Charmed Life

This has to be the worst double date in the history of the world.

Don’t get me wrong; I’m having a great time with Noah. But poor Kate looks like she’s about to get a colonoscopy. As much as I dislike the fact that she so blatantly knows about my living circumstances, I can’t help but feel sorry for her. I mean, she’s just sitting here all by herself. Sure, Noah and I are next to her, but we have nothing to talk to her about besides how good the pulled pork sandwich is. Once in a while, James will look up from the ice at Kate and smile briefly, but that’s as far as their “date” is going to get.

It’s a great game against the Bruins, and our seats, as promised, are amazing. James and Malkin both scored late in the second period, and Noah and I shared nachos and laughed and cheered the entire time. Nothing happened in the first period, and it would have totally been boring, except I had Noah to keep me company. I’m actually enjoying myself.

Kate, on the other hand, not so much.

Why James referred to this as a double date beats me. He’s not even here! Well, not here here.

The game’s tied with two and a half minutes left, but Crosby cinches the win with a goal as the entire stadium erupts.

I stand up along with everyone else, getting ready to leave. The Penguins have all jumped out on the ice, celebrating and hugging each other.

Grown men hugging. It’s adorable. I catch James’ eyes, and I smile at him.

“What a great game!” Noah has to yell to be heard over the sounds of people still celebrating the win.

“Yeah, it was,” I reply, my eyes still on the man in the number 18 jersey.

“You ready?” Noah leans down to pick up our trash, and I finally turn to him, hoping he doesn’t notice my lack of attention.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

Noah leans down and gives me a quick kiss on the lips before turning to walk down the aisle of seats.

I glance nervously at the ice, hoping James hadn’t seen that.

…..

The plan is to meet at some fancy hotel lounge I’d never heard of. James and the guys will meet up with Kate and Noah and I after their postgame interviews.

After separating to change, the three of us take a cab into downtown Pittsburgh, and Kate leads the way. It’s the end of October and it’s freezing out, but Kate’s wearing a tiny little halter mini dress that barely covers her ass.

It definitely shows off her slim figure, but she must be freezing. I have opted for dark jeans and a light blue, sheer, loose long sleeve and heels, which I thought was enough to make my outfit ‘going out’ worthy.

Next to Kate, I feel like I’m going to church.

But at least my ass isn’t going to get hypothermia and fall off.

The lounge is swanky and bathed in a dark violet hue. It’s not harsh and obnoxious like the bars I’ve been to since turning 21, and it’s main occupants lean less towards college students and more towards people with an annual income.

It’s still loud in here, though, and a mass of bodies are moving in the middle of the dance floor, while the DJ spins away at the far end of the large space. Booths and love seats and couches surround the dancing mass, and there are bars located in each corner.

Kate leads us to a circular booth and we scoot in while Noah offers to buy us the first round.

“He’s really cute,” Kate says loudly, nodding at Noah’s back. What do I even say to that? Thanks? Like he’s my kid or something?

“Thanks.” I smile and nod.

“He seems to be into you,” she continues.

I nod again. “Yeah. You and James are just… super cute.”

“Yeah? It’s not weird? He’s so much taller than me.” She does that thing where she frowns, but still looks pretty and feminine.

“Totally,” I chirp. Just then, a group of girls converge on me, screaming and shrieking as Kate stands up to hug them all. They are dressed similar to Kate, all long legs and minimal coverage. She tries to introduce me to her friends, but they won’t stop giggling and exclaiming how excited they are about partying with Penguins tonight.

Noah comes back then with our drinks, saving me from any more interrupted conversation with Kate. Fifteen minutes later, James, Marc, Kris, and Pascal all join us in the booth, which, according to Kate, took a month in advance to book.

“How was your first game?” Pascal asks me across the table, after taking a sip of his Scotch.

I am about to answer, but am interrupted, once again.

“Oh. My. God! This is my favorite song!” A brunette screams. I think her name is Casey. She takes another girl’s hand, and together, they head to the dance floor. They join the group of writhing bodies and a few of the guys follow. I glance to my left, where James and Kate, after several drinks, are getting rather cozy.

Or, Kate is. She’s currently trying to climb into James’ lab while simultaneously attempting to down the last of her cranberry vodka. James is gently batting her hand away, which is pulling and tugging at his white button down.

Ugh.

I really don’t need to see their bedroom routine. I’m not drinking much, and Noah is engaged in a conversation with Pascal about something having to with an adjudicatory hearing.

I’m tired, and about ready to go home.

Suddenly, my phone buzzes, and I glance down at the screen, ready to ignore it.

I frown.

“Gran” is displayed on the rectangular screen. I’d called her a week after I got my phone, letting her know where to reach me.

It’s nearly midnight. What is she doing up?

James catches my eye and gives me a questioning look. I just shrug and stand up, excusing myself as I make my way out of the lounge.

“Gran?” I answer, confused.

“Alayna,” Gran sounds worried, and just as confused as me. She’s breathing hard, so I’m guessing she’s moving around while talking to me. “I don’t want you to worry, sweetie, but Grandpa had a heart attack. He’s being taken to the hospital right now and Mrs. O’Reilly from across the street is going to drive me there. I’m sure everything will be okay. I just wanted to let you know, in case you wanted to come down and visit him in case –”

“In case what?” I am practically screaming. The music from the lounge is loudly thumping behind me and I have to move further down the street to escape it. “Is he okay?”

“Well, honey, he’s old,” she says, and she sounds so, so sad. “And the paramedics said it was a bad one and I just don’t know –”

“Gran! No, don’t say that!” I scream, tears threatening to fall. I wipe my eyes angrily. “What do you need? I’m coming now. Which hospital?”

