✔ SLAPSHOT ✖ irwin au

fifty-two.

k a r r i s

✖

two months later.

Excitement enveloped my entire body like a warm blanket during winter's chill. It rushed through my veins, pounded into my heart with frenzy, and caused me to dance like an awkward sea lion on LSD in the middle of a crowded airport. I was home, it was the Championship tournament, and the Willowridge hockey team had no damn clue I would be arriving within an hour.

"Karris!"

I jolted over my shoulder, spinning in place till I found the source of the echoing bellow. My eyes were wide open, darting focus through out the expanse of baggage claim in the San Diego Airport. But then I saw her- Berkley. She waved her hand frantically in the air, hopping on her toes with a wide grin plastered across her face.

"Berkley!" I called out, running towards my best friend. She sprinted across the linoleum floors, and I could hear her booties clack against the tiles. With our arms wide open, we dashed towards one another like two slow motion lovers in a field of daisies while the Chariots of Fire theme song played. My best friend let out a dramatic battle cry and leapt into the air. Miraculously, I caught her, holding onto her torso with a tight grip. I spun Berkley around, giggling obnoxiously while travelers passed by.

"I missed you best friend!" Berkley declared.

"I missed you harder!" I exclaimed, bringing her back down to her feet. "It feels so good to be home!"

"I'm glad for you to be home," she laughed. With an arm around my shoulder, and mine wrapped around her waist, the two of us merrily skipped back to my flight's baggage caraousel.

"So no one knows I'm here tonight?" I asked, nearing the conveyer belt of luggages.

"Nope," Berkley shook her head. "The team was so morose at school today when they found out you couldn't make it."

"Yes! I'm so glad they bought the lie," I snickered demonically. "I feel bad for Ashton though. He FaceTimed me while I was in the airport, and I had to run into the bathroom to fake that I was in school."

I let out a sigh of relief, happy that my plot to surprise the hockey team was successfully in full force. Originally, I didn't think I could make the match even though I had every intention of doing so. But after some begging, several of my teachers at Washington High allowed me to take exams a day early.

"Which bag is yours? Has it come out, yet?" Berkley questioned, her eyes glued to the diverse array of luggage that maneuvered passed the people on my flight.

"Um," I pursed my lips to the side quizzically, eyeing each piece of luggage that fell out of the metallic chute above.

"Right here, Karris," the deep, yet animated voice filled my ears and with a smile I turned to look at him.

"Thanks Calum," I grinned, grabbing the handle of my bag from the boy's grasp.

"Hey, man," Berkley pulled Calum into a hug, squeezing him tightly. "I missed you and your fuckboy ways."

"That Latina fire," Calum chuckled. "They don't have a lot of that in rehab."

"Speaking of, how's everything? Are they gonna let you out soon?" Berkley asked, motioning towards one of the many glass doors.

"Yea, very soon actually," Calum spoke with enthusiasm, his eyes squinting shut as he smiled heavily. "In two weeks."

"Shut up!" Berkley punched him in the shoulder as we exited the airport, meeting the oceanic chill- though, it definitely wasn't as cold as Northern California. "Are you coming back to Arden Heights?"