That Summer
Changing Routines
*Annabella’s POV*
One month… that was how much of the school year was left. I couldn't believe it had been almost a year since I started at Bryerwood. It wasn't easy at first, but I guess people realized I wasn't my siblings- I wasn't going to ruin anything for them. They started to let up, like me even, around January and things were better from there. As more time passed, my circle of friends grew, but I never forgot the ones from the beginning. Katie was my best friend and one of the main reasons I survived this year and I can’t forget the hockey team. They had all become like my brothers and now every day when I get home there were protein cookies on the counter and very tall boys in my kitchen. Jake had come home while they were there one day for a surprise visit and the team welcomed him with open arms, forgetting about what had been said and focusing on the fact that one of their own had made it to the big leagues… it gave them hope. Overall, this year had turned out great but there were two big events left- prom and the hockey championships.
It was Friday night and Katie and I were at my house getting ready to leave for the game. Not only had a gained so many friends from the hockey team, but Katie had too. Just like I’d become especially close with Gabe, she’d become especially close with Alex. “You ready to go Bella?” Katie asked me from the doorway to my bedroom. She was the only one who ever called me that but I liked it. “Yea one sec.” I said as I threw my hair up in a ponytail. We got in my car and headed to the rink.
17 seconds left in the third period and the score is tied at one. If Caraway wins the faceoff, it’s a sure thing that he’ll pass back to Landeskog to try and get a goal. That was what people at home watching the championship game heard as the final seconds of the period ticked down. Katie was rocking back and forth and had a look of panic on her face and I couldn't sit still. I saw the shot but didn't believe it… then the buzzer rang and the rink erupted… we’d won the championships.
“You won!” I yelled as I reached Matt. Being captain and winning the championships was really important to Matt and you could see the happiness in his face and his eyes as he skated around, hugging his loved ones and friends. It was a feeling I’d seen in my brother and it was a feeling I know I’d see next year when Gabe was captain. The next person I found was Gally. “Gally!” I yelled as he lifted me off the ice and spun me around. “You were amazing.” I said once he finally put me down. “Well thank you. I mean it’s not like I couldn't hear you and Katie screaming or anything.” He joked as we both let out a laugh. “Just wanted to make sure you knew we were here.” I answered. “Oh believe me, everyone in the rink knows you guys are here.” He joked as I lightly punched him in the arm. Katie came over shortly after that and I left them to talk and go find Gabe. “There’s my superstar.” I said once I found him. He turned around and smiled at me then lifted me off and spun me around in a hug just like Gally had done. “Hey Annabella.” Gabe’s sister said as she came over with his parents and we all exchanged hugs.
After a few minutes of talking Gabe pulled me out into the middle of the ice where the team had made a little circle. “Oh my god what are you guys gonna do to me? Please tell me Jordan isn't gonna ‘sweep me off my feet’ and kidnap me or something.” I laughed as I looked at Jordan who was pretending to be mad at me but was failing miserably. “No not quite princess. I’ll save that for another time.” He joked as he winked at me. I soon realized Gabe and I were standing in the middle of the circle and people were looking at us. “Um…” I started but then Gabe started talking into a microphone that had been given to him. “Annabella Lapierre, you’re my best friend and although I know Jordan wants to take you, I’d like to know if you would do me the honor of being my prom date.” He said as I stood there kind of shocked. “Well sure.” I said laughing. With that we hugged and the team clapped.
After another half hour we all headed home, Matt coming to my house for celebration dinner along with his family. Jake called at one point and talked to Matt for quite some time and then talked to me for a few minutes before having to leave because they had a flight early the next morning. The rest of the night was filled with laughs, good food, protein cookies, and memories. The draft was coming up next week and that was the night Matt told everyone he had been invited and we all couldn't believe it. That had been his dream for as long as I had known him and now, just like Jake, he was getting what he had worked for his whole life.
-Prom night-
Prom night… The one night of the year where girls try and look as good as they are going to look on their wedding day. A day that is spent pampering yourself and getting ready. A day that you look back on years from now and remember the good times you had in high school. The one night where everyone comes together under one roof and has the time of their lives. It was 7 o’clock when Gabe and Alex came to pick up me and Katie from my house. We had dinner reservations before prom which started at 8:30, but we didn't leave until 7:30 because our moms insisted on taking 5 million pictures before we left. After dinner we headed to prom and had our pictures taken and then listened to conversations with our friends, danced the night away, and finally the moment everyone was waiting for came- prom king and queen. To no one’s surprise Matt and his girlfriend Sasha won- everyone knew they would. “You know, that’s me and you next year.” Gabe whispered to me as everyone watched them have their dance. I blushed a little bit. It was no secret I liked Gabe and that he liked me too. Katie, Alex, and Matt were constantly asking me why we weren't together and I just said because… truth was, I had no idea. Another hour passed and then we headed out.
Instead of heading home though, Gabe took me somewhere special- the place I had taken him that first day after practice- the ledge overlooking the water. I walked over towards the edge and just stared out at the water and shortly after Gabe walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist- something he did a lot, but I still loved it. We stood like that for a few minutes more before he turned me to face him and looked kind of nervous. “What’s wrong?” I asked as he bit his lip. Damn it drove me crazy when he did that. “Um… I was… Annabella I really like you and I was wondering if you’d be my girlfriend.” It all fell out of his mouth very fast and I wasn’t sure if I’d heard it right and I couldn’t believe it. “Damn Landeskog, I thought you’d never ask.” I said smiling and slapping his arm lightly. After that he drove me home and walked me up to my door since it was a little after midnight. Whenever Gabe would walk me to my door he would always give me a kiss on the cheek, but tonight the routine changed and from then on it would be a kiss on the lips and not the cheek. I mean, I was Gabe’s girlfriend now…
One month… that was how much of the school year was left. I couldn't believe it had been almost a year since I started at Bryerwood. It wasn't easy at first, but I guess people realized I wasn't my siblings- I wasn't going to ruin anything for them. They started to let up, like me even, around January and things were better from there. As more time passed, my circle of friends grew, but I never forgot the ones from the beginning. Katie was my best friend and one of the main reasons I survived this year and I can’t forget the hockey team. They had all become like my brothers and now every day when I get home there were protein cookies on the counter and very tall boys in my kitchen. Jake had come home while they were there one day for a surprise visit and the team welcomed him with open arms, forgetting about what had been said and focusing on the fact that one of their own had made it to the big leagues… it gave them hope. Overall, this year had turned out great but there were two big events left- prom and the hockey championships.
