Open Arms

Chapter 5

We all climbed out of the car and ordered our drinks at Booster Juice. I got my favourite drink, Mango Hurricane.

"I'll have what she's having", ordered Hunter.

"It's on me", I told the cashier.

"It's okay, you don't have to do that", Hunter said quietly.

"Oh but I do. It's my gift to you. Welcome to West Vancouver, Hunter", I said with a smile which he returned.

Once our drinks were ready, I quickly got up from my chair to get them, but Hunter beat me to it, immediately taking a sip out of both at once.

"Just making sure they're not poison", he said laughing.

"Well if you drop dead in the next thirty seconds, we'll know for sure", I teased.

"Come on guys. We're going to Laura's", said Tyson. Laura's was a mid-size, 60 year old diner/café that had been owned by Marcus' family for decades. My cousin's and I were regulars. Laura's was always the place we went after practices, and before practices, and for studying, basically the place we went for anything and everything.

"Hey suga'", said Lucy, a waitress in her mid-forties, giving me a kiss on the top of my head, "What can I get for you guys? Wait lemme guess...Baby girl wants a BLT sandwich, toasted. Tys wants a grilled chicken sandwich. Marky Mark over here wants pepperoni thin crust pizza. Dilly-Boy wants a bologna sandwich on whole wheat bread, toasted. And what I get you darlin'? I don't believe I've ever seen you here before", she said to Hunter.

"This is Hunter, Lucy", I smiled at her. He reached out a hand for her to shake, but she giggled at him and walked to him and squeezed him into a tight, loving hug.

"Welcome darlin'", she said and she asked him more questions, until he ordered waffles. Lucy headed to the back to give Billy, the cook, our order. We all laughed at him for getting waffles but when Lucy and Brett, another server, gave us our food, the waffles looked amazing.

We all finished in record time, giving us 5 minutes to drive back to school. When we pulled into the parking lot and climbed out, Hunter was a few paces in front with Marcus and Dylan towards the school. Tyson closed my door behind me and pulled me aside, "Hey Pudge (a name he and my family had always called me since I was little because I was a really chubby baby.). I know you just met him and all, but he seems like a really great guy. And if you guys are just friends, or whatever, just know that I approve".

Tyson's approval and opinion had always been extremely important to me. He was my best friend, and forever will be. He was my big brother and was very protective of me. My family was very used to me having guys over. I obviously had girl friends but always seemed to gel a bit better with guys. I was the girl who cared about what I looked like, but was also sick at Grand Theft Auto and played multiple sports.

"Thanks Tys", I say and he gives me a hard bear hug, lifting my tiny body off the ground, and squeezing me until I complain that my internal organs were about to rupture.

"You know I've got your back, always", said Tyson and we do our handshake we had made up when we were kids, and head towards the school, catching up with everyone else.

The next two periods aren't too bad because they're my two favourite subjects, English and Law. And maybe a bit because Hunter was in both, since he was, maybe and potentially, my new best guy friend.

I texted Tyson at the end of the day telling him that I need a new phone. Hunter constantly apologized throughout the day, but I made sure he understood that it was fine and that it wasn't his fault. I good tell he felt guilty. My Uncle Ed texted me about getting a new phone and he said we'd go after he got home from work to get one.

"So", I said to Hunter, "What are the average after-school plans for Hunter Worthington. Damn I feel like there should be the word 'Prince' in front of your name or something", we both burst out laughing.

"Well, my mom will get home from work. Until then, I'll game and do homework. I'll take the dogs for a walk, maybe go swimming or something. I'll start dinner at 5 and then when mom gets home we'll eat and then I don't know", he said.

"Number one, how many dogs do you have? Number two, how the hell are you going swimming in the fall? Are you freakin' crazy", I said.

"Well, you'll just have to come and find out", he said with a smirk, "What are you doing after school".

"Um, I've got hockey practice until 3:30 then I'm free", I said.

"HOCKEY?!", he yelled with a smile, "Oh my goodness, you're funny, sarcastic, gorgeous and you play hockey?! Where the hell have been all my life, Carson".

We both burst out laughing and couldn't stop until we were holding our stomachs.

"I'll pick you up at 3:30 sharp but be fast after practice because we have to stop by your house and get you a bathing suit", he said.

"Genius", I laugh just as Tyson runs towards us.

"Come on Pudge, we've got to go! You're going to be so late", he exclaimed.

"Hey Tyson, I can drive her if you'd like", Hunter offered.

"Oh my god man, I owe you one", Tyson said, beaming, and ran back down the hall. Hunter then grabbed my arm and we started running down the hall, following Tyson to his car to get my hockey bag.

Once we got the bag, Hunter pulled it to his car across the lot. He drove a shiny, black Ford F-150. He put my bag in the bed of the truck, and drove out of the parking lot.

I directed him to the rink, and he pulled into the lot. He parked the car and hopped put, and grabbed my bag. "Thanks for driving me, Hunter", I said with a smile.

"It's no problem. Just helping out", he blushed and shoved his hands into the pockets of his 'snug in the right places' jeans. He had a good sense of styles from what I could see. He wore a grey, cotton V-neck t-shirt that was tight around his arms and emphasized his muscles perfectly, and the most perfectly fitting jeans, and skate shoes.

"So I'll be here for 3:30", he said as his phone started to ring. He motioned to me to hold on a second.

"That was the queen herself", he said and laughed, "She won't be home for dinner. How long can you stay for?"

"My family's all out tonight so I have to house to myself anyways", I say.

"Well, then you are staying for dinner", he said, "Now go inside, or you're going to be late and I'll laugh at you when you get punished for it".

I playfully punched his arm and said goodbye, making my way in the rink. I walked into the dressing room and got changed and put my skates on.

"Hey beb", said Nina, one of my best friends on my team, "Damn, Cars, you make me want to starve myself. Like honestly, holy crap, you eat whatever the hell you want, gain nothing from it, and have a six-pack and the best ass I've ever seen.

"Oh shut up and eat a sandwich", I laughed. Nina was stick thin, and she was one of the physically strongest girls I have ever met.

We both got onto the ice and skated around until our assistant coach, Will, a university student at UBC that had a full four year hockey scholarship, and all of the girls on the team think is the hottest thing on legs, blows his whistle for us to bring it in. We went over plays and do 1v1s. Some of the girls on the team were being idiots and not even bothering to participate; so we had to do skate lines. After almost barfing from the amount of lines we did, we played a short game. I scored 5 goals; dangled a few girls here and there, but stopped making a ton of moves and doing my tricks so nobody would get mad and call me a show off.