As we passed one of the many open spaces in the outer ring, a couple was canoodling on one of the couches. We stopped.
“If you are going to the game,” Ms. Pendragon’s voice boomed, “you are not going to find a ticket up her shirt!”
Matt’s hand quickly shot away from where it was headed and Sarah looked up mortified. Matt’s dark skin darkened even more at the embarrassment of being caught and Sarah quickly covered her reddening cheeks.
“Yes, Ms. Pendragon.” Matt stammered. They grabbed their backpacks and quickly scampered down the hall.
“Don’t let me catch you in the school!” She lifted her left arm and the gray skin on her arm shimmered in the hallway light. She huffed. “I miss those days.”
I laughed. As she dropped her arm to her side, my eyes couldn’t help but stare. She noticed.
“Happened when I was young.” She said.
At having being caught, I flushed and looked away. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to stare.” I stammered.
She laughed, which was musical, but touched with a deep sadness. “Don’t be embarrassed, you’re not the first. I got very sick one time, almost died,” she started. “I was about your age, living in Germany in a small village high up in the mountains. My grandfather was a simple man, grew grapes for a very expensive winery. I slipped and my left arm got drenched in some chemical pesticides that the winery had sent to my grandfather to use.” She chuckled. “He never used pesticides in his life and was furious, sued them.”
“What happened?”
A broad smile came to her lips, “Now he owns the winery.”
“Is that where your parents are?” I asked as we resumed our journey.
“No, they passed away when I was still young.”
I immediately regretted my question. “I’m so sorry, Ms. Pendragon.”
She waved aside the sympathy. “No need to be sorry. Random things happen.”
We walked on in silence. I didn’t know why, but I felt a sense of honor come over me that she would share that with me. Not much was known about Ms. Pendragon. She rarely talked about herself and if anyone asked her a question, she would quickly turn it around to where you were talking about yourself again. I vowed to keep her secret to myself.
“Well, here you go, JJ.” We stopped. “I have to go see Professor Eitle. Enjoy the game.” She waved and continued around the ring.
“Bye, Ms. Pendragon. Have a great break.”
She waved back and disappeared. I hurried to my locker, gathered what I needed and headed off towards the game.
Christmas Jitters
I waited inside the Edesia at the bar for Brooke. Named after the Roman Goddess of feasting, the food was really good and it was a favorite spot for Dr. Marcus, the econ teacher to hold classes. The game had ended with an overtime 1-0 win for the Valkyries. It was Brooke’s ninth shutout of the season much to Valor’s goalie Marco Falkenstein’s dismay. He was rated number two behind Brooke in the state. I waved to Connor behind the bar and he nodded and began to make me another virgin margarita. Connor had graduated three years ago and worked part time during his off time from college for extra cash. He had been a star diver his senior year at Apollo Academy, which would have been my freshman year. He was quiet and shy, but had a quiet humor that was really funny if you could catch the side comments under his breath. He dropped it off, smiled and walked back to the counter to continue washing the glasses as the restaurant was beginning to close. My eyes lingered on one of the many T.V’s on the wall while I waited for her. Since Brooke was the only girl on the team, she got the girl’s locker room to herself and always tried to run the hot water out.
Coach Winckler was grinning and extremely pleased as he came out of the locker room hallway. The restaurant was mostly empty with some of the parents and boys from the team finishing up their meals. Coach Winckler nodded to several players and came over to me and pulled up a stool. He was a large muscular man, with a black goatee speckled with gray and a bald head. His smile was broad and his laugh full and deep. He reminded me of a Viking warrior.
“Hi, JJ.” His deep voice boomed.
“Congrats on the win, Coach Winckler.” My voice cracked as I pressed my forehead from the brain freeze.
He laughed. “Might want to drink that slower. Thank you. Brooke played well out there. She is a fiery beast in goal.”
My eyes began to water as the brain freeze slowly receded. “I know. I love how she just sits in goal like a wall, even when the opposing team is coming at her, then ‘wham’ she juts out and makes the save or block. I think it really frustrates the other players.”
