Song: Quiet, Lights
The car was quiet, I was getting tired and the GPS was making funny noises.
“Stupid thing” I mumbled giving it a whack. Just a few seconds later, the screen went black.
“Is that dead?” Jade asked from the backseat.
“No, it’s fried” I sighed, “does your iPhone have a map?”
She pulled it from her purse and moved it around trying to get service, “nothing”
“Well, we can’t go much further without a map, who knows where we’ll end up” I replied.
I stopped the car and sighed taking off my seatbelt and opened the door.
“Where are you going?” Jacob asked.
“Well, if we drive too much further we’ll run out of gas, and even if there is a gas station near here, we don’t have the gas to get there so maybe we can get a map while we get some gas”
“You’re not going alone” Jade said, “I’ll come with you”
“No” Anton said climbing out of the car, “I’ll go, who knows if you two will come back when you leave”
I just sighed, “Fine, can we just go please, Jade and Jacob, you guys guard the car”
“You can’t leave me with her” Jacob whined, “What if…”
“She’s harmless Jacob, I promise, plus, we won’t be long…at least I hope not”
Anton mumbled something to Jacob in Swedish and Jacob looked relieved. I just smirked as I started walking. He quickly caught up and walked beside me.
“So…”
I just turned to look at him, “Um…well, what position do you play…for your team?”
He thought for a minute, “Is it…left wing? I think that’s how you say it. I shoot left”
“Oh…that’s cool” I smiled, “I have to be honest, I was never really into hockey until I met Taylor”
“Does Taylor like hockey?”
“He plays, against you…”
“Oh. What team?”
“Canada”
“Taylor Hall?” his eyes grew wide.
I just nodded my head, “That’s the one”
“I heard about him from a teammate, Magnus Paarjvi-Svensson, he said Hall was good”
“He’s incredible…on the ice”
I looked up at him and his face fell, “Your friend…she doesn’t like him”
“Yah, there were a few incidents…that involved him”
“Oh…I see” he replied, “Well…can I ask what?”
I didn’t know this guy, I really didn’t think I could really trust him, especially something this personal in my life.
“It’s complicated”
“If you don’t want to talk about it, it’s fine” he shrugged, “I don’t blame you. I have a little sister, she just turned five”
I just smiled, “Really? Does she look like you?”
I saw his face turn red a little and I just smirked, “I wouldn’t say that. She’s a lot braver than me. She wants to try everything. We saw a bunch of people skydiving before I left and she told me that’s what she wanted to do when she grew up”
I just laughed, “I have to meet this girl”
“Her name is Hanna” he smirked, “She’s a charmer”
“Sounds like my kind of girl. I love kids”
“Really?” he replied, “So do I. I watch Hanna when I’m not playing a game or at practice”
“That’s too cute”
I saw him smirk a little bit and I was quick to respond, “You know, the fact that you watch her and everything…”
“I love her” he said, “I know it may sound crazy, but she was there when no one else was”
I have to admit, I was a bit surprised he was sharing this with me.
“When my girlfriend broke up with me for someone else, she told me to forget about her, she said ‘she wasn’t that nice to you anyways’…oh wow, you didn’t need to hear that”
“I’m a little surprised actually”
“What? Why? Not all of us hockey players have girlfriends. Even Jacob is single, he gets girls chasing after him constantly”
“This is true, but I was talking about the fact that you told me that”
“Oh, I don’t want to be rude, if telling you makes you uncomfortable”
“No” I laughed, “It’s really okay Anton, I just wasn’t sure you wanted to”
“Well…I don’t normally talk to people about these things”
There was an awkward silence between us as we kept walking. Finally he spoke, “Do you think they’re okay?”
“I’m sure they’re perfectly fine, why?”
“Last thing we need is our star goalie going missing” he smirked.
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
three : if I lost faith, was no choice I made.
song: halloween by meg & dia.
Jade’s POV
Lena was more the happy when she discovered that the GPS was in the glovebox of the car. As she hooked it up and set it for Saskatoon, Jacob and Anton started arguing with each other in that gibberish language of theirs. Lena called us over when it was done, and they raced to the car.
Of course, I got stuck sitting in the backseat next to the giant with the massive morning wood. I guess it wasn’t that bad; he was pretty decent looking. That, and he answered generally any stupid thing I asked him. I liked that.
“So, it’s because it’s keeping you healthy...like your arm or something?”
