This has been floating around in my mind for a long while. Inspired by the song Don't ever let it end by Nickelback
"Guess who got tickets to the game on Sunday!" Faith hears before she sees a long leg step over the back of the old lounge chair before the other as he sits down rather unorthodoxly. "You'll come right Faith? You like hockey?" He asks grinning like an idiot next to the pretty blonde that was also on the couch.
"Seriously Jem, can you not act normal ever?" Faith rolls her eyes. Looking towards the two other girls around her, a brunette and a redhead who both roll their eyes. Both are similar enough for a double take but different enough for it to be questionable if they were twins or not.
"Never? Come on, it will be fun and we can stop by Tims on the way back and make fun of the cops who sit in the parking lot eating doughnuts," Jem says nudging her.
"What about us are we invited?" The redhead asks.
"Sure, dear sister you are more than welcome to come along. If you buy your own tickets," Jem says simply. "I only have two after all and one has already been claimed Di, and Nan well you have Jerry to take you if you truly wanted to go."
"I haven't even accepted yet?" Faith exclaims.
"But you always will," Jem grins. "I have to get to class now, see you all later. Faith I'll see you Sunday! Meet you at the arena? I know you work you stay behind at church for the whole coffee thing"
Faith shakes her head. "Your brother is certifiable, you know that right?" She asks them.
"Oh of course, but you're the one who puts up with him," The twins say in unison.
"For the last time, there is nothing between us," Faith tells him.
"Yeah, will tell that to the school and usually if you sleep with someone it means you're into them?" Nan reminds her.
"Seriously it was once and we were drunk," Faith huffs. "We were kids," she adds once for even more a wave off.
"Oh yes, because eighteen and twenty are children," Di rolls her eyes.
"It was a Halloween dorm party, we both agreed that it was a silly thing to do." Faith glares.
"You are both in denial," Nan says shaking her head. "I have to get to class, see you later."
Faith is still shaking her head as she breathes in the cold air as she walks down the street to the arena. She had brought a change of clothes, changing out of her church dress to her warm fleece leggings, tee-shirt to wear underneath the hoody and her very own hockey jersey that she had for such occasions.
"Ahaha I found you," she hears, as she sees the familiar shoes of Jem Blythe, his curly red hair covered by a toque and a scarf wrapped around his hockey Jersey. "I thought I told you I would pick you up?"
"You said to meet at the arena," Faith says shaking her head.
"Right my bad!" He says shaking his head, a stray curl escaping. He wraps his arm around her shoulder. "It's bloody cold out today."
"Well it is January," Faith says shaking her head as they reach the arena and he fishes out the tickets.
"Beer or hot chocolate?" She asks him looking at concessions.
"Beer please," Jem says. "The usual, and here," he flips her his debit card.
"I have money Jem," Faith says shaking her head.
"I knew but I got paid today, so just humour me will you." He flashes her a grin and she just takes his card.
The arena is cold, Faith grips her hot chocolate, while Jem holds his beer as they go find their seat. Faith looks at him with a smile, her gloves still on her hands as she held her hot chocolate with two hands.
His toque ends up on her head at some point, her golden hair around her shoulders as they both get into the game with a loud vengeance. It was a running joke that Faith had no filter when it came to the game. She wasn't one for cursing, but she gladly yelled whatever profanities that came to her mind.
"Defence! Seriously defence my god you are all idiots!" Faith finds her shouting. "My baby brother can play better than you!"
She looks over at Jem who is laughing at her.
"Oh come on, the ref is missing half of the penalties!" She says sitting back down.
"You know why I bring you to games Faith, because your commentary is so much better than the actual game," Jem says with a huge grin on his face.
They are laughing on the way out of the arena, the cool air hits their cheeks and they laugh as they race down the street.
"I believe you promised me doughnuts," Faith tells him.
"Come on then," Jem laughs and shakes his head, his arm wrapping around her shoulders once more. "Heavens forbid that you don't get your doughnuts."
"Damn right!" Faith says laughing, moving in front of him, standing on her tippy toes in her winter boots.
Golden brown, might the hazel ones for a brief moment as she looks over the ginger stubble on his face before pulling a piece of fluff from his facial hair.
"There you go," she says before returning to her spot beside him, trying to keep her heart from beating rapidly. The image of his lips is trapped in her mind, she remembers the kisses they gave her once before.
"Thanks," he says gruffly.
They reach the classic doughnut shop, they find a table near the window before Jem goes to grab the promised doughnuts.
He put down the tray with a box of treats and what most likely is more hot chocolate or coffee for them.
"How many do you expect me to eat," Faith says investigating. "Ooh my favourite, you know me so well."
"Well, we've been friends and neighbours for god knows how long," Jem says with a shrug. "How's nursing doing?"
"It's fine, medical?" Faith asks him
"Hard but worth it?" He says as his phone buzzes and lights up and Faith can't help but glance at it.
"Just Rilla freaking about biology class and school in general," Jem tells her without a beat
"Oh god do they still have to dissect that fetal pig still?" Faith asks making a face.
"Apparently so? She's trying to get dad to write her a note out of it, but it's not working" Jem explains before biting into a doughnut.
"How is she doing? She went through a lot only to have to go through another traumatic thing?" Faith asks quietly.
"She's—?" Jem stops for a moment. "She's a wreck, she cries a lot but getting better I guess? Walter is around a lot for her, and Kenneth Ford, he stayed over Christmas as well."
"He's the one who found her?" Faith asks quietly and Jem nods.
"She barely lets anyone touch her, but she trusts him which is good I guess, even if no one can understand why?" Jem says.
"Well give her my love next time you see her," Faith says after a short pause. "No peanut gallery of cops tonight?"
"Doesn't seem like it," Jem says musing out loud. "Strange?"
"Indeed," Faith says nodding her head. "Walk me home?" She asks him, knowing he will anyway.
"Always, one can never be too safe these days," Jem tells her frowning at his words, and talking about his baby sister only a few moments before.
"Jem?" Faith asks once outside, her arm tucked into his as they walked to her place.
"Yeah?" He looks down at her.
"You know what, nothing," Faith says shaking her head. "Thanks for the day, I had fun."
"Anytime," Jem says smiling at her. "You know me, I'm the best sort of friend someone can have."
"Friends," Faith says quietly. "Friends are good to have I guess."
Hope everyone enjoys this small side story, and the different characters that have been swirling in my brain for who knows how long.