Eight

I woke up and sighed. Kris was already up, and doing something. I got up and walked out to the kitchen. "Mourning."
I smiled, "Mourning."
"When are you leaving?" he asked me.
"Whenever you drive me home."
"I'll drop you off on my way to the rink."
"Okay."

Kris ate and got ready and we left. He drove me home.
"See you at lunch." he said.
"Bye, see you."
"Bye."
He said and kissed my cheek.

I went upstairs and changed and got ready for Chris. My phone started ringing.
"Hello?"
"Hey." Chris said.
"Oh. Hey, Chris."
"I'm almost at your house."
"Okay, I'll see you soon."
"Okay, bye."

I walked downstairs and saw Chris pull in. I got in the car and went to breakfast.
"So, I have some news." he said.
"Oh. What is it?"
"I'm moving."
"Oh."
"Guess where I'm moving to."
"I don't know. Where?"
"Here."
"Here?"
"Yeah."
"Chris that's great!"
"I know!"

"So, how have you been?" he asked me.
"Pretty good. My dad and I's relationship is getting back to where it was. I've met some.. interesting new friends here. And, I'm actually kinda getting into hockey."
"Wow! Who's the interesting friends?"
"Well, Max Talbot. He's like my best friend."
"I thought I was your best friend."
"You are one of them."
"Awe. I'm being replaced."
I laughed. "No your not."

"Yeah, whatever. So, have a boyfriend?"
"Yes. Actually, I do." I said smiling.
"Really! Who?"
I laughed. "Kris."
"Kris who?" he said slightly laughing.
"Letang."
"No way! He's a good player."
"Yeah," I said smiling. "I guess he's okay."

"So, do you have a girlfriend?"
"No. I'm the same single me."
I laughed. "You need a girl."
"I had one, but blew it." he said seriously.
"Chris, don't start this shit."
"I know," he sighed "I'm sorry."

"So, Chris. Want to come to the game with me tomorrow?"
"Seriously?"
"Yeah. It can get kinda boring without a friend with me."
"Of coarse I will go!"
I laughed. "Good."
We left shortly.

"Hey, I'll see you tomorrow." I said when we got to my house.
"Okay. Bye."
"Bye."

"Hey, dad." I said when I sat down next to him on the couch.
"Yeah?"
"I'm not going to sit in the box tomorrow."
"Oh, okay. Why not?"
"Chris is coming. And, I kinda want to see what it's like to be with the fans."
"Oh, is this the Chris from San Antonio, right?"
"Yeah, he's moving here."
"Oh, that's good. I'll have to meet him sometime."
"Yeah. That would be good. Maybe tomorrow at the game."
"Yeah, just stop by the locker room before the game with him."
"Sounds good."

I hung out with my dad for a while before Kris came to pick me up.
"Hey." he said when I got in. "How was breakfast?"
"Good. Chris is moving to Pittsburgh soon."
"Oh." is all he said.

We both decided earlier that we would go to his house for a bit before going to lunch.
I kept talking about lunch and Kris barely said anything. Something was wrong. When we got into his house I pushed him up against the wall.
"Okay, what's wrong?"
"Nothing." he said and and got out of my grasp and walked into the living room.
"Kris! There is something wrong. Tell me!" I said getting a little mad.
"Why do you have to hang out with Chris?"

Now I was mad. "Because he's my friend, Kris! My best friend! He's been around long before you. I'm not just going to give him up, because you walked into my life!"
"You seem really comfortable with him."
"I am! We have known each other for years. And, went out before."
"That's the problem."

"What? That I went out with him?"
"Yes. He wants to get back together with you doesn't he?"
I sighed. "Yes, Kris. But, he. He is just my friend. I realized that when we went out. I'm not going to leave you for him. Trust me. What he and I had is long gone. But, we are going to stay friends. And, that is just something you are going to have to deal with."
"Quoi que." whatever. He mumbled.
"Fine. I'm leaving." I said calmly. "Tell me when you realize you are what I want." I said and left.

When I got outside I realized I didn't have a car. So, I just started walked. I got to this place surrounded by trees. I felt my phone vibrated and looked at the caller ID. It was Kris. I hit the ignore button and called Max.
"Hello?" he said answering the phone.
"Hey." I said.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"How did you know something was wrong?"
"I may only know you for a couple days. But, I do know you."
"Oh. Can you come pick me up?" I asked.
"Yeah, where are you?"
"I don't know. I left Kris' and just started walking."
"Okay. I'll find you." He said and hung up.

After a couple minutes and two more ignored phone calls from Kris, Max came.
"Thanks." I said when he walked over and I gave him a hug.
"Anytime. So, what's wrong?"
"Kris and I had a fight."
"About?"
"Chris."
"Excuse me?" he said.
"Chris, Is one of my friends I dated before, and he is moving to Pittsburgh."
"Oh."

"Yeah, I think he thinks that I would dump him for Chris."
"How did that make you feel?"
"What? Why?"
"Just answer."
"I don't know, hurt. I hate that he thinks something that will never be true."
"What do you mean?"
"I would," I took a breath. "never break up with him for Chris. In fact, I don't think there is anyone right now that I would break up with Kris for."

He smiled at me.
"Why are you smiling?"
"You love him." he said still smiling.
"What! No!"
"Oh, yes you do. I can tell by the way you talk about him. You can see it in your eyes."
"Max, no. We have been going out for like a week. It's too soon to even think that."
"Maybe, but every ones different. Every relationship is different."
"But, still. Even if I did love him. He doesn't love me."
"How can you be so sure?"
"I just am."
"Fine." he said.

