Chapter 8 - How I Spent My Summer Vacation

With the guys gone and the Internet finally hooked up, I spent most of my time working on my schoolwork. You may think that I’m maladjusted or whatever as a person Ms. Kulak, but I’ve always been a good student. It wasn’t exactly wild or exciting or anything like that. The guys were gone from the 12th of January until the 19th, when they finally made their way home. The trip hadn’t gone very well… the guys had won one and lost three… the last one in OT. \

The fact that the team hadn’t done very well apparently didn’t matter that much to the phenom. At least not as far as I was concerned. Michelle and I were sitting in the McDonalds gabbing over fries when he walked up to us. “Five goals and three assists.”

I looked up. “Huh? Did you say something?” I asked. “’Cause all I heard was someone blowing hot air.”

“Well you’re the one who wants to know what all the hype is about. I’m 16. I play with 18 and 19 year olds. I’m the leading scorer in the league.” He snapped.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Let’s go Mich.” I said standing. “You know something’s wrong when a guy has to blow smoke up his own ass.”

I could tell that Michelle had NO clue what I was talking about, but she stood and followed me. I’d quickly discovered that I used a lot of expressions that weren’t common in Quèbec. Sidney glared at me. “Are you never satisfied Nicole?” He snapped. “First you say I didn’t produce and now you’re saying that I’m blowing smoke up my own ass. What the hell do you want?”

I shrugged, and flipped my hair over my shoulder. “If you have to ask, you’re never gonna know.” I said flippantly.

“Maybe I don’t want to know.” He snapped, coming up to me, getting in my face. “Maybe I just want you to leave me the fuck alone.”

I brushed past him, a smug smile on my face. “If that’s the case phenom, then ignore me.” I said, not at all intimidated by his presence in my space.

Michelle had an amused look on her face. “Je doit retourne a l’ècole Nickie.” She said slowly. (She had decided that she had to teach me to speak French). “Telèphone moi après l’ècole.”

“Aurevoir Mich.” I replied, my eyes never leaving Sidney’s.

Sidney tore his gaze away from mine angrily. “You are such a brat.” He snapped.

“And you….” I said pointedly, my body so close to his I could feel the heat from his body. “Are the one who started this conversation. Now you can’t really complain about it after the fact now can you?”

Neither of us was willing to give an inch. We stood there, in McDonalds, bodies almost touching, heat burning between us. “You’re right.” He snapped. “I did start this conversation, and now I’m going to finish it.”

“Then finish it.” I flung back, since he hadn’t moved, and I wasn’t about to.

“Darryl.” Eric’s voice called. “Are you coming?”

We turned at the same time. “Hey honey.” I said, as Eric came to get a hug.

“Hey Nickie.” Eric said. “You coming over tonight?”

I almost grinned at the phenom glared at his roommate. “Why?” I asked. “You guys having people over?”

Eric shrugged. “People always come over. I figured you might like to join us.” Then he grinned. “Besides you’ll make things a lot prettier.”

The phenom muttered something under his breath, which Eric and I both chose to ignore him. “Thanks hun.” I said. “I’ll consider it. I should probably check and see what Mark’s doing.”

Eric laughed. “After a road trip? That’s an easy one, Catrine.”

I laughed. “Well then, since Mich has school tomorrow, I suppose I could probably make my way over.”

“Oh please.” Sidney replied. “Don’t.”

I rolled my eyes. “You know you love me.” I said.

“Don’t flatter yourself.” He snapped.

I shrugged. “If you don’t love me then you know that Eric and Alex do.”

Sidney rolled his eyes. “Whatever. They have no clue how frickin’ crazy you are.”

I had to laugh at that. “Crazy?” I said. “Me? This from the guy who dated Bianca Giancarlo?” I laughed.

Sidney continued to glare at me. “We went out three times.” He snapped. “In September.”

I grinned. “And she still threatens anyone who she views as a “threat” to your “relationship”.” I informed him, actually using air quotes on the word ‘relationship’. “Seriously, she is probably ruining your chances to get any.”

Eric, who had merely been observing Sidney and I going back and forth, interrupted. “I hate to ruin all the fun the two of you are having here, but Darryl, we gotta go.”

“Good.” He said, glaring at me as he stormed out.

I stuck my tongue out at him. “Real mature Nickie.” Eric said with a grin.

I shrugged. “It’s all his fault.” I pointed out. “He lets me get under his skin.”

Eric laughed. “See you tonight sexy?”

“Of course.” I replied, kissing him on the cheek. “Tell the phenom to chill.”

*

So that night, around seven, I got in my car and drove over to Eric and Sidney’s. Mark, true to Sid’s word, was busy with Catrine, and Michelle had a ton of schoolwork to do, so I headed over alone. I hadn’t even seen Tante Amèlie in a couple of days but she called to me as I was leaving. “Nee-cole! You’re Maman called to talk to you.”

I shrugged. “Tell her I’m not home.” I said. “I have to meet Eric.”

“Nee-cole, she is very upset.” She said, handing me the phone.

“What?” I snapped.

“Now Nickie.” My Mom slurred. “Is that anyway to talk to your Mommy?”

“She’s drunk. Ivre.” I snapped at Tante Amèlie. “Merci beaucoup pour forcing me de parler a elle.” I snapped at my Mom. “Don’t fucking call me when you’re drunk. I’m out of here. Call me when you sober up. Then MAYBE I’ll talk to you.”

“Don’t you care that your Father is out with Jena right now?” She demanded.

Jena must have been the name of his latest secretary. “No.” I snapped. “It bothers me that my Mother thinks that alcohol is the solution to her problems and that she then calls her daughter, who she sent to the other side of the country to bitch and moan.” I took a deep breath. “Now I am going out. So goodbye.”