“Ah,” he moaned. “Don’t remind me. It drives me nuts! It’s almost like she is asleep in goal. Makes my heart skip beats. That girl is going to give me a heart attack.”
“Not before we win the state title.” Brooke’s voice floated over his back.
She walked in, dumped her stuff on the ground at the table near the bar and sat down. “Connor, could you get me a diet Dr. Pepper please?”
“Sure thing, Cinnamon.” Connor said. “Do you want anything to eat? I don’t think the micro wave has been cleaned yet?”
Brooke shook her head. “No, JJ and I are going out to get something to eat, but thank you.” She huffed. “Man, I am tired!”
“You wouldn’t be if you would stay in goal when we are on power plays.” Coach Winckler gripped.
“Then we’d lose precious time. You like it when I go out, it creates more opportunities for our team if the opposing team has less time to change lines.” She winked at him. “Besides. The puck never gets by me? So why worry?”
“Because,” He boomed. “That isn’t what goalies do!”
Brooke waved her hand at him. “Being in goal all the time is boring. I need some spice!”
Coach Winckler shook his head and got up. “I’m not going to argue with you…” He started.
“Only because you know you would lose.” She smiled.
“…No, I’m not going to let you raise my blood pressure any more than you already do.”
“You are a wise man, sensei.” She put her hands together and bowed.
Coach Winckler rolled his eyes and left.
I chuckled. “You are crazy.”
“It’s the blue hair.”
Connor brought Brooke her usual drink, we talked about the game, finished our drinks and left. I climbed into my candy apple red CJ Jeep and followed Brooke in her Accord to our favorite place; the Cyber Dragon Café.
On the way I called my Dad to let him know where we would be going and when I would be home. He told me to be careful in the snow that he loved me, and we’d talk when I got home. I told him I loved him too and knew he’d be awake when I got home. See, my dad was an animation graphic artist for video games. He worked on lots of games and was really good. Since my mom passed away from breast cancer, when I was ten, he never remarried. Being an only child, we had become more close than most other families, I supposed. Even though he was my dad, he was also my best friend and I his. It was kind of weird I guess, but it worked for us.
We pulled into the Cyber Dragon Café off of Littleton Blvd and parked. The red dragon holding a laptop and looking confused, burned brightly in the night. I pulled my coat tighter around my body and waited for Brooke as she fumbled with some quick lipstick. My fist pounded on the car window, “Let’s go!”
She ignored me and fumbled with her blue hair in the mirror. Most of the time she never bothered with makeup, she was beautiful without it, like most athletes were. But unlike most athletes who tried to wear makeup, she actually knew how to put it on. And when she did, she was even more beautiful.
I pounded again. “I’m going!” The snow crunched under my heavy steps away from her car. The sound of the car door opening and closing, plus her hurried footsteps crunching in the snow made me brace for the hug I’d receive when she caught up to me.
Grabbing me with her arm, her breath rose into the air. “I have to look good i
f Cameron is here.”
“He won’t be. He’s hardly ever here.”
“But he might be,” she said as she hurried on.
A noise caught my attention and my eyes looked up at the roof. A shadow moved. I froze. I noticed that branches were moving in the wind creating shadows from the parking lot light pole. My breath slowly escaped my lips and I quickly followed Brooke.
The place was bustling with activity. As we looked for a seat, we spotted Kaylene behind the counter and waved. Kaylene was a senior, who had aspirations of being an actress. She was a great singer and got the lead rolls in most of the plays. In fact, she got the lead role of Lady Macbeth in Othello for the spring play. She pointed to a table in the corner and we marched on over and sat down. We shook out our jackets, placed them on our chair and looked around.
“Great game, Cinnamon.” Several classmates called out.
Brooke waved, “Couldn’t have done it without my teammates. I’m not much good out on the ice alone.”
Always gracious.
Kaylene came over. “Usual?”
I nodded, “Yes please.”
“And you, Brooke?”
“Me too.” She said looking around.
