The Playmaker (Fire on Ice) (6 page)

Six

Taylor

School hit me like a slap in the face. I was taking six classes, one more than the normal load, so that I could graduate early. I had been a dual enrollment student in high school, taking college credits in conjunction with my high school classes, with the goal of graduating college in three years. The next step was early entry into a doctoral program in psychology. I had just mailed applications to four competitive programs and one safety school. The fact that I was going for a degree in experimental psychology, which was less competitive than a clinical track, stacked the odds in my favor, as did the fact that I had already engaged in publishable research at the undergraduate level. Having a few kick ass letters of recommendation, especially from a Statistics professor, Dr. Simmons, who really liked me, definitely didn’t hurt.

“Do you think I should take the GRE again before I finalize my applications?” Kyle asked as we headed to our Cognitive Psychology class.

“I’m not sure there’s time. The deadlines for the best programs are in a few weeks.”

Kyle heaved a heavy sigh. “With the scores I have right now, I think it’s a pipe dream to even apply to the better programs. Maybe I should just take Dr. Adams up on her offer and stay here for a Master’s degree then apply for doctoral programs.”

Kyle and I met at orientation our freshman year and were inseparable since then. Like me, he transferred in college credits from high school and we took all of the same classes together. We even worked in the same psychology lab for the same professor but on two different projects.

Kyle was tall but lanky.
Awkward
might be the first word that came to mind when you met him. But he was the type of guy who had a heart of gold when you really got to know him.

“It doesn’t hurt to apply to some doctoral programs as well as the Master’s program here,” I suggested.

Kyle nodded but I could tell his mind was still working overtime.

“You could apply to a program that doesn’t require a GRE. You’ve got really good grades.”

He frowned. “You have good grades. I got a B in Physiological Psychology. It will forever tarnish my record.”

“One B is not going to tarnish your record,” I said although I had to admit I was glad I didn’t have any B’s on my transcript.

“That’s easy for someone with straight A’s to say.”

When we entered the classroom, I was surprised to see the room was nearly filled except for a few seats near the back where a cute blonde was sitting by herself. I had never seen her before, which was unusual because a lot of the same students took the upper level psychology classes together.

Kyle sat next to the blonde and I sat on the other side of Kyle. The blonde looked thin, almost too thin, like a strong breeze would blow her away. When she glanced at Kyle, she gave him a warm smile. Kyle froze like he wasn’t sure what to do.

“I’m Taylor,” I said to the blonde. “And this is Kyle.”

The blonde looked back and forth between the two of us and disappointment seemed to sweep across her face. I had the horrible feeling she thought Kyle and I were together.

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I blurted in an effort to salvage what appeared to be genuine interest in Kyle. “We’re just friends.”

The blonde furrowed her brow and I realized I was probably jumping to conclusions and crossing a few lines.

“I’m Annie,” the blonde said. “I just transferred from the community college.”

“Do you need a study partner?” I suggested.

Annie looked down at her massive textbook then looked back up at me. “I guess that’s not a bad idea.”

“You could study with us,” I added.

Kyle glared at me. I’m not sure why he was upset, or angry. I was trying to do him a favor.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?” Annie’s question was directed at Kyle.

“
It’s fine,” Kyle said although he gave me one more sideways glance which told me he has still pissed.

After what could have won an award for one of the most boring lectures ever, Kyle and I headed out of class. Annie walked near us but she wasn’t exactly walking with us. She seemed a little unsure whether she should join us or not.

“Hey, Annie,” I called. “What’s your next class?”

She moved closer to Kyle. “It’s not until later this afternoon. I have a biochemistry class.”

“Maybe Kyle can take you to lunch?” He glared at me again. I was sure I was going to hear about it later but for now, I was
intent on playing matchmaker.

“I thought it was my turn to walk you back to your room,” he said.

I shook my head. “No, Zelda is supposed to be here.”

“It doesn’t look like she’s here.”

“I’m sure she will be in a few minutes.”

Kyle crossed his arms over his chest. “I don’t want your bad
- ass boyfriend mad at me because I left you to walk home by yourself.”

When I glanced at Annie, she looked stunned. I’m sure she had no idea what was going on between us.

“A guy was kind of stalking me last semester. But he dropped out of school. I don’t think there’s much to worry about anymore.”

Kyle raised an eyebrow. “Did Kian say that?”

I shook my head.

“Then you’re not going by yourself.”

“Maybe I’d better get going,” Annie said.

“My sister will be here. I promise. You guys go to lunch.”

Kyle finally looked over at Annie and she gave him a shy smile. I thought they would make a cute couple. I noticed the look in Kyle’s eyes changed ever so slightly as he continued to look at Annie. It was as if he was really looking at her for the first time.

“Do you really want to go to lunch with me?”

Annie nodded.

“Are you sure you’re going to be alright?” Kyle asked me.

“Yes, now go.”

Kyle held up his cell phone. “Call me if you need me.”

“Yes, Sir,” I replied.

I had to smile when Kyle and Annie walked away. It was the first time I had ever seen Kyle with a girl other than me since we started college.

As I stood there waiting for my sister, I started to shiver, even though it wasn’t particularly cold. The northern Arizona winter had been a warm one, much to the dismay of the winter sports industry. I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. I was glad to be in the middle of the quad with lots of people walking by on their way to various places on campus.