Jacob sighed, “Ja. Its normal.”
I smirked. He looked so uncomfortable. I liked making people uncomfortable.
Lena’s eyes met mine in the rear view mirror. She gave me a warning glance. I put out my innocent face and she looked away.
“...so the front desk lady said we were pretty loaded when we showed up at 2 am,” Anton was saying slowly, still unable to look at Lena, “I wonder how long we drove to end up this far from Saskatoon.”
“And in the country,” Lena added, “I mean, I found our passports in my purse, but come on- don’t we look suspicious together?”
I noticed Jacob had a small bit of goatee growing on his chin. I reached out to touch and he swatted my hand away. Twice.
“How old are you guys?” I asked.
“I’m 19,” Jacob said, moving closer to the window.
“Same,” Anton replied.
“Well we’re all the same age,” Lena said, “That part isn’t too suspicious.”
“I wonder what we told the border cops,” I snorted, “Oh, just going to have a crack party at some hotel in Nowhereland, California.”
“No crack, Jade,” Lena warned, “I swear to God, if you get baked at the game again-”
“Oh come on, that was one time!” I whined, ignoring the wide stare from Jacob, “And Nazem said he’d kill me if he caught me again. That, and Phil totally went apeshit.”
“As he should. Drugs are illegal.”
Anton looked a little scared by all of this talk.
“Look, I’m not a druggie, or an alcoholic, ok?” I said, leaning forward, “Both of you. I’m just a girl who thinks the whole feminist movement is a big joke.”
“Jade, stop being such a hippie,” Lena said with an eyeroll, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
“I’m not a damned hippie,” I protested, looking at Jacob, “Listen, I grew up in a real uppity family, not that they were bad to me, just boring. So it’s natural that I wanna try things, y’know? Like drink straight vodka, smoke weed outside of the school, fuck without a condom-”
“STOP THE CAR.”
Lena slammed on the breaks as Jacob screamed, undid his seatbelt and jumped out. Anton looked extremely dazed. Lena turned around and gave me the nastiest look before pulling into the nearby gas station where Jacob was currently running for shelter. She put the car in park, turned it off and stomped after him.
I grinned at Anton, “I’m gonna go get some water. You want some water?”
Anton visibly swallowed, “No.”
My black studded boots hit the pavement with a satisfying thud and I swaggered my way into the convenience store. Yeah, I was still a little drunk, but who cared? Definitely not me. I was used to this.
The bell made a clang against the door as I wandered over to the freezer section. I could hear Jacob and Lena talking in the next eye. Pretending to look at the Fritos selection, I started to listen in.
“...I mean I don’t feel safe!”
“I’m sorry, but I have to drive. If you get caught driving here with a Swedish license, there may be big problems ahead.”
Jacob groaned, “Please let me sit in the front. I cannot sit with her. She...she scares me.”
Lena sighed, “Look, I know she acts like she’s going to rape you, and she tries to be this big, tough girl, but Jade is harmless.” She paused. “Perfectly harmless.”
I chucked a bag of chips over the isle, “Liar! I fucked up Tavares!”
Lena growled and I knew I was in trouble. I ran around the other isle to avoid her, but to no avail- she always was faster than me. Grabbing me by the earlobe, which I hated, she scolded me.
“You almost faced criminal charges for that, don’t talk about it, ever,” she whispered harshly, “And secondly, you’re scaring Jacob.”
I giggled, “Haha. Jay-cub. Yah-cub.”
He frowned at me from behind Lena, “Don’t make fun of my name.”
Lena tightened the grip on my ear and I whimpered, “Ok! Ok! I’ll shut up!”
“Go get your water,” she told me firmly before turning to Jacob, “And you can sit up front until we stop for gas again.”
Jacob breathed a sigh of relief, “Tak.”
We all gathered into the car again and Lena instructed Jacob to withdraw the USA map from the glove box. Anton sat nervously next to me. I felt kind of bad scaring Jacob, so I decided not to bother this kid. After all, we would be stuck with them for a few hours, and maybe days.
-
april 2008
It was pouring rain in the middle of the night. Jade was fast asleep in her small apartment when she heard a knock on the door. For a moment she ignored it, but when the knocking grew frantic, she knew something wasn’t right. Jade brought herself out of bed and wandered to the door.
