It's Never too Late to Try ~ Sidney Crosby

Chapter 10- The Fight

We sat by the dock and I could sense that Sidney was really nervous. "So, I know that we haven't talked about me going back to Pennsylvania." He started. I nodded and turned my body towards him. "Oh no, it's happening. It's happening" I thought to myself. "Well, I'm leaving in 3 weeks." He continued. I sighed and looked down at my feet. "I don't want this to end, Scar. I want you to come with me. I can find you a new job and get Eli into a school. I can figure everything out." Sidney spoke softly, not losing eye contact. I turned my head towards the lake and sighed. He dropped the bomb...

"Scarlet?" His voice was low and I could hear the nerves. I was so taken back that I had no idea what to say. "You want me to go with you? Why did you wait so long to ask me?," I started. "I don't think I can do that." I turned my attention back to Sid. "I have Eli, a job and a home. I can't just follow you." I replied, looking at my hands. "Why not? Why can't you follow me? I can make a new life for us in Pittsburgh. We can make it work." His low voice grew louder and frustrated. "I'm not your puppy, Sid. I have my life here and I'm not ready to give it up just yet. I can't go back to the states. I love my life here." My words came out more harsh and cold than I wanted them to -- I could tell by the look on Sid's face that he was clearly taken back. He really expected me to just up and leave?

"Why won't you even think about it?" Sidney stood up from the bench and looked over at his family.

"You shouldn't have waited this long to ask me. We could have made a plan." I retorted.

"I was scared to tell you! I was scared that this would happen."

"Oh my god. I can't do this, Sid."

"What do you mean?" His voice was trembling and my throat started to get tight. He looked back at me and sighed. "Can't do what?" He took a step closer to me and I looked away. "Can't move with me?" He weakly mumbled. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. "I can't be your girlfriend if you're leaving. I tried long distance and it doesn't work..."

"So you're giving up on us?"

"I guess -- I guess so."

Sidney turned away from me and shoved his hands in his pockets. My eyes clouded up with hot tears and my heart was racing. This is what I feared. I was scared of losing Sid and I just did. After dating for almost 2 months, we were done. It felt so surreal and strange. It happened too fast that I thought it was a nightmare and I was sleeping. I moved around for Dan and that never worked out, so there was no way I was moving to be with Sidney. I stood up and wiped my red cheeks before walking over to get Eli. I didn't bother turning around to see Sid one last time. Eli looked up at me as I headed in his direction. The last thing I was wanted was for my son to see me crying.

"Mommy?" He ran over to me holding an ice cream cone. "Why are you crying?" He asked me hugging my leg. "Let's go home, bud." I grabbed his hand and walked towards my car. I turned around and saw Sid sitting on the dock with Geno. I sighed and got in the car with Eli quickly. We drove back to our house in silence.

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Sidney

"What did I do wrong?" I groaned, covering my face. My cheeks had tears running down them and my eyes were burning.

"You wait until 3 weeks left and ask her to follow you. That's wrong." Geno looked at me and sighed. "I told you not to mess it up."

"I know, I know. I should call her." I reached for my phone before Geno slapped my hand. "Let it go, you can find someone else." He reassured me but I wasn't buying it. Scarlet was everything I wanted in a girl and I absolutely blew it.

A few hours later, my family left and Geno went to bed. I sat on the patio in my pajamas, looking at the lake. I've never been broken up with before, I always did it. This feeling was new and strange. I pulled out my phone and looked at my lock screen; a picture of Scarlet. She looked beautiful that night. The first night we were intimate and fell asleep talking. I sighed and drank some of the water I was holding. "Why was it so easy for her to break up with me?" I whispered to myself. "Why?"

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Scarlet

Eli went to bed as soon as we got home, so the house was quiet. I hadn't stopped crying since I put him to bed. I sat in the living room in my glasses and pajamas, looking out the window. Times like these, I wish I could talk to my sister. I needed my family. Sure Darcy was my best friend but I just needed my big sister. We used to stay up talking for hours about everything. Anything that was on our minds.

I opened up my Facebook and typed in my sister's name in the search bar. There she was, Becca Mitchell. Her profile picture was her and her fiancé. I hesitantly tapped the messenger button and sent her a message:

Hey Becca. We haven't talked in such a long time and I miss you so much. I saw that you're getting married. I'm so happy for you. I need to talk to you because I feel so alone right now. My boyfriend and I just broke up today. We always used to talk about those things.

I hit send and sat there, glued to the screen on my phone. After 20 minutes, I realized that it was worth a shot. At least I tried. I got up and walked into the bathroom to wash my red face. My eyes were puffy and stung. When I finished, I heard a ding. I looked over at my phone and see a message from my sister. I quickly sat in the living room to read the message.

Becca: SCARLET! I'm so glad that you messaged me. I'm sorry that we haven't spoken... I feel bad not telling you about the wedding. I'm sorry about your breakup... I miss talking to you too. It's been almost 5 years.

Me: Don't feel bad about it. I totally understand. I'm so far away from you. I broke up with him and I regret it in a way. But there's also a part of me that doesn't. He wanted me to follow him to Pittsburgh because he works there.

Becca: Oh no :( That's not too far from me. Why was he in Canada though?

Me: He plays Hockey. It was the offseason, so he was here.

Becca: Hockey? He's a professional athlete?

Me: Yes, he is. It makes everything more complicated.

Becca: Name?

Me: Sidney...

Becca: Sidney Crosby?!

Me: Yes

Becca: SCARLET!! You should have went with him

Me: I couldn't. I like my life here.

Becca: Sometimes you have to do things for the person that you love. You are obviously in love with him if you're so devastated.

Me: I guess so...

I sat in bed, thinking about Sidney. My sister showed me a whole other aspect. The amount of relief I felt from talking to Becca was incredible.