Kaylene smiled. “If you’re looking for Cam, you just missed him.”
Brooke’s face fell. “In that case, add a strawberry shake to those nachos.”
“Drowning your sorrows.” I chided her.
She nodded, then, “He didn’t leave with that whore Jill did he?”
Kaylene laughed. “She tried, almost raped him in the booth, but I overheard him tell her he had to go help his mom and dad pack for their cruise.”
Brooke’s eyes widened. “How adorable.” She turned to me. “I’m going to marry him.”
“You and everyone else.” I said.
It wasn’t long before our food arrived and we devoured it. I sipped on my Dr. Pepper as Brooke worked on her second malt.
“Feeling better? Might want to slow down, you do have to drive home, you know.”
“Ha, ha. You just don’t understand what it means to be in love.” She sighed dramatically.
I rolled my eyes. “And neither do you. He’ll be old news after break and someone else will take his place.” She hit me on the shoulder. “Ow. Bitch.”
“He will not!” She huffed. Then she smiled. “Okay, you’re right. My beauty can’t be confined to one man.”
“Aw, you are insufferable.”
“I know. Are you and your dad still coming over for Christmas Dinner?”
I nodded. “Your parents are great for having us.” Since my mom had died, we usually spent Christmas with Brooke and her parents. It was nice to have some company. Up until Brooke and I had become friends our freshman year, holidays were usually very somber and short. My dad’s grandparents had died early in my parents’ marriage before I was born and my mom’s parents had died shortly after mom. Since she was their only child, I guess they didn’t have much to live for after that. Even though my dad told me they loved me, I didn’t really believe him. Wasn’t I good enough to live for?
“No trouble.” Brooke said. “My mom appreciates it. That way she doesn’t have to listen to my dad talk about his video gaming. Your dad usually wears him out for a whole year.” We both laughed.
“By the way, guess what?”
“What.”
“I need you to come with me to the airport on New Year’s Eve.”
I frowned. “Why?” DIA was so far away.
“My cousin from Japan is coming to stay with us until summer. Mr. Resler already approved him for school.” She said in between slurps.
“I didn’t know you had a cousin? Are you from Japan?” I said.
“I was born there, but moved here when I was a hatch…baby.” She quickly corrected herself.
I frowned again. She never mentioned this before? I chuckled. It was funny how she slipped like that. Sometimes I think she was a bird. “Is he cute?”
She nodded. “Not Cam-aliscious cute, but yeah. I haven’t seen him for a really long time, but I think he’ll meet your standards.”
My eyes popped open. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Psht. Really? Tanner? Are you telling me you forgot about him?” She waved her arms in the air as she spoke, “Mr. Prince Charming, the love of your life?”
I blushed. “That was freshman year. Besides he moved away.”
“There have been others.” She pointed at me and mouthed the words really slow. “Pooooorrrrrr, tttaaaasssttttteeeee.”
“Shut up.” I said burying myself in my drink.
We finished up around eleven o’clock, walked out, hugged, told her I’d call her tomorrow and drove home. I pulled into the driveway and the lights were still on in Dad’s study. The jeep door swung open and I gingerly stepped out onto the slick driveway. With my backpack around my shoulder, I slowly made my way to the front door. Going inside, my golden retriever, Cooper, greeted me by jumping up on me and tried to lick my face. I rubbed his ears and kissed him on his forehead. I heard Dad’s chair move across the floor and the door open. He stretched as he came down the stairs. Cooper immediately ran to him and almost tripped him; he had to catch himself on the banister. Dad grumbled, but it was hard to get upset at Cooper, he was just so happy. Placing my backpack down on the ground, I wiped my feet and received my Dad’s hug and kiss on the cheek as we both walked towards the kitchen. He filled the teapot, pulled out our favorite mugs, and filled his with instant hot chocolate and mine with sleepy-weepy tea. It was a ritual we did every Friday night, no matter the time.
“How was the game?” Dad asked.
