Unconditionally

The Surprise on Draft Day

Stella's POV

The day before Arnold's draft, I felt the nerves all over again, but not the kind I was used to—this wasn't about a performance or some big recital. This was about him. Allison, Jenli, and I sat together at a café, putting the final touches on our plan. I could barely focus on my coffee as Allison, always the orchestrator, led the charge.

"You sure you're ready for this, Stel?" she asked, her eyes locking with mine. Her concern was real, but there was that glint of excitement behind it. I appreciated that she checked in—after all, we both knew how much this meant.

"Ready? I've never been more ready," I said, but my stomach told a different story. My mind raced back to those moments in Sydney, the ups and downs, the arguments, the missed goodbyes. And now, two years later, here I was, about to surprise him at the most important moment of his career.

The plan was simple. Well, at least it seemed simple. Allison and Jenli would be with him for the draft while Jordan and Enzo handled their end of the surprise. Arnold thought it was just going to be a small thing with the guys and maybe a video call with me later. But oh, was he in for a shock.

"Jordan's already in," Allison said, smiling down at her phone. "Enzo's playing it cool, but you know how Arnold is. He's probably so focused on the draft, he hasn't even caught onto anything."

Jenli snorted. "Yeah, he's too busy thinking about his stick-handling skills."

I laughed, but inside, I felt that familiar anxiety clawing at me. Was this the right time? Would he even want to see me after all this time? After everything we'd been through? I pushed those thoughts aside and focused on the plan.

                                                                                                 ***

The next morning, we boarded the plane. The flight was a blur. I spent most of it staring out the window, thinking about how much things had changed over the last two years. I had finally conquered my eating disorder, but it wasn't just about being "okay" again. I felt alive—stronger, healthier, ready for the world. And yet, there was that ache in my chest, the part of me that still missed Arnold.

We touched down, and I could feel my heart rate spike. No turning back now.

When we arrived at the draft, my nerves were at an all-time high. Allison, the calm one as always, guided us through the crowd. My eyes scanned the room, searching for him. I knew he wouldn't spot us—not yet. Jordan had told me they were keeping him busy, making sure he stayed distracted. Enzo was working his usual charm, joking around, keeping the mood light.

The draft ceremony was beautiful. I watched from a distance, my stomach flipping with every name that was called, every time they got closer to Arnold's moment. Jenli squeezed my hand, offering silent reassurance. She didn't have to say anything; she knew what this meant to me.

And then, it happened. His name.

"Arnold Kavansky!"

I saw him stand, looking stunned. Jordan nudged him, a wide grin on his face. Enzo raised a fist in triumph, while Arnold's parents cheered louder than anyone else in the room. His mom had tears streaming down her face, and even his dad, stoic as ever, looked a little choked up.

My heart swelled with pride. That was our Arnold, the guy who'd worked so hard, who'd put his everything into this. The guy who'd overcome so much, just like I had.

He stepped up to the stage, and for a second, it was like everything slowed down. He scanned the crowd, his expression still a mix of shock and joy. And then, suddenly, his eyes met mine.

His reaction was priceless. The confusion at first—his brain trying to make sense of seeing me there—and then the realization hit. His eyes widened, his mouth dropped open slightly, and for a moment, I thought he might stumble. But then that classic Arnold grin broke through, lighting up his entire face.

I waved, trying to hold back tears. Allison and Jenli giggled beside me, thrilled that the surprise had worked. But all I could focus on was him, the boy I hadn't seen in two years, the boy who was now a man standing on the cusp of his dreams.

He came down from the stage, still in a daze, hugging his family and high-fiving his friends. But I could tell his eyes kept darting back toward me, like he couldn't believe I was really there.

The ceremony ended, and before I knew it, he was in front of me. The world around us seemed to fade as we stood there, taking each other in.

"I... you're here," he stammered, still not quite believing it.

I smiled, my heart racing. "Of course, I'm here. Where else would I be?"

For a moment, it felt like nothing had changed. Like we were back in Sydney, sneaking glances between rehearsals and hockey games, our lives still tangled together.

And then, before I could say anything else, Jordan and Enzo swooped in, laughing and teasing. "Told you we could keep a secret!" Jordan said, clapping Arnold on the back.

Arnold just shook his head, still smiling. "You guys... you planned this?"

Enzo winked. "What, you think we'd let you have your big day without your biggest fan?"

Arnold turned back to me, his eyes softening. "I can't believe you're here, Stella. This means everything."

I wanted to say something deep, something that captured how much I missed him, but all I managed was, "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

The rest of the evening was a whirlwind of laughter, celebration, and endless teasing. But every time I caught Arnold's eye, there was something there—something deeper, unspoken. And as much as we tried to act like nothing had changed, we both knew that this was just the beginning of something new.