Lena walked in, soaking wet and shaking. Her face was flushed, and a fresh bruise was on her cheek- carefully connected to a brand new black eye. Jade swallowed, shaking her head.
“I’ll kill him.”
“No,” Lena said, shivering, “He didn’t mean it. By tomorrow, everything will be back to normal.”
They both knew that wasn’t true.
Sending Lena to the bathroom to have a shower, Jade closed her eyes as she dialed her brother’s cell phone, only to be answered by his roommate, Nazem.
“...hello?”
“Naz,” Jade said, her voice shaking, “He did it to her again.”
She heard a heavy sigh, “No.”
“Yes,” Jade said bitterly, “I don’t know what to do anymore. You know she won’t listen to me, or to any of the guys.”
Naz was quiet for a moment. It felt like years for Jade.
“John’s up,” he told her, “We’ll be there in five minutes.” Before Jade could protest, he added, “We’re off for two days.”
Lena emerged from the bathroom just as Nazem Kadri and Jade’s brother, John Carlson, walked in. Wearing just a towel around herself, Lena felt very naked in front of the sudden visitors, despite the fact that she knew them. Her eyes grew wide, and then, ashamed, she looked down at the floor.
“Jade, you didn’t.”
“I don’t know what else to do, Lee,” Jade said slowly, “I’m scared.”
“How did it happen this time, Lena?” John asked her calmly.
Lena shrugged, “I got in his way.” She glanced at the window. “I guess I deserve it.”
Nazem bit his lip, his gaze meeting Jade’s frustrated one, “No, Lee, you don’t. He has a temper, and he needs to learn to control it. Just because he is angry does not give him permission to hurt you.”
Lena let her eyes fall shut, hiding the tears that tried to escape, “I should never have broke up with him.”
“You were together for just a day before he did this,” John said, “Lena, that’s not right.”
“You don’t understand!” Lena snapped, “I love him!”
John, never taken aback, replied simply, “Love does not harm.”
Lena’s tears started to roll down her cheeks, “You know what? You guys don’t understand. You all come from loving families, and Taylor is the only thing I have right now. He is the only one who loves me.”
“You’re wrong,” Nazem insisted, “WE love you.”
Lena snorted, turning on her heel and going to Jade’s bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
Jade turned to her brother, who exchanged glances with Nazem. It was a hopeless case, as it always was. They could’ve pressed charges or tried to get him kicked off the team, but nothing could be done without Lena’s consent. And she clearly wouldn’t give any.
Jade’s POV
Lena was more the happy when she discovered that the GPS was in the glovebox of the car. As she hooked it up and set it for Saskatoon, Jacob and Anton started arguing with each other in that gibberish language of theirs. Lena called us over when it was done, and they raced to the car.
Of course, I got stuck sitting in the backseat next to the giant with the massive morning wood. I guess it wasn’t that bad; he was pretty decent looking. That, and he answered generally any stupid thing I asked him. I liked that.
“So, it’s because it’s keeping you healthy...like your arm or something?”
Jacob sighed, “Ja. Its normal.”
I smirked. He looked so uncomfortable. I liked making people uncomfortable.
Lena’s eyes met mine in the rear view mirror. She gave me a warning glance. I put out my innocent face and she looked away.
“...so the front desk lady said we were pretty loaded when we showed up at 2 am,” Anton was saying slowly, still unable to look at Lena, “I wonder how long we drove to end up this far from Saskatoon.”
“And in the country,” Lena added, “I mean, I found our passports in my purse, but come on- don’t we look suspicious together?”
I noticed Jacob had a small bit of goatee growing on his chin. I reached out to touch and he swatted my hand away. Twice.
“How old are you guys?” I asked.
“I’m 19,” Jacob said, moving closer to the window.
“Same,” Anton replied.
“Well we’re all the same age,” Lena said, “That part isn’t too suspicious.”
“I wonder what we told the border cops,” I snorted, “Oh, just going to have a crack party at some hotel in Nowhereland, California.”
“No crack, Jade,” Lena warned, “I swear to God, if you get baked at the game again-”
“Oh come on, that was one time!” I whined, ignoring the wide stare from Jacob, “And Nazem said he’d kill me if he caught me again. That, and Phil totally went apeshit.”
“As he should. Drugs are illegal.”
Anton looked a little scared by all of this talk.
“Look, I’m not a druggie, or an alcoholic, ok?” I said, leaning forward, “Both of you. I’m just a girl who thinks the whole feminist movement is a big joke.”
