when the ice melts // jack hughes

chapter twenty

m o n d a y m o r n i n g

"I'm going to be out this morning, you're in charge for a few hours. Don't forget to get rid of the trash," my mom caught me on my way out of the cafe. "Fine," I groaned, I sprinted to the back of the counter to grab some bags placed there after somebody had changed the garbages. I hauled them to our bin outside, a chill wind gave my neck goosebumps. A lot was on my mind. I was thinking about Cam leaving, my future, and Nathan. What happens when Cameron has to leave? We've barely even begun our relationship and our friendship is so young. He can't leave yet. The thought of him playing somewhere else for home games made me want to cry. I could handle him leaving for away games, but waiting for him to come to British Columbia for games? That wasn't even happening yet, but I already felt the pain I was going to have to feel. I turned to go behind our store where our trash was. I threw the bags into the bins and shut the lids, rushing back to wash my hands. Cam leaving would mean an open spot for Nathan to get closer to me, I wasn't sure how ready I was for that yet. My thoughts were interrupted when I opened the door to our cafe. Someone was standing in line, waiting. I would've rushed behind the counter, except for the fact that it wasn't a customer. Technically, I didn't have to talk or serve him, but I didn't want to cause problems. "Jordan," I stopped, standing in front of our door. "Via, hi." He had turned around. For once in his whole life, he looked approachable. Jordan's eyes had softened and he didn't have a disgusting smirk on his face. "What do you want?" I tried to keep my voice soft as well to match his expression, I slipped behind the counter to wash my hands. Jordan had sat down at one of the tables. His head was in his hands, he looked like something was really bothering him. I stopped washing my hands and turned to face him. "Jordan?" He looked up, a pained expression had now taken over his face. "They finally split, Viola." He stared at the table, I covered my mouth with my hands. When I was dating Jordan, his parents were constantly fighting. Jordan and I would always hear it from his bedroom, he used to joke around and say 'they'll hopefully split soon, that way we'll be able to chill in peace', but I doubt he ever meant it. We always thought things would get better, not actually break. Jordan used to be so close with his parents, it was the side of him I fell in love with. His obnoxious and oblivious side is what I was ignorant to, I cared too much about him. Opening up a memory made me remember the side of him that I once loved, or did I even love him? In movies, this is kind of a spot where the couple would kiss. You know, one of the main characters has family issues.. Oh my gosh. I was romanticizing his pain. I was romanticizing Jordan Prescott. I really did have issues. "Jordan..." I slowly walked out from the counter to his table. Jordan bit his lip, I could actually see dang tears coming from his eyes. I just embraced him in a hug, he wrapped his arms around my back. The door to my parents' cafe opened and I let go of Jordan, he wiped his eyes. I was still in charge of the cafe, so I still had customers. "Feel free to just sit here as long as need, I'll get you coffee after." I smiled at him, earning a teeny tiny smile back. I went behind the counter and set my hands on the register."How can I help you?"

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"Here, drink." I set a French Vanilla on Jordan's table, he took the mug into his hands and took a sip. I went back to the counter and began wiping everything down. I felt terrible. I had nothing to do with Jordan anymore, but it was like I was one of the only people who could understand. He didn't tell any of his friends about this, that wasn't him. "Are you going to-" I looked up from wiping, Jordan shook his head. "Please, don't tell anyone about this. I don't want anything to change with how people see me." I crossed my arms, "You don't want people changing that they think you're a stuck-up jerk?" Jordan's mouth curved into a frown. "Yes, well- no. I'm not a stuck-up jerk, Via." I fake laughed, "That's your funniest line yet, you really do suck and I'm sorry you had to hear it from me." Jordan set his mug down, "Via, you're the one hanging with Cameron Koehler and you're calling me stuck up?" I furrowed my brows, it was my turn to frown. "What are you talking about? Cameron is actually very sweet, you'd know that if you were dating him, Jordan. Yeah. He's my boyfriend, and I'm very happy with him." Jordan shook his head, "Well, he was a jerk till he met you. He still is sometimes," What? "Well, yeah. I mean I kinda saw that side of him when I first met him, but it wasn't in an awful way, he actually knows people have feelings!" I shouted, hoping Jordan wasn't right. "You should've seen all the chicks he was getting, do you wonder where his friends are? He left them in Salmon Arm, Viola. He left them. And guess what? He's going to leave you too, because where's he going? To Alberta." Jordan shouted back, I dropped the cloth I was using. Tears had already started falling from my eyes, great. Oh my gosh. Cam. The door had opened and there was Cameron, standing there. I didn't expect to see him today. "You've said quite enough, Jordan." He yelled. "You hurt everyone, even those who want to help you.." I ran to the back, I didn't feel like seeing either of them.

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