The Assistant
Unexpected Visitor
As soon as Laura stepped into her hotel room, she completely let herself freak. Kicking off her converse she hopped on her bed and pulled out her phone. Fingers flying over her Iphone’s keyboard, she sent Mai a lengthy text full of lots of exclamation marks telling her what had happened at the rink. Shortly after Mai replied.
“R u serious!”
“You think I can make that up?”
“Dude this is amazing! Ur dreams r coming true!”
“You don’t think I realize!?I’m freaking out, what do I do?”
Laura could still feel her heart racing though the moment between her and Patrick had long passed. “Oh jeez, hopefully I wasn’t a complete idiot,” she thought, recalling the short conversation in her head. Mai replied.
“Callllllllllllllllllllllllll!”
“I just got here. And it’s a little soon don’t you think?”
“True. Don’t want him thinking you’re a clingy freak right?”
“I gotta go, but remember to invite me to the wedding ;)”
Laura shook her head a smiled. Flipping through her songs she settled on a favourite. Demons by the Imagine Dragons started playing. Putting her phone down on the creamy white sheets of the bed, she leaned back onto the pillows behind her and looked up at the speckled white ceiling. “What am I doing? Maybe this isn’t a good idea. What are Mom and Dad gonna think if this becomes a thing between us? Why am I thinking about a thing?! There’s nothing! There never will be.” Thought after thought popped into Laura’s mind. As hard as she tried to push it all out and clear her head, it failed. Unable to lie down, she got up and began to pace the room. She was such an awkward loser. How was she even supposed to start the conversation when she called to hang out? He was going to regret having any interest in her. All of Laura’s negativity soon began to take effect when she realized just how sweaty her palms were getting. While she was still pacing like a maniac, her phone began to ring on the bed. The infamous Chelsea Dagger (at least among Blackhawks), began playing. Laura wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans and reached for her phone. She checked h screen and sure enough, it was Sidney.
“Hey girl!” Laura chimed answering the call.
“What happened to we don’t keep secrets?” Sidney demanded.
“So much for hey girl hey,” Laura scoffed.
“Answer my question.” Sidney persisted.
Laura sighed, rubbing her temple with her free hand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, honestly.”
“It’s good to know that at least Mai keeps me informed. I would’ve never heard about you being asked out, would I?” Sidney said anger clear in her voice.
“Laura was baffled, “What are you – how do you, what!?”
Sidney blew out a breath. “Don’t be coy with me Laur. Mai sent me a text explaining everything. And to think I went to the trouble of ....” Laura couldn’t make out the last bit since Sidney was grumbling so much. It also shocked Laura just how fast Mai had sent all that over to Sidney. And why was her life such a big deal to everyone suddenly?
“Sidney, where are you?”
“What did you say was the name of the hotel you’re at?” Sidney asked.
“Uh, the Millennium Hotel. Why?” She could hear another voice in the background, but before she could ask questions, Sidney cut her off.
“Go down to the lobby. There’s something you need to see.” Sidney ordered before disconnecting the call. Groaning Laura sought out her converse again and headed out.
The elevator dinged to let her know they had arrived at the lobby. Stepping out, Laura saw the lobby was still bustling as it had been the day before. What was there to see? Laura walked round aimlessly for the next little while before pair of hands were on her shoulders out of nowhere. She jumped a little bit at the sudden contact and turned to see a very familiar, very smug, face. “Really? You were the surprise?” Laura said, quite amused with the effort.
“Girl, who turns down a trip to hang with their best cousin,” Sidney smiled. Shaking her head, Laura laughed. “I just called you yesterday. How did you drop everything and just come here?” Sidney pursed her lips. “Please. I was at home bored put of my mind. I’ve got all week to work on assignments I already finished so University won’t be a problem. Plus there’s a long weekend coming up this Friday. And of course because I love youuuu!” Sidney cooed, pinching Laura’s cheeks.
“Ow, stop man!” Laura grimaced, pushing Sidney’s hands out of her face. Sidney had a habit of doing this to Laura in public. Ever since they were in middle school. Sidney smiled, satisfied with being embarrassing. She handed Laura one of her bags. “Well, I’m not going to carry these around all day. To your room peasant!”
