CHAPTER FIVE
The first semester had come and gone. The Ducks had won all of their games and it was nearing Christmas break. My father had arranged for me to stay with Orion because he was away on business, like always and while everyone was excited about going home for the holidays, I was worrying about being a burden on Orion and his family. This school's changed me, god damn it.
"See you, Krysta!" Adam hugged me and I shoved him off.
"Has anyone ever told you, you hug to hard," I muttered, arching my back but he laughed, shaking his head. He knew we were friends, even when I didn't show it but it took a while for me to accept it. I even told him why I didn't like people. He told me I was an idiot and that I boarded at Eden Hall, so even if my father did move, I could stay. Let's just say feeling stupid is an understatement.
"I'm gonna miss you, Krysta," he grinned and I rolled my eyes.
"Bye Krysta," Julie yelled from behind me and I smiled, waving.
"See ya, roomie!"
"God, you're weird," I heard Fulton mutter.
"Oh shut it, just cause I'm not staying here doesn't mean-."
"I'm the only one staying."
"You sound like a five year old, shut up. Hey, where's Dean?" Ken asked, popping up behind Fulton.
"God you're like a daisy," I muttered.
"What the hell?" Ken laughed.
"He left already," Fulton answered and I sniffed slightly, you could say I was annoyed. The dude either ignored me or, no actually, that's pretty much it. I mean, it's one thing when I'm doing the ignoring, but the other way round. No, sorry, it just pisses me off.
"Krysta, you're gonna kill the strap of your backpack," Adam laughed and I looked down to see my hands twisting said strap.
"Right, well I should go," I muttered, remembering that I said I'd meet Orion outside the school gates.
"Bye," Adam hugged me again, but this time gentler and I pulled back to see Charlie glaring in our direction but before I could say anything, Ken whipped me around, hugging me as well, followed by Fulton and then Connie came in there somehow.
"Bye guys." There were multiple responses but my eyes landed on Conway again and I gave a fake smile, wiggling my fingers at him. Straightening from the car he was leaning on, he icily turned away from me, getting inside soon after followed by his mother who smiled at me. Putting my headphone in, 'Stand Out' by Tevin Campbell blasted in my ears as I walked through the school until I found Orion. "Hi."
"Hey," he smiled, obviously happy to be off of work. He took my bag and I got into the car, soon followed by him, on the drivers' side though. "So how do you like Eden Hall so far?"
"It's better than I expected," I smiled, "I mean, I seriously thought it'd be another snobby prep school but the Ducks were determined to show me different."
"You know, if you're father came and saw you now, he wouldn't recognize you," Orion stated, "You've changed since you've been here."
"Sometimes I wonder if that's a good or a bad thing," I laughed slightly.
"What do you mean?" he asked, seeming genuinely interested.
"I don't know," I shrugged, "Just that, I care more about stuff that I used to not. It was easier that way."
"Ah, I see. Is there a boy?"
"Orion, you're one of my father's best friends, you honestly think I'm gonna tell you?" I laughed and he smiled.
"Worth a shot, right?" I smiled back before looking out the window but gave into the burning in my hand and reached down for my backpack, pulling out my notebook. Flipping to one of the unfinished drawings, I pulled the memory back into the eyes in my mind. It was the ice in the ice rink, the way it was carved into, it had looked like a distorted heart. "You're really very good." My head snapped up to see Orion staring at the drawing; I smiled briefly before closing the notebook, realizing we had stopped. "Do you take an art class?"
"No," I scoffed, "Art classes stifle creativity, plus my father wouldn't 'approve' or something."
"Has he ever seen one?"
"Nope," I sighed and he seemed to get the message to drop it. He opened the trunk and I pulled out my oversized duffle bag, following him up the front porch steps.
"Nora," he yelled as he opened the door, "We're here!"
"Daddy!" a little voice screeched, followed by a little girl jumping into her father's arms. I smiled slightly at the cuteness of the scene and an older woman walked into the room.
"You must be Krysta."
"I am, it's nice to meet you Mrs. Orion."
"Oh please," she smiled, "Call me Nora."
"Well then call me Krysta," I laughed, looking at the girl who was staring at me curiously.
"You're wearing pants, like mommy."
"Yup," I nodded.
"They look like boy pants."
"Haley!" her mother scolded but I smiled.
"They are, I bought them in the guys department." The little girl, Haley, gave this some thought before giving a toothy grin.
"I like them, mommy, can I get some pants like those?"
"We'll see," her mother laughed and I smiled at the love I could feel in the room. The way Orion looked at his wife made me want to laugh because it was like the picture perfect love scene. They seemed like nice people. "So, Krysta, you help Ted with the team?"
"Well, I wouldn't call it helping, I do the odd jobs. Occasionally helping with training, but very rarely."
"She's got a great slap shot," Orion grinned and his wife rolled her eyes.
"Do you play hockey?"
"No," I laughed and she tilted her head before I swallowed my forkful of steak, we were at dinner, "Apparently, I'm a trouble maker."
"Trouble maker?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow as she looked at her husband.
"It's my job to keep her out of trouble, I recruited the Ducks and they seem to have taken a liking to her."
