Chapter Ten

"So when do I get to meet Sidney Crosby?" Jeremiah asked.
"How many times are you going to ask that, seriously."
"I want to meet him." He said.
"Why exactly?"
"Why does it matter?"
"Because it does.. do you want to meet him because he is Sidney Crosby, an amazing hockey player, or do you want to meet him because he is my best friend and one of the most important people in my life?"
"Who wouldn't want to meet Sidney Crosby?"
"The fact that you keep saying Sidney Crosby, and not just Sidney says it all."
"Thats his name."
"Do you ever hear me saying Sidney Crosby? No, I say Sidney or Sid.. I don't care what his last name is.. but apparently you do.. so you should probably just leave."
"I don't get it."
"We are no longer an us, because you would rather date Sidney CROSBY. Have fun at prom and how about we don't talk again.. Okay, bye!!" I said shutting the door behind him.

"What was the about?" Jacob asked.
"Thanks for telling me that Jeremiah is like Sidney's biggest fan!"
"Yeah, I was kind of getting that impression too."
"Yeah, whatever."
"Who are you going to go to prom with then?" Jacob asked.
"Good question."
"Why don't you ask Connor?"
"I'm sure he probably already has a date."
"I always thought he had a thing for you."
"No, we were always just friends."
"Just ask him."
"I'll talk to him later, I just want to talk to Sid now." I said going up to my room.

"Hiya." I said calling him.
"haha hey." He said.
"What are you doing?"
"Driving back from practice."
"Oh fun times! Do you want to have a movie night tonight?" I said.
"Don't you have school tomorrow?"
"Spring Break." I said.
"Thats nice, yeah then definitely."
"Okay, I have to go work at the cafe til like 7."
"I'll just come over at like 730?"
"Yeah.. thanks Sid."

Work went super fast and I just wanted to talk to Sidney about everything that was on my mind. He came downstairs to find me laying on the couch with my glasses on and in my pajamas.
"Thanks for dressing up for me." He said moving my legs and sitting on the couch.
"Only the best for you!" I said laughing.
"I brought you cold stone, its in the freezer."
"How did you know?"
"You thanked me after we hung up.. I knew something was up." He said.
"Did I really thank you?"
"haha yeah.. it was kind of random... so whats wrong?"
"Umm I don't have a date to prom anymore."
"What happened to Jeremiah?"
"I think he would have much rathered going to prom with you, than with me." I said.
"What do you mean?"
"All he wanted to do was meet you, he asked me like 100 times. It was getting annoying and I was like over it."
"I'm sorry."
"Not your fault."
"If I could take you to prom, I would."
"I know.. I might just go with this kid, Connor."
"Who is he?"
"I've known him since like the 2nd grade. He use to be really good friends with Jacob, but once Jake got really into hockey, they kind of drifted."
"Connor doesn't play?"
"No, he plays lacrosse."
"You are still friends?"
"Yeah, after him and Jake stopped being as close, me and him kind of became good friends. He was like the only person that went to the Academy from our gradeschool with me."
"That will be fun then."
"Yeah, what movie?" I said getting up and looking at my extensive movie collection.
"The Italian Job." He said.
"Thats not your favorite movie." I said.
"Yeah, but its yours.. so lets watch it." I pulled it out and walked over to the couch.
"I feel like I should say sorry."
"Why?" He said confused.
"Because its none of my business who you date and I'm not going to comment anymore."
"I want you to like the girl I date, Jo. I really want you too and I want you to comment, but I just don't want to fight about it."
"I know.. I just sometimes I pick fights."
"Really? Haven't noticed." He said laughing.
"I know, its just.. when I get mad at people, I pick fights with you."
"Why?"
"Its just what I do.. its like I know that no matter what you will be there. I know that no matter what I say or how hard I push, you will come back.. Sometimes I just need to know that you still care."
"You don't need to pick fights to know that I care.. I always will care about you, you are my best friend." He said looking me in the eyes.
"I know, and I'm just saying sorry now and for the future fights I pick, but I'll try and stop."
"Is there something else on your mind?"
"School."
"What do you mean? You are like the top of your class."
"I have to pick where I want to go next year."
"Oh, and you don't know where you want to go?"
"Not really, I got scholarships to play soccer at a few places."
"Where?"
"RMU, Penn State, Ohio State, Virginia, and Michigan."
"Those are really good schools, Jo!" He said smiling.
"I don't know where to go though.."
"I thought you always wanted to go to Virginia."
"I did, but Jacob is going to RMU to play hockey and its just we have never been that far apart before. Plus, like I feel bad just leaving my family."
"So go to RMU."
"Where do you think I should go?" I asked him.
"Its not my decision. Of course I don't want you to go far away, but I mean you always have to deal with me traveling, I can deal with having my best friend away too."
"I just don't know."
"So you are going to for sure play soccer?"
"Yeah, I mean my parents spent so much money to send me to the Academy, I feel like if I have a free tuition somewhere, I should just take it."
"I know that, but I just don't want you to go somewhere just because of money."
"I know.. I just don't want to think about next year right now."
"You have to make a decision soon."
"I know, but can we just talk about it later?"
"Yeah.. I'll go get the ice cream."
"I'll put in the movie."
So we sat in the basement on the couch with two spoons eating cold stone out of the carton together. We watched movie after movie until he had to leave because he had a game the next night. I couldn't imagine not being able to see him whenever I wanted next year. He was my rock and my best friend. If I didn't have him or Jacob, I don't know what I would do. It wasn't like I wanted to be a brain surgeon, I didn't need to go to an amazing school, just a good one. Just somewhere that I could be happy, and I knew if I had soccer, my brother, and my best friend.. I would be happy.