by Tia Siren
I wondered what people would think. I could see their eyes silently judging us in our prolonged hug, and I did my best to hide from their gaze. Rick slowly pushed me away, and I accepted his guidance.
It was difficult to see, but I could make out a small tear forming in the corner of his eye. I pretended that I didn’t notice.
We didn’t spend much time together during the short reception. But, I continued to feel his gaze on my back as I talked with other partygoers. They would all pat me on the back and give me a hug of congratulations. I didn’t feel lucky in the slightest.
The night wore on and my mom and her new husband left in the most absurdly decorated car I’d ever seen. She looked at me with such a face of content that I couldn’t help but want to slap her. As though every little bit of happiness she felt was a small knife stabbing into my own.
I still kept Rick in the corner of my gaze, wishing that things had been different. I caught him sneak behind a stack of chairs and throw a meaningless punch into the wall out of frustration. I could tell that he wasn’t too keen on the new living situation either, and that was enough.
It would be a long year at school.
7.
The vacation passed, and I returned to school as a victor. I received more invites to parties from people I hadn’t ever met before. None held much interest for me, but I now had become a bit of a hockey fan. I began attending any game that I could, hoping to see Rick play.
He seemed a different player, more driven and focused. I managed to catch his eye from the stands a couple of times, and he would immediately turn away, almost wishing that I weren’t there.
That is until our team won a major victory over our biggest rival and made it into the playoffs.
I was incredibly excited for the team and made a point to attend their victory party. By now my exploits had become something of a legend, and getting into any party was easy. I recognized plenty of people, and while I was still embarrassed, I accepted their fawning.
Rick was standing next to the glass that surrounded the ice, and I made way straight to the nearest available drink.
I stood there, talking to Kathy while my mind wandered towards Rick. As though the world fell away when we were both in the same room, and trying to avoid thinking of him was counterintuitive. I skirted the outside of the crowd and caught him looking at me more than once.
I wanted nothing more than to walk up to him and leap into his more than capable arms and have him carry me off, but it didn’t feel right. Something was different now, and I wanted to know what.
I pulled my old skates from my bag and took a seat nearby him to put them on. He turned his eyes towards me as I prepared to take the ice. I think he was just as earnest as I was to talk about our shared history.
He politely ended his conversation with his fans as I carefully made my way to the ice. He followed along, closely from behind as I started to skate. A few people hooted and hollered in the crowd, and I had a feeling they were hoping I’d give them another show. I wasn’t interested and just smiled and waved off their collected screams.
Rick paced quickly alongside me as I smoothly careened along the ice.
“How are you classes,” I asked politely.
“You really want to make small talk,” he responded, simply.
“I really want to just go somewhere and forget that we’re in college and that our parents just got married,” I said, making sure we were out of earshot of everyone in the party.
He craned his neck to look over his shoulder, doing the same as I was.
“Follow me,” he said.
I did so, as he pulled me aside off the ice and towards the opposing team’s locker room, now empty. I carefully made my way inside.
Rick pulled me out of view of anyone that might have been looking at stared me right in the eye. I could feel the intensity of his gaze, those burning blue eyes making me feel weak in the knees, again. He leaned down just slightly and pursed his lips.
I eagerly pushed my mouth into his, hoping this moment wouldn’t end. I poured my heart into the kiss, and it felt like he did the same. His passion was burning for me, and mine for him. But, there was something underlying each tender caress and neither of us could shake the feeling as though something was wrong.
I was the one to push him away.
“This doesn’t feel right anymore,” I said.
He stepped back, touching his hand to his lips, as though he were remembering the tenderness of my kiss I had given him only moments ago.
“This feels so right,” he replied, “but it feels like something is missing.”
I nodded and leaned back against the wall, smacking the back of my head against it in an act of penitence. The hard surface gave me little solace.
“I can’t do this,” I said, starting to break away from him and get back to the ice. Tears began to form at the corners of my eyes.
He shot out an arm and pulled me back.
“Casey, listen to me for just a second,” he said.
I stood still and awkwardly turned back to him, doing my best to wipe away whatever tears were starting to show themselves.
“What,” I asked.
“I think we both know,” he started, “we’ll never be lovers. I know you feel the same as I do.”
He was right, and that’s what bothered me. I didn’t know what to say anymore. I knew that I didn’t have those feelings for him anymore; I was just going through the motions of romance. I brushed the new tears from my eyes and felt an odd sort of contentedness.
“Should I call you brother, or should I call you Rick,” I asked.
He looked at me and smiled. It seemed as though a weight were pulled off both our chests as we continued to chat.
“That’s your choice, Sis,” he replied with a smirk.
I laughed, trying to exhale my remaining emotion; it seemed to work as I could feel my tears begin to dry up.
“Alright, bro,” I said.
This time, he laughed along with me before grabbing my hand and giving it one last kiss. It had an odd sense of finality to it, and I was still a small bit confused, but I knew that we had made the right decision.
He found and wore his skates, and we made a few laps around the ice. Our conversation went from intimate to lighthearted, and I knew that I had gained more than a brother. I had gained a new best friend and confidant.
