Jurian price plays for the Longhorns —the same team as Nathan— and he’s damn good. He got drafted to Boston this past year but wanted to stick out the rest of his college career before making the shift. We knew him in high school, we got along with him great, even though he was friends with Nathan.
“He got into a car accident with Ian Troy, they both died on impact” Blair whispers. “It says his sister survived, I didn’t even know Jurianhada sister.”
My eyebrows soar, “how do you know all of this?”
Blair finally turns his eyes to me, and all I see is a boat load of emotion he’s trying to hold back. “There’s an article about it, they had a ceremony last night at their game to commemorate them. There’s a picture of both their families.”
I lean back in my seat, letting out a deep breath. After years of knowing Jurian, it feels weird that we’re never going to see him again.
Sure, we never really hung out in the first place, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be missed.
“Didyouknow he had a sister?” Blair asks. “We’ve known him for years and somehow I don’t even recognize the girl in the photo. It says they’re twins, so she must have gone to school with us.”
He tilts his phone towards me and I inspect the photo. The girl has short black hair, cropped just below her jaw line. Her eyes are a piercing grey, not that anyone would focus on them with all the emotion pouring out of her.
She looks heart broken.
I shake my head, “she looks kind of familiar but I don’t remember her.”
Blair turns off his phone and sets it in the cupholder, “that poor family.”
seventeen
CLAIRE
I’m very nervous to see Steph’s parents. They’re really nice and have always treated me like their own, but that doesn’t mean I’m not nervous.
They know who my parents are, as well as my brother, they recognized me from some galas they attended when I still lived in Vancouver. They were very understanding of my request to keep the relationship to my family on the down low.
I appreciate them aton.
They always pick the most expensive restaurants to have dinner, and sometimes I can even pretend that this is what my life used to be like. Nice family dinners where there was no pressure or fear of pissing of my parents. I can pretend that I had a normal life, that I was raised by loving parents who wanted to see me smile.
I fidget with my hands as I step out of the cab with Steph, “they love you. You don’t have to be nervous around them” she says.
“I know, but I still want them to like me. I’m scared of saying something that changes the way they look at me.”
“They have me as a daughter, there’s nothing you could do or say that would make them love you any less.”
Must be nice.
We walk into the black building, met with crystal chandeliers and beautiful centrepieces. Tables are decked out in black and silver detailing, people are dressed to the nines, wait staff walk around with a mix of cocktails and beautiful food.
I see Steph’s mom wave to us, and we walk to the table to great her. Heather —the aforementioned mom— instantly stands up and gives each of us a hug. Shane —her dad— stands behind her and waits patiently for his turn.
“Oh girls, you look fantastic! I missed you both so much” she exclaims.
“I missed you too mom” Steph smiles before giving her dad a big bear hug.
We take a seat across from them and the questions instantly start. They ask us about everything they can think of, and then the question about relationships comes up, Steph and I keep our lips shut. Whether we’re in one or not is irrelevant, they’ll pester us until we give them the answer they want to hear.
“I saw your parents the other night” Shane says passively, taking a sip of his red wine.
I feel a pang of anxiety hit me, “how are they?”
“Dave and Olivia are fine, not very chatty,as usual,” he rolls his eyes. “Sorry, that’s rude of me, I shouldn’t be speaking ill of your parents in front of you.”
Please keep going.
