Authors: Niki Settimo
“Considering it’s almost midnight, I’d say pretty much all day."
“Geez, why didn’t you wake me?"
“Please Elli. You needed it, and besides, I went to see if you wanted dinner and you were completely covered by all your freaking pillows."
When I look over to the guy on the couch, he looks like he’s enjoying every second of our little domestic.
“Hey, sorry. I’m Elli."
“I know."
“You know?"
“Yea, Tegan threatened to kill me if I woke you."
“Oh, well since neither of you woke me, I guess there will be no killing, which is quite a shame since we have to wait another year for Game of Thrones to come back on."
They both laugh as I grab the grilled chicken Tegan made for dinner, and when I turn around, I realize I need to eat in my room because there is no way I am eating in front of this guy. Which reminds me.
“Wait what’s your name."
“Logan. "
“Okay, well Logan it was nice to meet you, but since Tegan allowed me to sleep all day, I have to go finish my project. See you around."
I grab the chicken and head to my room, when I hear Tegan yell.
“Wait, Elli!”
“Yes, Tegan."
“Logan is having a party Friday night. You’re coming right?"
“I have work Tegan."
“You do not! You haven’t made your schedule yet! I checked! You’re going to come and have a good time!"
“We’ll see Tegan."
“You need to live a little! Just promise me you’ll consider it."
“Maybe."
“Ugh you’re impossible. But It’s not a complete no, so I’ll keep my hopes up."
“Goodnight Tegan!"
I close my door so I can get some work done. I’m actually just about done with my project. It was pretty simple. Tegan likes to leave everything until last minute, which is why she’s playing Mario with Logan right now.
Six hours and a finished project later, I send my work into Mr. Jay and decide I need to get some sleep so i can go to the gym with Tegan after our morning class. Thankfully, I’m nightmare free for another night.
Elli
“Tegan! Come on or we’re going to be late for class!”
“Ughhh why did we get put into an 8 a.m. lab?!”
“Because we decided to major in Graphic Design, where there is no choosing your schedule.”
Throwing the pillow over her head, she lets out a groan.
“Come on, I’ll treat for Starbucks.”
“I’m holding you to that.”
Twenty minutes later and I’m online ordering my tea and Tegan’s pretty drink while she does her makeup in the car.
“Yo, is Tegan here?”
Turning around I see Logan and half the soccer team walking up to me. Nothing like getting straight to the point. Deep breaths Elli. This is not high school.
“Hey Logan. Tegan’s in the car.”
“Alright cool. Give me a second guys.”
When he turns to leave, I’m left waiting for our drinks while I get looks from the rest of Logan’s gang. I try to look busy on my phone and as soon as my order is ready, I grab our drinks and walk out the door. Coincidentally just as Logan is walking away from my car, and ignoring me completely.
I look back at the team in Starbucks laughing at whatever is being said. Probably about me. I may be overthinking it, but hey, I’m used to it. Just ignore it.
Throwing on my smile, Tegan eyes me suspiciously as I hand her the drink with over flowing whip cream.
“What’s wrong?”
“What do you mean?”
“I know that look. What happened?”
“Nothing! I’m just tired.”
“Mhhmm. sure.”
“Stop pestering me, we’re going to be late!”
Please no. Why do I do this to myself? As I look up on the board and see my project being displayed, I’m filled with joy, but mostly horror, as the whole class takes turns glancing in my direction.
“…...And this class is what an A looks like. Great job Elli!”
“Thank you sir.”
Right then, Tegan whispers over to me “Really? You handed it in already?”
“Yea last night after you stopped taunting Logan over Mario and took him in your room.”
“Oh hush. You know Logan has a lot of friends. I could hook you up with one of them. Maybe at the party?”
The look on my face must say it all.
“Okay okay! It was worth a shot!”
I turn my attention back towards Mr. Jay and listen to him dissect my project and how I did things the way I did. I went a little above and beyond since I know most of these programs already. The assignment was to create a portfolio with a recurring theme, using pictures you’ve taken. So I used the pictures I took of my brothers hockey team and themed my portfolio to innocent athletic youth without the influence of competitive parents. Out of all the pictures I’ve taken, I picked out my favorites and designed them in a way to highlight the innocence in each picture. The one being shown in the front of the class right now is a candid shot of my brother with his best friend Shane, smiling in all their gear, playing around with the puck without a care in the world, at one of their practices. I sent this one to my mom when I finished it and she already printed it out and framed it for my brother.
“…and this is a very nice use of a vignette, but it’s extremely subtle, just enough to keep drawing your eyes to the smiling boys. Elli, where did you take these pictures?”
“That’s my brother and his hockey team sir. He plays back home in New York. I took these pictures on our last break.”
He nods his head approvingly as he ends the class with final direction. “Okay class, take these recommendations and I expect to have some interesting projects to look at on Friday.”
As the class gets up, I collect my things and mentally prepare myself for the workout I’m about to put myself through.
“You’re coming.”
“No Im not.”
“You don’t have work and you need other friends besides Sam and Dean.”
“I do have friends!”
“REAL FRIENDS ELLI! Not Fictional!
“
But Fictional friends are so much easier to deal with. They don’t annoy me to go to parties!”
“You’re impossible!”
“And you love me.”
“Not right now! Please Elli!”
“Tegan I really don’t want to.”
“Fine. But next time, you’re going.”
“Yea, yea, of course.”