After several minutes of people watching, one of my favorite activities as a psychology major, my sister came dashing towards me.
Zelda was not one to stroll or even walk, she was always dashing around campus, her signature long skirts flowing in the breeze. Since Christmas, she had added a long pink scarf to her eccentric wardrobe, a gift Tater Tot Tim had given her that she hadn’t yet taken off. It made me wonder if she even wore it in the bathtub.

“Sorry I’m late,” my sister said as she stopped in front of me. My sister, who was much taller than me, usually towered over me
. How much depended on the height of heels she was wearing. “Where’s Kyle?”

“On a date,” I replied.

My sister frowned. “I don’t think you heard my question. I asked where is Kyle.”

“I don’t think you heard my response. He’s on a date.”

My sister laughed. “You’re shitting me!”

I shook my head. “No. Definitely not. I may have forced him into it just a little but he’s on a date.”

My sister raised an eyebrow. “With a female?”

“Of course with a female. He’s not gay.”

“I wasn’t sure. I vacillate between thinking he might be gay and thinking he’s in love with you. Sometimes it’s hard to tell. It happens a lot with guys at the theater. Sometimes they’re gay and they still fall in love with me. That’s awkward.”

If you looked up the word
man-eater
in the dictionary, there is, no doubt, my sister’s picture would be there. And anyone who knows my sister would wholeheartedly agree with the definition.

“I think we should get lunch before we head back to your place,” my sister suggested. “I’m starving.”

I frowned. “You’re always starving.”

“My treat,” my sister offered as she grabbed my elbow. “My way of saying I’m sorry for being late.”

“If you’re paying,” I said. “You’ve got a date.”

As we headed to our favorite off campus lunch place, The Twisted Mug, I said as casually as I could, “So, have you heard anything about Blake lately?”

My sister stopped dead in her tracks. “Oh, my God! I completely forgot to tell you. Actually, I haven’t really had a chance. I was at a theater party the other night and this guy, who has like known Blake forever and knows his family, said he was arrested.”

“For what?” I blurted.

“I guess he was at a theater party and he picked up a girl. Someone said it was Stinky’s cousin from Tucson. Not that it matters. Anyway, she apparently decided she didn’t like him as much as she initially thought. Big shock there. She wanted to leave and he didn’t want her to, so he hit her. A few times. She managed to get away from him and called the cops. The charges were later dropped though. The guy thought Blake’s parents probably paid her off.”

I could feel my blood run cold as it moved through my body. I knew Blake was a creep but I had no idea he was capable of violence.

“He’s down in Scottsdale, right? With his parents?” I could hear the panic in my own voice.

My sister shrugged. “I think he was trying to appeal his di
smissal from school.”

“You haven’t seen him around though, have you?”

She shook her head. “No, he hasn’t been around the theater at all.”

“You’ll tell me if you hear anything, won’t you?”

Worry now lined my sister’s face. “You don’t think he’s going to come after you?”  I didn’t want to admit how scared I felt. Something didn’t feel right. It had been weeks since I’d seen him. I knew it was irrational to still be concerned but a small part of me was still scared.

“No, I’m sure it’s fine.”

Zelda smiled and grabbed my hand. “Come on. Peach smoothies and avocado wraps await.”

***

My favorite time of the day had become late at night, when Kian was finished with either his game or practice. We had started talking on Skype so we could see each other.

“So how’s Mr. Fire on Ice?” I teased.

I could see Kian smiling on my computer monitor. “The nickname has followed me to the NHL.”

“I saw the news article. It’s all over the internet. My boyfriend is a celebrity.”

“The only part of what you just said that I even care about is being your boyfriend.”

“They say you’re a real playmaker. I guess that’s a good thing?”

“It’s not a bad thing.”

“I miss you,” I admitted. I loved hearing that Kian was doing so well but it was hard being so far away from him.

“I miss you, too. You know I’d trade it all just to be there with you right now.”

“But you don’t have to. You can have me and you can have hockey. You just can’t have me in person every day.”

He nodded. “Enough about me and hockey. How’s school?”

“Handling six classes is a lot harder than I thought it would be.”

“I know you’ll do fine. You’re brilliant and driven.”

I nodded.

“What’s wrong?” Kian asked. I was surprised he could read me so well through a computer screen.

I was still worried about Blake. I knew it was irrational and it was nothing I needed to worry Kian about. He had enough on his plate with hockey. He didn’t need to worry needlessly about me. “I guess I’m just tired,” I said instead. “I’ve been working overtime on my graduate school applications.”

Kian and I hadn’t really discussed it but I knew he’d want me to apply for schools in Seattle now that he was there. I also knew it was something he’d never in a million years ask me to do. He’d want me to go to the best school no matter where it was located. He’d always put me and my future ahead of his own desires.

“Aren’t you curious to know where I’m applying?”

“I knew you’d tell me when you were ready.”

“My top choice is the University of Washington.”

I could see him trying to stifle a grin. “Is that your top choice because it’s the best program?”

“It’s a good program. I’m very interested in their specializ
ation in Behavioral Neuroscience.”

The smile disappeared from his face. “You should be appl
ying to the best and most competitive programs.”

“I have two highly competitive programs in the mix. But the University of Washington has something no other school in the country has.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s in Seattle and their hockey team has an incredibly sexy player and he’s one of the hottest new hockey players in the NHL.”

A hint of a smile returned to his face. “I appreciate you wanting to come to Seattle so we can be together but I don’t like the idea of you applying to a program just to be with me. You deserve to go to the very best Ph.D. program in the country.”