Problems With Love

Chapter 44

Kristen's POV

A few months pass and our mom gets worse and worse. We go back home to visit her during the off season. The last day we're there, she seems a lot better.

On the flight home Kris doesn't say much. I know he has a lot on his mind. He hasn't eaten much or talked much lately. It worries me a little. I know he's just worried. I don't blame him. I am too, but it's harder on him than it is me. He was really close to our mom, unlike me. Then again she actually loves him.

The ride home is so quiet. "Kris are you ok?" I eventually ask. "Yeah I'm fine," he says quietly. "Are you sure?" I question. He sighs. "No," he says weakly. I can tell he's fighting back tears. I awkwardly hug him from the side. Its actually kinda hard considering we're in the car. "Well can you please eat something? You haven't eaten anything in a few days and you need to eat." "Fine are you hungry?" he asks. "You haven't eaten much either," he says. "Not really but I'll eat as long as you eat," I tell him. It's true. I've eaten a little but not much, but Kris hasn't eaten anything at all. "Ok fine. What do you want? " he says. "I don't care," I say. "Whatever you want."

We end up just going to Subway, which is always good. I get what I normally get. A 12 inch BLT on toasted wheat, Lays, and rootbeer. I usually swith between Lays and Doritos but I went with Lays today and I only got a 6 inch sandwich since I'm not that hungry. Kris and I eat in silence when we get home. Yet neither of us really eat, we just kind of pick at our food.

After we eat I go up to my room and watch tv and Kris stays downstairs. After watching like 2 hours of TV I decide to go downstairs and make some hot chocolate and get some cookies or something, which probably isn't the best thing at 9:30 at night but I could care less. I walk downstairs quietly. When I get downstairs I see Kris fell asleep on the couch in the living room. I can tell he was crying cuz his eyes are puffy. I walk over to the cabinet and get a blanket and put it on my brother. Then I quietly sneak into the kitchen and make some hot chocolate. I also grab my secret stash of Oreos and sneak up into my room not wanting to wake Kris up.

It's really hard for me to see him like this. For as long as I can remember he's always been happy and strong for me, but right now he just seems so weak, and I can't stand to see him like that. I just want to cry, but I feel like I have to be there for him since he's always been there for me.

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I wake up in the morning to my phone ringing. I groan and slightly sit up, propping myself with my arm and answer it. "Hello?" I say groggily. "Hey Kristen?" A voice says. "Yeah?" I question. I don't recognize the voice. I guess I probably should've looked at the Caller ID. "It's your father. Umm I just wanted to call and tell you you're mom died early this morning," he says weakly. I sit up further in bed. I'm completely shocked. "What?" I question. There's no answer. "Does Kris know?" I ask. "Yeah," my dad says hanging up.

I jump out of bed and run into my brothers room. I find him laying on his bed crying. "Kris?" I say fighting back tears. "Hey," he sniffles. "Did dad call you?" he asks. I nod letting the tears fall. He walks over and hugs me, but he's still crying.

I decide to leave Kris alone and I go to my room. The guys have a game tonight but I don't think Kris is gonna be able to play. I was about to go check on my brother when my phone buzzed. I smile at the text from Brandon.

BRANDON: hey bby(:
KRISTEN: hey(:
BRANDON: are you coming to morning skate?
KRISTEN: yeah but I don't think Kris is.
BRANDON: why? Is he ok?
KRISTEN: um well our mom died this morning😭😭
BRANDON: oh my god I'm so sorry.
KRISTEN: thanks. Im gonna go check on my brother and then head down there. See you in a bit.

I quickly change into skinny jeans and a hawks sweatshirt and quietly sneak into Kris's room. He's sound asleep. He probably cried himself to sleep. "Hey Kris?" I whisper. "What?" He asks groggily. "I know you probably don't want to but are you gonna go to morning skate?" I ask. "No," he says weakly. I hug him fighting back my own tears. I know that I wasn't close with my mom, but it's still hard, but I have to be strong for Kris. "Ok well I'm going go down to the rink if you need me," I tell him.

I walk out to my car and get in. I pull out of the driveway and head to the rink. On the way I stop and get an iced coffee and a doughnut from Dunkin.

When I get there I start to walk inside when Corey catches up with me. "Hey!" he says energetically. "Hi!" I respond. I notice he's wearing a boot on his foot. "Where's your brother?" he asks. "Why are you wearing a boot?" I question back. "Where's your brother?" he asks again avoiding my question. "He's at home cause our mom died this morning," I explain as we enter the building. "Oh I'm so sorry," he says giving me a hug. "Thanks," I say looking down at my feet. "Now why are you wearing a boot?" I ask again. "I Uh. I missed a step at a concert," he says his face turning red. "Smooth Corey! Real smooth!" I say. "Does the team know? Or are you going to tell them now?" I add. "They already know, but I might as well come to morning skate," he says.

As soon as I enter the locker room with Corey everyone starts to question me where my brother is. I groan. Brandon walks up to me and talks quietly. "Hey," he says. "I'm so sorry to hears about your mom," he whispers giving me a hug. "Thanks," I say trying not to cry. Coach Q walks in and everyone falls silent. I'm about to head out to find my friends in the stands like usual but Q stops me. "Hey Kristen where's your brother?" "Um he's at home. Our mom died this morning and he just can't do anything right now. I don't know if he'll even leave the house today," I explain looking at my feet. "So should I scratch him for tonight?" Q asks. I nod.

After morning skate Brandon and I go back to my house to check in Kris. He was still asleep. I feel so bad. Brandon and I hang out the rest of the day until he has to go to the game.

I meet my friends there. "Hey why isn't your brother on the ice?" Chelsea asks during warm ups. "Um our mom died this morning and he's just not emotionally stable right now," I explain fighting back tears. They all hug me.

Finally its game time. Raanta's in net and the puck drops.

Sorry for not updating in a while! Game next chapter(: