: I think U R overreacting. U don’t know their situation.
Dalia: He cut all his hair off just Bcause he know’s Harper hates it that way.
Tara: Ew, how did it look?
Dalia: Not as good, but he’s still hot.
Tara: He must still have feelings 4 her, albeit-ve 1’s 2 do something like that.
Dalia: U know!
Tara: Totally! We have 2 go shopping 4 the Halloween dance.
Dalia: Ok, Come over 4 dinner and then we’ll go after.
Tara: Can’t, mom wants me 2 eat here tonight. Will pick U up after dinner.
Dalia: Ok. TTYL
Tara: TTYL
I used the excuse that I wanted to rest my leg before shopping with Tara for a reason to eat in my room. She picked me up shortly after seven and we headed to the mall.
Tara and I checked out several stores before settling on overpriced Disney costumes from the movie Frozen. She being the best BFF she was, didn’t dare mention Adam’s name the entire time we were out. She even managed to make me laugh asking me when was I going to meet Ryan while holding a fairy costume. She was righteously firing out subliminal messages.
I knew what I should do, I had to push Adam out of my head and focus on healing and making this alleged partnership with Ryan work.
Halloween Dance
Tara picked me up a half hour before the dance started. Her short blond hair was disguised by a wig that was long and brown. Her blue eyes remained unchanged with the exception of the bold colours she used on her lids. Her eye lashes were darkened, emphasizing their beautiful length and her dress colour was a Royal Blue making her look the noble part. Her natural beauty was highlighted in this costume, I hardly recognized her!
She froze the second I sat in her car, “Oh.My.God, Dalia! You look amazing! Everyone’s going to be throwing themselves at your feet tonight!”
“I highly doubt that,” I said self-consciously. “My makeup is too light, the long blond wig isn’t sitting on me properly, and the light blue dress makes me look chunky.”
“You’ll see,” she grinned, “lose the wig, your own hair looks better.”
“Seriously?”
“Totally!” I took the wig off and started fishing through my purse for a brush. When I found it I started mindlessly running it through my hair, “Do you think Adam will be their tonight?”
“I thought you’re mad at him,” she said shortly.
“I am,” I admitted lamely.
Tara started squealing and tapping her hand against the steering wheel with excitement, “I have major gossip! Sierra’s leaving Carter tonight! Jeremy asked her out, and she’s in love with him. Carter isn’t going to know what hit him! He’s going to be on the market before the end of the night, and I’m going to snatch him up! He’s going to be all mine!”
“Could you be more confident? It might ruin your friendship with Sierra if she see’s you with him.”
“She’s the one breaking up with him! So our golden rule doesn’t apply in this case.” Tara reminded me. “By the way she says she has something to show me!”
“What?”
“I have no fucking clue! Do you think Carter is going to like the way I look?”
“What guy wouldn’t?” I said honestly.
She pulled into the parking lot and we played music for twenty minutes so we wouldn’t be the first ones at the dance.
“Do you think Adam will be bringing anyone here?”
“Harper is out of the picture, so who’s he going to bring? I think he’ll come stag.”
“Are you ready to go in?”
“Never more!” she said energetically.
The cafeteria was dark with the only light being a strobe light in the centre of the ceiling. White strings of cotton-like moss off willows was hanging everywhere. Skeletons with blood and amputated body parts were scattered all over with the exception of on the dance floor. Against three walls were little round tables that sat two with fake candles on them. There was also a loser wall that had a row of chairs for dateless people who wanted to be asked to dance. That was where I would probably be spending the majority of my time. ‘Thriller,’ by Michael Jackson was playing when we walked in. Everything was already in full swing.
“Tara yelled into my ear,“Loser wall?”
“No, let’s get a table!”
She grabbed my wrist so we wouldn't get separated and started leading me to the opposite side of the cafeteria,”Here?”
“Sure,” We took the last vacant table. “Do you see Carter?”
“No, you?”
“No.”
“Do you see Adam?”
“No, you?”
“No,” That’s when Jax spotted us. Carter was dressed like the guys on Sons of Anarchy. I kicked Tara under the table, “Look at Jax, he’s headed in our direction!” Tara’s eyes lit up. Her wishes were coming true! We watched him strolling in our direction, expecting him to stop in front of her, but he didn’t. He stopped in front of me. His hand was stretched out, he was inviting me to dance. I was floored by his gesture. I looked at Tara who coolly gave me a nod of encouragement.