What Goes Around Comes Back Around

Chapter Four

Merlinda and Taelor were waiting on me when I got back to my locker. They were impatient people and I knew they'd want to know what kept me so long.

"Where've you been?" Merlinda asked, leaning against the lockers.

"Yeah we've been waiting for forever," Taelor complained.

I expected her to be exaggerating, but when I looked at the clock it was a good twenty minutes after the final bell had rang. "I'm really sorry, I got a little caught up with someone."

Now they were interested. "And could that someone be Nathan?" Merlinda asked, ready to get every single detail.

"Yes, yes it was." I decided not to mention Adam. I didn't need them to get worried over something that wouldn't happen, at least not again. "And he's making me come to his game tonight and"

"His hockey game?" Taelor interrupted, looking more shocked then curious.

"What other game would there be," I said, knowing they weren't going to leave it there.

"But you hate hockey.. Why would you even go?" Merlinda questioned me and I was getting slightly annoyed with their interrogation.

"I never said I hated it... Well maybe once, but that's not the point. The point is that I'm going and I need you two to go with me and help me with what I should wear because I want to look nice ya know? And maybe help me with what to say because you know it's hard for me to talk to people. And maybe- "

"We get it, we get it!" Merlinda laughed. "You want to look good for your man and all that."

"He's not my man!" I yelled, pushing her playfully. "Maybe I just want to look nice because I'm going out."

"Sure that's what it is. Of course we'll come." Taelor said. "Now come on, I'm ready to go."

I was a little nervous for later, but it couldn't be any worse than today, at least I hope not.

*

Clothes were everywhere. On the bed, on the floor, every inch of my closet was covering my room and I still had found nothing to wear.

"Bethany, this is getting a little ridiculous," my mom said when she poked her head in my room, which looked like my closet had exploded. "Merlinda, Taelor, pick her out something before she loses it." They laughed but did as she said, going through my clothes and eventually deciding on my favorite pair of blue jeans, a creme top, and a brown leather jacket that I may or may not have stolen from one of their closets. I actually felt pretty confident and excited to see Nathan play, since I never had before, or even watched a hockey game in general. I braided my hair to one side and had one last look in the mirror before I turned to my friends.

"So, what do you think?" I did a little twirl, nearly tripping over a huge pile of clothes.

"We approve," Taelor said. "Now let's go see your boyfriend score some goals."

"He's not my boyfriend," I mumbled, ignoring the way my stomach flipped at the thought of that. It's not like he'd ever want to be my boyfriend, right? We seem too different, loud and quiet, outgoing and shy, confident and insecure. It would never work out. No use thinking about it, but now that I had I couldn't stop.

*

We had to be the only school in the world to have a ice rink as a part of their school, it's just so weird. But most of the people here lived and breathed hockey so it was somewhat normal. Me, Merlinda, and Taelor took our seats near the front of the home section, close enough to see the players, and I instantly searched for a jersey with Evans on the back. I found it, with the number ten written underneath. Of course my favorite number would be his, I thought. He turned around to face the crowd and he seemed to be searching for someone as well. His eyes found mine and he smiled at me, waving his hand. I waved back, maybe a little too excitedly. I swear I could hear his laugh from my seat, but it was cut short by his coach calling him over. He gave me one last wave before being pulled into a huddle. I didn't know what to expect, so I sat back in my seat, ready to enjoy the game.