A Saint for Life (6 page)

{10}

Gabe

“Janice! Jan! Janny!”

Rushing into my room, she was almost out of breath.

“What's wrong? Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, everything's great!”

“Damn it, Gabe! I told you to stop doing that to me. You know what that can do to me at my age. I could have a heart attack. Then who would take care of you when Zoe isn't here?”

“I'm sorry. I really am. But I have a secret to tell you.”

“What's that?”

“Come here. I can't tell you unless I whisper it.”

She leaned in closer, and I told her the secret into her ears.

By the look on her face as she backed away, I know Zoe probably already called her. Zoe probably told her where she was going, though. I don't know why she can't just tell me. I mean, I am her brother. She told me I was her best friend. Don’t best friends tell each other these things?

“So, what do you think? Am I right?”

“I don't know anything.” Janice backed away.

“She's going somewhere and told me she won't be home until late. She has to be with a boy.”

“If she wants you to know, she will tell you.”

“She’s keeping secrets from me, and I don’t like it!”

“She’s your older sister. Older sisters always keep secrets from their little brothers. I did from mine.”

“But not Zoe. She doesn’t do that. Can you hand me the walkie from over there? It’s almost game time!”

“What do you say? How do you ask?”

“Oh! Please, can I have the walkie talkie?”

“There’s your manners! I thought you had lost them somewhere!”

She grabbed it and put it in my hand, turning it on for me, but just when I thought she was going to leave my room she sat down on my bed beside me.

“Can I give you some advice?”

“When don’t you, Jan?”

“My name is Janice. Now, Gabriel—”

“My name is Gabe.”

“Oh, you are just something else, aren’t you? Well, sometimes Zoe doesn’t tell you things for your own good. She is your sister. She does a lot for you. If she asks you not to call her, you need to obey that. You understand that? Did she ask you not to call her?”

She stared down at my phone questioning me.

“Aw, come on. I just want to see where she is and who she is with.”

Her hand reached out to grab it.

“Do I have to take away the phone again?”

“No…” I hesitated.

“Good.”

We used the walkie-talkies to communicate so I didn’t have to yell to her. She hated using it. She says she’s too old for a phone like I have, so this was the only way she could get things done downstairs when I wanted to lay in bed, which I’ve been doing a lot of lately.

“Alright, I’m heading downstairs. Is there anything you need?”

“Nope, I’m good! The games going to be on soon. Thanks, Gram!”

She stood in the doorway with her hands on her hips. “I don’t really think you should call me that. That’s disrespectful toward your grandmother.”

“But I didn’t even know my grandma, and you are like my grandmother. I’m sorry.” I sank in my sheets, and Janice headed back over toward me.

“Oh, sweetie, it’s okay. I just…well, never mind. If you want to call me that, call me “grandma.” I won’t get mad.”

I smiled, looked up at her, and rested my head on her shoulder. My neck started was getting too heavy to hold up myself.

“I always wanted grandchildren. My only son never got married, though. But if I did, I would want them to be just like you and your sister.”

“You are like our family now.”

“Now, mister, don’t make me cry.” She rubbed my shoulder. I loved when she or Zoe did that. It felt good when my body hurt.

“Can you tell me the truth if I asked you a question?” I asked.

“Of course,” she replied.

“Well, Zoe says I’m getting better, but I just have to take more medicine. I don’t feel like I’m getting any better.”

“Your sister’s right. The doctors are giving you the medicine so you get better.”

“But it makes me feel yucky, and my body really is starting to hurt more. Please don’t tell Zoe that, though. I don’t want her to worry anymore.”

Janice looked like she was going to cry. “I won’t. I promise. But you have to promise me that you’ll get better.”

“I’m trying. It’s just hard. I can’t even hold a book anymore.” I went to reach for the book next to my bed but as I tried to grab it my grip released.

“I know, honey. But you just have to stay positive and keep praying that you will get better soon and you
will
. Now, is it almost game time?”

“It
is
game time!”

“I’ll go downstairs now. Will you be okay?”

“I’ll page you if I’m not, but I will be.” I laid my head back down on the soft pillowcase as she turned the game on for me. I struggled with pressing the buttons.

Zoe is lucky she gets to work there. I've never been to a Siena basketball game before. Well, I’ve never been to a basketball game in person before. I really want to go, though, instead of watching it from my bed. It's just not the same. I imagine it being awesome. It’s probably so loud there. I’d get a bag of popcorn and a soda and sit really close to the court. I would wear my Siena shirt and paint my face green like I see some kids do. Then I would cheer really loudly. Maybe one day I will get to do that. Maybe when I’m better.

“What’s the score of the game?” Janice spoke through the walkie-talkie.

“Siena is down by three with thirteen minutes left in the first half, over.”

“Roger that.”

“Christian Michaels, three-pointer! And there we have it, ladies and gentlemen. The game is now tied. Quinnipiac runs the ball down the court, and the six-foot-four guard goes in for the lay up and—oh! Missed it! Saints get the ball back!”

“The tall guy with the blonde hair shoots and scores!”

“Janice?” I spoke quietly.

“Yeah?”

“No offense, but you didn’t do that right.”

