It's Never too Late to Try ~ Sidney Crosby

Chapter 14- The Plan

As I looked at my phone buzzing on my table beside me, a million questions were rushing through my head. I had no idea what was going on. The name ELI staring me right in the face. I hesitantly picked up my phone and hit accept.

"Hello?" I answered, quietly.

"Sid! I'm in Pennsylvania!" Eli cheered, sounding enthusiastic. That wasn't what I was expecting at all.

"You are?" I replied, looking down at my feet. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm with mommy to visit my grandma. She's sick."

"Oh no, I'm sorry about that bud." I was shocked to hear him say grandma after hearing how Scarlet didn't associate with her family in the states.

"Where have you been? Mommy hasn't talked about you in a while."

Scarlet never told Eli that we broke up...

"I'm in Pittsburgh right now, bud. Your mommy and I took a break." I told him. I didn't feel like making him sad but he needed to know.

"I miss you, Sid." Those words made my heart sink into my stomach and my throat tight.

"I miss you too, Eli." I managed to get out. "Where are you, right now?" I asked, looking out my window.

"I'm at my aunt's house with Mommy. Mommy is with my grandma talking."

"I'm guessing you're bored." I chuckled a little bit, trying to make light of the situation.

"Yes, I'm very bored. It's been a long time."

All of a sudden, I heard Scarlet talking in the background and I felt blood rush to my cheeks. My face got hot and my heart was racing like crazy.

"Eli, who are you talking to?" I heard her say.

"Sid!" Eli responded. I took a deep breath and waited to see what she was going to say.

"Tell him goodbye and hang up," Scarlet told him, sounding annoyed.

"I have to go, Sid."

"Okay, I'll talk to you later."

"Bye." Eli hung up and I instantly started crying.

I hated how everything worked out and how sad I felt. The emptiness was unlike anything I have ever felt in my whole life. I needed something to fill the void. I needed Scarlet again to feel whole again. But how?

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Scarlet

"Why were you talking to him?" I asked Eli, as I took a seat next to him. "Did he call you?"

"I called him, mommy." Eli looked at me and sighed. "I miss him."

I didn't realize how our breakup was affecting my son. I had no idea that Eli would get so upset...

"I'm sorry, sweetie... We aren't seeing each other anymore." I tried to explain to him but I could tell by the look on his face that he didn't fully understand.

"But why?"

I took a deep breath and looked down at my feet.

"It just didn't work out, Eli." My voice got quiet and my throat started getting tight. I realized that I hadn't thought about him too much because I didn't want to keep on feeling hurt. I didn't need that right now. Not with everything that's going on with my family. Eli looked at me and tears started rolling down my cheeks. The last thing I wanted was my son to see me crying.

"It'll be okay, Mommy!" Eli hugged me and rested his head on my shoulder. "I don't want you being sad."

"I hope so." I kissed his forehead and looked at him, "Why don't you go get ready for bed, yeah?"

"Okay!" Eli sprung up and ran to the bathroom to brush his teeth. It felt strange being in my sister's house. It felt strange being in the states. I had talked to my mom and it could have gone better. We talked for a while but she seemed standoffish and annoyed. I would try to talk about how she was feeling but she refused. The woman has a heart attack but she's in denial that it happened. She even acted the same towards Becca; which really took me for a loop. My dad was working, which didn't surprise me. My parent's relationship was always rocky and arguments were common. There was always something to argue about. Becca had gone to bed with her fiance, so Eli and I were the only ones awake. I heard a car door close, so I stood up and looked out the window. It was dad. It was strange seeing him struggling to walk and his grey hair that used to be blonde.

Dad walked into the house, not realizing I was there and headed straight for the guest room; the room where mom was sleeping in. Eli walked out of the bathroom in his pajamas as dad was passing by -- scaring him. He made eye contact with Eli and then I could tell by the look on his face, it clicked.

"Eli?" He quietly knelt down to Eli's eye level. "Is that you?"

"Yes!" Eli hugged him, which definitely took him off guard. He gently hugged back and stood up.

"What are you doing here? Where's your mom?" My dad asked him. Eli pointed to me and my dad turned around to meet my tired eyes.

"Hi, dad." I walked over to him from the window and he smirked.

"Took you long enough to get back to the states." He hugged me quickly, before looking at me again. "You haven't changed at all."

"I wish it wasn't under these circumstances though," I replied, looking at him. The wrinkles on his face and glasses were not was I was used to.

"Yeah, I know."He sighed and turned around to look at Eli. "How old is he now?"

"He's 6," I replied, smiling.

"He looks just like Dan." My dad turned around to look at me. My heart sank and my face got hot. My smile faded faster than anything.

"I guess," I replied, sitting down on the couch. Of course, he tries to start this now. He was always petty and sarcastic. "I think Eli and I are going to go to bed. I'll see you in the morning" I quietly said, grabbing my luggage filled with clothes.

"Okay, Goodnight." He smirked and walked to the guest bedroom, opening the door.

After he went into the room and closed the door. Eli and I got ready for bed. I needed some sleep desperately.

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Sidney

The next morning, I woke up and quickly fed my cat before going for a run. I decided to go for a run to clear my head. I needed it and running made me feel good; especially in the morning. As I was listening to the playlist that Geno made for me, I heard my phone buzz in my jacket pocket. I stopped for a second for water and looked at my phone to see a text from Eli. I smiled and read it:

From Eli: Hi Sid. Mommy is upset and I think she needs to see you again. I think you want to see her as much as she does. I know she said it didn't work out, but you can still make it work. You're like my dad. Let's think of a way for her to see you again.

I smiled at my phone and sat down on a bench nearby. This is how I'll earn her trust again. I need to do this. I needed to think of something. I quickly texted him back saying that I was in. I continued to run and then it hit me.

This plan would definitely work for sure! I could feel it.