Chapter 4 - How I Spent My Summer Vacation

Of course Team Canada won the game. I mean, how could we NOT? It’s Canada’s game after all. I can honestly tell you however, that apart from that, I really don’t remember much of how I spent my New Year’s Eve.

I started drinking the minute we got to Catrine’s, doing 50/50 drinks, and I had spent the day travelling, so I really hadn’t had much time to do anything like, you know, eat. Which meant that I was an even lighter weight then usual. So I was pissed out of my mind long before the end of the game.

I woke up the next morning, completely confused. I had no idea where I was. My head hurt. The room was spinning, and I seriously wanted to retch. I took a couple of deep breaths and looked around for something… anything, familiar. On the table next to the bed, someone (I immediately assumed that it hadn’t been me Ms. Kulak. I didn’t remember much of the previous evening) had placed a glass of water.

I reached over and slowly took a couple of sips. The room stopped spinning. Then I saw my suitcases piled neatly against the wall. I was in Quèbec. I was at Tante Amèlie’s. I struggled to remember what I’d done the night before. I remembered going to Catrine’s, drinking, watching the game, talking to Alex. I know we’d left Catrine’s after the game. I wasn’t sure where we’d gone, but I did remember riding in a truck with some guy who was NOT Alex or Mark.

I struggled to remember who he was, and then I was struggling with a whole other problem. I had to puke, and I had to puke now. I glanced at the glass of water that either I (or more likely considering how little of the night before I remembered) or Mark had placed on the bedside table and glared at it. Served me right for being stupid. If I’d just drunk the damn glass of water and taken a couple of Advil the night before I would have been fine.

But just then, fine was the last thing I was. I struggled out of the room, still stumbling slightly. Clearly I was still just a little drunk. (Hey Ms. Kulak I did warn you that this was not the politically correct version right?) I glanced around the sous-sol. There had to be a bathroom down here somewhere. The door to the right of mine was Mark’s, so I knew that couldn’t be it. I stumbled around in the dark, not knowing where the light switches were.

The first door I opened was the door to the laundry room. “Damnit.” I muttered, stumbling towards the next door.

“Need a little help?” Mark asked, grinning in a way that was EXTREMELY annoying, because he was clearly NOT as hung over as I was. In fact, he was clearly not hung over at all.

“Fuck you.” I muttered as I opened the next door, relieved to see that it was in fact the bathroom.

The next part of the story really doesn’t need any kind of graphic description or anything like that. Suffice it to say that whatever happened to remain in my stomach from the day and night before soon became an offering to the porcelain God. Mark helpful boy that he was, quickly got me another glass of water, and handed it to me as soon as I was done retching.

“Thanks.” I muttered gratefully, first rinsing my mouth out and then taking a few careful sips.

“I tried to get you to drink that water last night when we got home.” Mark said still grinning at my pain. “But you were way too far gone.”

“So how bad was it?” I asked, suddenly concerned. First impressions are hard to erase… and I must have made a doozie.

“Who says it was bad?” Mark replied.

“Well I can’t remember most of it.” I said, taking another slow sip of the water. “And usually when that happens….” I trailed off, grinning at him ruefully.

Mark laughed at me again. “Well you did make quiet an impression on everyone.”

I groaned. “Oh great. Just what I needed to know.”

He laughed again. “No really, it wasn’t that bad.”

“But you just said….” I started, somewhat confused.

“I said you made an impression. I didn’t say that it was a bad thing doucette.”

I glanced at him confused. “Doucette?” I asked.

“Sweetheart.” He replied, looking deeply into my eyes for a second.

I paused. The guy was cute, but, well this was not good. He had a girlfriend, who was extremely possessive. “Tobin….” I said warningly. “Come on, what did I do last night?”

He grinned. “Well you made it really well known that you think Darryl is hot.” He said. “We went to the place he shares with Eric… I think you met him… actually I think you went WITH him to their place.”

I laughed. “The west isn’t like, Siberia or anything, so I’ve heard of Sidney Crosby and all, but honestly, I can’t remember what the guy looks like.”

Mark laughed with me. “Well I’m sure Eric will tell Darryl as soon as he gets back all about you.”

I shrugged. “Whatever.” I said taking another sip of water. “Hey have you seen my cell?” I asked. “And did it ring last night?”

“Yeah its in my room, hold on.” He left me alone in the bathroom to puke again, and was back a few seconds later. “You didn’t miss a call or anything, and I had your phone most of the night.”

I glared at my phone. “Where’s the computer around here?” I asked.

“Your aunt doesn’t have one.” Mark said. “Why?”

“Oh because I have to break up with my boyfriend.” I said, dry heaving into the toilet.

“You have a boyfriend back home?” He asked, looking surprised.

“This surprises you?” I replied, sipping from the new glass of water he handed me.

Mark laughed at me. “The way you were flirting last night, yes it does.” He said.

I probably blushed. I know my face felt hot. “Yeah well, we were over as of yesterday morning as far as I was concerned.”

“Why’s that doucette?”

“He didn’t show up at my house or at the airport to say goodbye. As far as I’m concerned he forfeited his state as my boyfriend when he didn’t show.” I replied. “Now I just have to make it official.”

“And you were going to send him an email to do this?” He asked.

“Umm did you just completely miss the part where I said he failed to show up at either my house or the airport to say goodbye to his girlfriend?” I replied crankily. “I guess I’ll just send him a text message if I can’t email him. He’s lucky he’s getting anything official at all.”

Mark shrugged. I got the feeling that he liked to ignore unpleasant things. “Do your worst doucette.” Then he grinned. “So are you going on the prowl right away?”

I shrugged. “I don’t know.” I said. “What do you think I should do?” I asked, eyebrows raised, teasing him.

“Well if you are, I think I need to warn the guys.” He replied, pretending to inspect his fingernails closely.

“And why would you have to do that?” I asked.

He laughed. “Oh come on doucette.” He grinned. “You met the girlfriends last night.”

I grinned and stuck my tongue out slightly. “Your point?” I asked slyly.

“That maybe the boys should beware doucette.” Mark said. “Because you’re more high maintenance then ANY girl they’ve ever met before.”

I fully stuck out my tongue at him now. “I am not high maintenance. I have high standards Tobin. There’s a difference.”

“Either way….” He said wryly. “I have a feeling that you are going to break more then a few hearts.”