He Didn't Know Her Yet

The Boy at The Skating Rink

JULI

What would you say i I told you that the person you're going to marry one day is out there waiting for you? If you asked me, I would say that's statistically impossible as most countries have more females than males which makes it scientifically impossible for everyone to pair up (unless the leftover females are all coincidentally lesbian). I believe that maybe there is someone out there that I am going to marry but the last place I want to meet this person is at high school. 

My class ended exactly 46 minutes late because my teacher's daughter, Yvonne, had gone into labor. Here I was, waiting in 5 degree weather (-15 in Celsius). Welcome to Canada! I don't understand why mid-February has to be below freezing. I tried calling my mom but she was already on her way to Toronto and my phone died mid-conversation. I weighed my options; I could walk home and freeze in my tights or I could get my dad. If I'm being completely honest, freezing in my tights didn't seem so bad. I decided to call my dad as he would discover I was lying sooner or later. 

I saw a boy who went to my high school, Ethan. He had blond hair that was always hidden under a beanie but today, it was under a hockey helmet. He was a sophomore like me but he was much more athletic. He was on the hockey team, baseball team and basically every sport except swimming. I always wondered why he didn't swim. I never really had a real conversation with him. He was in a few of my classes and my best friend, Aïda had a huge crush on him. He's all she ever talked about for weeks. Until, she saw start to bite his nails. You may not think this is weird, just a bad habit but Aïda is a HUGE germaphobe. You should see her at lunch.

Ethan pulled out his phone and I quickly jumped in. 

"Excuse me?" I asked. I caught his attention and he turned around.

"Can I help you?" He asked with a hint of annoyance in his voice.

I asked him if I could borrow his phone and he quickly handed it to me. 

"Hey, practice ended early. Could you pick me up?" I asked.

"Why would I pick you up from something I do not support?" my dad replied.

"Because it's minus 15 outside!" 

"I will not be picking you up, Julianna. And how are you going to make up for the time difference?"

"I'll pay the 23 dollars. Bye" I said quickly hanging up.

I handed him back his phone and started walking. He asked (out of concern) if I was getting a ride. Not wanting him to ask anymore questions, I lied saying my mom was waiting.

As I was walking, I heard a quick honk behind me. I cringed slightly as I knew who it was. I turned around, Ethan. I was caught in a lie. I didn't want to dig myself in a hole so I told him the truth. He offered to drive me home and I quickly hopped in the backseat. He didn't seem to mind.

"I never got your name" he said.

"Juli. Short for Julianna not Julianne and don't call me Julianna unless you want to lose a few teeth." I said cracking a small joke.

He giggled. "Hey! I'm a hockey player! Losing a few teeth means nothing, Julianna."

"Call me that again and I'm calling the authorities, Ethan Edwards." I said back fake threatening him.

"How did you know my last name? Authorities?" He clearly missed the joke. 

"Your last name is on your hockey bag." I said pointing to it.

"Now explain 'Authorities' to me, Julianna." He said putting emphasis on 'Authorities'.

"Ethan Edwards, I take it you are 16 years old, correct?"

"Yes, Julianna, I am" He said back matter-of-factly.

"Did you know that you could get your licence revoked if I told some people you were driving a car WITHOUT a supervisor?" I said.

"Touché" He said with a hint of defeat in his voice.

"En Garde!" I respond. 

He completely misses my joke. Before the awkward silence settles in, we pull into my driveway.

Hey guys! I hope you liked this chapter. Did anyone notice how much of a stickler Juli is? Maybe there's more behind this! OOOOoooooOOOO. (Me trying to be suspenseful when it's really obvious) Haha. Hope you enjoyed!