Opal's Boy

Chapter 21

Tap tap tap.

It sounded like someone was outside my bedroom door. I clicked on my phone, blinded by the brightness of it. It was three in the morning and no one should be awake. Instead of arguing with myself, I quickly got out of my warm bed and went to the door.

"Patrick?" I mumbled as I cleared my eyes.

"Veda told me about what happened with Sid."

"Patrick why are you here?" I asked, getting impatient. This wasn't like him.

"There's a big game tomorrow and I don't think I'll see you," he explained.

"I'm gonna be there. Can't we talk in the morning?"

"No I want to talk now."

Not wanting to fight, I moved sideways so he could enter my bedroom. He sat on the edge of my bed and waved me over. I sat down and rubbed my eyes, forcing myself to wake up.

"Sidney called Dave," he started.

"Wait, Sid did what?" That woke me up.

"Sidney called your boss. He went off on him about lying to his coach and everything. Supposedly Dave's under the chopping block and you're not allowed back in Pittsburgh. As a trainer, anyway."

I was happy about the first part. And I mean really happy. But I wasn't allowed to come back to Pittsburgh? After I'd already gotten used to the guys, used to the idea of being around them all the time? That was just cruel. This couldn't be happening.

"Why am I just now finding this out?"

"Sidney called Veda and you were already asleep. He told her, she told me, and here I am."

I ran a shaky hand through my very tangled hair and shook my head.

"This can't be happening," I whispered, my voice starting to quiver.

Patrick scooted closer to me and wrapped an arm around my shoulders. I squeezed my eyes tightly and brushed his hand away.

"I need to go to sleep. It's three in the morning and we both need to be up at six. Goodnight Patrick."

Patrick's best trait was taking a hint. He patted my knee and stood up, walking towards the door.

"I'll find you in the morning," he said and was gone.

When I heard the heavy wooden door shut downstairs, I crawled back into my massive bed, hoping my covers would suffocate me and take me out of the misery I was being put in.

When I woke up to the piercing alarm, I realized my wish hadn't been granted.

"You up, Opal?" I heard Veda yell.

"Mmmm," was all I could manage. Patrick disturbing my sleep really messed me up.

I heard quick footsteps in the hallway and suddenly Veda appeared at my door, towel drying her long wet hair. She was already dressed in her uniform, making me scramble for my phone and look at the time. It was only 6:30 and we had to be there at eight.

"Why are you dressed so early?" I asked, pulling off the covers but instantly wrenching them back over me when the cold hit my legs.

"You want me to be honest with you?" She asked.

I nodded.

"They need all the athletic trainers, besides you, to come in and do an evaluation on Dave. Since the Sidney Crosby called and had a major complaint, what he did to you is turning into a scandal. Coach Q said he needs unbiased minds and you were already tainted by Dave so of course you'd want him fired," she explained.