The ride

CHAPTER 5

COLE

Victor wasn't talking to me and as always, he was writing on his laptop. He writes a lot. After half an hour of driving I thought about asking him what he was writing about but then I thought better and decided to not bother him. I already messed up with him twice, I can't do anything wrong by now or I'll lose...

"Cole? Did you hear what I said?", he took me out of my thoughts.

"No, sorry. What was it?"

"I said if you get tired of driving we could change places so you can get some rest."

"Oh no, it's fine. Don't worry about it", I replied him, "Actually, I received a phone call early this morning about a friend's birthday in a couple of towns ahead, would you mind if we stop there for a a night?", he thinks for a little bit

"Just for one night, okay? I really need to get to Vancouver", I nod, "So, who's this friend?", he asked me, surprising me a little, he never seemed so interested in my life before.

"She's the sister of one of my teammates, I've known her for such a long time and she used to be my best friend - her name's Mila, by the way. But it's been a while since I last talked to her. Now that I stop to think, it's been what? Three years?", I ask myself out loud he just stares at me, listening with attention, waiting for me to continue.

"Ever since my career in hockey started to grow, my friendship with her started to fade away. I should buy something for her and try to redeem myself", Wow, I really need to control my thoughts and just keep them in my mind.

"And what are you planning to give her?"

"I don't know, she always loved necklaces, so I think I'll buy one for her. What do you think?", I really need an opinion right now, since I'm a little lost.

"Cole, let me tell you something, you might have noticed that I always like to say the true, right?", he asked me with that serene voice of his, I just nod while driving, "okay, now that we've cleared that up, I just think that if I were her I'd hit you as hard as I could, beca-".

"What? Why? What's wrong with the necklace?", I cut him off. A necklace sounds perfect. And it would fit pretty well on her.

"If you just let me finish you'll know, and please do not interrupt me again", he said seriously, "Now try to get her point of view: you were, or still is, I don't know, her best friend, but your friendship just got lost. If you bring a necklace, of course she will like it, but she'll like the material. If you want to redeem yourself, as you said, don't you should give her something meaningful to both of you, you can be reminded that that friendship still exists and it matters to you and her or something like that. Understood? I can't really tell you exactly what I mean, but it is between the lines I think..."

"Hum... I think so. So what if I give her something to remember our old days? Something both of us could enjoy? Something that used to pleasure both of us, and still does. I know for sure it does", I said smiling.

"I don't think sex would be this great of a gift to remember your friendship, but sex is sex and we all like it, right? And if you really think she'll like it. So be it", he said openly, surprising me. No I wasn't talking about sex.

"What, no I wasn't talking about sex, man", I said laughing at him as he started to blush

"Well, then choose your words carefully from now on. If you want to say something just get to the point", he laughed.

***

"It's perfect. What do you think?", I asked Vic while looking at the gift.

"Well, for me it is trash. But she's your friend. If she likes trash then who am I to judge?", he said indifferent.

"What, no! It's not trash and she'll love it, I just know it"

"If you say so...", he finally agreed

After we arrived at the said town we went to the mall so I could buy Mila's gift, I already had the thing on my mind and it was easy to get. A very meaningful present, not a trash like vic thinks it is.

When I went to search, Vic said he had to buy something for himself as well and we went our separate ways.

We basically spent our day on that mall doing nothing because outside it was snowing pretty hard and I don't think Vic has a thicker coat.

"Does every town have a hockey stadium?", He asked, looking at a round building.

"No, that's not a hockey stadium. That's a soccer stadium. Unfortunately, this town has no hockey...", and in between my thoughts I just remembered he's Brazilian, meaning he must be a good soccer player.

"No", he said, "I have a very distasteful like towards soccer, don't ask me why"

I was impressed again, "how did you know I was thinking about it?".

He looked at me with a smile "You are just the stereotype guy. You get every stereotype possible and apply it on you as well as on others"

"I don't do such a thing!", I protested a bit offended. I don't just assume things about people like that.

"Really?" He said amused, "Well, let's see... "First every Canadian must know you because you're a hockey player", right?", he said quoting me, "Because every Canadian must like this game, or else they are what? Not real Canadians?", okay, he's got a point.

"Yeah, but-", I try to protest a little but he doesn't let me.

"Then you told me to not worry about anything like being mugged because we are in Canada, like if there wasn't any evil person", okay, another point for him... "Then you said I don't look gay, because I look manly manly than the most you know, which is a very wrong thing to think, might I add", yeah I can kind of see that, "Should I go on?", Wow. He's right! Damn it, I hate being wrong, but damn...

"And why didn't you tell me anything at the time I said those things?*, I said approaching him. If he pays attention and minds what I am saying, he should at least contest it.

He shrugged, "I didn't feel like talking at the time", he came closer, defying me.

"Oh, and now you feel like it?", I said amused, looking at his amber eyes.

"Not really", then he came closer and I could feel his breath. Mint.

I looked at his mouth and suddenly I got myself thinking things I shouldn't be thinking