“Jade, stop being such a hippie,” Lena said with an eyeroll, gripping the steering wheel tightly.
“I’m not a damned hippie,” I protested, looking at Jacob, “Listen, I grew up in a real uppity family, not that they were bad to me, just boring. So it’s natural that I wanna try things, y’know? Like drink straight vodka, smoke weed outside of the school, fuck without a condom-”
“STOP THE CAR.”
Lena slammed on the breaks as Jacob screamed, undid his seatbelt and jumped out. Anton looked extremely dazed. Lena turned around and gave me the nastiest look before pulling into the nearby gas station where Jacob was currently running for shelter. She put the car in park, turned it off and stomped after him.
I grinned at Anton, “I’m gonna go get some water. You want some water?”
Anton visibly swallowed, “No.”
My black studded boots hit the pavement with a satisfying thud and I swaggered my way into the convenience store. Yeah, I was still a little drunk, but who cared? Definitely not me. I was used to this.
The bell made a clang against the door as I wandered over to the freezer section. I could hear Jacob and Lena talking in the next eye. Pretending to look at the Fritos selection, I started to listen in.
“...I mean I don’t feel safe!”
“I’m sorry, but I have to drive. If you get caught driving here with a Swedish license, there may be big problems ahead.”
Jacob groaned, “Please let me sit in the front. I cannot sit with her. She...she scares me.”
Lena sighed, “Look, I know she acts like she’s going to rape you, and she tries to be this big, tough girl, but Jade is harmless.” She paused. “Perfectly harmless.”
I chucked a bag of chips over the isle, “Liar! I fucked up Tavares!”
Lena growled and I knew I was in trouble. I ran around the other isle to avoid her, but to no avail- she always was faster than me. Grabbing me by the earlobe, which I hated, she scolded me.
“You almost faced criminal charges for that, don’t talk about it, ever,” she whispered harshly, “And secondly, you’re scaring Jacob.”
I giggled, “Haha. Jay-cub. Yah-cub.”
He frowned at me from behind Lena, “Don’t make fun of my name.”
Lena tightened the grip on my ear and I whimpered, “Ok! Ok! I’ll shut up!”
“Go get your water,” she told me firmly before turning to Jacob, “And you can sit up front until we stop for gas again.”
Jacob breathed a sigh of relief, “Tak.”
We all gathered into the car again and Lena instructed Jacob to withdraw the USA map from the glove box. Anton sat nervously next to me. I felt kind of bad scaring Jacob, so I decided not to bother this kid. After all, we would be stuck with them for a few hours, and maybe days.
-
april 2008
It was pouring rain in the middle of the night. Jade was fast asleep in her small apartment when she heard a knock on the door. For a moment she ignored it, but when the knocking grew frantic, she knew something wasn’t right. Jade brought herself out of bed and wandered to the door.
Lena walked in, soaking wet and shaking. Her face was flushed, and a fresh bruise was on her cheek- carefully connected to a brand new black eye. Jade swallowed, shaking her head.
“I’ll kill him.”
“No,” Lena said, shivering, “He didn’t mean it. By tomorrow, everything will be back to normal.”
They both knew that wasn’t true.
Sending Lena to the bathroom to have a shower, Jade closed her eyes as she dialed her brother’s cell phone, only to be answered by his roommate, Nazem.
“...hello?”
“Naz,” Jade said, her voice shaking, “He did it to her again.”
She heard a heavy sigh, “No.”
“Yes,” Jade said bitterly, “I don’t know what to do anymore. You know she won’t listen to me, or to any of the guys.”
Naz was quiet for a moment. It felt like years for Jade.
“John’s up,” he told her, “We’ll be there in five minutes.” Before Jade could protest, he added, “We’re off for two days.”
Lena emerged from the bathroom just as Nazem Kadri and Jade’s brother, John Carlson, walked in. Wearing just a towel around herself, Lena felt very naked in front of the sudden visitors, despite the fact that she knew them. Her eyes grew wide, and then, ashamed, she looked down at the floor.
“Jade, you didn’t.”
“I don’t know what else to do, Lee,” Jade said slowly, “I’m scared.”
“How did it happen this time, Lena?” John asked her calmly.
Lena shrugged, “I got in his way.” She glanced at the window. “I guess I deserve it.”
