Cry to Me

It was a little past 11pm when Dulci put her book on the coffee table before she made her way towards her bedroom for the night. As she was changing into her pajamas, there was insistent knocking at her front door. She quickly threw on an old Virginia Tech tee shirt before heading to her door and peering through the view hole. It was Carly, drunk out of her mind.

"DULCI! Are you home? Open up!" Dulci could imagine Carly leaning against her door as she continued the annoying knocks that ranged from rhythmic jingles, to soft knocks, and then, the most maddening, fist pounding.

"Ugh. Jesus," Dulci muttered under her breath before opening the door. She wasn’t sure why Carly was there.They did have an argument earlier and didn’t want to fight with a drunken mess.When she opened the door, Carly toppled into the doorjamb and fell onto her hands and knees while laughing hysterically. Dulci knelt down to help her drunken friend while shaking her head in frustration.

“What a goddamn mess,” Dulci sighed as she wrapped one of Carly's arms around her shoulder to help lift her up. She walked them both into the living room and over to the couch where they both collapsed. Carly kept her head on Dulci's shoulder and clutched her hand in a friendly gesture.

"Hi Dulci," Carly smiled as she looked up. Dulci instantly smelt the aroma of the most stomach wrenching liquor in her opinion – tequila.

"How much tequila have you drunk?" Dulci asked why subtly trying to push Carly away so she didn’t have to smell her breath.

"I dunno. I lost count of the shots."Carly got off the couch and stumbled into Dulci’s kitchen and opened the refrigerator, desperate to find some sort of alcohol to continue her buzz.

"Should I ask how you managed to get here?"She was hoping the answer would be “cab,” although she knew deep down that Carly wouldn’t go to bars or clubs alone unless she was looking for one thing, and it infuriated Dulci to the core.In the past, Carly had been a party animal and had woken up in strange houses without underwear or wearing someone else’s clothes.Dulci would always convince her to go to the clinic and get tested.Since college, however, Carly’s need for extreme drinking and partying seemed to end, until know.

"This really nice, tall, dark, and handsome guy named John. He had the greatest lips," Carly recalled with a dreamy gaze. She gently touched her own lips before fiercely blushing and grinning. It wasn't until Dulci noticed the smudged lipstick and eye makeup that she realized what Carly had done.

"Oh my God, Carly. You didn't," Dulci whispered covering her mouth with her hand in surprise, disgust, and disappointment.

"Oh for fuck's sake, Dulci. Calm your tits. We just kissed a little," Carly responded waving Dulci's concern away while looking in the cabinets in her continued hunt for something more to drink.

"A little?" Dulci shrieked. Carly shrugged before adding, "More or less."

"What else did you do, Carly?" Dulci probed hard as she walked into the kitchen.

"I didn’t fuck him, if that’s what you’re insinuating,” Carly answered dryly.

“A-ha!” Before Carly could get the top off of the bottle of vodka, Dulci ran over and snatched it out of her hand and dumped it down the drain.

“What the fuck are you doing!?”

“I could ask you the same fucking question, Carly. Why are running around Pittsburgh like you’re single with your boobs practically hanging out, looking for someone to fuck?” Dulci glowered as she gestured toward Carly’s very skimpy outfit.Carly stood staring at Dulci in a drunken stupor.

“When did you become so judgmental?” Dulci instantly regretted being so hard on Carly when she heard the quivering in her voice and the water filling in her eyes.

“I’m sorry to be hard on you, Carly, but you’re being reckless. Why did you make out and possible more with a stranger when you’re pregnant and in a relationship with someone else?”

“What is it with you and this pregnancy thing? Why do you even care?If I remember correctly, weren’t you in a similar situation six years ago with Jason?Wasn’t I the one who stepped up and took you to the clinic like a true friend?” Carly threw the memory in Dulci’s face.

“Yes you were. And that decision has haunted me every fucking day of my life.I’m thankful that you were there for me, but I also wish that you could’ve stood there, like I’m standing here now, and told me to think about it before going through with it.”

“Oh! So now I’m the horrible friend that made you do something you didn’t want to do?”

“Jesus Christ! I never said that.But, as you’re friend, I’m telling you now, don’t do it.You’ll regret it,” Dulci practically begged Carly to understand, but it wasn’t easy rationalizing with a drunkard.Carly dropped her head in defeat before finally responding.

“The difference in my situation, however, is that you wanted to be with Jason forever and he wanted to be with you. I’ve always felt that there was something missing with Sidney.During the summer, he’s great when we can spend time together.But when he’s training and we’re here during the season, he’s not attentive, he’s moody, frustrating, absent.I mean, when he’s on a point streak or a winning streak, we can’t have sex because of his superstitions.His first love is hockey and nothing or nobody else can replace that.He wouldn’t even take me out in public for months, and he still doesn’t from time to time because it’ll interfere with his persona or some shit.I don’t feel wanted.”

“Is that why you went out tonight? Looking for attention?”

“I guess you can say that. I never intended to kiss anyone, but when it happened, I felt irresistible again.With Sid, I only felt like that when it was convenient for him.”

“Maybe you should be this forthcoming with him.”

“Dulci, I have. It doesn’t change.He’s so committed to hockey that everything else comes second.While he’s as sexy as a motherfucker and eats pussy like a champ, there are so many downfalls to being with him.Bringing a child into that, it doesn’t seem far to me or a baby.”At this point, Carly was crying.Dulci hugged her friend but couldn’t help stifling laughter at the cunnilingus comment.

“Please tell me you’re not laughing at my expense?”

“’Eats pussy like a champ’? Really?”Soon, they were both laughing on Dulci’s kitchen floor.

“I think I need to end it.” Carly took Dulci’s hand, and Dulci squeezed it in support.She had no idea how complicated Carly and Sidney’s relationship was.But then again, she didn’t know about their relation for the first half.

