Page 107 of Capture the Moment
“Tone it down, blondie.” Denver chuckles, wrapping an arm over Georgia’s shoulder as Georgia laughs.
“I’m serious! It’s bad enough that Si Si had to practice for the winter showcase, but if they add losing to Brighton on top of that? I think I might die.” She pretends to faint in Denver’s arms, and Denver chuckles at the antics, holding a hand out to me.
“I’m pretty sure they’ll win, the guys were pumped when I FaceTimed them earlier,” I say, hooking arms with Denver as we make our way to the front of the line.
“Good. I made a bet on SFU and would cry myself to sleep if I lost $500 tonight.”
I roll my eyes at Denver, moving forward.
Tonight’s the big night, SFU vs Brighton, and everyone within a 50-mile radius is in the arena tonight. I think I even saw my Film and Communications professors here together! Georgia orders our snacks for us as Denver and I small-talk about tonight’s winner when I suddenly have to pee, yet again. We’d taken a few shots along with some wine coolers before coming and being theidiot that I am, I broke the seal before leaving the apartment so now my bladder is constantly full.
“Hold on girl, I have to pee again” I sigh, handing her my pink tote bag.
Denver chuckles as I scurry away to the ladies room, practically clutching myself and I’m so focused on trying to get to the restroom that I don’t pay attention to my surroundings and walk straight into a red-haired girl.
“Fuck girl, I’m so sorry! I wasn’t paying attention,” I apologize like any normal person with a sense of decency would when the girl sighs.
Fuck… Did I make her spill something?
I begin to question myself but come to an abrupt stop when the scent of her perfume invades my nostrils.
Lemon andginger.
The scent is so disturbingly familiar that I know it anywhere, I don’t even have to see her face to know it’s her. I don’t know if I should be happy or scared shitless as she dusts herself off.
“It’s fine…” Karmen, my ex-roommate, sighs, and I don’t think she knows it’s me that she’s talking to.
“Karms? Girl! Oh my God! How’ve you been?!” I’m ecstatic to see her familiar face, so much so that I pull her in for a hug, completely unaware of her clear “fuck off” energy.
She’s stiff under my touch and is almost repulsed as she pushes me off.
“Cleora,” She scoffs, using my full first name, and I’m taken aback by the action, I furrow my brows ready to speak but just as I’m about to try to talk to her, she turns on her heels and sashays away.
But that’s when I see it.
Across her back in big bold and black letters is the number 65 with the word Rivers spread across the top.
I think I’m going to be sick.
I completely forget about the fact that I had to pee more than anything just five seconds ago and trudge back to my friends.
Denver tilts her head in obvious confusion as she hands me my drink but doesn’t press the issue as we walk into the arena and take a seat a little bit away from the box but close enough that we can touch the acrylic.
“Am I late?” Ryan’s voice startles me momentarily as he takes a seat behind us, wearing a sweater with Jace’s number on it. It’d been Jace’s gift to all of us after his birthday and seems to be the perfect outfit for tonight’s big match.
“Just on time. Wilder’s been dogging them this entire period! I hate to say it, but I love hockey now!” Georgia exclaims before letting out a loud cheer for the guys, standing up to show off the sweater Jace had given her. Being the true fashion major that she was, Georgia took the dull blue and orange sweater and made it her own by cropping it and adding creative flare and gems to it.
I smile up at her and do the same, pulling off my coat, standing up to show off the large number 13 on my back. Blake skates toward us almost instantly; he bumps his back into the tempered glass. We cheer as he continues with the game clearly focused.
Ryan’s scoffing catches my attention as Marcelo makes a near-perfect goal, I raise a brow at my brother as he curls his lip.
“I should fuck him up for even being here.”
“And if you do that, who am I going to bother all day long?” I ask, nudging his shoulder.
Ryan’s jaw clenches momentarily before he gives me a halfhearted smile. “Then I’ll haveyoubeat his ass and I’ll post your bail.”
“I wouldn’t last five minutes in jail.” I frown, grimacing as Jace takes a nasty yet legal hit from one of the defensemen on the Brighton team.