Nazem bit his lip, his gaze meeting Jade’s frustrated one, “No, Lee, you don’t. He has a temper, and he needs to learn to control it. Just because he is angry does not give him permission to hurt you.”
Lena let her eyes fall shut, hiding the tears that tried to escape, “I should never have broke up with him.”
“You were together for just a day before he did this,” John said, “Lena, that’s not right.”
“You don’t understand!” Lena snapped, “I love him!”
John, never taken aback, replied simply, “Love does not harm.”
Lena’s tears started to roll down her cheeks, “You know what? You guys don’t understand. You all come from loving families, and Taylor is the only thing I have right now. He is the only one who loves me.”
“You’re wrong,” Nazem insisted, “WE love you.”
Lena snorted, turning on her heel and going to Jade’s bedroom, slamming the door behind her.
Jade turned to her brother, who exchanged glances with Nazem. It was a hopeless case, as it always was. They could’ve pressed charges or tried to get him kicked off the team, but nothing could be done without Lena’s consent. And she clearly wouldn’t give any.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
two : gotta feeling that i don't belong, gotta feeling that i shouldn't be here
Song: Shangri-la, Miss Li
My head was throbbing as I opened my eyes. I slowly sat up and looked around, there was some strange man on the floor of an unfamiliar room. He didn’t look a lot older than me, and he looked terrible.
“Jade…Jade…JADE!?”
I heard something fall in the hotel bathroom and swear, “Lena?” she mumbled.
“Oh thank God!” I exclaimed, “Where the hell are we?”
“Who the hell are you!?” I heard her exclaim from inside the bathroom.
“Who are you?” exclaimed another voice.
The loud voices woke up the one on the floor. He jumped up and my reflexes cause me to punch him in the face. His head jerked back and he just put his hand over his jaw. He said something angrily to his friend who stumbled out after Jade.
“Nice right hook” Jade said putting her hand up for a high five.
“Shit!” I replied, “You okay?”
He just nodded and looked over at his friend and then back to me, “Who are you?”
“I should be asking you that” I replied.
“Man I’m fucked up, what did we do last night?” Jade asked.
“Damned if I know” I replied falling back on the bed.
“Well…I don’t know about you but--” she put her hand over her mouth and tried to run to the bathroom but didn’t quite make it, avoiding one of the guys in the process.
“Jade, you okay?!”
“Yes…what happened last night?” she said sitting against the wall on the floor.
“You going to clean that up?” one of them asked.
“Do I look like a maid?” she replied.
“Shut up Jade” I sighed, “Names?”
“Jacob Markstrom” one replied.
“And you are quite happy to see me” Jade replied eyeing Jacob’s pants.
“We wake up with them!” he exclaimed, “Did you not learn in school?”
I just sighed, “Okay what about you?” I replied looking at the other one.
“Anton Rodin”
“Okay, sleeping beauty, you mind telling me where we are?” Jade asked.
He just shrugged and I just fell back on the bed, “What do we do now?”
“Well, where are you kids from?” Jade asked, “Germany?”
“Sweden” Jacob replied.
I jumped up and looked out the window, “We better not be in fucking Sweden!”
“I doubt that” Jade replied.
“This is all your fault Jade!”
“My fault, how the hell is this my fault?”
“You always get us into these shit messes” I exclaimed, “When is it never your fault?”
“Hey you, Jacob whatever, did we have sex last night?”
“Ugh, I hope not” he replied.
“There you go, not my fault”
I just sighed, “He doesn’t even know, how do we figure this out?”
My mind was beyond fried. I don’t even remember one thing from last night, did we seriously get that drunk and rent a room with two Swedish strangers? We must have literally been out of our minds.
“Well…” Jade said scrolling through her iPhone, “According to this, we’re in California”
“CALIFORNIA!?” I exclaimed almost tripping over a bottle.
The two of them started babbling in Swedish and I literally wanted to punch them both.
“You know we can’t understand you” I snapped.
“Sorry…we don’t speak English very often”
“I noticed” Jade replied rolling her eyes.
“Can we just figure this out please?”
“I want to die” Jade said as she banged her head on the wall.
“Same here” replied Jacob.
“Guys, please don’t go suicidal on me, I do want to get back home”
“Ugh…my head” Jade said.
“I know the feeling, I think we all do. Plus the banging your head on the wall thing probably isn’t helping either”
“Okay, well, what do you last remember?” Jade asked turning her attention to the guys.
