Frostbite

Cole

Dad is having me start working with him and Madison on Wednesday. He's giving me one week to train, then I'm on my own. Its one more thing to add to my already busy schedule. School, Laiken's doctors appointments, hockey, going to the gym and now work. I guess that's what happens as soon as you become an adult. Laiken's going to be so proud of me for stepping up and becoming the dad I was supposedly meant to be. Her skate coach is also having her work until she's able to skate again. I'm feeling some sort of relief now, knowing that we'll have two forms of income to prepare for this baby. The only thing we haven't thought of is where we will live once our child is born. We can't live with either of our parents. Their houses aren't big enough to support us. I still plan on skating for the Edmonton Oilers too. I've never considered dropping out and I hope Laiken can accept that. Edmonton is only three hours from Calgary. We won't be too far from each other once I move away.

Laiken and I decide to ride to school together this morning. She hasn't been sleeping well. I'm trying to give her a break from all this stress that's just been dumped on her yesterday. I pick her up at seven fifty. She looks exhausted. Her hair is done up in a messy bun. She's also wearing a hoodie and leggings. Whenever she wears that, I know she's not at her best. "Good morning, beautiful" I call out to her as she opens the door to my Silverado. Laiken gets in and closes the door. "Morning, Cole. I feel like trash. Can we stop at Tim Hortons quick? I didn't have time to eat breakfast this morning" Laiken implies. I make a quick pitstop at Timmies and order her a poppy seed bagel with cream cheese and a medium French vanilla coffee. She scarfs the bagel down faster than I've ever seen her eat before. "Are you feeling okay?" I ask her. "Do I look like I'm feeling okay?" She groans.

We start on a new assignment in English class today. Luckily, Laiken and I are paired up with each other. I complete the majority of the assignment on my own while she naps during class. I don't mind. I understand that her body is changing in the most unusual ways. It hurts me seeing her this way. I wake her up before class is adjourned. Laiken reads over my work. She gives me a nod of approval and signs her name at the top of the page. Mrs. Stamos collects all of our work to grade, then the bell rings.

At the beginning of lunch, Laiken and some of the boys meet at my locker. Brian, Cameron, Laiken and I walk to the courtyard. "How's the baby?" Brian asks us. "Fine I guess. Isabella says the first trimester is the hardest. I definitely agree with her. I don't know how she's doing it, especially with her other medical conditions". "You're going to be a great mom, Laik" Cameron adds. "Thanks, Cam. I hope so. Unfortunately, I'm sacrificing a lot for this thing. Skating, prom, college. You name it, its ruined." I give Laiken an annoyed look. "Please don't say that. You're going to go back to skating as soon as you're cleared by the doctor. And prom? You can still go. We'll just find a babysitter or something." "Okay but what about college?" "You told me you didn't even want to go to college. Are you still going on about this?" I argue. She gives me the same nasty look I gave her, back to me. "I'm allowed to change my mind" Laiken snarls. I have yet to talk to her about moving away. I decide to wait a little while longer to discuss our future potential living situations.

The boys and I have hockey practice after school. Most of them don't know Laiken and I are expecting yet. I decide the perfect time to tell them is in the change room before we head onto the ice. "Hey Darius. Do you mind pausing the music for a minute?" I ask. He turns his speaker off. I stand up and get everyone's attention. "As you may know, I skipped practice on Monday. What most of you don't know is why I skipped." The guys all turn to each other and whisper their predictions to what I'm about to announce. I clear my throat, bringing the attention back to me. "Laiken and I are having a baby. She's due in May. And to answer your questions, yes we're keeping it and yes I still plan on moving to Edmonton to pursue my career playing for the NHL." The guys congratulate me. Brian looks up from tying his skate. He smiles and gives me a thumbs up. I know he's proud of me. We've stuck by each other's sides since we were four years old. I couldn't imagine him going to the NHL without me.

Oddly enough, this is the first practice in quite a few days that I've done exceptionally well. Its like all my stress and anxiety is thrown on the back burner. I can finally focus on what's most important to me; hockey. The boys and I meet back at my place for a fire. No girls this time. What surprises me is Brian showed up. He typically doesn't. The guys and I sit on the tailgates of our trucks, drinking Darius' supplied Bud Light. Reese is the only one that isn't here tonight. Brian decides to text the group chat, hoping Reese will see it and answer.

The Boys

Brian: Are you coming Reese?

Dylan: Ya, Reese. We miss you.

Reese: Sorry guys. Not tonight. Isabella's at the ER. She's not doing so hot.

Cole: Wtf bro! Is she going to be okay?

Reese: Yeah I think so. Her diabetes took the best of her. Baby's doing fine. They're keeping her overnight to monitor her blood sugar. I'll see y'all tomorrow.

The guys are all on their phones, reading the chat and taking turns responding to Reese's unfortunate news. "I hope she's okay guys. Pregnancy sucks" I say. Dylan pipes up. "I'm sure she'll be alright. My mom had the same problem when she was pregnant with me. I turned out fine." We all laugh at Dylan. He rolls his eyes at me, then chugs back the rest of his beer. Darius gets up to give him another one out of the back of his truck. "Thanks man. I'm sure going to miss this after high school. We'll all be going our separate ways once we graduate" Dylan sighs. "We aren't all leaving this small town, Dylan. I'm pretty sure most of us are staying put. Say, I don't even know what your guys' goals are after school" Cameron says. "I know Brian and Cole are going to Edmonton for hockey. Reese is probably staying here playing house. I plan on attending Calgary University to study sports physiotherapy. Cameron? Dylan? What are your plans?" Darius asks. "I think I'm going to take a year off and work at the manufacturing plant, then I might go to college to become a diesel mechanic" Cameron replies. "I'm going right into the skilled trades. My uncle owns a pretty successful contracting business next town over. He says I can start at thirty five dollars an hour if I work with him" Dylan says.

The guys and I continue to talk about our future goals and drink the remainder of Darius' case of beer. Laiken shoots me a text out of the blue.

Laiken: Hey baby. I'm at the hospital with Isabella and Reese. They asked me to drop off some clothes for them. What are your plans for tonight?

Cole: I'm with the boys right now. We're having a fire. Mind if we do something another night?

Laiken: I wasn't asking to hang out. Don't stay out too late. You have to go to school and work tomorrow. Good night.