Breakaway

solicitous

solicitous (adj.): given to or made with heedful anticipation of the needs and happiness of others.

Olivia

I don't teach Kiddie Skate today, it's every Tuesday and Thursday, so tomorrow will be our second class. Although this is an internship for me and not real employment, my advisor lets me decide how to teach them and doesn't feel the need to stay and supervise. He knows I have been skating my whole life and he saw me with the littles last year, so he trusts me.

"Hey, Liv!" my best friend, Liam, calls out. I smile and wave as I make my way over to him. He asked me to meet him at the rink because he wants to show me something. This is his senior year at Seattle Pacific, and his third year on the team.

I reach him and he gives me a big hug; it's warm and comforting. Liam and I have been best friends since we were five, when my family bought the house next to his. I had no friends because my family moved from Chicago and it was the middle of my kindergarten year. Liam was nothing but kind to me and made me feel so welcomed. We've been inseparable ever since; even our families have grown close.

"I've missed you so much, Liam!" I smile into his chest. He was in Arizona all summer helping his grandma while he didn't have any classes. Liam's grandpa passed away and she needed some help adjusting to life without her late husband.

"I've missed you, Liv," he says warmly. We pull out of our hug and he leads me to the locker room. "Practice is about an hour long today. Do you wanna go get some tacos when I'm done?"

"Yeah, sure! I have some assignments to do but I can hang out in the stands and work on them while you practice. You know I could never say no to tacos," I smile. "Now, what did you want to tell me? Is your grandma okay?"

"She's doing really well, all things considered. It's actually about this season," Liam says. He can't help but have a huge grin on his face as he turns around and opens his locker. Pulling out his red jersey, he looks at me with excited eyes and unfolds it, holding it up. The large C printed on his jersey is immediately visible.

"Liam!" I yell. "You're team captain? Oh my lanta, that is amazing! I'm so proud of you, Moose!" Moose has been my nickname for Liam since we were 7. He came camping with my family one summer and when we saw a huge moose buy the river, he got scared and peed himself. He says it was the biggest moose in the world, and anyone would pee their pants if they saw it. I didn't pee my pants and I was just as close to the moose, but I was too busy laughing to say that.

I jump into his arms and give him another giant hug. I am beyond happy for him. Liam dedicates so much time to hockey, he's been playing forever.

People say that guys and girls can't be best friends without falling for each other, but Liam has always been family to me. He kissed me on the cheek one time in second grade when we had a double backyard-wedding with his sister, Mia, and my brother, Dawson. Mia and Dawson grew up to be high school sweethearts and actually got married two summers ago, but for Liam and me, the kiss was a one time thing. Liam always calls me his little sister, and naturally he's like a brother to me, too.

He spins me around, laughing, and we hear the locker room door open. Liam sets me down and I feel an instant awkwardness. Juliet's sister's boyfriend, the man from yesterday, walks in. He avoids looking at us and goes straight to a locker a few down from Liam's. I immediately notice his height again and wonder if he ever hits his head on doorways.

"Hey, Bennett!" Liam greets him cheerfully, not feeling the awkwardness that I feel. Why would he, though? It is his teammate and he didn't see the way the man, who I now know as Bennett, looked at me yesterday after Kiddie Skate.