Page 142 of Between the Blue
Because I’d known her longer.
It was chaos within comfort. It was wild and free. Red hair in the wind and her fingers interlaced with mine. Vanilla ice cream flavored kisses and steamy car windows. Twilights turned to dawns and moments into memories.
It was us.
But it’s hard to remember any of that now.
Because after our final summer night together, when she fell asleep with her head on my shoulder, reality came crashing in.
I left.
And she stayed.
And I don’t know what’s happened.
But I haven’t heard her voice in nearly two months.
She’s missed my many calls. I’ve missed the few she’s returned.
We’ve sent texts in between. Said we missed each other. Apologized for being so busy. Promised to talk soon.
And then we didn’t.
And I’ve hit a breaking point.
I have to see her.
So I’m home this weekend. The final weekend before hockey season starts once again. Before the forever cycle of my life begins anew.
I go straight to her house. Don’t even think about stopping at mine first.
I’m on her front porch. I knock. No one answers.
I go straight to Golden Rollers.
There’s a new woman working at the ticket booth. She doesn’t know who I am.
Suppose she wouldn’t. It’s not like I’m ever around.
She doesn’t seem to believe that I’m dating Julia Gold. Or maybe she just doesn’t care.
She makes me buy a ticket.
I ask her where Jules is working. She eyes me. Eventually tells me skate rental.
I walk straight there. Feel my heart beating faster in my chest as I approach.
Her back is to me. I’d know that back anywhere. That hair.
It looks a little lighter, a little less shiny. Probably since summer has ended.
Everything seems duller since summer has ended.
She stiffens when I get to the counter. Like she knows someone’s watching her.
Jules always knows things like that.
She spins around. Her mouth falls open.
