High School Hockey Boys

20

** James' POV **

I rolled over to stretch before slowly blinking my eyes open, trying to wake up. I stared at the ceiling and sighed. The room was brightened by the sun trying to break through the sheer curtains over the small window. The spare room in Alice and Findley's home was just big enough for one person, but it was still nice.

I felt bad having to ask to stay with them. They'd been nothing but good to me, welcoming me into their lives like I had always been there. And to repay their kindness I ask then to bail me out of jail and give me a place to stay. As I slowly sit up and swing my legs over the edge of the bed I remind myself to ask how much Alice had to pay to get me out; I'd find a way to pay her back. I pulled on a pair of grey sweats and left for the bathroom before going downstairs. 

The house was quiet and I wondered what time it was. Finley was probably already at school. Alice was either back at work or still asleep. 

My assumptions were proven wrong when I walked into the kitchen to see Alice sitting at the table with a mug of coffee, staring off into space. I cleared my throat to let her know I was there and she turned around to smile at me. 

"Go make yourself some coffee, there's still some left in the pot," she said. "Mugs are on the left."

I moved over to the cupboard silently and spent the next minute making myself a cup. I grabbed one of the bananas sitting on the counter and held it up to ask if I could have it. Alice nodded with another soft smile and I joined her at the table. I sat across from her, and no words were spoken as I took a few sips of the hot drink and started to peel my breakfast.

"Did you sleep okay?" Alice asked after a minute.

"I did. Thank you for letting me stay, and I'm sorry about last night."

She waved off my words and shook her head. "Don't worry about it. We all have bad days, James."

I nodded and took another bite of my banana. I hadn't meant to get in a fight, but yesterday had been a horrendously bad day.

-  -  -

I had woken up later than usual feeling exhausted. My parents had been texting me constantly since Christmas about when I was coming home. It was tiring. I got dressed into something semi presentable before calling down for room service. It was closer to lunch now so I just ordered a sandwich and some coffee.

I pulled back the long curtains hiding the balcony and watched cars pass by while I waited for my food to show up. Arnam was a nice place. It wasn't so small everybody knew everybody, but it certainly wasn't Rochester or New York. I liked that. My thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door and I got up to collect my food. Back by the window, I zoned out again. 

I had been in town for close to two months. It had been the freest I'd felt in years, like a mountain's worth of weight was taken off my chest. I chalked it down to being in a new place but I knew that wasn't the only reason. 

I'd been invited here on a whim by some girl I hadn't known. It made me laugh sometimes when I thought about it. The couple who had originally adopted me were essentially my grandparents. I was given to their daughter and her husband after I was deemed too rambunctious for them to look after full-time. They'd called to tell me that the orphanage they'd adopted me from had called. Some girl from the middle of nowhere was asking about me, because she thought we were related. After a good talk with them and asking the orphanage about the girl I found out her name. After a bit of digging, with the help of a few friends, I got her address and sent her a letter.