Rise and Fall

Jocelyn sat down next to Sid, who was currently looking in the opposite direction. He slowly turned his head around to see who was next to him, and Jocelyn gave him a small smile. “Hi, I’m Jocelyn,” she told him.

“Look, if you’re here because you want a one-night stand, you might as well move on to the next guy because I’m not him,” Sid said rudely.

“Excuse me?” Jocelyn asked, not able to fully believe how he was acting towards her.

“Like I just told your friends, I’m not going to have a one-night stand,” he told her.

Jocelyn looked at him confused for a minute, trying to figure out what friends he was talking about. Finally, it dawned at her that he thought she was friends with the girls that had just left the couch. “First of all, I’m not friends with them,” she began. “And second of all, do I look like I’m looking for a one-night stand?” she questioned.

Sid looked her up and down for a moment while Jocelyn rolled her eyes. “God, you really are a jackass during the season,” she muttered.

“Excuse me?” Sid questioned.

“What?” Jocelyn asked. “You’re being a jackass right now. I had no intentions of sleeping with you tonight, so you can just calm down. I only came over here to strike up a conversation, but apparently you’re too good for that,” she said as she began to stand up.

“Wait,” Sidney yelled.

Jocelyn sat back down and looked at him. “What?” she asked.

“You really aren’t looking for a one-night stand?” he asked.

“No,” Jocelyn said with a slight laugh as she shook her head.

“And you’re not looking for a long-term relationship either, are you?” he questioned.

“Nope,” Jocelyn said. “Besides, I heard that you don’t do relationships during hockey season.”

“Where’d you hear that?” Sidney asked.

“Max,” Jocelyn replied. Sidney gave her a questionable look, and she added, “Max is dating my sister.”

“You’re Brooklyn’s sister?”

“Yep,” Jocelyn said with a smile. “So, is it true?”

“Is what true?” he asked.

“That you don’t date during the season. I mean that’s what Max said, but you know how he is. He often likes to embellish things,” she added with a laugh.

“No, that part’s true,” he answered. “So, Jocelyn, tell me some more about yourself.”

“Okay,” Jocelyn said, eyeing him suspiciously, trying to figure out if he really wanted to know more about her. “Like I said, my sister’s Brooklyn. I’m twenty-one, and I work in advertising for the Steelers.”

“You work for the Steelers?” Sid asked, interrupting her.

“Yeah, why?” Jocelyn asked.

“Nothing,” Sid replied. “It’s just you said you’re twenty-one and you’re already working for a professional football team?”

“Don’t act so surprised,” Jocelyn told him. “Actually, it’s an entry-level position. I interned for them during college, and they offered me a job. I’m hoping to work my way up, though.”

“Sounds like you like your job,” he said.

“I do,” she said smiling. Jocelyn always loved talking about her work, but a lot of times, people thought that she was just bragging about working for an NFL team. “It’s a lot of fun. So, tell me about yourself.”

“Um…well I’m twenty-one and I play for the Penguins,” he said jokingly.

“Ha ha,” Jocelyn said sarcastically. “Tell me something I don’t know.”

“Something you don’t know, huh?” Sid asked, and she nodded her head. “Well, my mom made me take dance lessons when I was a kid, so I can do the Waltz and Ballroom dance,” he told her.

“Wow!” Jocelyn exclaimed. “I was expecting something like I’m from Nova Scotia, but I get that you know how to dance,” she said with a smile. “I’m impressed.”

“You said to tell you something you don’t know, and obviously you know that I’m from Nova Scotia. And, I think you are officially the only person who knows that I know how to dance besides my parents and sister,” he told her.

“So, do I get to see your dancing?” Jocelyn asked.

“Definitely not,” Sid said with a smile. “I have not danced since my last lesson, and that was like ten or fifteen years ago.”

“Please,” Jocelyn begged.

“Sorry, but my answer’s still no. Maybe if there’s some special occasion, but not now,” he told her.

“Fine,” Jocelyn huffed, jokingly crossing her arms across her chest.

“Jocelyn,” they heard someone say behind them. Jocelyn looked behind her and saw Brooklyn standing there.

“Are you drunk?” she asked, laughing at Brooklyn’s appearance. All of a sudden, Max came up behind Brooklyn, putting his arms around her waist and kissing her neck. “You’re both drunk!”

“We’re going to leave,” Brooklyn told her, as Max continued kissing down her neck.

“Please tell me you’re going back to Max’s place because I really don’t want to hear drunken sex all night long,” Jocelyn said while Sid laughed at her.

“Of course,” Brooklyn slurred as she and Max started to walk off.

“Wait a minute,” Jocelyn called, and the two of them stopped and turned around. “You guys are not driving back!”

“No, silly,” Brooklyn said giggling. “Marc’s driving us back. He offered since he lives so close to Max anyways,” she explained.

“Okay, well be safe!” Jocelyn called as they continued walking towards the door. She saw Marc and gave him an appreciative wave, and he nodded his head in acknowledgment. “Use protection!” Jocelyn screamed as they walked out the door.

Sid sat there laughing at her. “Shit!” Jocelyn cursed standing up and running after Brooklyn and Max.

Sid followed her, asking, “What’s the matter?”

“They’re my ride,” Jocelyn told him as she watched Marc drive away.

“Don’t worry,” he said. “I can give you a ride home.”

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yeah, are you ready to go now or do you want to stay a while longer?” he asked.

“I’m ready now,” she told him.

As they pulled up to her apartment, Jocelyn turned around to look at Sid. “Thanks for the ride,” she told him. “I really appreciate it.”

“No problem,” he replied.

“And, maybe next time I’ll get you to dance,” she said with a smile.

“And what makes you think there’ll be a next time?” Sid asked.

“Believe me,” Jocelyn said jokingly. “You are going to miss my humor, and you’re going to wish you had gotten my number.”

“Oh really?” Sid questioned.

“Yeah, but don’t worry. I’m sure if you ask nicely, Max will give it to you without embarrassing you too much,” she said with a smile as she got out of the car. She turned back around to look at him one more time. “Thanks again,” she said with a small wave as she walked towards the door of her apartment and Sid just drove away shaking his head.