Falling Fast and Breathing Hard

It took me only a couple hours to find a good enough apartment for me, which it meant it was affordable and had enough space. I moved in the following morning after spending one last night in a cheap motel. The apartment was just perfect for me; it had one bedroom, a spacious living room and kitchen and a decent sized bathroom. All I had to do now was buy new furniture and groceries, a part I was not looking forward to at all. I glanced at the wall clock I had put up in the living room.

10:30 A.M.

I put something nicer on, grabbed my purse and was out the door in a few minutes. I started with the furniture part first and headed to Target. Today being Monday, it would not be busy and I could shop fairly quickly to get back home, so I could look for a job, which shouldn't be too hard. I headed straight to the back and glanced at my list to see what exactly I needed, causing me to sigh. This was going to take forever.

The first item I looked at was right in front of me and the first one on my list: a nightstand. As I was checking out the prices, I heard my phone ring. I groaned and ignored it until the person hung up, but then it rang again.

"What do you want?!"

"What did I say about talking to me like that?"

"Do you think I care?"

"You should. Do I have to remind you that I'm your father?"

"You're a poor excuse for a step-father and you have no right to be saying you're my father, when you clearly aren't."

"You whiny little brat! I've had it with you! You're worthless and I don't know why I even called."

I hung up and wiped the slow falling tears off of my face. I turned off my phone and tucked it inside my purse. I was left in a state of disbelief and wasn't feeling anything at that point. I knew I hated him, but why did that hurt so much? I took a big breath and went back to what I was doing before that terrible phone call. Once I chose one, I picked it up and placed it in my cart.

Moving towards where the chairs were, I heard footsteps that were familiar to the ones I heard yesterday at the restaurant. The footsteps did indeed belong to that same person: Kris Letang. He was coming from a close aisle and I wondered if he had heard my phone conversation with Ronnie. I hoped not, I had not planned on telling anyone about my troubled and tragic past.

"Athena?" I heard from behind me.

I turned around.

"Hey Kris." I said with a smile.

"Hey. What's up?"

"Just buying stuff for my new apartment. You?"

"Just looking around. I'm fairly bored today."

"That sucks." I laughed.

"Why are you laughing at me?"

"I don't know."

"You are weird."

"Thanks. Hey, why don't you come over tonight?"

"Sure. Sounds awesome."

"Well, how about we swap phones for a sec?"

I put in my name and number into his phone, while he did the same with mine.

"Thanks." I said.

"No, thank you."

"I'll call you later, ok?"

"K."

We quickly said goodbye and went our separate ways. By the time I got home, it was three o'clock in the afternoon and I hadn't eaten anything since seven, so I went through my groceries till I found something that I could microwave fairly fast. What I found happened to be shrimp-flavored ramen noodles, which made me think of Maryland. A small smile appeared on my face before I frowned again. I waited the six minutes then put in the other stuff I had to put in. While I was eating, I wondered when I was going to call Kris. I didn't know when would be the right time because he could be caught up doing something. I decided just to call him after I ate.

"Hello?"

"Hey. I just got home."

"Are you too tired to hang out?"

"No... I'm never too tired. I have a time, though. How does seven sound?"

"Sounds perfect."

I gave him my address, but told him I'd have to open the front door to the building for him. In the meantime, I put away my groceries, unpacked everything and placed all I had where everything belonged. That took two hours, so I slept for an hour before I checked to see how I looked. Luckily, my hair wasn't a mess and all I had to do was brush my teeth. A sudden buzz scared the shit out of me. I assumed it was Kris waiting for me to let him in.
Since I was on the first floor, I didn't have to walk far. I smiled once I saw him. I had a feeling that this new start was going to be an amazing one.

"Hey!" I said.

"Hey, may I come in?"

"Of course."

I led him to my apartment and opened the door for him.

"Nice place and you only moved in this morning?"

"Yep. I work fast. All I need now is a job."

"Are you worried about that?" he asked as we sat on my red microfiber couch.

