On The Way Down (Brandon Saad)
Chapter Three
Fast Forward
While stuffing my face with nachos I received a hard jab from my mom.
“You could at least act like I’ve fed you in the past 24 hours”
I grunted and licked the salt off my fingers and shook the crumbs off my Blackhawks jersey. I sat up straight in my seat showing off the number 88 to the people sitting behind me.
“Oh! I can’t wait till they start!” Alex was giddy next to me and I chuckled at his enthusiasm.
We shelled out enough dough to buy glass seats at the Blackhawks home opener against the Capitals. Aunt Bez and Alex also flew in to Chicago to join us in the excitement. It’s been about 2 months since the incident with Mr. Saad.
It’s safe to say it has crossed my mind more than once, try more like every day.
I felt my phone vibrate and looked down at the screen, illuminating my wallpaper; the picture of Brandon’s arms wrapped around me and my mother, with an extra happy Alex.
A new text from Vanessa
Did you finish that never ending lab?
Ugh. School was the last thing I wanted to think about at this hockey game. I started my first semester as a college freshman at UIC this fall. The physical therapy program was intense, but I loved it. Vanessa was my roommate of the apartment we shared downtown, she also was in the ‘vicious cutthroat program’ as she liked to call it.
After the opening ceremonies and after a LOT of chills, the game was undergo. My eyes kept traveling to number 20 on the ice who was skating on a line with Sharpie. A stupid silly grin spread on my face when I watched him stick handle and pass the puck to Sharp who was in the perfect position to shoot it into the net.
As the puck found the back of the net the United Center exploded in cheers. We pounded on the glass and I worried Alex was going to go into cardiac arrest based on the way he was slamming onto the glass with excitement.
I threw my head back in laughter as Saad tackled Sharp into the glass right in front of us. My brown waves now reaching way down my back, swayed with happiness. Alex waved furiously hoping to catch Brandon’s attention. I don’t know how, but his attempt was successful.
Brandon grinned at the young hockey fan behind the glass, causing Alex to squeal like a girl.
“He remembers me!” Alex shrieked poking me repeatedly
Then Brandon untangled himself from the victory hug taking place as Chelsea Dagger boomed through the UC. His eyes were now on me. My breath hitched as he replaced his grin with a smirk pointing at my jersey which clearly supported the curly haired blond boy that was next to him who had a grin to match mine. I shrugged with a smile on my face before he was pulled away by his linemates.
My cheeks had a pink tint as we settled back into our seats. I looked over at my family and Aunt Bez gave me a knowing look. I scowled and went back to watching the game. My beloved Hawks won 3-1.
Another encounter with The Manchild left me happier than ever.
The week went back to normal and I was back in my apartment downtown with Vanessa. I was pacing on our kitchen floor as she watched me eating from a tub of ice cream.
“You have to do it” She demanded her blond curly hair up in a messy bun.
I had finally gotten an opportunity to achieve my goal.
I had an internship at the Chicago Blackhawks organization. I was going to help their main physical therapist there to get credit hours for my degree in Physical Therapy. But I was having serious second thoughts.
“Vanessa I don’t know. I just don’t know if I can!” I shrieked flailing my arms around.
“Think about Jake.” Narrowing her hazel eyes.
I sighed and sat down next to her as she offered me another spoon. She was right, my brother would want me to do this.
I guess I was doing this. I had a meeting with the head athletic trainer there today to discuss the internship.
I trudged out of the kitchen and hit the shower. Drying my hair with a towel I looked at myself in the mirror.
“Alright Riley. You need to be optimistic about this. Jake would want this.” I spoke to myself quietly and as on cue I felt the reassurance I got from my brother. I heard his soft voice in my head telling me to go for it.
I smiled as I applied my make up for the day and skipped to my room to pull out a gray cotton short sleeved dress. It hit above the knee and I paired it with my black and white, tribal flats.My long brown waves cascading down my body in a half up- half down look.
“Bye Vanessa!” I yelled before I grabbed my bag and slammed the door shut behind me.
It was time to meet some important people, and possibly some rambunctious hockey players.
