Chapter 20

Ruthanne's Point Of View <3>

Still on the brink of crying I just ask, "why?"
"because a problem came up where there's not as many rooms on the boat as they thought. Their computer screwed up or something." He pauses to take a breath, "They called us, well, me and Sid since we booked so last minute, offering to let us get on another cruise, another time. But, we knew you guys were looking forward to it, kinda like a graduation gift, so we said we'd take it up with you. What do you think?"
"Oh.." I sigh, a great feeling of relief washing over me. I lay my head on his shoulder and lean against the window, pulling my feet up onto my window seat.
"What?" He looks down at me, "you seem relieved, almost."
"I ammmm." I say, looking back up at him. "Brittny sent me a text." I reach over to get my phone up off my bed to show him the text.
From: Unknown Number
You know that cruise? Forget it. You're not going, and neither is Caitlin. ~♥Britt
"Ohhhhh." he says, wrapping his arm around me. "No worries. She's got nothing. As far as we know." He kisses the top of my head, "it's ok." He continues to comfort me.
"Thanks Kris." I say, right before kissing him "for everything."
"you're welcome." He says, kissing me back. I smile. "what?"
"Sorry. I just thought this was funny, cause it's just like a scene out of a movie or something." I laugh.
Kris laughs too, "It is!" He says.
"My mom's calling. Let's go meet my family!" I roll my eyes, showing him that I'm a lot less enthusiastic than I seem. He laughs at me and follows me downstairs.
"I already kinda met your dad," he says, following me into the kitchen.
"well, not my mom!" I say, sitting down at the counter on one of our spinny chairs. He does the same, sitting beside me.
"You must be Kris," my mom says, extending her hand, then taking it back to wash it first because she noticed how disgusting it was. She's always cooking. She comes back to shake Kris's hand and they exchange an easy laugh.
"What's for dinner?" I ask her. I usually know ahead of time, but since Kris came along, I haven't been home much.
"um, I'm making chicken fajitas and we're having tostitos and salsa. I made a jar for you to take to Caitlin." (Ruthanne's mom's salsa... deeeeelish! :) )She says, pointing at it on the counter.
"tomorrow."
"Last day!" She says, smiling. "are you ready for it to end?" She asks.
I nod, even though I'm not. I might try to act tough but I'm gonna miss everyone. Kris somehow knows how I feel and lays a hand on my leg.
"So how'd you guys meet?" My mom asks.
"Internet," I joke.
"Caitlin" Kris, doesn't.
My mom laughs, "it figures. That girl got you soooo obsessed." My mom says, rolling her eyes. I blush.
"We're fans, what can we say?" I say sheepishly, holding my hands up in defense.
"My biggest fan," Kris says, putting an arm around me. My mom smiles, even though she wishes we'd save it for another time, when she's not around.
"your dad's gonna be back in a minute." She warns me, he's not as tolerant of this kind of cuddly behavior. Oh well.
I nod, "we're heading back up, call us down when it's ready." I say. She just says Ok as we walk up the stairs an my dog Turk barks at us. "Don't mind him. Really, he's just a big baby." I say to Kris.
He laughs, "good to know."

Caitlin's Point Of View ;)

"you ok?" Sidney asks me over the phone. "you sound upset."
"Yeah, it's all good." I say, not quite telling the truth. "You coming to graduation tomorrow?" I ask him.
"Of courssse." He says, "I wouldn't miss it for the world." I smile, that means a lot. "Guess what the day after tomorrow is!?" He says loudly. I cringe, his voice hurting my ears.
"Cruissssssse." I say happily.
"You sure you want to go then?" He asks.
"Yeah, why?" I ask him, confused. Painting my nails while on the phone has been a habit of mine since I was in the 6th grade. Everyone always wondered how I took the time to do that. I'm just a highly social girl, really.
"Oh, cause we can go another time, the cruise company messed up and it's gonna be realllly crowded."
"Oh?" I ask. "well I'm sure we'll be spending more time in our room than anything," I say suggestively.
"yeah, and we're first class. Best on the ship." He brags.
"Only you," I say back.
We laugh and then he says, "well, I gotta go, dinner."
I laugh at him again and then say, "ok. seeya."
"Love you," he says, then hangs up. I don't know if I can say it back anyways, I'm glad he hung up for once. I lay on my bed, bored. My mom eventually calls me down.
"Roast beef!" I yell, smelling it. I yell it more because it's funny than because I'm excited to eat it.
My mom laughs and asks, "are you enjoying your new laptop?"
I laugh at her, "what do you think? Of course I am!"
"Of course you are." She says, stirring whatever's all in the crock pot. When I was little and she made this I was afraid to eat it because I thought it was witch's brew.
"Witch's Brew. Yum." I say, leaning over to smell it.
"you remember that?" She looks at me funny.
"Yeah!" I say, "I wouldn't eat this if you paid me back then." We laugh.
"Well, it's almost done." She says.
"Awesome." I say.
"Well you're in a good mood." She notices.
"I have no clue why. I think I'm more hyper than anything else." We laugh again. My mom and I always have a good time at dinner. My dad's usually home by now, but I don't see him around. "Dad home?"
"Yeah." She says, "he's doing something or other in the living room." She explains his absence in the kitchen. He's always bugging to taste it and she has to enlist my help to fight him off. "So. You ready?" She asks me.
"No." I say, already knowing what she means. About being done with high school and going on to that apartment and college. Of course I'm excited for what's to come, but I'm scared too. How am I going to survive on my own? Of course, I won't be alone, I'll have Ruthanne, but I'm not sure how much of each other we'll be able to stand when we live together.
"You'll get through it." She says.
"yeah." I say, "it's just a little scary. thanks, by the way, for helping with rent." I say, turning to hug her. "That is a huge huge huge help."
"I know. You gotta thank your dad too. I had to talk him into it." We laugh, both knowing how stingy my dad can be when it comes to stuff like this. Helping me, in other words. He wants me to do most things on my own, to learn.
The roast beef was delicious and I disappear back up to my room to watch TV. I check my phone. 2 texts. The same one Ruthanne showed me and then one from Sidney
What time is your graduation? <3
I tap in a reply 4:00 tomorrow after school. They're excited to get rid of us. ;) <3
I lay on my bed and eventually fall asleep. I wake up scared. Glancing at my clock it's 2:45. I had fallen asleep in my jeans and Penguins t-shirt probably somewhere around 11:00. Hair still in a pony tail, I stumble into the bathroom to brush my teeth and get into some comfier clothes, grumbling the whole time. I get back in bed and can't fall asleep. All I can think about is how Sidney's going to get mobbed at my graduation. Maybe I should text him and tell him not to come.
When I wake up at 6:15 it comes all too soon. I brush my hair quickly and then curl it a little bit to give it more volume. I sigh, grabbing my bag again even though I don't need it. I grab the garment bag that holds my graduation cap and gown and make my way to my car without breakfast. Sitting in my car I check my phone. One from Sidney again.
ok, can't wait to be there! <3 I remember what took me so long to fall asleep last night and reply to it. maybe you shouldn't come, you're gonna get mobbed and no one will care about graduation. My mom will have it on tape? :( <3 I drive to school, still drowsy from the lack of sleep. My caffeine mints will kick in soon and it won't be a problem, til later that is. I guess the plan is for me to stay at Mario's with Sidney tonight so we can get an early start. We discussed it during our hour and a half conversation last night. I'm officially free after tonight. Well, in my mind I am. I'm sure my parents will have a hard time not bossing me around for a while. I get to school and check my phone again, just in case Sidney's up at this hour. I guess he is, cause I've got a text. No! I'm coming. I might wear a hat and sunglasses, but I'm going! Love you <3
I smile, he won't let mobs of people stop him from watching my graduation. Thanks. :D <3