“If that’s what you think is best for you, then I support your decision.”

“Kissing that guy tonight kind of confirmed that for me as sad as that is to say.”

Dulci helped Carly off of the kitchen floor and handed her a bottle of water from the refrigerator.

“Do you want to stay here or go home?”

“I’ll stay here if you don’t mind. Do you have something I could wear to sleep?”

“Come on, I’ll get you fixed up.”

Once Dulci got Carly changed and ready for bed, they both crawled into Dulci’s bed to sleep.

“Do you want me to text Sidney and let him know you’re ok?” Dulci turned to Carly who was already half passed out and mumbled out an incoherent response. Once Carly started the rhythmic breathing and muffled snoring, Dulci grabbed her phone off the nightstand.

Carly is with me at my place after a long night of drinking. Don’t worry.

Almost instantaneously, her phone buzzed.

I’ve been trying to get ahold of her all night. I’ll pick her up in the morning after practice.Thank you.

Trying to bring light into the conversation, Dulci tried to make a joke.

Every blondie needs her brownie. :D

As soon as she put her phone down, it buzzed.

And a good warm brownie like you at that. :D

Her face hurt she was smiling so much at his silly text. She turned away from her nightstand and quickly fell asleep.

----

The next morning, Dulci tried to wake Carly before she left for work but Carly kept shooing her away. She grabbed some water and ibuprofen for Carly and left it on the nightstand with a note to call when she found her phone.

Carly awoke with a jump when she heard knocking on the door. When she opened the door and saw that it was Sidney, she let him in and went to grab her clothes before leaving.

“So did you go out with Dulci,” Sidney asked as they headed back to their house. When she didn’t answer immediately, he looked in her direction to find her staring out of the passenger window.

“We need to talk.”

----

“Ok. So I have pizza on the way.I have beer, wine, and tequila if you want margaritas.”Dulci stared at Savannah like she was a crazy person as she scurried around her kitchen before the game started.

“Why are you going nuts over this? Its just a game.”

“This is the first hockey game that you’re going to watch and I want it to be spectacular. I tried to think of arena food to simulate the real experience,” Savannah explained.

“You act like I’m going to become some crazed hockey fan. I’ve never been interested in sports.”

“You say that now. Wait until you see you know who,” Savannah said with a shit eating grin.Dulci scoffed and rolled her eyes.

Half way into the first period, Dulci was on the edge of Savannah’s couch asking as many questions as possible.

“Oh my God. Who knew watching men skate would be so invigorating?”

Savannah burst into laughter watching Dulci.

“Wait until you see a fight. That’s hot.So much testosterone.Mmm.”

“They fight?”

“Yep. Although, your man doesn’t usually fight.”

“Jesus. Would you please call him by his name?He’s not like Voldemort and he’s not my man,” she sighed out lout.

“But it sounds like you want him to be.” Savannah lifted an eyebrow at Dulci.

“I don’t date. You know that.” Dulci reminded her.

“Who said anything about dating him?”

When they looked back at the television after the commercial break, Sidney was in the faceoff circle, and when the official dropped the puck, Sidney dropped his stick, threw off his gloves, and went to town on the opponent forward.

“LOOK LOOK LOOK! You know who is fighting… and winning!” Savannah shrieked.Dulci just looked on in amazement as an official lead him off of the ice.She looked at Savannah and let out a weighted breath.

“Wow. I wonder what crawled up his ass?” Savannah asked before heading toward the bathroom.Dulci couldn’t help but wonder if she knew the reason for his aggressive behavior.Remembering her conversation with Carly from the previous evening, she wondered if Carly broke up with him earlier that day.She never heard anything, but if Savannah was right and he never fought on the ice, then something was definitely up.She pulled out her phone and contemplated sending him a text message.Would it be inappropriate to continue a friendly relationship with him if he and Carly had broken up?She always figured she would have a professional relationship since he considered her Sam’s veterinarian.She pushed her reservations aside and sent a text.

So my friend tells me you never fight during games.

She figured if he got weirded out by the text, she’d blame it on the beer even though she wasn’t even close to being buzzed. She threw her phone in her bag and decided she wouldn’t check her phone until she got home.

Savannah came out of the bathroom just in time for the pizza man to knock on her door.

Dulci grabbed a piece and began eating it, only be to interrupted by Savannah lightly slapping her arm and pointing to the television. When she looked, she stopped chewing and her jaw dropped as Sidney was being interviewed about his fight.

“You can pick your jaw up at any time,” Savannah laughed as Dulci turned and slapped her leg.

“There’s nothing like a sweaty man. Do you think he looks like that in bed?” Savannah asked staring at the TV with a dreamy look.

“For someone who claimed she thought he was whiny, you sure do seem interested. I can ask Carly for you if you really want to know.”

“I’ll just wait for you to fuck him and then I can live vicariously through you,” she finished with a smile.

“I hate to break it to you, but you’ll be waiting a long time.”

“I’ll bet you a hundred dollars you’ll have had Crosby in your bed within the next six months.”

----

It was late and Dulci had to work an early twelve-hour shift the next day. She wasn’t looking forward to the five hours of sleep she would have to function on.As she was drifting off, she heard her phone buzz.

You watched?

Dulci wiped her eyes so she could make sure she read her phone correctly. It was from Sidney.

Sure did. My friend Savannah insisted I start watching.“Best sport ever,” I believe she said.To be fair, I didn’t understand anything that happened, other than your fight.

She turned onto her back and waited for a response. She told herself that if he didn’t respond within five minutes, she would turn the vibrate off on her phone and call it a night.

Well if you want a proper education and you’re available tomorrow night, watch a game with me. :D

Notes