I watch as Tegan walks out the door in her turquoise sundress and black sandals, with her red hair done in a loose side braid. How does she look so effortlessly beautiful? I don’t get it. Just then my phone rings and I see it’s my dad. Our phone calls are rare, since I’m always working, and when he does call, usually I’m at the gym and he just lets me go to focus on my work out. But my heart rate never fails to speed up when his name pops up on the caller ID. It’s like I feel like I’m doing something wrong and I’m about to get caught.
“Hey dad.”
“What are you up to?”
“Just got back from the gym.”
“Working hard? How long were you there for?”
“Two hours.”
“Have you seen a difference?”
“Yea a little.”
“Eating right?”
“Yes.”
“Just make sure you’re not eating junk.”
“I’m not.”
“Ok. How was your class this month?”
“I got an A.”
“Good. Remember, network. You’re grades are main priority.”
“Yes father, I know.”
“Alright well your brother has practice. Here’s mom.”
“Hey El. How was class?”
“Good I got an A on my final project.”
“Oohhhh shocker.”
“Yea, yea very funny.”
“Fine. Alright well I’m going with them to hockey so I’ll talk to you tomorrow. Love you.”
“Love you too. Bye.”
Well, that was painless, but my heart rate hasn’t slowed down. I don’t know what comes over me, but I decide to walk over to Tegan’s floor length mirror and pick up my shirt. A routine I used to do daily before I moved here and refused to buy a mirror for my room. I look over the number one cause of everything wrong in my life and disgust hits me like a train. My stretch marks on my chest aren’t my main concern. Neither are the red marks from the three bras I continue to wear. It’s my stomach that makes me want to give up even trying to better myself. No matter how hard I work, how little I eat, nothing seems to happen. It’s like a losing battle no matter what I do. I’ve contemplated going to the pharmacy to pick up some kind of diet pill, but I’m a coward.
It’s crazy how one phone call with my dad can just bring back all of these feelings when just a little while ago I was fine. As tears threaten to fall, I know I can’t stay here or else I’m going to do something I regret. So I grab my keys and my hoodie and I go to the one place that I can breathe a little bit easier.
Pulling up to the ice rink, I see the hockey team is just getting out of practice. I grab my bag with my skates from the trunk and head towards the now empty rink. When I see Chris, the manager of the rink, I head over his way.
“Hey Chris, mind if I skate a bit?”
“Not at all! Everything is cleared out till tomorrow, but I’ll be here for a bit doing some paperwork. Just let me know when you leave so I can lock up.”
“No problem! Thanks Chris!”
My dad somehow knows everyone in the hockey community. Chris is actually from New York and played with my dad in a men’s league for a while. Then he got a job working for the rink down here so he could be closer to his family. So when I started school here, I came to the public sessions after my first few expected anxiety attacks from starting a new school, and recognized Chris. He offered me a job, but I was already working at the school since I can get my school work done while I’m there. Also, because my class schedule is all over the place, and I didn’t want the added stress of having Chris go crazy not knowing when I was available. So now he just lets me use the rink when no one is here.
Lacing up my skates, I grab my headphones and put on my music. When ‘Why Worry’ by Set It Off comes on, I feel myself start to relax and stand up, making sure my skates are tight enough. I open the door to the ice and hear the blades make contact with the smooth surface. Then, I just skate. Not like a figure skater, not like a hockey player. Just skate. The whole rink is open, and I circle it a few times before I start gaining some speed. My music matches my pace, and my hair is completely out of my face as I continue circling the rink. I’m not here to impress anyone. Just lose myself for a bit.
I’m so in the zone, and lost in the music that I don’t realize I have an audience of one. My heart speeds up a little bit and it’s not from the cardio I’m doing.
DYLAN
“Yo, Dylan you going to Logans?”
“Nahh man I’m wiped.”
“Well stop getting up at the butt crack of dawn to go running dude.”
These guys just don’t quit. If it’s not a party, it’s the bar and if it’s not the bar, it’s a gathering at someone's dorm, which turns into a party. I love these guys, but I can’t keep up with it. Especially not with the potential of getting drafted.
“Captain's orders.” I call out.
“So basically you’re ordering yourself.”
“Basically.”
“Whatever man. Your loss. Heard it’s pretty crazy over there right now.”
“Maybe next time guys. I’ll see you at practice tomorrow.”
They all pile into the back of Ashton’s car. Guess he’s the DD tonight. Unless they call me, and I really hope they don’t, because they know I won’t say no. I open my trunk, put my gear away and climb into the driver’s seat when I realize I don’t have my phone. Must’ve dropped it in the locker room. I hope Chris didn’t lock up yet.
I walk back up to the rink and am relieved the doors are still open. I start to head to the locker room when I hear someone on the ice. All the guys left and we were the last ones here. Curiosity getting the best of me, I head to the ice and stop dead in my tracks. Long, brown, curly hair is the first thing I see. Then she circles around and I see her face. Big brown eyes, covered by black rimmed glasses. She’s wearing jeans and a hoodie that has a giant red A with flames coming out the sides. The sleeve has number 29 imprinted on it. I’ve never seen a team with that logo, so it must be from out of state. She has a pair of headphones in, and she looks completely relaxed just skating in ovals. It’s not till I get closer to the boards that I can really see her face. She’s striking. She doesn’t look like any girl I’ve ever seen. I can scarcely see her curves as she glides over the ice with ease, but they are definitely there. The fact that she’s here alone doesn’t sit well with me. Anyone could have just walked in that door.
Then she finally spots me, and looks completely stunned. I smile and walk over to the benches, not breaking eye contact.