~ *~ * ~ * ~ * ~

Graduation. We're sitting in these hard chairs, sweating in the gym, waiting for the principal to get done with his speech. I keep glancing at the crowd, looking for Sidney. His hat and sunglasses idea was mimicked by just about everyone in the place so I'm having a hard time. Then I see the Stanley Cup Champions shirt and the defined muscles. I smile and wave, just a little. He smiles back. The girl next to me leans over, "Is that Sidney Crosby?" She asks in a whisper.
I'm hesitant to answer her truthfully. But I do. I just nod then say "Shh." She nods too, understanding.
The cameras are always flashing and I'm getting dizzy in the line to receive my diploma. I smile for the camera when I take it. There are more WHOOS! for me and Ruthanne than I would have imagined, all coming from the row Sidney's in, Max, Kris and Jordan with him, which makes me turn beat red. I retake my seat and the girl next to me says, "Whoa, Sidney, Jordan, Kris AND Max?"
I laugh nervously and say, "yeah," She gapes at me and turns back to look at them.
"You are one lucky girl."
"tell me." I say.
My parents and Sidney(and gang) are there to greet us when Ruthanne and I break off from the crowd. I get a hug from everyone and all the guys hand us each one rose while my parents give me a whole bouquet. "Where are we going for dinner?" My mom asks. "Your choice, love." She puts her hand on my back, above Sidney's
"uhhhh.. Let's get Mexican." I say, not caring where we go. Those authentic Mexican restaurants are always good. The guys all smile, excited and my mom and dad nod.
"Us too." Ruthanne looks at her parents. They smile, but it never meets their eyes. I don't think they expected this many people.
I sit between Sidney and Max, which makes things awkward for me at least. Sidney's absolutely oblivious and Max is kinda acting like nothing ever happened, except he flirts a little here and there. My parents sit across from me and by Jordan and Kris who's by Ruthanne. She's by her parents. All of the parents obviously hadn't expected such a crowd for my graduation dinner so they're a little flustered as we laugh and joke around.
After the dinner I go home to change and grab my suitcase. "I feel so weird leaving so earlyyy." I whine to my mom, giving her a hug before leaving with Sidney.
"It's ok." She says, hugging me again, her eyes welling up. She's trying to hold it together long enough for us to leave so I nod and step out the door.
"that was fun." I say to Sidney, squeezing his hand.
"Yeah it was. Just wait for tomorrow. It's gonna suck." he says.
"Why?" I look at him. I mean, we're going on a cruise, how bad could it be?
"Eh, the first day, people always go exploring. It gets less crowded as the week goes on. More people figure out what they want to do." He explains. "That and getting on the ships a huge hassle."
"Ohhh." I say, getting it now. We walk into Mario's and he leads me upstairs.
"Are you sleeping in here? Or would you prefer your own room?" He stops, setting down my bags for a moment. His eyes make it impossible to say no to such an invitation.
"Here's fine," I say, smiling. He opens the door and I follow him in. He lays my suitcases by his and points to the bathroom.
"You can get ready for bed in there. We've got a big day tomorrow" He sighs, laying back on his bed. I dig through my suitcase for a pair of shorts and a comfy tank, coming out with some. I go to the bathroom and brush my teeth, hair, and then I change. I come back out and lay with Sidney on his bed. He's changed into nothing but his boxers, classic plaid, of course. He rolls over and kisses me. "Night. I love you." He says, pulling the covers up.