“Nicole Emily Ashley Roy. I cannot believe you. Frankie would never have talked to me like this!” She cried. “Frankie would have treated me with respect.”

I glared at the phone. “Mom, don’t you dare try to tell me how Frankie would have behaved. We don’t know and we’ll never know.” I slammed the phone down and stormed out. “He’s dead, we’re not. Deal with it already.”

Now I was pissed off. How dare she fucking call me like that? I sped the entire way to Eric and Sidney’s screeching to stop in front of their house. “Hey sexy.” Eric said, trying to hug me. I brushed him off. “What’s your problem?” He asked.

“Can I get a fricking drink?” I asked, ignoring his question.

“Who pissed in your cornflakes?” He asked.

“My loving mother.” I replied. “And I don’t want to talk about it, so don’t bother asking.”

Eric handed me a beer, which he was kind enough to open for me. “Okay then.” He said.

“Thanks.” I said, kissing him on the cheek.

“We’re in the living room, watching a movie.” He said. “You look good by the way.”

“Thanks sweetie.” I said, feeling a little better. I’d put on a pair of black dress pants and a blue and white striped dress shirt. “Whatcha watching?” I asked following him to the living room.

“Shh.” Sidney snapped from his position on the couch.

Eric, helpful as ever, sat in the big easy chair, leaving me no choice but to join the phenom on the couch. I plopped myself down and took a long swig of beer. “Where is everyone?” I asked. “I thought people were coming over.”

Eric shrugged. “It’s early honey.”

“I suppose.” I said, thinking that it was two hours earlier in Alberta and my Mom was already smashed.

“Will you two shut up?” Sidney snapped, glaring only at me.

“You know phenom.” I said slowly, taking another long swig of my beer. “You really need to learn to relax.”

“Like you do?” He said, indicating the beer in my hand.

“Like I said before phenom.” I said taking another swig, trying to ignore the voice that was telling me that I was doing exactly what my Mom was doing. “You know nothing about my life.”

He shrugged. “And I don’t want to.” Eric laughed and Sidney demanded. “What’s so funny?”

“You two are.” He replied.

I smiled. “I try sweetie.”

Sidney just shook his head in obvious disgust. “Whatever man.”

I took another swig of my beer… and another… and another. The guys were clearly interested in the movie and I was, well not. It was one that I’d already seen… Coby had dragged me to it that summer when it was in theatres. The phone rang, and Eric reached over and answered it. “Hello?”

“Oh bonjour Bianca.” He said, making a face. “Sidney?” I glanced at Sidney who was making the
“Tell her I’m not here” gesture and giggled. “C’est Nickie Roy.” Eric said, in answer to her question. “Mme. Paradis’ nièce.” He paused. “Non, elle n’est pas avec Sidney. Sidney est dans le douche. Okay, je vais lui dire.”

He hung up, and I couldn’t help but giggle. The phenom glared at me. “I’m so glad that you find this funny.” He snapped.

“Oh get a fucking sense of humour.” I replied with a smirk. “The fact that its January and you haven’t given the girl any hope since September… unless of course you’ve been fucking her on the side the whole time, and she’s still calling is hilarious.” Sidney flushed at the fucking comment, which totally gave away the fact that he had been sleeping with her. I grinned. “Well then, that explains why the girl keeps calling. If you don’t want to date her, you probably shouldn’t be fucking her.”

“It’s none of your business.” Sidney snapped stiffly.

I shook my head. “It is when she’s threatening me.” I informed him. “Which, she’s already done by the way. And she probably will again, especially since she knows I’m here.”

“She threatened you?” Sidney asked, surprised.

“This surprises you?” Eric asked with a laugh, pausing the movie. “That girl threatens every girl who shows any interest in you. “

Sidney grinned. “So does that mean you showed some interest in me Nicole?” He asked, looking very pleased with himself.

I flipped my hair over my shoulder. “Don’t flatter yourself.” I said. “Of course I showed some interest. You can’t take two steps in this town without someone mentioning you. I wanted to find out what all the hype was about.” I grimaced at his use of my full name. “And it’s Nickie, not Nicole phenom.”

“Then its Sidney, not phenom.” He snapped back.

“Fine Sidney.” I said.

“Good Nickie.” He said folding his arms over his chest.

Eric laughed loudly. “This is better then a movie.” He said. “You two should just fuck and get it over with.” He informed us in an annoyingly superior way.

I gave him an arch look. “And if I wouldn’t fuck the guy I’d been dating back home for nearly eight months, why on earth would I fuck him?” I asked with disdain looking Sidney up and down.
“Well Danny did say that you said you were a virgin.” Eric said in disbelief. “But I didn’t believe it.”

I shook my head and rolled my eyes. “Is it really that hard to believe?”

“You don’t really want to know the answer to that do you?” Sidney asked, his eyes travelling up and down my body.

“Of course.” I said slapping my forehead with the heel of my palm. “The way a girl dresses is a clear indication of how “easy” she is. Why didn’t I realize that before? If only there was such a clear way to tell how easy a guy is.” I paused. “Oh wait, that’s a silly question. All guys are easy.”
Eric laughed. “I’m going to get a beer. You want another sexy? Darryl?”

“No thanks.” Sidney said.

“Yeah sure.” I said, handing him my empty.

Sidney shook his head in disgust. “Why do you drink so much?” He asked.

“What do you mean?” I replied, knowing full well what he meant.

He shook his head. “I mean, from what I hear, you’ve been here since New Year’s Eve and you’ve been drunk every second night.”

“I like to have fun.” I said shrugging.

“And you can’t do that without booze?” He asked. “Because if you can’t, that’s really, really sad.”