“Well, we were headed to a club, in Saskatoon, before we get serious for our tournament”
“Oh they’re playing a tournament in Saskatoon too, like Taylor” I smiled.
“Don’t mention that dirt bag’s name” Jade replied.
“Don’t start Jade” I sighed.
“What do you guys play?” Jade asked.
“Hockey, we’re in the World Juniors”
Both our mouths hung open for a minute as we looked at each other and then back at them, “you guys play for Team Sweden?”
“I’m the goalie” Jacob replied.
“Jade, well maybe we can all go back to Saskatoon together, since we’re going in the same direction” I shrugged, “It makes sense”
“A road trip…with them?”
“Well we did take them here, from what I see…” I said looking out the window, “It’s your car”
She just sighed, “Fine, but this is going to be a long fucking trip isn’t it?”
A road trip with two Swedish strangers, who play for Team Sweden, in Saskatoon in the World Juniors. We knew nothing about them, or even what happened last night, for all we know…well, I don’t even want to think about it.
My head was throbbing as I opened my eyes. I slowly sat up and looked around, there was some strange man on the floor of an unfamiliar room. He didn’t look a lot older than me, and he looked terrible.
“Jade…Jade…JADE!?”
I heard something fall in the hotel bathroom and swear, “Lena?” she mumbled.
“Oh thank God!” I exclaimed, “Where the hell are we?”
“Who the hell are you!?” I heard her exclaim from inside the bathroom.
“Who are you?” exclaimed another voice.
The loud voices woke up the one on the floor. He jumped up and my reflexes cause me to punch him in the face. His head jerked back and he just put his hand over his jaw. He said something angrily to his friend who stumbled out after Jade.
“Nice right hook” Jade said putting her hand up for a high five.
“Shit!” I replied, “You okay?”
He just nodded and looked over at his friend and then back to me, “Who are you?”
“I should be asking you that” I replied.
“Man I’m fucked up, what did we do last night?” Jade asked.
“Damned if I know” I replied falling back on the bed.
“Well…I don’t know about you but--” she put her hand over her mouth and tried to run to the bathroom but didn’t quite make it, avoiding one of the guys in the process.
“Jade, you okay?!”
“Yes…what happened last night?” she said sitting against the wall on the floor.
“You going to clean that up?” one of them asked.
“Do I look like a maid?” she replied.
“Shut up Jade” I sighed, “Names?”
“Jacob Markstrom” one replied.
“And you are quite happy to see me” Jade replied eyeing Jacob’s pants.
“We wake up with them!” he exclaimed, “Did you not learn in school?”
I just sighed, “Okay what about you?” I replied looking at the other one.
“Anton Rodin”
“Okay, sleeping beauty, you mind telling me where we are?” Jade asked.
He just shrugged and I just fell back on the bed, “What do we do now?”
“Well, where are you kids from?” Jade asked, “Germany?”
“Sweden” Jacob replied.
I jumped up and looked out the window, “We better not be in fucking Sweden!”
“I doubt that” Jade replied.
“This is all your fault Jade!”
“My fault, how the hell is this my fault?”
“You always get us into these shit messes” I exclaimed, “When is it never your fault?”
“Hey you, Jacob whatever, did we have sex last night?”
“Ugh, I hope not” he replied.
“There you go, not my fault”
I just sighed, “He doesn’t even know, how do we figure this out?”
My mind was beyond fried. I don’t even remember one thing from last night, did we seriously get that drunk and rent a room with two Swedish strangers? We must have literally been out of our minds.
“Well…” Jade said scrolling through her iPhone, “According to this, we’re in California”
“CALIFORNIA!?” I exclaimed almost tripping over a bottle.
The two of them started babbling in Swedish and I literally wanted to punch them both.
“You know we can’t understand you” I snapped.
“Sorry…we don’t speak English very often”
“I noticed” Jade replied rolling her eyes.
“Can we just figure this out please?”
“I want to die” Jade said as she banged her head on the wall.
“Same here” replied Jacob.
“Guys, please don’t go suicidal on me, I do want to get back home”
“Ugh…my head” Jade said.
“I know the feeling, I think we all do. Plus the banging your head on the wall thing probably isn’t helping either”
“Okay, well, what do you last remember?” Jade asked turning her attention to the guys.
“Well, we were headed to a club, in Saskatoon, before we get serious for our tournament”
“Oh they’re playing a tournament in Saskatoon too, like Taylor” I smiled.