“Alayna, there’s no need for you to leave in the middle of the night –”

“Which hospital?!”

“Fairfax.”

“Okay, I’ll see you soon.”

“Alayna…”

“See you soon, Gran.” I choke on the last word, images of my Grandpa flashing through my mind.

I’m frantic. I have no idea how I’m supposed to get to Virginia from Pittsburgh at midnight. I send a quick text to Noah, saying I have to rush home and that I’ll explain later. He calls me, but I ignore him, trying to flag down a cab.

How much would it cost to take a cab down to Virginia? I’m sniffling, and I think it’s the cold, but the tears tell a different story.

What if I hadn’t lost all that money, and I sent it to them? Did he run out of medication? Grandpa's been known to skip out on pills because they were running out and couldn’t afford a refill right away. He wouldn’t tell anyone, either, and pretended to take his pills daily.

I told him not to do that! I begged him not to! That’s why I always send money. But I didn’t last month, because it was stolen.

Oh God. This is my fault.

Why can’t I flag down a fucking cab?

Fuck.

I need to stop crying. I need to get down there. I need to –

“Alayna?”

I whirl around, and James takes a second to assess the situation, and a second later, I am in his arms. This time, I don’t fight, and fall into his embrace, sobbing uncontrollably. He feels so warm, and for a second, I think that everything is going to be okay, and Gramps is going to be fine.

But he’s not. He’s in the hospital.

“What happened?”

I pull away, frantic once again. “My Grandpa’s in the hospital, I need to get to Virginia. Now.”

He doesn’t argue, but just nods. “Okay, let’s go get the car.”

As soon as we pull into the driveway, I leap out and into the house. Running upstairs, I throw my old hoodie on and start to pack my backpack. I have about nine hundred dollars in tips stashed in the closet in a Ziplock bag, and I throw that in with everything else.

“What’s going on?” James has caught up to me and is standing in the doorway, looking concerned.

“My Grandpa had a heart attack,” I explain quickly, trying to find my left sneaker. I drop to all fours and check under the bed, but still can’t find it. “I have to drive down to Virginia tonight.”

“What’s the plan?”

I pause. Because up until then, I hadn’t thought of that yet.

“Hayden!” I exclaim. “I can call Hayden!” Standing up quickly, I race to my bag and find my phone. Just as I am about unlock it, it rings, and I see Gran’s name again.

“Gran?” I nearly yell.

“Honey.” Oh, shit. She sounds worse than before. It’s nearly one in the morning, and I can imagine how tired she must be. “Grandpa has to have an emergency bypass – ”

“So do it!”

“I know, sweetie. But there’s a little problem. Our insurance – ”

“How much?” She doesn’t answer, and I can here the gears spinning. She hates talking to me about money. I hate talking about money, especially since James is standing right here. But I can care less right now. “How much, Gran? I have almost ten thousand in the bank and I can –”

“Lanie,” Gran chokes out my name, and I can hear her crying, which only makes my own tears return.
“Lanie, it’s going to cost a lot more than that. We just can’t afford it. They’ll do the surgery, but the aftercare… and the hospital fees. It’s just too much. Just come down soon, so he can see you. We miss you, sweetie. So much...”

I hang up and sink onto my bed, tears still flowing down my cheeks.

I feel so out of it. How can this be happening?

My body is completely deflated, and I just want to lay down and never get up.

My bed shifts as James sits down next to me and takes the phone from my weak grip.

“What are you doing?” I sniffle, wiping my cheeks violently. I forgot he was here.

“Just let me take care of it.” He starts to unlock the phone, but pauses because he doesn’t know the passcode.

Then it hits me. What he's trying to do. He wants to pay for everything.

“Oh no,” I warn. “Absolutely not. I don’t need your –”

“Yes you do!” He barks at me, causing me to jump. “Stop being so fucking stubborn and let me help!”

“But… but I can’t possible accept that,” I say weakly. “I couldn’t pay you back. Ever.”

“I don’t care. Just let me help.”

My fingertips dance on the screen as I type in the code, and the screen unlocks with a small click.

“James…” I try again halfheartedly to stop him.

“Hush. Just let me take care of it.”

And he does just that. He redials the last call on my phone, and I hear a tired hospital attendant answer. James explain the situation, says he’s a family friend, gives his information, and waits a beat. I hear Gran asking something.

“Of course I’ll talk to her,” James answers and pauses as my Grans gets on the phone, from the sounds of it. “Yes… I undertstand… Alayna is a good friend.” He glances at me and offers a smile, and I stare back, grateful.

Then I hear Gran sobbing and thanking James profusely. This gets the tears flowing again, and I weep silently as James reassures Gran for the hundredth time that he is happy to help in any way that he can. He hangs up and hands me the phone, which I take wordlessly.

“I don’t even know what to say… I – ”

I start crying again, and James pulls me into his arms once again. Twice tonight. And again, I let him, and fall into his embrace. His arms are warm and I feel myself deflate, not from defeat but from all the tension that has just seeped out of me.

For the first time in a long time, someone else took care of everything, and I barely had to lift a finger. I usually loose my wits and a few limbs trying to get my family out of a sticky financial situation, but this time, James did just that without even a moment’s hesitation.

How can I ever say thanks? Words can’t describe how grateful I am, but I think he knows. I’m absolutely at peace, for once, and as I sit on my bed, his arms around me, I don’t have a care in the world.

Gramps is going to be fine.

James is amazing. And a great friend.

I really think that everything will be fine.

Everything is fine.

At least, until James kisses me.