Connie sat alone in her bedroom. Her eyes dry and itchy from all the crying she had done since Guy's verdict was handed down.
Why did he have to play the hero to protect her? She wondered feeling every inch of guilt. It was her who killed him, not Guy. Why wouldn't anyone believe her?
"Connie? Are you in here?" Danielle quietly opened the door. She was the only other one who knew the truth but she'd rather see that bastard Guy rot in hell than lose Connie forever.
Connie didn't answer. Danielle was the last person she wanted to see right now. Every time she looked at her she saw the hurt and the pain she'd caused her family by seeing Guy. She saw the suffering Danielle experienced knowing that Connie could still love Guy after everything he had done.
"Con, mother wants you to come with us to the party, you know showing the united family thing" Danielle said from the doorway. She couldn't bring herself to get any closer to Connie, every time she was near Connie she felt this urge to just hit her to make her feel the pain she was feeling.
"What united family Danielle, its all bullshit and you know it" Connie snapped.
"But mother…" Danielle started.
"But mother nothing. I'm not about to go to some stupid party where everyone's trying their hardest to ignore me whilst whispering about Guy. No freaking way. She can go without me" Connie announced grabbing her skates and handbag, pushing past Danielle as the exited the room.
"Where are you going?" Danielle asked shocked. That was the most Connie had said to her since it happened.
"OUT!" Connie yelled back ignoring her mother at the bottom of the staircase and walking straight out the front door into the cool night air.
………………………………………………………
"Good Lord what the hell is this crap?" Kev asked poking at his plate with his fork with a disgusted look on his face.
Guy shrugged remaining silent. He'd been thinking a lot about Connie lately and it was starting to get him down.
"I think we should riot until they start serving us real food. Whaddya reckon?" Kev asked as they sat down at the table they usually ate their meals at.
"Yeah sure" Guy replied absently, not actually hearing what the question was.
"You okay Germaine?"
Guy shrugged again "Yeah just thinking" he replied
"Bout that girl huh" Kev pressed on knowing exactly what was going through Guy's head.
"How'd you know?" Guy looked at him sideways wondering what gossip had spread through the prison.
"Boy we ain't stupid up in here, we get the newspapers in here. That Connie Moreau, shit dude, she's sweet" he laughed.
Guy felt his anger rising but chose not to say anything. He couldn't afford to get Kev offside otherwise he'd been dead in seconds.
"She your girl huh?" Kev continued.
Guy looked down at his plate "Was, I'll be 85 by the time I get out of here and I'm not letting her see me in here" he said quietly.
Kev nodded sympathetically. "I hear ya"
Guy suddenly wasn't hungry anymore and pushed his plate forward. He sat there in silence until the guards indicated they were allowed to return to their cells.
…………………………………………..
Connie passed the pond staring hard at the kids who were now representing the District 5 peewee hockey team.
If only they knew that life gets harder by the day. She thought remembering the time when she was 10 years old and not having a care in the world other than remembering to recycle copies of the Enquirer to use as shin pads.
She walked on seeing various landmarks that brought on memories of the good times with Guy and the Ducks. She passed Goldberg's Delicatessen, Fulton's alleyway and the corner where they found out they had been chosen to represent the US in the Junior Goodwill Games.
She arrived at her destination surprised to find the arena empty. She pulled on her skates and made her way out onto the ice. Skating laps she remembered the time they won the Minnesota State Pee Wee Hockey Championship game against the Hawks.
She could still hear the chorus of "Charlie, Charlie, Charlie, Charlie" as he nervously made his way to centre ice to take his penalty shot. That was one of the best days she ever had, it was the day her and Guy first kissed in the centre of the ice amidst the celebrations by the rest of their teammates.
She looked around to find she had skated to the spot where they roughly were that day and she sank down to her knees. Fresh tears had formed in her eyes as she thought about what Guy was going through now.
How did our worlds come tumbling down around us? She wondered.
……………………………………………………
Guy's thoughts were constantly plagued by the impact his presence has had on ruining Connie's life. If it wasn't for him, she'd still have her father, she'd still have her sister's sanity and she'd be happy with Charlie.
He was never mad at Charlie for being with Connie. He knew that Charlie would treat her well and would never hurt her, not even a tiny bit compared to how much Guy had already hurt her.
He'd made up his mind, he was going to tell Connie that he never wanted to see her again. Sure, she'd be hurt and upset by it initially but eventually she'll get over it and be happy, without him.