Heart of Ice

by Barbara Pietron

  Chapter 6

  While Nik worked on setting up an emergency meeting of the medicine man society, Ice spent most of the next day doing homework and babying his foot. Periodic icing had reduced the swelling and, aside from the broken skin, his ankle looked close to normal. He still hobbled a bit, since it hurt to put his full weight on the foot, but he was surprised and glad at how much better it felt today.

  After his shower, he carefully bandaged the ankle, making sure he could wear a shoe, then pulled on clean jeans, grateful the dance was casual. He chose a t-shirt, not too faded, and went to his closet for a button-up shirt.

  He was rifling through the hangers when he heard a knock on his bedroom door. "You can come in," he said, recognizing his mom's soft touch.

  She opened the door and poked her head inside. "Are you eating dinner before you go?"

  Ice shook his head. "I don't have time. Besides, I doubt I could eat now anyway." He turned back to his closet. "I had a snack before my shower, though. I'll be fine."

  "Okay. So you've got butterflies? Can I help calm you down?" she said with a small laugh as she stepped into the room.

  Ice glanced at her. "I wish." He held up a shirt on a hanger. "Maybe you can help me pick out a shirt."

  He half-expected her to suggest one of his dressier shirts, but instead she reached for a blue and black plaid. "This one looks really great with your eyes," she said.

  The shirt was actually a favorite of Ice's, washed enough to be soft and comfortable, yet still looked respectably new. As he slid his arms in the sleeves, the familiarity of the smooth cotton on his skin seemed to quell his rising nerves. "Sure it's all right?"

  His mom's eyes reflected her warm smile. "I think you look very handsome."

  Even though she was his mom, her comment bolstered Ice's confidence. She never let him leave the house underdressed. He stepped in front of the mirror over his dresser and swiped his hand through his hair a few times. It would have to do.

  Jacket on, keys in his hand, Ice turned to tell his mom good-bye and found her standing right behind him. She held up a twenty dollar bill. "In case you go out after," she said, pressing it into his hand.

  "You don't have to do that, Mom," Ice said.

  "I know," she replied, hugging him. "I hope you have fun."

  "Thanks." He gave her a quick squeeze and was out the door.

  The buzzing of his nerves escalated as he drove around the block. He swung his Jeep into Dale's driveway, hoping Audrey had relayed the message. He wasn't sure if he needed to knock or if Dale would be waiting, but he was content to wait a few minutes rather than have the awkward experience of chatting with one of his parents.

  It didn't take long, though, for Dale's tall form to emerge from the front door. Growing up, Ice had been taller, but in middle school Dale had shot up and passed Ice's six foot mark. No surprise showed on the boy's face as he approached the Jeep: his jaw appeared to be set with a careful lack of expression. He paused at the passenger door and then took another step toward the back door until Ice ducked his head to meet the boy's gaze. He delivered a 'don't be an idiot and sit in the back' look, which Dale seemed to understand because he climbed into the front seat.

  "Thanks," Ice said dryly. "I'll let you sit in the back when we pick up Lynn and Audrey," he joked in a lame effort to break the ice.

  The only response was the click of Dale's seat belt buckle.

  Ice backed from the driveway and headed for the main road. When his GPS app stopped jabbering at him, he attempted conversation. "I'm sorry about your great grandpa. He'll be missed—I'll miss him," he amended. "He was a big part of my childhood."

  As far back as he could remember, Ice and Dale had been enthralled by Great Cloud's stories. In his adolescent mind, Ice had considered the man to be his grandfather as well. A few days before Ice's vision quest, Great Cloud passed away. Ice assisted at the death ceremony just before he left.

  Dale didn't reply. Nor did he shift his gaze from the side window.

  Ice sighed inwardly. After he and Dale lost contact, and as Ice matured, the reason for the other boy's resentment became obvious—at least in Ice's mind. Dale's great grandfather was not only a revered medicine man, but also Nik's mentor; of course Dale would've wanted to be Nik's apprentice. Ice felt guilty for not seeing the truth back then. Maybe things could've been different between him and Dale if he'd understood why his friend was so disgruntled by Nik's decision.

  Two stop lights later, Ice tried again. "How's your Grams doing?" he asked gently, thinking an actual question might elicit Dale to speak.

  "She had a stroke," Dale answered, his voice flat. "She can't even talk."

  Ice knew about the stroke. Grams was Great Cloud's daughter and caretaker; her stroke happened the day he died. "Is there a chance she will?"

  "Slim." Dale rubbed his palms on his jeans. "The worst part is she seems a little out of it. Last time I saw her, she jumped at me."

  "Jumped at you?" Ice glanced at Dale who now faced forward.

  "Yeah." His shoulders tensed and he shook his head. "Like tried to attack me, but she was too weak. My mom tried to tell me she wanted to hug me." Dale snorted. "She didn't see Grams' face."

  "Wow, that sucks." Ice sort of regretted bringing the subject up. Although he'd gotten Dale to talk, he'd also succeeded in sullying the mood. "So have you and Audrey been together a while?" He knew the answer, but it was his first thought to broach a lighter subject.

