Make It to Me

The day was fading into night as the reception began to wind down. Most everybody had left, only a few stragglers had remained, talking quietly amongst themselves. Joyce was still sitting in the window nook, looking outside, the same spot she had been in for hours. James was now sitting with his parents as his teammates all went home. Sara's friends had left shortly after the players left, and only distant family sat on a couch or stood by a wall.

Adaline still had not seen her parents who were rumored to be here, but try as she might, she never found them. So, she began to wash dishes and throw away paper goods. Keeping herself busy was the best way to keep her mind off things, to prevent breaking down again.

Adeline's phone began to buzz in her pocket and she saw her mom's contact appear on the screen. Part of her wanted to talk to her mother and part of her wanted to say forget it. While Adaline loved her mother, facing her criticism and disapproval of her choices was not something she wanted to endure right now. Sighing, she slid her finger across the screen, answering the call.

"Hello, mother." Adeline said.

"Adaline. How are you feeling?"

"As well as can be expected." Adaline replied.

"Yes, I'm sorry about that. We saw you at the funeral today. We didn't feel it was our place to come to the reception however." Her mother commented, making Adaline feel slightly guilty.

"I'm sorry mother. How's dad?" Adaline asked leaning back against the counter behind her.

"He's well. He sends his love. Unfortunately, we can't stay. He was work to attend to back home and I have some events coming up at the club." Her mother told her, with little to no remorse. Her mother was practically the leader of a country club, and was very serious about her duties.

"I understand." Adaline clipped.

"I just want to comment on this. Don't take offense like you usually do. You always seem to overreact. I just don't approve of you hanging over that hockey player like you were today." At this comment, Adaline tried to suppress the rage that was coursing through her. Was her mother really that dense?

"Noted, mother." Adaline said coldly.

"Well, that's all. I will call you later." She said and waited for Adaline to share the same sentiments before clicking off the phone.

~
Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Adaline crawled into her bed and stared at the ceiling. Everything seemed to be flying past her, like she was a bystander in life. Just witnessing everything, completely powerless to change anything. Across the bed, her phone buzzed. She flipped it over and saw she had a text from an unknown number.

"Do you know how long it took me to find your number?" the text read. Sidney was texting her. Despite everything she felt butterflies emerge and flutter in her stomach.

"I have no idea what you're talking about. ;)" Adaline replied coyly.

"Oh sure, "abnormal raccoon". " Sidney replied. Adaline broke out into a massive grin. She had thought it was pretty clever, after her crying incident.

"Figured I'd make you work for it." Adaline sassily texted back.

"Well, its safe to say you got a pretty good chuckle out of it." Sidney replied.

"So, what's up?" Adaline asked him.

"I just wanted to see how you were holding up." Sidney replied.

"I'm okay. I can't thank you enough for what you did today." Adaline texted.

"You don't have to thank me." The responding text said.

"Can I ask you a question?" Adaline replied. As soon as she sent the text, she realized she didn't have a question to ask.

"Fire away." Sidney replied instantaneously. Now what was she going to do?

"What were you like growing up?" Adeline asked shaking her head. It was a stupid question, but it was all she had.

"Really awkward and always playing hockey. I was really close to my parents. You?" Came his response.

"Just as awkward, if not more so. I was this mix between a too serious kid and wanting to experience life so much I got into some pretty sticky situations." Adaline replied.

"I'm sensing a story there. :)" Sidney replied.

"Only about a thousand." Adeline replied blushing.

"Now you have to tell one." Sidney teased.

"I'm going to tell a mildly embarrassing one. I was in first grade and had just watched Marry Poppins. So, I went out and got an umbrella and jumped off the treehouse in my backyard."

"That's hilarious!! I almost hurt myself from laughing so hard!" He replied. Adaline flushed a deeper shade of red.

"Yes, its absolutely hilarious. :/ " Adaline replied.

"I still cannot believe you did that! Did you sing on your way down?" Sidney taunted.

"Ha Ha." Adaline replied back.

"Did you get hurt?" He asked inquisitively.

"I don't want to say now." Adaline texted back.

"Do share!" Sidney replied giddy.

"I amy or may not have broken my arm." Adaline replied sheepishly.

"That is so great! Not the part about you arm! But the story!" Sidney said.

"I'm glad I'm so entertaining."

"Now can I ask you a question?" Sidney asked.

"Why not?" Adaline replied.

"Can I give you a call?" Sidney asked. Her heart did a double beat just then. He wanted to talk to her?

"Sure." Adaline replied.

~
The phone rang and Adaline hesitated only a second before picking up.

"Hey." she said softly.

"Hey." Sidney replied in a deep, smoky voice. Yet, Adaline heard some of the original humor that was translated over his texts.

"You wanted to call?" Adaline asked cautiously.

"Well, I was wondering if I could take you to dinner sometime if you're feeling up to it." Sidney asked somewhat nervously. Adeline's heart stopped. Her voice caught in her throat and her brain wouldn't work to save her life. A beat of silence passed, then another, and another. She wasn't sure what she should do. "Adaline?" Sidney prompted.

"Um..." She was leaving in a few days! Was this just a friendly dinner? A date? What if it was a date?!

"You can think about it if you want. I have to head up to New York for a few days to talk with some people about the lockout." Sidney said.

"So its official then?"

"What's official?"

"The lockout." Adaline replied, trying to stall to get her thoughts together.

"Yea. The season isn't going to start. A lot of guys are heading overseas to play in the meantime." Sidney said. Once again Adaline was quiet.

"I'm sorry to hear that." Adaline commented meekly.

"Don't worry about it." Sidney said. Adaline just kept thinking. What could it hurt if she went out to dinner with him? She couldn't think of a reason that should keep her from it. She was afraid of being hurt, afraid of trusting, but it wouldn't be bad if they just went out as friends.

"I'll go to dinner with you when you get back." Adaline told him.

"You will?" Sidney asked in a chipper tone.

"Yes. Just text me when a good time for you is." Adaline smiled at his eager tone.

"I will. I'll be back in two days. Is dinner okay then?" Sidney asked.

"That's fine with me." Adaline smiled into the phone.

"Okay! That sounds great."

"Hey, Sidney?' Adaline asked for his attention.

"Yea?"

"Thanks for helping me through this; for taking my mind off things." she remarked sincerely.

"You're so strong. You honestly do amaze me." Sidney replied somewhat bashfully.

"I'll see you later?" Adaline asked him.

"Yea. I'll see you in a few days." he remarked. They both disconnected the phone and let the conversation go.