“Don’t mention that dirt bag’s name” Jade replied.
“Don’t start Jade” I sighed.
“What do you guys play?” Jade asked.
“Hockey, we’re in the World Juniors”
Both our mouths hung open for a minute as we looked at each other and then back at them, “you guys play for Team Sweden?”
“I’m the goalie” Jacob replied.
“Jade, well maybe we can all go back to Saskatoon together, since we’re going in the same direction” I shrugged, “It makes sense”
“A road trip…with them?”
“Well we did take them here, from what I see…” I said looking out the window, “It’s your car”
She just sighed, “Fine, but this is going to be a long fucking trip isn’t it?”
A road trip with two Swedish strangers, who play for Team Sweden, in Saskatoon in the World Juniors. We knew nothing about them, or even what happened last night, for all we know…well, I don’t even want to think about it.
Monday, July 5, 2010
one: a bed at the bottom of the darkest hole.
song: when it rains by paramore.
april 1998
The phone rang in Jade Carlson’s room. She was quick to grab it, knowing exactly who it was and why they were calling. That, and if her parents woke up, Jade would be grounded for having friends call late.
“Come over, I’ll make the spare bed for you,” Jade said in a whisper, “I promise.”
Hanging up, the seven-year-old, dark-haired girl leaped out of bed and began to pull out the couch. She busied herself making a comfortable space for her visitor, and before long there was a tap on her window. Jade rushed to it, drew the curtains and saw the tear-streaked face of her best friend- eight-year-old Lena Brown.
Opening the window, Jade held out her arms and welcomed Lena into a hug. The two little girls were quiet for a moment as Lena started to sob into Jade’s shoulder. Jade knew about what was going on at Lena’s house, and this wasn’t the first time she had had to do this for her.
“He’s not going to come back this time,” Lena sobbed, “He’s gone for good.”
Jade let go of Lena, “How do you know?”
Lena looked down at the floor, “Because he took everything this time.” She turned to look at the bed Jade had made, “I wish they’d both go so I can live here.”
A rustling noise in the next room caused the girls to jump. After a moment the noise died down. Jade breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that they were safe. She closed the window and the curtains.
“We have to be really quiet,’ Jade whispered, climbing into her four-poster canopy bed, “John has a tournament tomorrow.”
“I wish I had a big brother like John,” Lena whispered back, snuggling into the soft sheets of the makeshift bed, “I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
“You’re not alone. You have me.”
“You’re my best friend, Jade.”
“You’re my best friend, Lena.”
“Are we gonna be bestest best friends forever? Even when we grow up?”
“Yes, bestest best friends forever.”
april 1998
The phone rang in Jade Carlson’s room. She was quick to grab it, knowing exactly who it was and why they were calling. That, and if her parents woke up, Jade would be grounded for having friends call late.
“Come over, I’ll make the spare bed for you,” Jade said in a whisper, “I promise.”
Hanging up, the seven-year-old, dark-haired girl leaped out of bed and began to pull out the couch. She busied herself making a comfortable space for her visitor, and before long there was a tap on her window. Jade rushed to it, drew the curtains and saw the tear-streaked face of her best friend- eight-year-old Lena Brown.
Opening the window, Jade held out her arms and welcomed Lena into a hug. The two little girls were quiet for a moment as Lena started to sob into Jade’s shoulder. Jade knew about what was going on at Lena’s house, and this wasn’t the first time she had had to do this for her.
“He’s not going to come back this time,” Lena sobbed, “He’s gone for good.”
Jade let go of Lena, “How do you know?”
Lena looked down at the floor, “Because he took everything this time.” She turned to look at the bed Jade had made, “I wish they’d both go so I can live here.”
A rustling noise in the next room caused the girls to jump. After a moment the noise died down. Jade breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that they were safe. She closed the window and the curtains.
“We have to be really quiet,’ Jade whispered, climbing into her four-poster canopy bed, “John has a tournament tomorrow.”
“I wish I had a big brother like John,” Lena whispered back, snuggling into the soft sheets of the makeshift bed, “I don’t want to be alone anymore.”
“You’re not alone. You have me.”
“You’re my best friend, Jade.”
“You’re my best friend, Lena.”
“Are we gonna be bestest best friends forever? Even when we grow up?”
“Yes, bestest best friends forever.”
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