We ended up having to say our goodbyes about halfway through the night when Kathy drank too much, and I had to make sure she got home safely. I did my best to hold her hair back as she made a mess of the school grounds.
She kept looking up at me with earnest tears in her eyes, apologizing every time I patted her on the back. It made me giddy inside to know that I had become such a wonderful roommate, or perhaps it was me knowing that I had some fodder for the next roommate argument.
After finally managing to make it home unharmed, I helped her out of her party clothes and into bed. She was still awake as I laid her into bed. It seemed that she wanted a bit of conversation before she’d be able to fall asleep.
“So, what did I miss from your winter vacation,” she asked.
I told her the only thing I could; I had gained a new brother.
*****
THE END
SPORTS Romance – Rough Play
''Yes thanks, Jeff. You're right; that was a great game. We're just waiting for Danny Constance to come and talk to us after scoring three goals,'' the football reporter said as the anchorman handed back to him after the news bulletin.
''Danny has also been called up this week to play his first game for England. He's certainly the hottest footballer in England at the moment. There are also rumors that Barcelona has made a bid of eighty million pounds for him. Hold on, yes, here he is.''
Danny Constance towered over the reporter. At six feet three he had the ideal built to play in attack, and at just twenty-two was at the beginning of a glittering football career. He'd just come out of the shower after Rushmore
United had won in front of fifty thousand home fans. It was a cold day in December and steam came from Danny's wet hair.
''Danny, thanks for talking to us. How do you feel the game went today?''
''Great, I scored three and United have moved back to the top of the league. It's been a good day.''
Another reporter came and put his microphone close to Danny's mouth. Danny flashed the reporter an aggressive look, and he withdrew slightly.
''What's your reaction to your England call up?''
''I'm honored. It's great to represent my country. Hopefully, we can win,'' Danny said as he reeled off another stock answer. Rushmore used a London PR company to train its players in the art of evading press questions.
''Can you give any insight into the rumor Barcelona want to buy you?''
''None, it's just that. A rumor.''
''And lastly Danny, I have to ask you this, do you have any comment on the alleged incident at the West End nightclub last week?''
Danny scowled into the camera. ''No comment. Please keep your questions on football, not my private life.''
''But.....the young woman alleges you were very drunk, and you danced with her and touched her.......''
Before the reporter could finish Danny has disappeared back into the sanctuary of the dressing room.
He sat down and put his boots into a holdall. The place was almost empty, only the goalkeeper, Rod Stevens, Danny's best friend was still getting dressed.
''What a fuckhead,'' Danny said.
''Who?
''Jones, that reporter. He asked me about last Saturday evening.''
Rod, who was even taller than Danny, turned around and looked at him. ''I hope she drops the charges, because if she doesn't you'll have to go to court.''
''But I didn't do what she's saying.'' Danny took a deep breath.
''I know that, but the cops are always after nailing a famous person. Come on, let's go and have a beer,'' Rod said.
When they walked out of the players entrance, a large crowd cheered, and a few small boys thrust autograph books at Danny hopefully. That's what Danny liked about being a footballer, the kids. He knew he was a role model, and he loved being one. ''You go on ahead, I'll catch you up, I'm gonna sign for these kids,'' Danny said. Rod nodded and headed for the underground car park where his Porsche was waiting.
''Okay lads, I'll stay here until the last one of you has got my signature so no need to push.'' After thirty minutes, the crowd had dwindled, and Danny saw a young boy in a wheelchair. ''Alright mate. What happened to you then?'' he asked the stricken child.
''I was in a car crash. I can't walk anymore.''
Danny looked at the boy's father, who smiled. ''That's no good is it. Tell you what; you can have these, and when you walk again, you can play football in them.'' The boy's eyes almost popped out of his head as Danny reached into his bag and pulled out the boots he'd just scored three goals in. ''Here, I'll sign them for you as well.''
''Are you sure Danny?'' the child's father said. ''Those are your lucky boots.''
''Well, he needs them more than I do,'' Danny said. The boy took the boots and cuddled them. His father shook Danny's hand. ''You're a good guy Danny thanks.''
When Danny drove his Ferrari up the parking lot ramp, the kid in the wheelchair gave him the thumbs up. Danny put his foot down and left some rubber on the road as he sped to the Wild Board pub.
''Danny, let me buy you a drink. Great game, you're a star,' Dave the barman said. The Wild Board was the only pub Danny and his teammates were allowed to drink in. It belonged to Rushmore's manager Miguel Sanchez. He let his players have a few beers there after home games because he knew Dave kept them from drinking too much. Miguel knew Danny and Rod always went on to a nightclub after, but they were young, and he realized they needed to let some steam off now and again.
The only thing that concerned Miguel was the possible charge which hung over Danny's head. Miguel had also played at the top level, and he knew the traps young women laid for highly paid young footballers. If they couldn't marry them, they'd create some trumped up charge and try to get financial compensation. The police had told Miguel that it could be a case of sexual assault, but Miguel knew that Danny wasn't that type of guy, and nobody in the nightclub was going to testify against him. The young woman was adamant that he'd touched her, but Miguel had already asked the club private detective to look into her. What he'd found hadn't surprised Miguel. She was from a broken family; her father was in prison, and her mother had a criminal record as long as her arm.
