Breakaway (Penalty Kill 1)

“I’ll see you tonight, Smarty.” He pecks my lips and walks out of the bedroom.

I almost scream in frustration. I can’t believe how this day has gone and it’s not even afternoon, yet. I fall back on my bed, and I just want to crawl in it and forget about everything. Instead, I get up and grab my phone from the kitchen table. I head over to my couch and curl into a ball. I know this conversation is going to be bad, but I need my brother.

“What do you want?” Trevor’s voice sounds lethal when he picks up his phone.

“Trevor, please may we talk without arguing?” My voice cracks, and I don’t want Trevor mad at me. I can’t stand it.

“Pres,” he takes a deep breath. “I don’t want to talk right now. I love you, I do, but right now isn’t good for me.” Then I hear the click of his phone.

My twin brother just hung up on me. Trevor and I have fought, in the past, but never have we hung up on each other. The tears fall from my eyes and I don’t know what to do. I do want to be on my own and make my own decisions, but I can’t be without my brother. I get up and walk into my bedroom. I throw my phone on the nightstand, pull my blinds shut, and crawl back into bed.

~ ~ ~

I wake up to hearing my phone buzzing. I roll over and see that it’s Marley.

“Hey,” my voice is rough and my throat is dry.

“Are you asleep?” Marley asks. She sounds like she’s at a party and with Marley I wouldn’t be surprised if she was.

“Yeah, where are you at?” I sit up and my alarm says it’s almost five pm.

“I’m in line at the coffee house,” she says loudly.

“So, what’s up?”

“Well, I saw Levi on campus this afternoon and he said that you’re going to the game tonight. So, I figured that we could sit together. I already got you a student discount ticket. What time will you be here?” Oh, I had forgotten all about the game. I don’t want to go, but I can’t stay in bed for the rest of my life. Plus, Marley is going to be there so maybe she will be able to help me figure out this whole mess.

“What time does the game start?” Marley tells me it starts in an hour and that’s going to give me just enough time to get ready and get down to the rink. I tell her I’ll be there and crawl into the shower. I shower, change, and stand in front of the mirror trying to fix my hair. I’m not in the mood to get all girly tonight and since I am wearing a simple purple sweater and jeans, I figured a ponytail would be perfect for my hair tonight.

It takes me forever to find a parking space, but I’m finally able to get into the Roxboro Arena. Marley texts me what section she is in and she gives me a tight hug when I get to her.

“You look amazing.” Marley coos over me.

I shrug. “I don’t feel it.” The game is getting ready to start and I see Levi’s number 10 jersey taking center ice. After winning the faceoff, I watch Levi. He just didn’t skate on the ice; his movements are calculated and fluent. He looks like he belongs there and nowhere else. It’s like I’m hypnotized watching him. I watch as the lines change and Levi is yelling commands to his team. He’s an outstanding leader and I know he will be great in the NHL someday. Watching the game really takes my mind off of the drama that is surrounding me. On top of that, the Roxboro Lions win, and I love seeing that smile on Levi’s face.

Marley and I go down to wait for Levi and Jere at the player’s entrance.

“Ok, spill it. I know you have been dying to all night.” We’re leaning against the wall, when I tell her everything that happened in the past twenty four hours. I’m on the edge of tears again, but am able to hold them back.

“Well, you can’t say your life isn’t interesting now, can you?” Marley says with laughter in her voice.

“This is not what I want though. I want it to be different,” I whine.

“That won’t happen until you make it happen. One way or the other you have to make adjustments in your life to fit both of them into it.” Sometimes Marley is the wisest person I know. She is right. I need to figure out this mess that I am in.

“Should Levi and my dad meet?” I really don’t want that to happen, but maybe I should. I like Levi and my parents will not leave me alone until they meet him

“Okay, did you not just say you want to make decisions on your own? Then you need to make up your own mind on this one.” She’s right. The question is: what am I going to do? The door opens and Levi, along with Jere and Andrew, come up to me. Levi’s eyes are drinking me in. It is the first time I can honestly say that he is not looking at anyone, but me.

“Levi,” I whisper, touching his face, pulling him back to reality.

“Sorry, Smarty, but I’ve never seen you with your hair up and such little make-up on,” he whispers back.

“Oh, I spent the day in bed and didn’t feel like getting all done up tonight. Do I look bad?” I touch my face, worried that I look hideous to him.

“Far from it. In fact,” he says as he grabs my hand, “see everyone later.”

“No way, man. You said you were going to hang out with us tonight and play Xbox,” Andrew says.