It was Friday night and Katie and I were at my house getting ready to leave for the game. Not only had a gained so many friends from the hockey team, but Katie had too. Just like I’d become especially close with Gabe, she’d become especially close with Alex. “You ready to go Bella?” Katie asked me from the doorway to my bedroom. She was the only one who ever called me that but I liked it. “Yea one sec.” I said as I threw my hair up in a ponytail. We got in my car and headed to the rink.
17 seconds left in the third period and the score is tied at one. If Caraway wins the faceoff, it’s a sure thing that he’ll pass back to Landeskog to try and get a goal. That was what people at home watching the championship game heard as the final seconds of the period ticked down. Katie was rocking back and forth and had a look of panic on her face and I couldn't sit still. I saw the shot but didn't believe it… then the buzzer rang and the rink erupted… we’d won the championships.
“You won!” I yelled as I reached Matt. Being captain and winning the championships was really important to Matt and you could see the happiness in his face and his eyes as he skated around, hugging his loved ones and friends. It was a feeling I’d seen in my brother and it was a feeling I know I’d see next year when Gabe was captain. The next person I found was Gally. “Gally!” I yelled as he lifted me off the ice and spun me around. “You were amazing.” I said once he finally put me down. “Well thank you. I mean it’s not like I couldn't hear you and Katie screaming or anything.” He joked as we both let out a laugh. “Just wanted to make sure you knew we were here.” I answered. “Oh believe me, everyone in the rink knows you guys are here.” He joked as I lightly punched him in the arm. Katie came over shortly after that and I left them to talk and go find Gabe. “There’s my superstar.” I said once I found him. He turned around and smiled at me then lifted me off and spun me around in a hug just like Gally had done. “Hey Annabella.” Gabe’s sister said as she came over with his parents and we all exchanged hugs.
After a few minutes of talking Gabe pulled me out into the middle of the ice where the team had made a little circle. “Oh my god what are you guys gonna do to me? Please tell me Jordan isn't gonna ‘sweep me off my feet’ and kidnap me or something.” I laughed as I looked at Jordan who was pretending to be mad at me but was failing miserably. “No not quite princess. I’ll save that for another time.” He joked as he winked at me. I soon realized Gabe and I were standing in the middle of the circle and people were looking at us. “Um…” I started but then Gabe started talking into a microphone that had been given to him. “Annabella Lapierre, you’re my best friend and although I know Jordan wants to take you, I’d like to know if you would do me the honor of being my prom date.” He said as I stood there kind of shocked. “Well sure.” I said laughing. With that we hugged and the team clapped.
After another half hour we all headed home, Matt coming to my house for celebration dinner along with his family. Jake called at one point and talked to Matt for quite some time and then talked to me for a few minutes before having to leave because they had a flight early the next morning. The rest of the night was filled with laughs, good food, protein cookies, and memories. The draft was coming up next week and that was the night Matt told everyone he had been invited and we all couldn't believe it. That had been his dream for as long as I had known him and now, just like Jake, he was getting what he had worked for his whole life.
-Prom night-
Prom night… The one night of the year where girls try and look as good as they are going to look on their wedding day. A day that is spent pampering yourself and getting ready. A day that you look back on years from now and remember the good times you had in high school. The one night where everyone comes together under one roof and has the time of their lives. It was 7 o’clock when Gabe and Alex came to pick up me and Katie from my house. We had dinner reservations before prom which started at 8:30, but we didn't leave until 7:30 because our moms insisted on taking 5 million pictures before we left. After dinner we headed to prom and had our pictures taken and then listened to conversations with our friends, danced the night away, and finally the moment everyone was waiting for came- prom king and queen. To no one’s surprise Matt and his girlfriend Sasha won- everyone knew they would. “You know, that’s me and you next year.” Gabe whispered to me as everyone watched them have their dance. I blushed a little bit. It was no secret I liked Gabe and that he liked me too. Katie, Alex, and Matt were constantly asking me why we weren't together and I just said because… truth was, I had no idea. Another hour passed and then we headed out.
Instead of heading home though, Gabe took me somewhere special- the place I had taken him that first day after practice- the ledge overlooking the water. I walked over towards the edge and just stared out at the water and shortly after Gabe walked up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist- something he did a lot, but I still loved it. We stood like that for a few minutes more before he turned me to face him and looked kind of nervous. “What’s wrong?” I asked as he bit his lip. Damn it drove me crazy when he did that. “Um… I was… Annabella I really like you and I was wondering if you’d be my girlfriend.” It all fell out of his mouth very fast and I wasn’t sure if I’d heard it right and I couldn’t believe it. “Damn Landeskog, I thought you’d never ask.” I said smiling and slapping his arm lightly. After that he drove me home and walked me up to my door since it was a little after midnight. Whenever Gabe would walk me to my door he would always give me a kiss on the cheek, but tonight the routine changed and from then on it would be a kiss on the lips and not the cheek. I mean, I was Gabe’s girlfriend now…
@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