  "Not that long. A couple weeks."

  Ice scoured his brain for more to say, but was also getting tired of trying so hard to start a conversation. As the period of silence stretched out, he considered turning on the radio, then Dale asked, "How do you know Lynn?"

  "I play hockey with her brother. She stays around for practice, probably because he's her ride home." Ice thought for a moment then added, "Truthfully, I hardly know her at all and I'm nervous as hell about tonight."

  The admission made Dale turn his head toward Ice, but he didn't comment. Ice looked over and caught his raised eyebrows. "What? It's hard to meet girls when you're not in school."

  Dale's mouth curved up at the corners. "Yeah, okay."

  The GPS directed them off the main road and into a subdivision, and although the tension between him and Dale had receded, Ice's nerves remained taut. As he wove his way into the neighborhood of nice homes, his heart seemed to move into his throat.

  They arrived at Lynn's address about five minutes early. Had he been by himself, Ice probably would've passed the house and made another loop around the block, anxious about the prospect of idle chatter with her parents. But as he pulled in the drive and turned off the engine, Ice had the reassuring thought that having Dale with him meant he didn't have to bear the burden of conversation alone.

  He opened his door, wincing as he descended left foot first. In his worries over Dale, Lynn, and the dance, he'd forgotten about his ankle until he landed on it and swore out loud. Dale came around the front of the Jeep and gave him a questioning look. "I sprained my ankle," Ice mumbled in explanation.

  Dale lifted an eyebrow. "Bummer."

  Even though he'd chosen his regular winter coat over his Carhartt jacket, Ice felt a little outclassed by Dale's leather coat and boots as they walked to the front door. He hoped Lynn and Audrey weren't too dressed up or he'd look like a slob compared to the rest of his group. He drew in a deep breath as he limped up the porch steps. Since Dale made it to the door first, he waited to knock until Ice was on the porch.

  A petite brunette woman opened the door and smiled as she pushed the screen door open. "Come on in, guys. You know they're not quite ready yet," she laughed. "I'll go check on the progress and let them know you're here."

  Judging from the whispers and giggles floating down the stairs, Ice guessed the girls already knew of their arrival. From around the corner came the groan of springs and a clunk, which Ice identified as a large person rising from a recliner. Seconds later, a portly, balding man entered
the foyer. "George, Lynn's dad," he said, extending his hand to Dale first, since he was closest.

  "Dale," Dale murmured, quickly shaking the man's hand.

  Ice extended his hand, and a flash of panic struck him since he never knew what kind of reaction his name would bring. And should he use his full name? In the few seconds it took for him to lean forward and grasp Lynn's father's hand, he decided Lynn had likely already called him Ice so he'd better stick with it. "Ice." He shook Mr. Ballentine's hand firmly, attempting to demonstrate confidence whether he felt it or not.

  "Right. You're on the hockey team. I've seen you play. You're pretty good," he said.

  "Thank you, sir. I try." He managed a nervous laugh.

  Just then the girls clattered down the stairs followed by Mrs. Ballentine.

  Lynn wore tight jeans that showed off her long legs, topped with a loose knit shirt. She had on brightly colored footie socks. Her straight hair shone like polished mahogany and small gold sparkles accented her chestnut eyes. Audrey was the definition of the term voluptuous. All soft curves, including the curls in her brunette hair, she had sexy green eyes and pouty lips. She was solely responsible for the racket on the steps, wearing high-heeled boots with her jeans tucked in the top.

  As Dale moved forward to hug Audrey, Ice smiled at Lynn. "Hey," he said awkwardly, hoping he was the only one who noticed his pounding heart. She returned the smile and said, "hi," then dropped her eyes. . She was looking directly at his sneakers and Ice suffered a brief moment of panic before she said, "Oh thank goodness you're wearing Converse. I wanted to wear my flat boots," then disappeared into the back of the house.

  Audrey fixed Ice in her green gaze. "Hi, Ice."

  "Hi, Audrey," he responded, his voice carefully neutral.

  Mr. Ballentine looked out the door. "That your Jeep?" he asked Ice.

  "Yes, sir."

  "Four wheel drive?"

  "Yes, sir," Ice confirmed.

  Lynn returned with boots in hand and sat on the steps to pull them on. Then she retrieved her coat from the front closet and handed Audrey hers. "We'll probably go somewhere after the dance," she said, throwing the coat over her arm.

  Ice noticed Mr. Ballentine had already exited the room. "Okay," Lynn's mom replied. "Have fun."

  Assuming that was the signal to leave, Ice stepped out the door and then stood aside, holding it for the other three. They trooped out to the car and Ice gritted his teeth as he hurried to open Lynn's door for her. He inhaled deeply and tried not to limp as he rounded the front of his car. He blew out the breath before climbing in the driver's seat.

  It did little to settle his nerves.

  Here we go, he thought. Good or bad, success or disaster, this was it. This night was finally happening.