"Nothing illegal, Mrs. Or-I mean Nora, don't worry," I said when her eyebrow didn't lower. She seemed to relax, smiling. "Dinner's great, thanks for letting me stay here."
"Of course, Krysta, you seem like a nice girl." Yeah right, I mentally rolled my eyes at the automatic come back. I could see she was a bit uneasy now that she knew I was a trouble maker but honestly, it was better she found out now than later.
"May I be excused," I inquired when I was done and they both nodded.
"Haley, why don't you show her to her room," Orion suggested and the little girl bounced over, taking my hand.
"They're gonna have a adult talk," Haley sighed and I looked at her surprised, she was a smart kid, "Do you know any good songs?"
"Uh, I think so," I muttered, throwing my bag on the bed before turning to face her again, "Why?"
"Cause they're gonna want me to sleep and I can't unless mommy sings to me," she explained and I smiled.
"C'mon," I held out my hand and she took it, leading her to her bedroom. She climbed into her bed, hugging a . . . oh my god it was a platypus. Jesus Christ.
"Krysta?"
"Right, sorry," I muttered, running a hand through my hair as I racked my brain for the lyrics of my mother's lullaby. Sitting on the bed, I pulled the covers around her and she giggled when my fingers touched her cheeks. "Well, my mom sang this to me when I was little,
Christopher Robin and I walked along
Under branches lit up by the moon
Posing our questions to Owl and Eeyore
As our days disappeared all too soon
But I've wandered much further today than I should
And I can't seem to find my way back through wood
Help me if you can, I've got to get
Back to the house at Pooh Corner by one
You'd be surprised, there's so much to be done
Count all the bees in the hive
Chase all the clouds from the sky
Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh
Winnie the Pooh doesn't know what to do
Got a honey jar stuck on his nose
He came to me asking help and advise
And from there no one knows where he goes
So I sent him to ask of the owl if he's there
How to loosen the jar from the nose of a bear
Help me if you can, I've got to get
Back to the house at Pooh Corner by one
You'd be surprised, there's so much to be done
Count all the bees in the hive
Chase all the clouds from the sky
Back to the days of Christopher Robin and Pooh
Night, Haley."
"Night Krysta," she mumbled sleepily and I smiled, leaving her to sleep. As I backed out of the room, I walked into someone and turned to see Nora smiling.
"Thank you," she smiled and I nodded, watching her leave. Walking back to my room, I saw Orion walking up the stairs.
"Do you mind if I use your phone? Adam wanted me to call when I got here," I whispered and Orion grinned.
"Sure."
"Thanks, it wont happen often, promise, it's just, well, you know Adam."
"Yeah, he's a good kid."
"Whoa, not like that, Orion," I laughed, "We're just friends."
"Oh I know."
"He just cares too much."
"No, he's a good friend."
"That too," I smiled, "Night Coach."
"Night Krysta, there's a phone in your room."
"Thank you," I whispered after him and he gave me thumbs up to which I shook my head, smiling again. I tiptoed back to the guest room and closed the door before sitting on my bed and dialing the number Adam had given me.
"Hello?" a sleepy voice answered on the second ring.
"You told me to call," I stated and he laughed.
"The one time you take me seriously."
"Are you-?"
"Chill Krysta," he yawned and I felt a stab of guilt, "How's it over there?"
"It's alright," I sighed, "I mean the girl's okay but the mom, she's kinda weird."
"Ya know that family went through a lot," Adam told me, "His daughter got into a car accident when she was little, killing his first wife and crippling the daughter."
"But the girl-."
"She only learned to walk again last year, it was pretty amazing actually. The doctors said she'd never walk again."
"Well doctors are moronic," I muttered, "God, his wife died?"
"Yeah, she did, but he remarried a couple years later. They seem happy."
"Yeah they do," I smiled but suddenly wondered how old the kid was.
"She's fourteen."
"How the hell do you do that?" I could practically feel him shrugged.
"I dunno, I just do," he laughed and I growled.
"I don't understand how you know me so well," I stated but this was responded to with more laughter, "You're a jerk."
"I'm sorry!" he finally breathed, "It's just, I'm the closest you are with. Of course I know you. Even if it's only a little, I still can't read you half the time, most of the time, I'm guessing."
"Well, that's good to know," I rolled my eyes and he chuckled, "Wait so if she's fourteen, why is she so babied? I mean, I just sang her a song for Christ's sake."
"Wait, you sang? And cats didn't howl?"
"Dogs, dim-wit and no they didn't, I can barely sing but I'm not as bad as you."
"Ouch."
"Yeah," I sighed.
"She's probably babied because she's Orion's only child and she survived a really fatal accident."
"I didn't know there was a difference between fatal and really fatal," I teased and he grunted.
"Shut up, I'm tired."
"Sorry," I muttered and he chuckled.
"It's fine." We talked for about half an hour more before we were both falling asleep. "Okay, I'm gonna-."
"Die, yeah, I know, night Adam," I yawned, hanging up. I didn't even bother changing I was so tired and sleep came easily.
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Lala, i like writing...i wouldn't be surprized if this was posted all tonight...prolly wont be tho...