"Not really. I've been through a lot, so this finding a job thing, seems less stressful."

My eyes began to get watery, so I looked at my phone, instead of Kris. I felt a hand on my shoulder.

"Athena?"

"Yeah?" I said above a whisper.

"Is something bothering you?"

"No." I said instantly.

He was going to make me talk. I just knew it.

"I heard the conversation with your step-dad and you crying today."

I sniffled and finally looked at him.

What was this guy that I only met yesterday doing to me? Is he trying to break me down? Who did he think he was?

The look on his face was one of concern and worry. I laid my head on his shoulder as I cried and he rubbed his hand up and down my back. Once I calmed down, I pulled away. I was not expecting anything like this to happen tonight, but that's why life is unpredictable, especially mine.

"Sorry about that." I said, embarrassed.

"There's no need for you to be sorry."

"Yeah...I guess you're right. I'm going to grab some tissues. Do you want anything?"

"Do you have Mountain Dew?"

"Hell yeah I do! I'll grab some soda then."

"Soda?"

"Yeah. Soda. Do you have a problem with that?" I asked jokingly as I grabbed each of us a soda.

"No. I'm just so used to people saying pop. That's what they call it in Pittsburgh."

"That's just weird."

As I sat down on the couch, the topic abruptly changed.

"Listen. I want us to talk about what you've been avoiding."

"You say that as if we've been friends forever." I laughed.

"I don't see why this is so funny. I'm being serious and I know you need to talk about it with someone. It might as well be me."

Tonight was not going to be a fun night.

"Sorry. It just hurts me to talk about my life and I don't like even thinking about it. That's why I moved here in the first place."

"You'll feel even better once you talk about it. Trust me. I went through something tragic in my life a couple years ago and it tore me apart."

"Alright. When I was twelve years old, which was eight years ago, my father found out he was diagnosed with lung cancer and it scared the hell out of me. The following year, shortly after my birthday, he passed away, having lost forty pounds in the process. I had a feeling that he was going to pass sooner or later, but I just did not want to think about it. Two years later, my mom married my step-father, who I refer to as Ronnie, after they had been dating seven months. I didn't like him when they started dating and I still don't. There is something about him that is not right and he isn't anything like my father was.

I took a breath as tears ran down my face. Kris was listening intently and patiently still.

"Eight months ago, my best friend who I knew ever since we were in diapers was diagnosed with leukemia. She had such a positive attitude about getting better and heading back to college and all I could do was smile with her and hope that she would beat this and she could be a normal girl again. Two months ago, she passed away on a very cold February morning with her parents, her older brother and I at her bedside. I miss her so much and it fucking sucks that God had to take away another person I loved." I yelled the last part.

"Athena, come here."

I sat closer to him and looked at him through blurry eyes. My appearance was ruined. My face was red, my mascara was smeared, my head hurt and I could not see at all. He wiped my eyes and took my hand.

"Can I tell you something?" he asked.

"Of course."

"I lost my best friend two years ago during the Stanley Cup Finals. His name was Luc and he died in a motorcycle accident. I didn't know what to do after he died, but I've made it through."

I hugged him and he hugged back.

"That sucks."

"Yeah. It still does, but I'm getting through each and every day."

I half-smiled.

"Thanks for making me feel better."

"No problem. I have a random question."

"Go ahead."

"Do you watch hockey?"

"A little bit. I used to watch football with my dad and root for the Ravens, but haven't watched it since before he passed and Ronnie hates any sport that isn't baseball. He's so odd."

"Maybe I can get you to watch more hockey and football again."

"Maybe."

"What team do you root for?"

"I was rooting for the Caps since I was in Maryland, but that might have to change, now that I'm in Pittsburgh."

"Might? It has to and that goes for football too."

I laughed.

"I don't think you can change the football team I root for, Mr. Letang." I said giving him a smirk.

"You my dear, are quite the catch."

"And there's a lot about me you have yet to know."

"Can't wait to hear all about it."

Notes

Chapter title courtesy of Are You Alone? by The Starting Line.