Once they had reached Laura’s room, Sidney dropped everything and announced she needed a shower. That left Laura lounging around the room doing various nothings. Finally after half an hour Sidney emerged from the bathroom in a big gray sweater and black leggings, looking deep in thought.
“Remember when you first got this whole Kane fever?” She asked plopping down on her own bed.
Laura giggled. “Kane fever. Yeah I do. What about it?
“I did my own research on the guy. To see what he did, what he was like, right?”
“Uh-huh,” Laura nodded.
Sidney held up a finger. Her silent way of telling Laura to hold on. She had pulled out her own laptop and was looking something up. Laura put down the book she had been reading and moved to sit next to Sidney to see what she was up to.
“Well, I looked him up and did you know he actually bea-”
“Yeah, I do know. Everyone does.” Laura cut her off, not wanting to hear the story all over again.
“What about this, huh? Do you see these pictures Laura? Since when were you into party animals?” Sidney questioned.
“Laura furrowed her brow. “Since when did you become so judgemental?” She shot back.
“I’m just saying. But hey, the dude’s not hard on the eyes, huh?” Sidney said elbowing Laura in the side.
“Yeah, that’s all you see,” Laura whispered under her breath. Sidney seemed indifferent to her remark.
“So, what are our plans for tomorrow?” Sidney questioned, shutting off her laptop.
“I wasn’t expecting you to be here, so nothing at the moment. We could just walk around and see the city you know? Unless there’s more surprises that come with winning the trip here.” Laura replied.
“Can we at least go out and eat? Airplane food is not a favourite of mine.”
“No-one likes airplane food!” Laura smiled shoving Sidney as she got up. “We can head out in a bit. Just let me go shower first.”
Sidney and Laura had both found a Burger King and decide to eat there since it was the most familiar. The food was great, and when they finally agreed they couldn’t eat another bite, they decided to head back to the hotel. After they had arrived at the room, they both changed into their pyjamas and headed to bed. But, like every sleep over they had ever had together, they ended up talking about the most random things until one of them fell asleep. And this time it was Sidney who was out first. While she snored peacefully, Laura lay on her bed thinking. She recalled her conversation with Clint that morning. He had said something about holding her to her word. What did that mean? But her interest in that didn’t last soon as her eyes began to get droopy. She prayed for a good night’s rest and with a final yawn, she fell asleep.
“R u serious!”
“You think I can make that up?”
“Dude this is amazing! Ur dreams r coming true!”
“You don’t think I realize!?I’m freaking out, what do I do?”
Laura could still feel her heart racing though the moment between her and Patrick had long passed. “Oh jeez, hopefully I wasn’t a complete idiot,” she thought, recalling the short conversation in her head. Mai replied.
“Callllllllllllllllllllllllll!”
“I just got here. And it’s a little soon don’t you think?”
“True. Don’t want him thinking you’re a clingy freak right?”
“I gotta go, but remember to invite me to the wedding ;)”
Laura shook her head a smiled. Flipping through her songs she settled on a favourite. Demons by the Imagine Dragons started playing. Putting her phone down on the creamy white sheets of the bed, she leaned back onto the pillows behind her and looked up at the speckled white ceiling. “What am I doing? Maybe this isn’t a good idea. What are Mom and Dad gonna think if this becomes a thing between us? Why am I thinking about a thing?! There’s nothing! There never will be.” Thought after thought popped into Laura’s mind. As hard as she tried to push it all out and clear her head, it failed. Unable to lie down, she got up and began to pace the room. She was such an awkward loser. How was she even supposed to start the conversation when she called to hang out? He was going to regret having any interest in her. All of Laura’s negativity soon began to take effect when she realized just how sweaty her palms were getting. While she was still pacing like a maniac, her phone began to ring on the bed. The infamous Chelsea Dagger (at least among Blackhawks), began playing. Laura wiped her sweaty hands on her jeans and reached for her phone. She checked h screen and sure enough, it was Sidney.
“Hey girl!” Laura chimed answering the call.
“What happened to we don’t keep secrets?” Sidney demanded.
“So much for hey girl hey,” Laura scoffed.
“Answer my question.” Sidney persisted.
Laura sighed, rubbing her temple with her free hand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about, honestly.”
“It’s good to know that at least Mai keeps me informed. I would’ve never heard about you being asked out, would I?” Sidney said anger clear in her voice.