{11}

Zoe

We won the game again. Christian was to thank for that. The game had ended ten minutes ago, which meant it was almost time for my second date. I didn’t even know why I agreed to this. I went to the bathroom to fix my hair and make-up. I didn’t have a change of clothes, so I had to take my time. Christian said to give him about a half hour after the game ended, and he would meet me out front.

It was another chilly night in the Capital Region. The low was supposed to be below zero, and with the wind chill, I didn’t want to leave the building. I unfortunately forgot my gloves at home and didn’t have time to go back and get them after I had realized.

My stomach churned. I was starving. I had no idea what Christian had in store for us tonight. Maybe he would take me to another place where an ex worked. I hated that I was so pessimistic about this, but I didn’t see it ending well. Why did I even agree to go out again? I kept repeating that question over and over. Then I remembered it was because of Emily. I didn’t even really want to go. I did, though. I just didn’t want to admit it. I didn’t want to admit it to myself or to them because that would mean I was starting to fall for him, which I couldn’t be.

Sitting outside on the steps, I watched the cars drive by. As each minute passed, I began to grow more impatient. If he was going to be on time, he would be meeting me out here in only four more minutes. I made a deal with myself. If he was out here in four minutes, I would go. If he wasn’t, I would leave. I would make up an excuse that I didn’t feel well and drive home.

Three minutes were left. Cars continued to drive by, and, I swear, in that one minute the temperature dropped significantly. It all seemed pretty surreal to me. Thinking back on the past few weeks, I didn’t imagine myself even dating, at least not until Gabe was better. Maybe not even until I was finished with school.

Snow fell from the sky. The touch of the light snowflakes on my bare hands made them colder. I buried them in my jacket pockets to try and keep them warm. Continuing to watch the street in front of me, people were leaving the bar that was just outside of the arena. A couple in particular stood out to me. You could tell by watching them that they were genuinely happy. She walked outside laughing, her head lying on his shoulder as he held her hand. They walked to the car parked across the street. Opening the door for her, he kissed her on the forehead and shut the door behind her as she sat in.

I wasn’t sure if I was more jealous or scared. As much as I wanted something like that, I was also terrified. I didn’t know what it felt like to love and to be loved. Seeing my friends be happy and then completely heartbroken and going through that over and over again scared me. I don’t want that to happen to me. But I remember my parents’ relationship, and they were always happy. I don’t know of a time that they ever argued.

After getting lost in my thoughts, I looked down at my phone. There was only a minute left until Christian said he would meet me.

{12}

Christian

I didn’t think the game would ever end. I loved playing basketball, so I never thought I would see the day that I would want to do something more. But today was just that. The entire game the only thing I could think about was my second date with Zoe.

After the game, I quickly showered and began to get ready. I told her I would meet her a half an hour after the game ended. That was my estimate, anyway. After the game ended, our coach would talk to us for, on average, ten to fifteen minutes, then I would meet with a reporter for five minutes, then showering and getting ready shouldn’t take me much longer than that. I should be out there just in time.

Tonight was going to be perfect. I wanted to make up for the first date. Since it was so cold out, I planned to take Zoe to a small bakery closer to school. It closed hours before the game, but I knew the owners well, and after telling them what I wanted to do, they agreed without hesitation. I’m going to bring her there, and a table will be set for two with a candle lit in the middle. A fire will be burning in the fireplace, and the bakery would be lit up with Christmas lights. Thanks to Zoe’s friend, I found out what her favorite dessert was and had the owners prepare it for her. Luckily, I was able to do this on a whim and under short notice. I wanted it to be romantic. I had planned this earlier in the day, taking a good chance that she would accept my date invitation.

However, everything seemed to be going wrong. Anxiety was thriving inside of me now. Our coach talked for longer than usual, and tonight, not one, but two reporters wanted to talk to me. Their interviews were longer than usual too. I should have known that everyone would want to talk after this big win. We defeated the number one team in the conference. Everyone called tonight's game the MAAC Championship Finals preview. My phone was trapped in the locker room, and I didn’t have access to it until after I was done with the interviews. I had no idea what time it was.

Entering the locker room in a rush, I scrambled through my stuff to reach my phone. Good. I had 10 minutes to shower and get ready. I decided to text Zoe to let her know I might be a few minutes longer so I didn’t make her worry.

I ran my hand through my semi-wet hair, buttoned my shirt, and threw on my jacket. Zipping up my bag and collecting all of my things, I ran out of the locker room. The path from the locker room to where I said I would meet her seemed longer than I remembered. The arena was empty by now, which made it easier for me to run a straight path. I raced down the court, and found my way to where I would meet her.

I got to the door and saw through the glass a girl sitting on the very steps where she said she was. Her hood was up, and her hands were tucked in her jacket. It was dark out, but no one else was here. My heart was racing, and I saw my reflection in the door. I was smiling. This girl was doing more to me than I had realized, and I still barely knew her.

Opening the door, I walked quickly toward her.

“Zoe! Sorry. I tried to get ready as fast as I could!”

The girl turned around and stared at me.

It wasn’t Zoe.

I looked down at my phone to see if she had texted me, and I had a new text from her from about five minutes ago. Looking at our conversation, I felt awful. My text to her about being later than I thought I would was still typed out as a draft. I never hit send.