The Puck Drops

I was moving back home to Syracuse, NY this was the city I had grown up in. I was just traded to the Tampa Bay Lightning organization to play as one of their forwards. They put me on their AHL team to develop a little more and for me to prove myself. I was drafted right out of college which was great but I was drafted to the LA Kings, this was amazing because I was going to be able to do what I loved and was going to get paid for it too. I was going directly into the NHL and I thought I was going to show everyone that the rookie had the skills to be there. The only bad thing was it was the farthest team away from my friends and family and I hadn’t been away from them before. It took time to be able to adjust to not having the ones I loved so close to me and being out in LA was a different experience and I was finally getting comfortable with everything when my agent told me that I was being traded. After that phone call I started packing up my belongings from my apartment. I didn’t know the exact details of the trade, I just knew I was going back home.

I flew back to New York to the little airport, I didn’t have a car in LA but had a feeling I would need to start looking for one now that I was home. My stuff that I wasn’t able to pack in suitcases for the flight would be mailed to me once I found a permanent place to live. It was almost time for the new season to begin and I was ready to fall into my routine of practice, gym and games. I couldn’t help but feel that even though I would still be playing the game I love that the best part was I was going to be able to see my two brothers and my best friend again.

I was on my way to my brother’s apartment, they had moved in together right after Greg graduated high school two years ago when we moved in to help Mike with the rent. I was able to talk to them here and there when I was in LA but it wasn’t the same as seeing them everyday. I never told them that I would be back today because I was going to surprise them. I did call the one person I missed in my life, my best friend and told her to meet me at the apartment. I figured it would be a nice surprise for all of them to see each other again.

The cab dropped me off in front of the building and I made my way over to the elevator to head to the sixth floor. The elevator took its time making its way up but the doors finally opened up and I made my way over to the apartment on the left. I gave two knocks and waited. I could hear them arguing who was going to answer the door which made me give a smirk and wait as I heard someone walk towards the door. The door finally started to open and I just stood in the door frame. It seemed to take some time for my brother to comprehend what was going on.

“Jackson?” I just nodded my head and pushed him to the side to walk into the apartment.

“I didn’t know you were coming back today. You could have told us.” I sat down on the couch as he shut the door and made his way over to me.

“Yea I wanted to surprise the two of you. Where is Mike?” I was looking around to see where he was but it didn’t seem like he was around, even though I heard him before I came into the apartment.

“He is in his room. He has a shift at the bar soon. He just got off his shift at the coffee shop.” Mike was the one brother that hadn’t found what he wanted to do. He had been bouncing from job to job. It made our parents nuts but it kept them off our backs most of the time.

“Still hasn’t found one thing he likes to do?”

“Nope he keeps switching up what two jobs he does but there has been one that he has been keeping. Bar tending is the one that he keeps going over the last few months.”

“Well that is good that he is keeping one of the many jobs. How is school going for you?”

“Classes are going okay I just can’t wait to be done next year. Going to school plus working at the book shop down the road can be challenging at times.”

I nodded and looked up as Mike came out of the hall way that lead to the rooms. He seemed shocked when he came out and saw me sitting there. Could he not hear anything? I just gave him a smile and watched as me made his way over to us. He sat down in the chair that was adjacent to the couch.

“Hey brother. Welcome back.”

“Glad you could join us. Heading to work?”

“Yea I have to go to the bar tonight.”

“Keeping busy like always I see.”

“Yea, I have to get going.”

Mike stood and went into the bathroom. I assumed to get ready and put on the finishing touches for him to head to work tonight. Mike and I grew apart after high school, we were once close but then something happened that I never really understood.

There was a knock on the apartment door and I had a feeling I knew who it was going to be. Greg stood up and went to open the door. Once he has the door open I saw I was right. It was my best friend Kenna, I had know her for my whole life. She grew up across the street from us and I was always there for her. I told her where I was heading when I got into town.

“Kenna is that you?” Greg seemed surprised at the girl that was in front of him. Of course she had changed since the last time I had seen her. She no longer looked like the nerdy girl that every one could pick on. She still had the same long light brown hair that had a little bit of waves through it. It looks like she got rid of her glasses for contacts and changed how she dresses.

“Hey Greg. How have you been?” I got up off the couch and made my way over to her.

“Kenna how have you been?” I gave her a hug. It had been a long time since I was able to really talk and see her.

“I have been great. I am in school to get my masters which I am in my last year. I also work in an accounting firm while I get my degree.” I was always amazed by how much she worked. She always pushed me to work harder and I really needed that back in my life now.

Mike came out of the bathroom and he froze in the middle of the door way. It was like he was seeing a ghost. I never understood why they didn’t stay close after school. They were the same age and I thought they would be there for each other once I left for college.

“Hello Mike.” Kenna was looking at him with a little bit of hate in her eyes. I knew that growing up she had a little crush on him but she told me years ago she was over him. Now seeing them together something was between them.

“Kenna?! It has been awhile.” He walked over to her and gave her a hug.

“Yes it is me. I decided to stop getting those hand-me down clothes and get a little style in my life. Plus contacts definitely help out too.”

“I would love to hear more but I have to get to work.” Mike took off out of the apartment closing the door behind him. I turned back to Kenna and lead her over to the couch to sit down. Being back here with my brothers and Kenna everything just felt to be right again.