On the ice, Asher slams into an opposing player who slams into the plexiglass. My head whips to the game. He recovers the puck without missing a beat. The crowd cheers.
Charlie doesn't react.
"You think he'll go pro?" I ask, softer this time, my eyes scanning the opposite crowd to see men in suits that don't really blend with the rest of the crowd. They're watching the game with a keen eye.
She blinks, like she forgot I was there, turning to look at me then at her brother.
"Yeah," she says after a beat. "Probably. It's his dream."
That's it.
No excitement. No bragging. No proud-sister glow. No Charlotte.
I study her profile.
She looks tired.
Not sleepy tired.
Worn down tired.
"You okay?" I ask, quieter now.
She gives a small huff of breath that might be a laugh. "Fine."
She's not.
I don't push.
The silence stretches again, louder than the crowd.
A body drops into the seat beside Charlie, and she flinches. Jennifer - Charlie and Asher mum breathes out a harsh breath and grins over at her daughter and me, "Sorry I'm late girls, leaving the hospital was harder than expected today, there was an accident."
Charlie mumbles something and Jenny wraps her in a hug, smiling over at me. "You look cute, Ivy."
I smile back, "Thanks, Jenny." I look at Charlie from the corner of my eyes. She doesn't notice.
Jenny's eyes move to the game her son is playing in, and she watches with rapt attention. "What have I missed?"
"A few scores, but nothing much." Charlottes says with a shrug.
The first intermission is called for the break, and Charlie is out of her seat in seconds, "I'm going to the toilet, I'll be back."
"Okay, Honey." Jenny says, watching Charlie curiously and I move to get up and follow but Charlie is gone in seconds, swallowed up by the crowd that are getting up to do the same.
"That girl is working too hard." Jennifer sighs, watching the crowd like she can still see Charlie and I relax back into my seat. "She's hardly been home. Working and studying all the time. I'm concerned."
I look over at Jenny to find her eyes already on me. "Do you know what's going on with her the last few weeks? Has something happened?"
I shake my head. "I don't know. She's been acting weird for weeks, this is the first time I've really seen her in ages." Jenny looks put out, shaking her head. "She'll come to you when she's ready, she's stubborn that girl but she will ask for help eventually." Her eyes move to the rink again as movement catches her eyes. "Promise me you will be there for her when she does."
I swallow the pain in my throat and nod. "Always, she's my best friend. She can't get rid of me even if she tried."
Jennifer grins. "You girls." She shakes her head, "I wish I had a best friend like that when I was your age, would've been nice when I was going through my first heartbreak." Her eyes widen. "Do you think that's what's happened? Was she dating?"
I shake my head and Jenny nods but doesn't get the chance to say anything before the game starts again and Charlie slips back into her seat.
Someone slips into the empty seat beside me and I look over, smiling politely at Leon's Coach when I catch his eyes and he smiles back, cringing slightly. "Sorry to talk over you girls but I wanted to speak to Mrs. Hudson."
