That Summer
I'm French, That's How We Do Things
*Annabella’s POV*
I was sitting on the couch in my apartment that I shared with my cousin Andrea, making a list of the things I needed to get at the grocery store: eggs, milk, yogurt, protein bars, Gatorade, and tomatoes was what it read. “Easy enough.” I said getting up and heading towards my room to put on my flats. It had been about 3 months since I’d started school and things were going great. I Skyped with Jake and Matt every Saturday night and talked to Gally at least once a week. Things with Katie on the other hand weren't as successful. At first we talked every day and then every few days and then once a week and then once every few weeks until the calls were down to once a month. She was busy with school and her new friends and work and I was busy with school, my old friends, studying, work, and family. We tried to make time for each other but our schedules just never worked out and it made me really sad. She was still my best friend, but I felt us growing apart slowly and I didn't like it, but there was nothing I could do about it right now- finals were in a couple of months and I was working extra hard and studying my ass off to make sure I got the grades I wanted. \
As I was putting my jacket on, I heard my phone start to ring from the kitchen. I assumed it was Andrea telling me when she’d be home or my mom calling to see when I was coming home, but when I looked at the screen Katie’s face was there and I smiled as I answered it.
“Hey stranger.” I said as I pulled a stool out from behind the counter and sat down. “Well damn, someone’s French accent has blossomed.” She said while laughing. “Yeah well I live in a French speaking city with a French speaking family. It’s only natural for the accent to come back- it happens every summer.” I said as I twirled a piece of hair. “So, how have you been? How’s school?” She asked. “Good and good. Busy and I’m working hard because finals are coming up fast, but it’s still good. How about you?” I asked as I closed my eyes because I was exhausted. “I’m good. I’ve been working some extra shifts so I can get time off to go home for Christmas and studying like a maniac.” She said as we both laughed. “So, any boys to tell me about?” She added. “Nah, not really. I went on a few dates but they never turned into anything.” I sighed. “That’s because you’re picky as all hell.” She stated matter-of-factly. “Well how about you then? Any frat boys to spill about?” I retorted. “Well he’s not a frat boy, but I have been seeing a lot of Beau recently.” She said as she giggled. “You whore.” I joked and we both started laughing. We talked for a while longer before she had to go meet some friends and I had to get to the grocery store before Andrea got home.
It was about 7 o’clock when I pulled into the parking lot and it was pretty empty. I walked into the store and grabbed a basket because I only needed a few things. I had gotten about halfway through my list and was looking for the correct protein bars when I heard a voice from behind me, “Annabella?” I turned around to see Brendan standing there with a guy I recognized as PK Subban and another guy I recognized as Max Pacioretti. “Hey Brendan.” I said going over to hug him. “How have you been? I haven’t talked to you in forever.” He said as we pulled away from each other. “I’m good. Studying hard for finals and working a lot, but I’m good. How about you? I’ve been watching and you’re doing quite well this season.” I said winking at him. He blushed before speaking, “Yeah, I try. But I’ve been good, learning how to live with these two.” He said pointing to the guys next to him. “Yes well us guys would like to know who this gorgeous girl is.” Max said while looking me up and down and PK just nodded. “Boys, this is Annabella Lapierre, Annabella, these are-“but I cut him off, “PK Subban and Max Pacioretti. Guess you forgot how big of a hockey fan I am Brendan.” I said laughing at the shocked expressions on their faces as Brendan smiled.
“You’re at Concordia, right?” Brendan asked after we’d both paid and headed outside. Our cars were only a few down from each other so after he and the guys put their stuff in their SUV they came over to my car. “Yup.” I answered simply. “What’s your major?” PK asked. “I’m a pre-med student.” I answered proudly. “Damn… I had you pegged for a theater or cooking kind of girl but a doctor? She’s a keeper Gally.” He answered slapping Brendan on the back. I started laughing and they all looked at me kind of funny. “One of my best friends from back home has the nickname Gally.” I answered. “Oh really?” Max asked seeming interested. “Yup, Brendan you remember Alex, right? You met him at Gabe’s party.” “Oh yeah, I didn’t know that was his nickname. I mean I guess it make sense because his last name is Galchenyuk.” He answered. “Wait, you know Alex Galchenyuk?” PK asked pointing at me. “Yup. He’s been my best friend since my junior year of high school. He played on the hockey team there and I went to every game.” I said proudly remembering how well Gally had done. “Yeah they had a great captain too. Gabe Landeskog- first round draft pick for Colorado this year.” Max added. My eyes got really wide and my breathing hitched a little bit. “You okay Annabella?” Brendan asked looking really concerned. “Yeah, fine.” I had never told Brendan about what happened at Gabe’s or that he and I had ever dated. “Wait if you knew Alex, then you must have known Gabe.” Max piped up. That’s when I started to feel like I was going to cry. “Uh yeah… he’s my ex- boyfriend.” I said looking at the ground.
It got really quiet for a minute and when I looked up Brendan’s eyes got really wide and I figured he must have put two and two together and I just smiled sadly at him. “Well I should get going, I have to make dinner and write a paper, but it was nice meeting you guys and nice seeing you Brendan.” I said giving him and hug and a kiss on each cheek. “You still have my number, right?” I asked as I let go of him. “Yeah, I’ll give you a call and you can come see me play in person instead of watching it on TV.” He said smiling. I was about to get in my car when I heard him ask, “Why two kisses?” I smiled and looked at him, “I’m French, that’s how we do things.”
