Bridge over troubled waters

40| Field Trip

Corey

The Blackhawks don't make it out of the first round this year after winning it all last year. After falling 3-0 in the series we were able to tie it up but couldn't finish it off. We came up short in game seven and this season was over. My contract was over too and I wasn't sure what happens next. I got four months left with Bailey here and I plan on making the most of them. Try and not get caught up in contracts and let my agent handle that. He knows that I want to stay and he knows that this is where I belong so I trust he will get it figured it out.

"Remember that one time I made you skip school to go ride roller coasters" I ask Bailey as we sit at breakfast. She had on a shirt she stole from me and a pair of underwear and nothing else on. Her long legs out for the world to see.

"I remember that being the closest I've ever been to being mad at you. You know I only missed one day of high school in four years and that was it" she says.

"I remember you digging your nails in my arm on every ride" I admit.

"Yeah I remember that too" she mumbles.

"Well I thought today we could go to the six flags in gurnee. A start to my summer if you will" I say.

"I still work" she shuns.

"I don't care. I already got us tickets" I claim.

She slowly turns to me as she squints her eyes. "We can't be going through this again" she insists.

"Corey and Bailey take on roller coasters part two" I cheer as I slam my fists on the table. The plates jump as she just looks at me like I'm her disobedient kid. And right now I kinda was.

"Corey we are adults with jobs and responsibilities. You can't just expect me to-" she starts.

"I want to go on roller coasters" I yell cutting her off.

"And I want a normal best friend" she counters.

"Fine. After 18 years of friendship we can try and get back to normal... once we get back from the theme park" I argue.

She lets out a long sigh as she just shakes her head. "You're not going to leave this alone are you" she asks.

"The car is already running" I smile.

She just stares at me as the right side of her mouth pulls tighter. I can tell she was trying not to smile but she was losing that battle. "Fine" she finally breaks causing me to let out a cheer. "But this means you can't bother me like this again" she threatens.

"You know I can't promise that" I smile.

"Eh, worth a shot" she shrugs.

We finish up our breakfast and change before jumping in my car. I start the drive to Gurnee as Bailey controls the music. She sat there with her head against the window just singing to herself. I know she didn't want to skip work to go ride roller coasters but she wanted to do it with me so that was pretty great.

"I have some news for you" she claims.

I turn to her as she watches the road. "And what's that" I wonder.

"The Blackhawks offered me a job for next season" she explains making my eyes go big. I try not to smile but it was kinda impossible.

"Yeah" I ask trying to keep my cool.

"Yeah. They said that I can do all the home games and even a few away games. They know that I do other stuff so it's not a full time job or anything. It's not that serious. But still a pretty big opportunity" she explains.

"Bails that's amazing" I gasp.

"Go ahead, ask" she teases and I chuckle.

"You gonna stay and take the job" I wonder.

"I don't know yet. Technically I still work back home. I don't want to stop working back home but if I work for the Blackhawks and in this art community then I need to seriously start thinking about linking up with some people around here and making a permanent statement" she claims.

"I think you should stay" I claim as she giggles.

"Of course you do" she accuses.

"If you did stay, what do you think would happen with us" I ask.

For the first time the car falls silent as she thinks about my question. For the first time she doesn't freeze but she smiles as she thinks about the possibility of us. "I think we could spend the rest of our lives together. You know... romantically" she admits.

I try not to swerve off the press as I turn back to it. But my heart was about to stop any second. "Seriously" I squeal and she laughs.

"Yeah. I had a good friend of mine the other day talk to me. Get me to see what I was too afraid to see. And while I'm still scared of starting a relationship with you and losing what we spent so long building up, I think I'm more scared to have such feelings and and to keep denying them" she explains.

"Would we make a good couple" I ask her.

"I think we would be the best couple. I mean we've practically been married for a decade now, I can't see how much would change. We would still be together all the time, still joke around and support each other. Just more intimately" she shrugs.

"I would like that a lot" I admit.

"I would too Apple Core. I would too" she assures me.

Finally we arrive at the park and it was pretty packed. But I make sure we have some flash passes and we don't have to wait in too many lines. The first rollercoaster we go on was huge, probably faster and higher than either of us have been not counting a airplane.

"What the hell did I let you talk me into" she gasps as she gets on. She gets buckled in and immediately grabs my hand. Here's to hoping she doesn't break it.

"Relax. It's gonna be fun" I insist. As long as she doesn't take my hearing out by screaming again.

"It better be" she threatens.

Without a warning we take off and she lets out a shriek. I laugh as she grabs my hand tighter like it's going to make a difference. We go upside down and around and around for a good while before the coaster slows down. I look over and see her hair all over the place.

She starts to laugh making me laugh too. We finally come to a stop and she lets out a sigh. "Alright, I got to admit, that was a lot of fun" she laughs.

"See. It's not that bad. Even if I'm pretty sure my hand is broken" I chuckle.

"Yeah, sorry about that" she says as she finally lets go of my hand.

"That's okay. I liked that you thought I was going to save you" I tease.

"Remember that on the next roller coaster when I almost take off your hand" she smiles.