''So where are we going this evening?'' Danny asked Rod.
Rod finished his lager and gave the matter some thought. ''How about Arabella's.''
''Alright. There's always loads of sexy women there on Saturdays,'' Danny said.
*****
Amber got out of the chauffeur-driven limousine and glanced up at her parental home. She hadn't been home for quite a while, but now, she was very pleased to be home for the Christmas break.
''Honey,'' June shouted, ''Oh my daughter. At last, it's so nice to have you home,'' she said as she thrust her arms around Amber.
''Hi mom. It's great to be home. I really missed you and dad.'' There was a hint of emotion in Amber's voice.
''Come in and sit down. Your father won't be home for a while. We can have a girly talk.''
Amber followed June into a huge lounge. The whole house was huge. It was built in nineteen hundred by Amber's great grandfather after he'd made a fortune on the stock market. Set in seven acres of wonderful gardens it was a colonial style house just outside New York City.
June rang a bell, and a small, stocky woman appeared. ''Glenda, bring us some tea would you?'' June asked.
''Who's she?'' Amber asked when Glenda had gone to the kitchen.
''Polly died, she's her replacement.''
''What? Why didn't you tell me?'' Amber asked.
''We didn't want to cause you any more upset than you already had.''
Amber was suddenly full of grief for the woman that had been her nanny and later June's maid. ''That's awful. Poor Polly. But she was only....''
''Sixty-three, yes. Far too young,'' June said. ''So how are you feeling now after your horrible split?''
Amber sighed. ''No more men, ever.''
June laughed and played with her pearls. She was forty-nine and still a very attractive woman. A fact that had not gone unnoticed by the wealthy male neighbor who she visited when her husband was away on business. ''You'll change your mind. Give it time.''
''No mom. He was horrible. I thought we were going to get married, at least, he led me to believe we were. Then I found him.......well, you know what happened.''
''Yes. Men do that kind of thing. None of them are ever faithful.''
''Do you mean dad's been unfaithful to you?'' Amber asked not really wanting to know the answer.
''Oh yes. Countless times.''
''Oh,'' Amber said. This was the first time she'd learned her parents’ marriage wasn't all she'd thought it to be. ''That's horrible for you.''
June laughed. ''Not at all. If he can do it, so can I.''
Glenda arrived with the tea and put it down on the antique coffee table in front of the sofa they were sitting on.
''Do you mean you have had affairs as well?''
''As many as your father, if not more.''
Amber had had the worst year of her life. A student at Yale, she'd met what she thought was Mr. Perfect. He was so handsome when he'd asked her out she'd said yes straight away. He was from an aristocratic family of lawyers, and at first, he'd seemed the perfect gentleman. After a few months, he started to become possessive and jealous. She'd thought it was just a phase, but it got worse. So bad in fact, he'd tied her to the bed one day and not let her go out at all. A week later she'd found him lying naked between the open legs of Penelope, his sisters best friend.
''You shouldn't worry when a man cheats on you. It's perfectly normal. They are all wired to their cocks, a
nd there's not a darn thing any of them can do about it,'' June said.
Amber was about to protest when the front door opened. ''Daddy, hi,'' she said standing up and hugging him. ''You look tired, is everything alright?''
''All the better for seeing you. You haven't been home for months.''
''Well, I'm here now.''
''And I'm very glad you are. June ring for Glenda, I need a drink, it's been a hell of a day,'' he said loosening his tie and slumping into his armchair. ''Why the hell I chose to get into the stress of Wall Street, I'll never know. I should have been an artist, sitting by a lake painting birds.''
''You're a good painter daddy. Why don't you pack it all in and do that?''
Roger looked at his daughter. She was his precious Amber. He would do anything for her, and he'd hated finding out she'd been so upset about her last boyfriend. She was too beautiful to be treated so badly. He loved the fact she was as tall as him and was so proud to have such a beautiful daughter.
''Your hair is so shiny, how do you get it like that?'' he asked.
''Healthy living I suppose. After I split with Marco, I almost died it pink.''
''Don't you ever change it. You're a beautiful brunette, and it matches your hazel eyes,'' her mother interjected.
Glenda arrived with a bottle of Scottish whiskey. Roger took it from her and poured himself a drink.
''Do you want one?'' he asked Amber. She shook her head.
''Well don't ask me whether I want one will you?'' June complained.
He poured his wife a drink and gave it to her. ''Amber you're okay for London mid-January, Joe confirmed it this afternoon. He apologized for leaving it so late, but he'd love to have you on board.''
June looked quizzically at them. ''What are you two cooking up?''
''My work placement, part of my degree. Dad asked Joe if he had a place for me in his PR firm in London for six months.''
''I might as well live on the moon. Nobody tells me anything.'' June said taking a larger than advised mouthful of whiskey. Amber patted her on the back as she coughed it back up.