Frostbite

Cole

It's starting to worry me that Laiken hasn't even thought about her long term goals yet. Figure skating isn't like hockey, at least I don't think it is. With hockey, you can play in the NHL for years and make a ton of money. You don't even need a full time job working for somebody else for a few dollars above minimum wage. Our guidance councilor already knows that's what I'm doing post graduation. Though, I'm still applying to local colleges in case I get injured or the NHL doesn't work out. God forbid that doesn't happen to me.

My dad owns his own business. That's how he was able to afford my truck. He said he wrote it off under his business or something. I don't know too much about my dad's job. All I know is he makes hockey sticks and sharpens skates at his shop. He's also my teams' sponsor. Madison works with our dad to build life skills. She typically comes home from working with him and brags about how much money she makes at the till. My dad says she's a natural people pleaser. At least Madison has a job. I'm so busy with school and hockey. A part time job doesn't fit my schedule at this time. My resume outside of hockey is pretty well blank. Though, I wouldn't like to admit I get everything handed to me. My parents never pushed a job onto me like Laiken's parents. She doesn't have one yet, but I know she's been searching.

I help Laiken pack her bag up and say good night to her before she heads home for the night. Tomorrow's Tuesday. She has skating before school again. Laiken likes to go to bed around nine so she gets a full eight hours before she has to get up for practice at five. Me on the other hand, I'll hit the gym in town as soon as I know she's asleep. Some of my teammates meet up and work out for an hour or two, then we'll have some drinks around the bonfire in the forest behind my house. Sometimes the puck bunnies come out. The boys and I try to invite Brian out, but he declines our invite every time. I text the group chat.

The Boys

Cole: Laiken's asleep. Wanna hit the gym?

Dylan: Sure man. Be there in 15.

Max: I'm in.

Cameron: Already here, boys.

Darius: Fire afterwards? Drinks anyone? I'll bring my dad's case of Budlight.

Cole: Sounds like a plan. The 'rents and sis aren't home. We can drink until 1am, then I gotta hit the hay. Someone invite the girls.

Brian: NO! Go to bed.

A few of my teammates and I show up at the gym at quarter to ten. We work out for about an hour, then drive across town back to my place. We park our vehicles in the forest behind the house and get out. "Cole, aren't you worried about scratching your new truck dude?" Darius asks, taking a flashlight to the side of my truck box, looking for any visible scratch or dent he can taunt me with. "Fuck no, man. This thing is meant to be driven, not babied. It's a truck. If I wanted something nice I would've had my dad get me a Camaro" I brag. "Okay then, rich boy" Darius mutters. Cameron and Dylan collect logs for the fire. I help Darius take a few beers out of the back of his 2006 Ford Ranger. We hand them out to the guys once the fire starts to roar. Our teammate, Reese and his girlfriend Isabella show up shortly after. He brought his German Shepherd, Goal with him. Goal roams around while everyone else sits on our tailgates around the fire. We shoot the shit with each other for a while, drinking the beers Darius stole from his dad's garage. Goal perks up. He runs into the forest. We follow him, calling his name. I hear some giggling in the distance. "The girls made it!" Cameron announced. We see Kasey, Hannah, Megan and Natalia walking up the dirt path. They're carrying a couple spiked sodas in their arms. "Hey guys! Did the party start without us?" Megan shouts. Cameron and I take their drinks and add them to the collection of unopened beers in Darius' back seat. "I'm glad you finally made it" I say, giving each of them a welcoming hug. Megan, Hannah and Kasey make their way over to the fire to warm up. Natalia stays behind. "Where's your girlfriend, Cole?" she asks. "She's asleep. Practice in the morning" I answer. She shrugs, then walks off to join the others at the fire. I wish she was here.

The night ends at around one in the morning. I stayed behind to make sure the fire was all the way out before driving my truck back to the front of the property. At this point, Madison is home and asleep. The security alarm woke her up. She shouts at me to go to bed from in her room. I took my shoes off and climb the stairs, stopping at her doorway. Her door is open. "Where's mom and dad, Cole?" she asks. "They're probably at the casino. I'm sure you'll see them in the morning. How was your night with your worker? What's her name again?" Madison sits up in bed. "Abby? It was nice. We went to the mall. What did you do tonight?" Still standing in her doorway, I tell her all about my night with Laiken and the bonfire with the boys. She says goodnight to me and I head to my room to get some sleep.