And then I drove away…
I was sitting on the couch in my apartment that I shared with my cousin Andrea, making a list of the things I needed to get at the grocery store: eggs, milk, yogurt, protein bars, Gatorade, and tomatoes was what it read. “Easy enough.” I said getting up and heading towards my room to put on my flats. It had been about 3 months since I’d started school and things were going great. I Skyped with Jake and Matt every Saturday night and talked to Gally at least once a week. Things with Katie on the other hand weren't as successful. At first we talked every day and then every few days and then once a week and then once every few weeks until the calls were down to once a month. She was busy with school and her new friends and work and I was busy with school, my old friends, studying, work, and family. We tried to make time for each other but our schedules just never worked out and it made me really sad. She was still my best friend, but I felt us growing apart slowly and I didn't like it, but there was nothing I could do about it right now- finals were in a couple of months and I was working extra hard and studying my ass off to make sure I got the grades I wanted. \
As I was putting my jacket on, I heard my phone start to ring from the kitchen. I assumed it was Andrea telling me when she’d be home or my mom calling to see when I was coming home, but when I looked at the screen Katie’s face was there and I smiled as I answered it.
“Hey stranger.” I said as I pulled a stool out from behind the counter and sat down. “Well damn, someone’s French accent has blossomed.” She said while laughing. “Yeah well I live in a French speaking city with a French speaking family. It’s only natural for the accent to come back- it happens every summer.” I said as I twirled a piece of hair. “So, how have you been? How’s school?” She asked. “Good and good. Busy and I’m working hard because finals are coming up fast, but it’s still good. How about you?” I asked as I closed my eyes because I was exhausted. “I’m good. I’ve been working some extra shifts so I can get time off to go home for Christmas and studying like a maniac.” She said as we both laughed. “So, any boys to tell me about?” She added. “Nah, not really. I went on a few dates but they never turned into anything.” I sighed. “That’s because you’re picky as all hell.” She stated matter-of-factly. “Well how about you then? Any frat boys to spill about?” I retorted. “Well he’s not a frat boy, but I have been seeing a lot of Beau recently.” She said as she giggled. “You whore.” I joked and we both started laughing. We talked for a while longer before she had to go meet some friends and I had to get to the grocery store before Andrea got home.
It was about 7 o’clock when I pulled into the parking lot and it was pretty empty. I walked into the store and grabbed a basket because I only needed a few things. I had gotten about halfway through my list and was looking for the correct protein bars when I heard a voice from behind me, “Annabella?” I turned around to see Brendan standing there with a guy I recognized as PK Subban and another guy I recognized as Max Pacioretti. “Hey Brendan.” I said going over to hug him. “How have you been? I haven’t talked to you in forever.” He said as we pulled away from each other. “I’m good. Studying hard for finals and working a lot, but I’m good. How about you? I’ve been watching and you’re doing quite well this season.” I said winking at him. He blushed before speaking, “Yeah, I try. But I’ve been good, learning how to live with these two.” He said pointing to the guys next to him. “Yes well us guys would like to know who this gorgeous girl is.” Max said while looking me up and down and PK just nodded. “Boys, this is Annabella Lapierre, Annabella, these are-“but I cut him off, “PK Subban and Max Pacioretti. Guess you forgot how big of a hockey fan I am Brendan.” I said laughing at the shocked expressions on their faces as Brendan smiled.
“You’re at Concordia, right?” Brendan asked after we’d both paid and headed outside. Our cars were only a few down from each other so after he and the guys put their stuff in their SUV they came over to my car. “Yup.” I answered simply. “What’s your major?” PK asked. “I’m a pre-med student.” I answered proudly. “Damn… I had you pegged for a theater or cooking kind of girl but a doctor? She’s a keeper Gally.” He answered slapping Brendan on the back. I started laughing and they all looked at me kind of funny. “One of my best friends from back home has the nickname Gally.” I answered. “Oh really?” Max asked seeming interested. “Yup, Brendan you remember Alex, right? You met him at Gabe’s party.” “Oh yeah, I didn’t know that was his nickname. I mean I guess it make sense because his last name is Galchenyuk.” He answered. “Wait, you know Alex Galchenyuk?” PK asked pointing at me. “Yup. He’s been my best friend since my junior year of high school. He played on the hockey team there and I went to every game.” I said proudly remembering how well Gally had done. “Yeah they had a great captain too. Gabe Landeskog- first round draft pick for Colorado this year.” Max added. My eyes got really wide and my breathing hitched a little bit. “You okay Annabella?” Brendan asked looking really concerned. “Yeah, fine.” I had never told Brendan about what happened at Gabe’s or that he and I had ever dated. “Wait if you knew Alex, then you must have known Gabe.” Max piped up. That’s when I started to feel like I was going to cry. “Uh yeah… he’s my ex- boyfriend.” I said looking at the ground.
It got really quiet for a minute and when I looked up Brendan’s eyes got really wide and I figured he must have put two and two together and I just smiled sadly at him. “Well I should get going, I have to make dinner and write a paper, but it was nice meeting you guys and nice seeing you Brendan.” I said giving him and hug and a kiss on each cheek. “You still have my number, right?” I asked as I let go of him. “Yeah, I’ll give you a call and you can come see me play in person instead of watching it on TV.” He said smiling. I was about to get in my car when I heard him ask, “Why two kisses?” I smiled and looked at him, “I’m French, that’s how we do things.”
And then I drove away…
@TazerKaner ok, I kinda know the feel (exams are coming up for me too) that's awesome though, I'm excited! :D
5/13/14