“Good,” I sat down at the island counter. I leaned across the island and pulled a cinnamon-raisin muffin from the breadbox, tore it into four pieces and placed two next to my Dad’s chair. “Brooke had another shut out, ninth of the season.”
He whistled. “That’s great. Maybe she’ll be recruited by a college as a goalie.”
“Maybe.”
The teapot whistled. He poured our drinks and placed them on the island.
“How was your day?” He said burning his lip.
I chuckled, “When are you not going to do that?” Cooper nudged his nose up under my hand. “Good. Dr. Daugherty is going to London for break.”
“More books?” Dad blew gently on his hot chocolate.
I nodded and popped a piece of the muffin in my mouth. “Yep.”
“That man must have a plethora of books at his house.” Dad broke off a piece of the muffin and fed it to Cooper. “Hope he doesn’t die at his home. They’ll never find him.”
“What a horrible thing to say.” I said.
Dad shrugged his shoulders. “I’ve seen worse on YouTube.”
“Shouldn’t you be working and not browsing?” I chided him.
“Can’t work all the time.” He laughed.
“Brooke asked if we are coming over for Christmas. I told her we were, is that still happening?” I ate the last piece.
Dad sighed. “If that is okay. I love Mrs. Wasabi’s cooking.”
I agreed. “I don’t have any problem with it. But you just like Mr. Wasabi’s sake, the food is just a bonus. How was your day?”
“You know me too well. Good. Did some more work on that new video game for Archan Don. Other than that, nothing too interesting. Took Cooper for a few walks.”
“Nice and chilly.” My face smiled.
“Not for him. Isn’t that right, puppy.” Cooper had his head on Dad’s leg, staring up at him.
“Dad?” I started but stopped. I debated about telling him about what I saw in the hallway at school.
He looked up at me, “What?”
I decided against it. Since I wasn’t sure what I saw, I didn’t what to bother him. “Brooke asked me to go to the airport to pick up her cousin with her on New Year’s Eve.”
Dad’s eyes lit up. “Is he single?”
My eyes rolled. “Seriously, Dad.”
“Hey
, just looking out for my little girl.” He smiled. “That’s not a problem. I was invited to go to a party at the gaming company, but I’ll probably stay home.”
“That isn’t good. You should go out. You are cooped up in this house all day.”
“Eh, I just don’t feel like it.”
I knew why, and I knew he knew, I knew why he didn’t go out, but I wasn’t going to bring it up. “Maybe we can do something.”
Dad scoffed. “You’ll be with Brooke and her cousin. Wink, wink.” He laughed.
“Stop. Brooke told me I have poor taste in guys.”
“Really.”
“Yeah, she keeps bringing up Tanner.”
“He moved and it was your freshman year.”
“I know. That’s what I told her.”
“She’s just jealous.” He patted my hand.
A broad smile appeared on my face. We talked for about another hour about nothing in particular, then I went to bed.
The weeks went by well enough. I finished what homework I had, so I could enjoy the rest of break. The morning before Christmas the smell of fresh baked bread filled the house. I finished putting the last ingredients in the pumpkin pie for tomorrow and popped it in the refrigerator. Brooke and I hadn’t seen each other over the past week. We never do before Christmas it seemed. I’ve even stopped by their house, but no one is ever home. When I bring it up, she just tells me that I just missed her.
Dad was busy putting the final touches on two pieces of salmon, before putting them in the oven to bake. Cooper followed him like a faithful servant, cleaning up any messes that Dad happened to let fall to the floor, which seemed to happen quite frequently. Snow was falling outside. They forecasted a slight chance of snow for Christmas, but as everyone knows who has lived in Colorado, white Christmases were a hit or miss proposition.
The oven door closed and Dad clapped his hands. “Well, what should we do until dinner?”
“Well,” I slid a box across the island to him.
His eyes widened in surprise. “I thought we were going to wait until tomorrow.”
I shrugged. “Daughter’s prerogative.”
He picked up the card. “Would you go and get my reading glasses from the stand, please.”
Dragon Amour (Dragon-Half Breed Book 1) Page 3