No Sense of Direction

Chapter Eight

-Katrina-

It was hard watching my parents be lowered into their graves, Chris was crying and I was holding his hand, while Zack stood on the other side of him and had his arm around him. Milan was standing on the other side of me and had his fingers laced with my other hand. I choked back some sobs and I watched as my Uncle Dan placed my dad's old high school hockey jersey on his casket. I bit my lip and leaned into Milan's shoulder and he wrapped his arm me.

When it was over, I could hear people behind us walking away, and my Uncle Dan announced that there was going to be food available at the restaurant that my parents loved to go to.

"I'm gunna go to the car," Milan said and I nodded my head and looked to see that Zach was leading Chris away.

"I'll be there in a minute," I said and he nodded his head.

"Take your time," he said and then kissed my head.

I looked into my parents' opened grave and at their caskets, "I'm sorry I wasn't there always, but I guess it's too late for that. I promise I'll take care of Chris and Zach," I said and then wiped a tear from my eye, "I wish I was there more after I graduated high school, I was too uptight and focused on school. I wanted to make you guys proud and I focused all of my time on school instead of also my family. I won't make that mistake again."

"Katrina."

I turned around and saw Sidney standing there looked at the ground, "Sidney, sorry," I said and then wiped my face.

"No it's all right," he said and then looked at me and that's when I got a good look at the busted lip.

"Oh, I'm so sorry," I said as I reached out to touch his lip, "I didn't-"

"It's no big deal, I've had worse before than a busted lip," he smirked and I laughed a little and shook my head.

"If it makes you feel better, you got him pretty good on the cheek," I said and he laughed a little a nodded his head.

"It does actually," he said and I heard my name called and looked over to see that Zack was calling me.

"I have to-"

"Yeah, me too."

"Are you going to the restaurant?"

"No, the guys and I are going to get some practice in before our game tomorrow against the Devils," he said and I nodded my head.

"Well good luck, I'll be sure to keep track of the game," I said and he smirked and nodded his head, "Bye, Sidney."

"Bye, Katrina."

"It's Kat," I said and then walked away from him heading over towards where Zach and Milan were waiting and I saw Milan glare at Sidney, "Please stop it."

"I don't like him," Milan said as he opened the passenger door. I placed my hand on his chest and he looked at me, "Why did you touch his face?"

"I was looking at the busted lip that you gave him," I said and then looked at him to see that he was still glaring at Sidney, "Stop it! There's nothing to be jealous about," I said and he looked at me and sighed.

"I'm not jealous," he said and I snorted, "I'm not!"

"Sure you're not, sweetie," I said and then reached up and pressed my lips to his cheek, "Let's get going."

-Milan-

'...Unbelievable, does this guy not get the picture?!...' I thought as I watched as Crosby was talking with Kat again.

Zach called her name and Kat looked at him and then started to come over, but turned around and said something to Crosby and he laughed. My fists clenched and I glared at him as I saw Kat walking over.

"Please stop it."

"I don't like him," I said as I opened the passenger door. She placed her hand on my chest and I looked at her, "Why did you touch his face?"

"I was looking at the busted lip that you gave him," she said and I looked back over towards Crosby and glared at him, and saw that he glared right back at me, "Stop it! There's nothing to be jealous about," she said and then I looked back at her and sighed.

"I'm not jealous," I said and she snorted, "I'm not!"

"Sure you're not, sweetie," she said and then reached up and pressed her lips to my cheek, "Let's get going."

I nodded my head and then watched as she got into the car and I closed the door. I looked back over towards Crosby and saw that he had two of his teammates next to him and I smirked towards him, knowing that Kat was coming with me.

"You ready?" Kat asked as she rolled down the window and I nodded my head and walked over towards the driver's side and got in, "You know where you're going?"

"No, but I'll just follow your brother," I said and she nodded her head and I started the car.

We got to the restaurant and I parked the car, we got out and walked into the restaurant and I felt her grab my hand and I smiled down at her. We walked inside the place and then looked for our group.

-Katrina-

Once the dinner was over, I wanted to get home, Zach, Chris and I said goodbye to everyone, and then Milan and I got into our car and he drove back to the house. We walked inside and headed out to my room; I changed into old jeans and a t-shirt, and then threw one of Milan’s Bruins hoodie over it. I looked back to see that he was basically wearing the same thing and then I grabbed his hand and we walked down the stairs.

“Where are you going?” Zach asked as I passed him heading towards the back door.

“Stables,” I answered and he nodded his head.

“You haven’t been there in a long time,” Chris said and I nodded my head and walked out the door.

We walked the path over towards the stables and I opened the door. Mom and dad’s horses were sticking their heads out and I smiled. Milan took a step forward and I held him back, “Watch,” I said and he looked at me. I smiled and then whistled and we both laughed a little when two other horses stuck their heads out, “My babies.”

“They know your whistle?”

“Yup, I haven’t seen them in almost a year,” I said and then walked over towards them.

“When?”

“Two Christmases ago,” I said as I opened the door to Balto’s stall and smiled when he nudged his head against mine.

“Why not this past Christmas?” he asked.

“I was with you, remember? We went on the cruise to the Bahamas,” I said and he smiled and nodded his head, “Fun times,” I laughed and he kissed my neck as I petted Balto’s neck.

“Fun nights too,” he said and I smirked, “Was that the last time you saw them?”

“Yeah,” I said sadly and the regretted my decision for not coming home more.

“Ok, so what do I have to do?” Milan asked, trying to change the subject.

“All right,” I said and then walked Balto back into his stall and closed the door, “This is Lola,” I said and then opened the door and grabbed her harness. Balto neighed and I smiled and placed my hand by his nose, “I’m coming back, don’t worry.”

“I’m going to ride her?” he asked and I nodded my head.

We walked her over towards the center of the stable and hooked the leash to her harness, “We need to brush her down first,” I said and then walked over towards the supply closet and grabbed the brush, “Do you know how to brush a horse?”

“Nope,” he said and I laughed and walked over towards him. I showed him how to brush Lola and then when he was finished I brought Balto out and he did the same, but as Milan start, Balto freaked out, “What’s happening?”

“Sorry, he only let’s me or my parents brush him,” I said and then walked over towards him, “I thought that he might change that, but I guess not.”

“Oh,” he said and then handed the brush to me, “What now?”

“Now we get the saddle,” I said and then walked over towards the empty stall next to Balto that had his and Lola’s saddles and supplies. I picked Lola’s up and then walked over towards Milan, and showed him how to saddle a horse, “Do you know how to ride a horse?”

“I’ve never even been around a horse,” he said and I smiled.

“Don’t be scared, she can smell fear,” I said and he laughed.

“I’m a hockey player, I fear nothing,” he said and I snorted.

“Good to know,” I said and then walked him over to the left side of her, “Now put your left foot here,” I said and he listened, “Hold right here,” he listened, “Pull yourself up.”

Once he was up I saw his eyes widen and I laughed, “Not what I expected, I thought I was tall before. What now?”

“Wait for me,” I said and then walked over towards Balto and placed his saddle on.

“Uh, Kat?” I looked over towards him and saw that Lola was walking away and I laughed, “Pull on her reins!”

“Like this?” he said and pulled and I shook my head.

“Harder!” I said and he did, but Lola took off out of the stalls, “Shit!” I said and then hopped up onto Balto and took off after them.