Page 114 of Wrong Pucking Jersey

“I think we should contact Dr. Bridgett and let her know our delay isn’t intentional,” I offer and watch Dimitri nod in agreement.

“You’re right. Let’s stretch our legs outside and make some phone calls. There’s a fridge in the car, so I stocked it with water and root beer.

“There’s a fridge? When did you stock it up?”

“Last week, when we talked about the drive. I wanted to make sure we had the essentials.”

“For survival,” I comment. “Good thing you think like a camper who wants to have everything set for any occasion, emergency or not.”

“Never a bad thing to be prepared,” Dimitri proudly states. “Most people assume I wouldn’t do any of that stuff. Like preparing and reviewing precautions alone or with a group of people. Honestly, they leave me out or forget my existence with group activities, but it always surprises them when I step up to voice my opinion or clarify something just learned.”

“Did you experience that anytime during nursing?” I ask. “I despised group projects. It wasn’t because of the idea of working with other people, but more because people fought to work with me due to me being smart.”

“So, to tag along so they can get a good grade knowing you wouldn’t slack,” Dimitri confirms with a sigh. “Seen it with my own eyes. The desperation for that 4.0 GPA they didn’t earn.”

“Essentially.”

“Nursing school had fewer group projects than what I dealt with taking dumb classes in foster care. They tell you to take them because it can help you become someone in society, but realistically, it’s just a government-funded way of getting us all in one room to teach us stuff we’ll never use in real life. The funds they get from the government are divided among the staff as their bonus while we’re used and tossed away.” He sighs as we get out of the car.

I walk over to stand next to him after he grabs us both root beers. Leaning against the car, I give him my full attention while he looks up at the sky. For a moment, Dimitri looks so mature. So different in a sense compared to how I originally judged him in his gothic look.

With him in scrubs with his hair tied up and the bling of his piercings not in sight, it gives him an ‘adult’ look that makes him really attractive.

I wonder if he’s found a boyfriend?

“A lot of people shunned me even in nursing school. Kinesiology wasn’t much different. I guess the way I dress is a part of it, though I do it on purpose.”

“You dress in gothic style on purpose?” Now I’m intrigued.

“If you dress all attractive and put together, everyone wants to be around you. You become the new golden boy of the class, especially in nursing school when the male-to-female ratio is so drastically divided. I may not like to talk a lot, but I use the opportunity to observe and see what people’s intentions are. I learned that dressing up as a typical goth in baggy clothes and a bunch of piercings gave me peace while proving my point of how judgmental people are.” He shrugs and takes another sip of his root beer.

“It’s not like I was a complete loner or anything. I had a few friends I vibed with, but people would always question them behind my back as to why they chill with me. Kinda made it like I carried some sort of curse.”

“Did they ever find out you had connections with Mr. Champion?”

“At graduation,” he states with a laugh. “Don’t know why James was screaming like he’d won the lottery when my name got called, but the moment everyone saw my relation to James after his new redemption arc, suddenly, all these graduates want to know my name and what my future plans are. Kind of hilarious to watch how fake people will be if it means securing some sort of connection that will help them cruise in life.”

“Isn’t that the truth?” I laugh and shake my head. “I dealt with that when I was younger. When my dad was at the peak of his career, it felt amazing being the popular kid. Everyone wants to talk to you. No one messes around when you’re present and will bow at your feet if they did something wrong that could get them in bigger trouble if our parents find out. I think I was the happiest between ten and fourteen. Life was perfect back then.”

“So, before you got into nursing and all that,” Dimitri acknowledges but gives me a curious tilt of his head. “Did something change that?”

“Yeah.” My lips try to curl up, but I doubt my expression shows genuine bliss from such memories. “Then everything went downhill. Just one thing after another. Kinda like playing dodgeball, and you’re the last one on your team. Everyone is aiming at you, and bam. You’re hit again and again until you’re down for the count. That’s how it felt.”

Dimitri’s silence makes me close my eyes and lean my head back, so I can get a bit of the sun’s rays. The last bit of warmth until we’re taken over by fall weather.

I like that he’s not pressuring me to share what happened. It’s a quiet understanding I can respect and feel comfortable admitting bits of my past.

“Kinda started when my crew fell apart. I dated Jayce first when I was obviously young and underaged, but I thought to myself, ‘I’m grown.’ I’ve been on hockey tours and games, been in the spotlight, and all that. Why can’t I date someone five years older than me? My mom totally disapproved of Jayce. She hated him with a passion. He had the ‘good boy’ looks and all that, but he was the definition of bad. Drinking. Smoking. Chaos and fights. I was the definition of those typical high schoolers who had goo-goo eyes when Jayce walked into the room. You know how cool you feel when your guy comes in an antique Dodge Camaro to pick you up in front of your friends.”

“God.” Dimitri laughs and exaggerates rolling his eyes. “I can imagine the high-pitched squeals of envy.”

“Jealousy central,” I proclaim and laugh. “Oddly enough, I kinda knew in my heart our relationship wouldn’t last. We were too hot and cold. My personality was fierce. Palpable. I hated being controlled and never wanted to compromise. You either gave me your all or got out of my life.”

“I’m assuming Jayce got the kick out of your life,” Dimitri concludes.

“I guess fate made it so he had no choice,” I admit and look down at my can of root beer. “There was a skating family event on one of the nearby lakes. I forgot which one it was, but the ice was still freezing up and all that, so they told everyone not to skate too far out. Just where the professionals had confirmed was safe. As the daredevil problematic teenager I was, with my thrill-addicted boyfriend, we wanted to test things. However, we got into an argument.”

“Was it over your relationship?” Dimitri pondered.

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