Second Chances

Victoria.
“Geno?” I called out as I gently closed the door behind me, I heard him groan from upstairs and rolled my eyes, he was probably still laying in bed like how I left him.
“Come downstairs.” I hollered, I made my way over to the kitchen with the lunch I had gotten for us. I rolled my eyes again as he said no in Russian.
“I have food!” I bribed, I could hear him running down the staircase in a matter of seconds. He flew through the kitchen and opened the box of pizza I had bought.
“Well hello to you too.” I teased as I walked over to him. He slid his arm around to my back and leaned down to give me a quick kiss.
I sat beside him as we ate our pizza in silence, “Did coach say when you can go back?” I asked.
Geno had sat out for a few games after being injured, I knew how upset he was about it and he was so eager to get back on the ice.
“Friday.” He grinned as he devoured his slice of pizza.
“That’s great!” I encouraged, I poked his stomach with my elbow to see him smile again, it was so great to see him finally smiling again.
“Come to practice?” He asked as he pouted hoping I’d say yes.
“No,” I sighed, “I have work soon.” I looked at the time on my phone and realized I’d have to be at work in an hour.
“Next time.” He suggested and went back to eating his pizza; I ate the last bit of my slice and brushed the crumbs off of me.
“I have to go. I’ll see you tonight.” I kissed Geno goodbye before cleaning up the mess I made and leaving his house.
I got in my car and drove towards the music store I worked at, I had originally wanted to be a music journalist but I started spiraling downhill after Geno and I broke up and it just didn’t end up working out. So I guess a music store was the next best thing.
I walked through the door with a smile on my face; I greeted Autumn as she helped a customer check out. She handed the customer her vinyl record and faked a smile. She groaned as the customer walked out the door, she hated working here.
“Did you spend the night at G’s?” She asked as she looked through the new merchandise we had gotten.
“How’d you know?” I asked confused.
“I went over to your place to ask if you needed a ride and you weren’t there.” She explained, she put her hair up into a bun annoyed at the curls getting in her face.
“Faith also told me you weren’t home when they left for New York.” She added.
“It looked better down.” I replied referring to her hair.
“I don’t care.” She brushed past me as she went to stock the new merch. I sat on the stool behind the counter and flipped through a magazine that was left open.
“This is not how I imagined my life would turn out!” Autumn sighed as she continued stocking.
“It’s the price you pay when you move to a new country for a boy.” I pointed out.
“I didn’t move here for Sid!” She defended herself and shot me a glare. I put up my hands in defense and laughed it off.
We dropped the conversation as a customer walked in, we both faked a smile and greeted him, and he smiled and walked over to one of the shelves looking for what he came in here for.
“He’s cute.” Autumn mouthed, I rolled my eyes at her, same old Autumn.

After a long day at work I couldn’t wait to get back to Geno’s and cuddle up to him, I walked through the door using the key I still had from our previous relationship. I called out his name and there was no reply, he must still be at practice, I looked at the time, it was 9pm he should be back by now.
I went up to Geno’s room and grabbed a pair of joggers and a t-shirt to wear; I took a quick shower to pass the time. An hour had passed and I was lying in Geno’s bed waiting for him to come home and join me, I tried calling his phone but it went straight to voicemail.
I was awoken in the middle of the night as I heard a loud crash; I flicked on the lamp on the bedside table to see Geno lying on the floor of his bedroom. I threw the covers off of me and rushed over to him; he rolled over and laughed hysterically.
“Are you drunk!?” I hissed, he shook his head but living with my best friends the smell of alcohol was way too familiar to me.
“Get up!” I spat, I grabbed his hand as I helped him up from the floor, I dropped him onto the bed not being able to carry his weight.
“Come.” He slurred, he grabbed my arm and pushed me onto him kissing me sloppily.
“Geno stop.” I smacked his hand away as it began trailing up my thigh.
“I shouldn’t have to deal with this!” I snapped.
“Then leave!” He shouted as he pushed me off of him. I sat motionless on the bed as Geno said something in Russian. His words were like a blow to the stomach, I got up and walked out of the room frustrated and hurt.
I walked down to the kitchen and got him a glass of water; I leaned against the counter as I took a moment to compose myself. Yelling at him wasn’t going to solve anything, especially since he’s drunk, I could hear him yelling something in Russian from upstairs. I looked at the time, it was almost 3am, his neighbors would definitely be complaining tomorrow morning.
I grabbed the glass of water and walked back to his room, when I got there Geno was passed out, “Great.” I muttered to myself. I set the cup on the nightstand and turned off the lamp, I made my way over to the guest room not wanting to sleep in the same bed as him.
I got under the covers and stared up at the ceiling, how did I get in this mess? This was not how I expected our relationship to turn out. I closed my eyes as I tried to fall back asleep. I tossed and turned as I thought about his words then leave after everything we had to overcome how could he even say those words to me.
I got out of bed and made my way downstairs, I couldn’t even stand to be in the same place as him. I left and got in my car and drove home.
I slammed the door as I walked through my apartment; I almost peed myself as Keirstyn ran at me with a random object in her hand.
“Keirstyn it’s me!” I shrieked as I put my hands up to defend myself. The lights flicked on as Keirstyn stood a few feet away holding a hockey stick in her hand.
“Sorry.” She mumbled.
“What are you doing here?” I asked as I slipped off my jacket and boots.
“Autumn and Sid were a little too loud.” She grimaced. I nodded understanding exactly what she meant.
“Why are you here, I thought you’d be with Geno?” She put the hockey stick down in its original place and sat on a stool as she waited for me to explain.
I sighed before explaining how Geno had came home and what he said to me, she listened carefully to everything I said nodding occasionally so I knew she was still listening. I had to fight back tears as I told her about how Geno told me to leave.
“What an ass!” She hissed, I nodded agreeing with her.
“I’m tired. I’ll talk to you tomorrow morning.” I got up from the stool and walked over to my room. I threw myself onto my bed absolutely exhausted, I fell asleep shortly trying to forget tonight’s events.

Notes