We went back to Max's house, and I decided to take a nap before going to dinner with Vero.
While Carissa was taking a nap, Max called Kris.
"Max?" he said when he answered.
"Yeah, hey. Carissa called me."
"Is she okay? Where is she?"
"She's fine. And, she's at my house."
"Can I come over?"
"No. She's taking a nap. But, I have a plan."
"Okay." he said.
Max told him what his pan was and then hung up.

Carissa woke up and decided to have Max drive her home, so she could get ready for dinner.
"Have fun at dinner." Max said with a curious smile.
I looked at him weird. "Okay. Um, well. I'll see you tomorrow."
"Okay, bye." he said and leaned in and kissed me on the cheek.

I changed since my clothes were all wrinkled from the nap. Vero soon came and we went to dinner. I spent most of the time telling her my life story. Then she asked how Kris and I were. I had no choice, but to tell her the whole story. The whole story. What Max said. Everything. I felt I could trust her, so I didn't mind telling her.
"Well," she started "t sounds like to me. Max is right."
"What? Really?"
"Yes. You obviously don't see it."
"I guess I don't. I'm just scared."
"Of what?"

"Last time I loved someone I got my heart broken."
"Kris won't break your heart. You just have to admit it."
"Honestly? I do think I love him." I thought about it. "Hell, I don' t think. I know I do. It's just hard."
She looked up and looked down, but then looked up again taking a second glance of what she saw. "I, I... um. I.. have to go to the bathroom." Vero said trying to find the right words.
"Okay?" I said a bit confused.

She got up and left and I looked down at my feet. All of a sudden I saw another pair of shoes. I lost my breath for a moment and then looked up. Seeing Kris standing there brought back bad memories from today.
"Salut." he said under his breath standing above Carissa.
"Um, hi." I mumbled back.


"Can we um, talk somewhere?" he asked.
"I don't really have a choice, do I?" I said.
He sighed and put his hand out. "I guess I deserve that."
I put my hand in his and stood up. I let go of his hand and walked to wherever he was going. We ended up outside in the back where there was no one at. There was a small park behind the building. So, there was some trees and plants.
"Want to take a walk?" he asked me looking down.
"Sure." I said with no emotion.


"I'm really sorry." he said.
"Sure you are." I snapped back.
"Would you stop saying that to me! When I say I'm sorry I mean it."
"Whatever."
"Listen. I'm sorry for the things I said. I over reacted. I understand that Chris is your friend. It's just hard."
"Kris, yeah he's my friend. Only my friend. I went out with him before, yeah. But, I would never do it again. It didn't work out. And, that's how we are starting out. And, I'm just scared. I want this to work out. I really do. But, I don't think we are going to. Chris has been my best friend for years. And, I'm not just going to give that up because I got a new boyfriend."
"I know. And, you shouldn't have to. I understand he's your friend. I honestly, have no idea why I over reacted. I'm really sorry. I guess, I just thought if you went out with him before that you would again."


"Will I go out with him again? Maybe. Probably not. But, I will never dump you for him. Ever! Kris, we started out as best friends first. That might of been a mistake. If we break up. I.. I don't know what I would do without you." I said sitting down on a bench.
"We aren't going to break up. And, if we do. We will stay friends. I promise." He said sitting down next to me.
"Yeah, I get that. But, it will be awkward. Trust me. And. And, I'm scared."
"Of what?"
"The season is almost over."
"Yeah? So?"
"Your going to go home to Canada. What are we going to do then? I don't know if we could handle a long distance relationship. We have been together every day since I came here."


"Then come to Canada with me."
"What?"
"Come home with me."
"No, Kris. I can't."
"Why not?"
"I just came to Pittsburgh. I have moved so many times. I don't want to come here for two weeks and then just go to Canada for the summer. I need a steady place, Kris."
"Oh. I guess I understand."


"Kris, please don't be mad at me."
"I'm not mad." he said putting his hand on mine. "If anything. You should be mad at me."
"I was. But, I'm not anymore. I don't want to spend our last couple of weeks together mad at each other."
Kris smiled and put his hand under her chin and kissed her.

"So, is this fight over?" he asked.
"Defiantly." she said snuggling into him.
"Good. But, there's just one more thing we have to cover."
She lifted her head up and looked at him. "What's that?"

"I over heard you say something earlier. I thought it was quit interesting."
"Oh." she said clearly confused. Kris noticed this and continued.
"Do you really love me?" he asked looking down at her. She say her face light up and shock and couldn't help but smile.
"What? Kris. It's too soon."
"Why? You just told Vero that you loved me. Why can't you tell me."

"If you heard that. Then, you heard what I said before it. I'm scared Kris."
"I'm not going to hurt you. And, saying that is not going to change anything. You know why?"
"No. Why?"
He looked down to her, and noticed she was crying. He wiped her tears away and smiled.
"Because I love you."
Carissa felt like her heart was going to come out of her chest. She took a deep breath before saying, "I love you, too."

Kris smiled and leaned down and kissed her again.
"Want to come back to my house, now?"
She smiled. "Sure. Let me just go say bye to Vero, and Max I guess." she said laughing.
"Okay. I'll meet you by the car."
"Okay."
She kissed him one last time before going back into the restaurant.