“Laura was baffled, “What are you – how do you, what!?”
Sidney blew out a breath. “Don’t be coy with me Laur. Mai sent me a text explaining everything. And to think I went to the trouble of ....” Laura couldn’t make out the last bit since Sidney was grumbling so much. It also shocked Laura just how fast Mai had sent all that over to Sidney. And why was her life such a big deal to everyone suddenly?
“Sidney, where are you?”
“What did you say was the name of the hotel you’re at?” Sidney asked.
“Uh, the Millennium Hotel. Why?” She could hear another voice in the background, but before she could ask questions, Sidney cut her off.
“Go down to the lobby. There’s something you need to see.” Sidney ordered before disconnecting the call. Groaning Laura sought out her converse again and headed out.
The elevator dinged to let her know they had arrived at the lobby. Stepping out, Laura saw the lobby was still bustling as it had been the day before. What was there to see? Laura walked round aimlessly for the next little while before pair of hands were on her shoulders out of nowhere. She jumped a little bit at the sudden contact and turned to see a very familiar, very smug, face. “Really? You were the surprise?” Laura said, quite amused with the effort.
“Girl, who turns down a trip to hang with their best cousin,” Sidney smiled. Shaking her head, Laura laughed. “I just called you yesterday. How did you drop everything and just come here?” Sidney pursed her lips. “Please. I was at home bored put of my mind. I’ve got all week to work on assignments I already finished so University won’t be a problem. Plus there’s a long weekend coming up this Friday. And of course because I love youuuu!” Sidney cooed, pinching Laura’s cheeks.
“Ow, stop man!” Laura grimaced, pushing Sidney’s hands out of her face. Sidney had a habit of doing this to Laura in public. Ever since they were in middle school. Sidney smiled, satisfied with being embarrassing. She handed Laura one of her bags. “Well, I’m not going to carry these around all day. To your room peasant!”
Once they had reached Laura’s room, Sidney dropped everything and announced she needed a shower. That left Laura lounging around the room doing various nothings. Finally after half an hour Sidney emerged from the bathroom in a big gray sweater and black leggings, looking deep in thought.
“Remember when you first got this whole Kane fever?” She asked plopping down on her own bed.
Laura giggled. “Kane fever. Yeah I do. What about it?
“I did my own research on the guy. To see what he did, what he was like, right?”
“Uh-huh,” Laura nodded.
Sidney held up a finger. Her silent way of telling Laura to hold on. She had pulled out her own laptop and was looking something up. Laura put down the book she had been reading and moved to sit next to Sidney to see what she was up to.
“Well, I looked him up and did you know he actually bea-”
“Yeah, I do know. Everyone does.” Laura cut her off, not wanting to hear the story all over again.
“What about this, huh? Do you see these pictures Laura? Since when were you into party animals?” Sidney questioned.
“Laura furrowed her brow. “Since when did you become so judgemental?” She shot back.
“I’m just saying. But hey, the dude’s not hard on the eyes, huh?” Sidney said elbowing Laura in the side.
“Yeah, that’s all you see,” Laura whispered under her breath. Sidney seemed indifferent to her remark.
“So, what are our plans for tomorrow?” Sidney questioned, shutting off her laptop.
“I wasn’t expecting you to be here, so nothing at the moment. We could just walk around and see the city you know? Unless there’s more surprises that come with winning the trip here.” Laura replied.
“Can we at least go out and eat? Airplane food is not a favourite of mine.”
“No-one likes airplane food!” Laura smiled shoving Sidney as she got up. “We can head out in a bit. Just let me go shower first.”
Sidney and Laura had both found a Burger King and decide to eat there since it was the most familiar. The food was great, and when they finally agreed they couldn’t eat another bite, they decided to head back to the hotel. After they had arrived at the room, they both changed into their pyjamas and headed to bed. But, like every sleep over they had ever had together, they ended up talking about the most random things until one of them fell asleep. And this time it was Sidney who was out first. While she snored peacefully, Laura lay on her bed thinking. She recalled her conversation with Clint that morning. He had said something about holding her to her word. What did that mean? But her interest in that didn’t last soon as her eyes began to get droopy. She prayed for a good night’s rest and with a final yawn, she fell asleep.
9/20/13