High School Hockey Boys

02

My alarm went off on Monday morning seemingly way too early. I wasn't ready to face people yet. Especially Cassandra. I know what she said to me at the game on Saturday wasn't the meanest thing ever, but when your self-esteem is already SUPER low. People saying things like that seem a lot worse than they really are. Regardless of my unwillingness to socialize, I got out of bed and started getting ready for school. I felt like comfortable was the way to go today and threw on a pair of leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. I tossed my hair into a very messy knot on top of my head while I went down to the kitchen. I changed my mind about eating when I saw we needed to go grocery shopping.

I continued on with my morning routine, and when I heard the doorbell I grabbed my bag and walked out the door. I usually walk to school with Delaney since she lives a few streets over.
"So, you know how Graham Walsh lives a few doors down from me?" Delaney asked.

"Yeah."

"Well, he was asking about you." I whipped my head toward her so fast I wouldn't be surprised if I gave myself whiplash. "It was kinda cute too. He didn't quite know your name and he kept getting it wrong. But he's seen you around school since he's in grade twelve but you already knew that."

"Your point Delaney?" I asked a little impatiently. I was curious as to why one of the Ravens was asking about me.

"He asked if I'd give you this. I'm not sure what it is. I didn't wanna be nosy and look through your stuff." She handed me a white envelope and I took it from her cautiously.

It wasn't closed properly, so all I had to do was pull the flap out of the pocket. Inside was a small note written in terrible handwriting, and a small slip of paper with numbers on it. I read the note first to see if it would make sense of the few numbers I saw.

I know I don't know you very well. And I never talk to you but I was wondering if maybe you'd take a chance and let me take you out to lunch today?
G.W.

That's when I understood that the slip of paper had his number on it.

"So what he say? Obviously something pretty interesting if it turned you into a tomato that just ran fifty miles." She joked.

"He gave me his number," I murmured. "And asked if he could take me out to lunch today."

"What!" Delaney shrieked. "He asked you on a date!" She continued to yell, snatching the note from my hand. She read it at least ten times before it seemed to register that I hadn't been lying to her.

"Holy shit! You just got asked out by a hockey player. A Ravens hockey player no less. Damn girl, get it!" She yelled.

And at that exact moment, I noticed Cassandra and Eli in her car at the stop sign on the other side of the street. Cassandra glared at me and Eli's face was blank. I flushed a deep red and sped up, trying to get away as fast as I could. Delaney looked confused before Cassandra sped toward the school, tires squealing. Her eyes widened and she ran to catch up with me. She tried to apologize but I told her there was nothing to apologize for. She was excited and neither of us could've predicted Cassandra being there. But the fact that she heard meant she had new ammunition for today's verbal beating. We walked the rest of the way in silence, and by the time we got to school I was shaking.
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She waited for the beginning of lunch to come at me. As soon as she spotted me she started screaming at me.

"Hey, slut. Yeah you. Did you honestly think one of the Ravens players asked you out? You're so pathetic. No guy would wanna touch you with a ten foot pole. You know it was just a joke right?"

"Leave her alone Cassandra. Just because we're not paying attention to only you, doesn't mean you get to be a bitch to whoever we are paying attention to." Cassandra looked just as surprised as I felt. Graham Walsh, just stood up for me.