Breaking the Ice

t h r e e

(how I picture Tate. yeah yeah i know this girl has green eyes. whatever dude)

Tatum Marshall

I set the rose bouquet on our entry way table and picked up a little black envelope.

I rolled my eyes when Travis' sloppy cursive writing asked me to go to his hockey game. My traitor thoughts took over. I do love hockey and it wouldn't be a date since I technically wouldn't have to talk to him.

My thoughts broke when Cassie came in like a bull in a china shop holding up some huge jersey. She was out of breath and had to lean up against the wall, while I just gaped at how insane my best friend is.

Her hair looked like rats nest. (Probably from running like Usain)

"Cam-" She breathed loudly and I chuckled.

"HE GAVE ME-" she gasped for air and I shook my head.

"Spit it out, Cassandra. We don't have all day. I need to get to work." I grumbled and she shot me a glare.

"Cam gave me his hockey jersey. Y'know for when we go to them game on Monday? How fucking cute are we" she finally said and I smiled at her.

I walked into the tiny kitchen and finished eating my ramen noodles as Cassie plopped down on the couch next to me. I placed the empty noodle bowl in the sink.

"You have to go." She stated and I just kind of shrugged.

"We'll see." I simply replied but she wouldn't drop it.

She turned up the heat on the puppy eyes and I gave her an unimpressed face. She groaned loudly and threw herself back on the fluffy white love seat.

"He's not so bad." She told me quietly under her breath.

"Who?"

"Travis. He kept asking all these dumb questions about you. Like your favorite flowers, movies; etc. He's really trying." She continued and I gave her a weird look.

"The first time I saw the dude, he was dry humping another chick. I'm gonna have to pass." I answered harshly.

"He didn't know you existed before that! If he knew you earlier it would've been you he was dry jumping," she cried and I stifled a laugh. "And I thought you said it was nice talking to him? When he dropped you off? " She interrogated and I thought back on that night. A smile rose on my face. I saw a sneaky smile appear on Cassie. My smile dropped abruptly.

"I'm scared." I mumbled. My decisions have always been clouded by loss. I lose everyone I love. There was something about Travis I didn't wanna lose.

"Babe, take a risk with Travis. Hearts are meant to be broken so the right person can come and fix them." She reassured me, running a hand down my arm. I gave her a hug. She always knew how to cheer me up.

"What would I do without you?" I teased and she laughed lightly.

"I don't know but I know that since you're with me i'm dragging your cute little butt to a frat party after work!" She cheered and I smirked. I loved to party, to let loose.

After my big brother was killed, the grief of not being able to forgive myself for not saving threw me into a different side of myself. A wild side. Every night i'd leave at 11pm and come back at 4 am from a night of partying. I'd drink to forget the fact that if I hadn't told my fucking brother to get me a milkshake from our local diner, he wouldn't have tried to stop the guy robbing the cashier, he wouldn't have been shot three times in the chest, wouldn't have been alone in the darkness of the night. He wouldn't have died alone.