High School Hockey Boys

11

Hermione drove me home early Sunday afternoon. She told me she'd pick me up after school on Tuesday for my appointment before dropping me off and driving away. Mom wasn't home yet, so I grabbed what little mail we had and unlocked the door. I closed it with my foot while I flipped through the envelopes. Bill, bill, grocery flyer, bill, Finley O'Brien-Moss, flyer--. I tossed the other envelopes on the coffee table and sat on the couch. I carefully read the front of the letter addressed to me. It was from Rochester, but I don't know anyone there. The name in the return address was James Masterson. I opened the letter and read slowly. Once I'd finished reading, I dug around in my bag for my phone and opened the group chat between Del, Harper, Sophia and I.

Finley: Guys, can you come over? I need help with something.

I got no reply. I sighed and made my way to the kitchen. I poured myself a glass of water and rested my elbows on the counter. I swirled the water around in my glass absently. There's too much going on right now. An uncomfortable ache throbbed behind my eyes and I closed them tightly. A knock at the door made me jump. I walked through the hall and pulled the door open slightly. I sighed and rolled my eyes at myself. 

"Well, are you going to let me in? You did ask if I could come over." I opened the door the rest of the way so Delaney could come inside. 

"Are the others coming or just you?" I asked.

"Harper's grandmother got sick so she's visiting her, and Sophia had some birthday thing she had to go to." 

Delaney followed me into the kitchen where I downed the rest of my water and placed the glass in the sink. I gestured her to follow me into the living room and we sat beside each other on the couch. I silently handed her the letter and she looked at me cautiously. With a nod of consent she started reading. I watched the play of emotions on her face as she read through the letter. She was confused at the beginning, much like I had been. It was a very vague letter, but one this James Masterson clearly knew I'd understand. And by the wideness of her eyes, Delaney does too. There was a brief pause when she finished reading. She set the letter on the table and folded her hands on top of her knees.

"Wow." Was all she could say. I nodded, having no idea what to say either. 

"How do you think he found out?" She asked.

"I'm not sure. But to be honest, it's kind of unsettling that he did." I said. She huffed.

"You got that right. But, he wants to talk, so I guess that's a good thing." Delaney said.

"Yeah, but, what if he sent this as a...leave me alone kind of thing." Delaney rested her hand on my shoulder.

"If he wanted nothing to do with you I think he would've outright said it. He seems the type not to sugar coat things." She tried to reason.

"I guess." I muttered. Delaney removed her hand and smiled. 

She stood from the couch suddenly and left the room. I heard her footsteps on the stairs and the creaky floor of the upstairs hallway as she walked around. She came back down a few minutes later with three sheets of lined paper and a pencil. I raised a brow at her, silently asking what she was up to. Delaney gathered all the papers and bills off the table and dumped them onto the armchair in the corner. She set the paper and pencil in front of me, then sat down. I glanced from her to the paper and back. She looked at me expectantly.

"You want me to write him back. Right now." I questioned.

"Why not? He reached out to you first. And besides, what else do you have to do?" Delaney encouraged.