While stuffing my face with nachos I received a hard jab from my mom.
“You could at least act like I’ve fed you in the past 24 hours”
I grunted and licked the salt off my fingers and shook the crumbs off my Blackhawks jersey. I sat up straight in my seat showing off the number 88 to the people sitting behind me.
“Oh! I can’t wait till they start!” Alex was giddy next to me and I chuckled at his enthusiasm.
We shelled out enough dough to buy glass seats at the Blackhawks home opener against the Capitals. Aunt Bez and Alex also flew in to Chicago to join us in the excitement. It’s been about 2 months since the incident with Mr. Saad.
It’s safe to say it has crossed my mind more than once, try more like every day.
I felt my phone vibrate and looked down at the screen, illuminating my wallpaper; the picture of Brandon’s arms wrapped around me and my mother, with an extra happy Alex.
A new text from Vanessa
Did you finish that never ending lab?
Ugh. School was the last thing I wanted to think about at this hockey game. I started my first semester as a college freshman at UIC this fall. The physical therapy program was intense, but I loved it. Vanessa was my roommate of the apartment we shared downtown, she also was in the ‘vicious cutthroat program’ as she liked to call it.
After the opening ceremonies and after a LOT of chills, the game was undergo. My eyes kept traveling to number 20 on the ice who was skating on a line with Sharpie. A stupid silly grin spread on my face when I watched him stick handle and pass the puck to Sharp who was in the perfect position to shoot it into the net.
As the puck found the back of the net the United Center exploded in cheers. We pounded on the glass and I worried Alex was going to go into cardiac arrest based on the way he was slamming onto the glass with excitement.
I threw my head back in laughter as Saad tackled Sharp into the glass right in front of us. My brown waves now reaching way down my back, swayed with happiness. Alex waved furiously hoping to catch Brandon’s attention. I don’t know how, but his attempt was successful.
Brandon grinned at the young hockey fan behind the glass, causing Alex to squeal like a girl.
“He remembers me!” Alex shrieked poking me repeatedly
Then Brandon untangled himself from the victory hug taking place as Chelsea Dagger boomed through the UC. His eyes were now on me. My breath hitched as he replaced his grin with a smirk pointing at my jersey which clearly supported the curly haired blond boy that was next to him who had a grin to match mine. I shrugged with a smile on my face before he was pulled away by his linemates.
My cheeks had a pink tint as we settled back into our seats. I looked over at my family and Aunt Bez gave me a knowing look. I scowled and went back to watching the game. My beloved Hawks won 3-1.
Another encounter with The Manchild left me happier than ever.
The week went back to normal and I was back in my apartment downtown with Vanessa. I was pacing on our kitchen floor as she watched me eating from a tub of ice cream.
“You have to do it” She demanded her blond curly hair up in a messy bun.
I had finally gotten an opportunity to achieve my goal.
I had an internship at the Chicago Blackhawks organization. I was going to help their main physical therapist there to get credit hours for my degree in Physical Therapy. But I was having serious second thoughts.
“Vanessa I don’t know. I just don’t know if I can!” I shrieked flailing my arms around.
“Think about Jake.” Narrowing her hazel eyes.
I sighed and sat down next to her as she offered me another spoon. She was right, my brother would want me to do this.
I guess I was doing this. I had a meeting with the head athletic trainer there today to discuss the internship.
I trudged out of the kitchen and hit the shower. Drying my hair with a towel I looked at myself in the mirror.
“Alright Riley. You need to be optimistic about this. Jake would want this.” I spoke to myself quietly and as on cue I felt the reassurance I got from my brother. I heard his soft voice in my head telling me to go for it.
I smiled as I applied my make up for the day and skipped to my room to pull out a gray cotton short sleeved dress. It hit above the knee and I paired it with my black and white, tribal flats.My long brown waves cascading down my body in a half up- half down look.
“Bye Vanessa!” I yelled before I grabbed my bag and slammed the door shut behind me.
It was time to meet some important people, and possibly some rambunctious hockey players.
Will you be updating soon?:)
4/13/14