Cold As Ice

Ariel got out of the driver’s seat and shut her car door, she leaned against the side of her car as she looked up at the Wells Fargo Centre, she took a deep breath as she waited for the others to join her side.
“What’s up with you?” Violet asked noticing that Ariel hadn’t really been herself during the days leading up to this trip.
“I’m just worried about Fiona; she hasn’t text me since she left for Montreal.” Ariel lied.
She was worried about Fiona; she would be in a whole new city with no one by her side, Fiona had grown up with Ariel and Kayla, it had always been just the three of them helping each other through everything, but now Fiona was gone. Although Ariel was extremely upset over Fiona moving away, that was not what was bothering her.
Violet nodded her head, even though she knew Ariel was lying, she didn’t want to pry into Ariel’s business. When she was ready she’d confide in her friends and they’d be there for her. Ariel held her jacket close to her body as the cold Philly air started to kick in, she chewed on her bottom lip as she thought about what she’d say to Sidney.
She had thought about the moment she finally saw him again during the whole car ride, she made up scenarios trying to prepare herself, but really anything could happen. Ariel was nervous about seeing him, they hadn’t talked much since the last time she saw him which worried her considering Geno and Beau hadn’t stopped talking to Vi, and Kay since the day they met.
“Let’s go?” Kayla asked breaking the silence; Ariel nodded her head and followed after Kayla, they walked towards the back entrance where Beau had told them to meet him, Kayla got out her phone sending him a text letting him know they had arrived.
As the girls reached the back entrance they noticed Beau had been waiting for them, he held the door open with his foot as he talked to someone standing behind it. Beau’s eyes lit up as they saw Kayla, she smiled once she saw him, he let go of the door and immediately walked up to her, he engulfed her in a tight hug.
Ariel and Violet stood awkwardly as Beau and Kayla hugged and talked about how good it was to see each other again, the door swung open grabbing their attention. Out walked Sidney making Ariel’s stomach knot, she smiled at him as he walked over to the two of them saying hello to Violet first.
They talked about the long car ride here, what they had been doing and how they passed the time, Sidney noticed how quiet and distant Ariel was. He watched as she faked smiles to fool everyone into thinking she was actually interested in what was going on, she looked up and caught him staring but he didn’t look away.
“What?” Ariel spat fed up with Sidney staring at her the whole time, all eyes were on the both of them.
“Excuse us.” Sidney spoke, he grabbed Ariel’s arm and gently pulled her away from the group.
“What do you want?” She hissed, she crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.
“Are you mad at me?” He asked.
“No, are you mad at me?” She asked.
Sidney chuckled, “Why on earth would I ever be mad at you?”
Ariel shrugged her shoulders, “You haven’t really spoken to me since New York.” She mumbled.
Sidney sighed, he awkwardly scratched the back of his neck, “I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that.”
Ariel recrossed her arms, “So let’s hear it, what excuse is it this time; it’s not me it’s you? Or is it you’re not ready for a relationship? No, I got it, it’s the we should just be friends excuse.”
“It’s not like that with you Ariel, I like you a lot but I can’t balance a relationship with a career like mine.” He explained.
“Save the bullshit Sid!” She spat, “Beau and Geno seem to be handling everything just fine, and Jonathan and Patrick are handling it too, not to mention the fact that many men in the league are in relationships. So what makes Sidney Crosby so different?”
“I’m Sidney Crosby, I need to be the best, I need to be in it 100 percent, I can’t get distracted with girls. There are people waiting for me to screw up, to prove I’m not as good as everyone thinks I am, and I can’t give them a reason to doubt me!” He explained.
“There will always be people who doubt you Sid, but you can’t let them stop you from living your life. Just don’t give me any childish excuses for why you’ve been ignoring me; you want to focus on your career that’s fine just don’t lead me on.” She hissed.
“Ariel I’m not leading you on, I really do like you!” He admitted, Ariel scoffed, she had heard all these lies and excuses plenty of times before, she rolled her eyes before walking back to her friends.
She smiled as she realized Evgeni had joined them, she said a quick hello before she got out her phone and sent a text to Kenzie asking if her and Sam had arrived safely in Chicago. She looked around awkwardly as she waited for a response, Beau and Kayla were in their own little world talking about God knows what, and Ariel didn’t want to interrupt the conversation going on between Geno, Sid, and Violet.
Ariel frowned as she watched the way Geno interacted with Violet, he constantly had his hand in hers or his arm wrapped around her, it was clear to anyone who saw them that she was his, and that he wasn’t afraid to show it.
She looked over at Beau and Kayla and frowned again, Beau and Kayla were the couple everyone wishes they were. Every girl wishes to have a boy look at them the way Beau looks at Kayla, you could have a supermodel walk by and his eyes wouldn’t leave Kayla’s, he was completely hooked on her. Ariel wished that for once a guy would actually want to be with her and not just in her.
Ariel locked eyes with Sidney, he looked concerned he could tell she was over thinking and things were bothering her but he knew better than to ask her about it especially since she was mad at him. Sidney sighed to himself, he knew he had messed up with Ariel, he knew he needed to fix things, and he needed to do it fast.

Notes