State of Grace - Jack Hughes

005

Allie

Two weeks fly by. I cross almost everything off the to do list. Except a new car. The insurance appraiser did not give me as much as I was hoping, the cost to fix it was almost triple what they thought the car was worth. I said goodbye to Ronnie and mourned my loss.

Lexie and I were both home from school, finalizing things for our move before returning to our respective schools to finish our semesters. I had not texted Jack or Luke since the accident other than I giving them my number and some random insurance information. But today, Ronnie gets picked up to go to the scrap yard.

I send Lexie screenshots of the conversation I had with Jack outside of the group chat, and she just makes stupid jokes. But she's my best friend so it's warranted.

Later that day, we both left to return to school, but we talked every day to plan. Our colleges were only an hour apart, but it felt so much further.

Finally, the post season schedule has been finalized. Go figure, the Devils and the Rangers will be playing each other in the first round. I am sitting in the library when I get a call from my future boss. She knows I am still in class, but she wants me to come down and help when I can. Luckily, my schedule is so flexible as a second semester senior and we agree I can be in the office Thursdays and Fridays, and at weekend games for the playoffs until graduation. It is only a 4-hour drive so if I leave Wednesday after class, I could leave Jersey Sunday night and make it work. Somehow.

This warrants a call to Lex. I press the FaceTime button waiting for a response. Her face takes over the screen.

"What's up?" She says joyfully. She's walking outside on her campus; I know I caught her in between classes.

"So, I am going to start going to New York starting next week. I am going to move partially into the apartment because our lease starts this month. So, I am going to start taking my stuff out of my apartment here and move it down." I say leaving the library to begin my trek to my apartment. 

"Wait why are you going down early?"

"Playoffs. They need me in the office and there for games. All hands-on deck."

"So, when are you going down?"

"I am leaving April 19, to be there for the office and game on the 20th. They'll be at the Prudential Center for Game 2, but we must prep for the home games. I don't know man; I am just showing up when they need me."

"Did you tell pretty boy when you're coming?"

I roll my eyes, "He is next on the list of calls."

"Al, did you even find a car yet?"

"No. I haven't really thought about it. I have decided I will be getting a bigger car instead of driving around in a tuna fish can. Maybe tinted windows, so I can cry to my sad music in peace." Thinking about Luke's offensive, but albeit correct, list. "My mom said I could continue to use her car for the time being. Her and my dad have figured out a system for sharing."

"Yeah, you should do that, save yourself some embarrassment", she laughs.

"Whatever." I roll my eyes. "I'm just going to buy a car when we get to Jersey. Ronnie was from there and the taxes are better. So, after we move, I'll deal with it."

"Can you go car shopping alone? Like you know enough about cars to do that?"

"Nope. I know absolutely nothing. When people talk about cars my brain turns off. Ya knows the wheel is turning but the hamster is dead."

"You know, someone we just met who happens to live in the great state of Jersey might know a thing or two about cars..." she wiggles her eyebrows.

"Jesus Lou" I laugh "I don't know. I'll figure it out myself."