A Hockey Tutor by Mary Smith Page B

here.”
    I perked up. “That means Halloween parties,” I sang out. I loved everything about Halloween parties: the dressing up, the makeup, the wigs. It was the one time a year you could be whoever you wanted to be.
    “How about we go shopping later?” Lindsay suggested.
    “I can’t today; I have to get Andrew from practice, and then we need to get some studying done. Rain check?” I asked.
    “Sure, maybe this weekend?” She smiled as she got up, and walked to the kitchen.
    I grabbed my book and put my papers together. I took it all to my bedroom and packed up my bag. I yelled at Lindsay that I would see her later, and headed to the BMW.
    I thought about Andrew, again. He hadn't left my mind since he walked out of his house on Sunday. After I left the apartment, I went to the grocery store, and I thought about how he was there for me during the whole Wes situation.
    I parked in a spot by the rink, and shut off the car. . I rubbed my thumb over my charm on my necklace. I wished Nick were here. I knew he would help me through all of this.
    My phone pinged, alerting me of a text message. It was from Brandon.
    I’ll be in MN soon. Want to have dinner?
    I texted back:
    Why are you coming to MN?
    Meeting someone. So, dinner?
    I knew that “ dinner ” meant sex, and I wasn’t really sure I should string him along. Our time had passed, and it wasn’t fair to let him think there was a chance for us. Maybe if I had dinner with him I could explain all that.
    Let me know when you’re in town & I’ll see if I’m free.
    I hit send and then threw the phone into the cup holder. I sectioned off a piece of my hair and twirled it around my finger. I thought about the first time Brandon had asked me out on a date. We were freshmen, and our first homecoming was coming up. I had known Brandon all my life, and he knew that he had to go to Nick first.
    I lay my head back and let the memory wash over me:
    “So, Brandon wanted to know if it was okay to ask you out.” Nick was leaning against my bedroom doorframe, his dark brown hair spiked up like he had just rolled out of bed.
    “What did you say?” I asked, jumping up from my desk chair, literally bouncing on my toes.
    “I told him hell no. No guy is going to date my baby sister,” Nick said in a serious tone.
    “You didn’t, did you?” I asked in a panic, thinking my big brother had ruined my chances of going to the homecoming dance.
    Nick laughed. “No, I’m messing with you, Cinderella. He’s going to ask you out tomorrow at school.”
    I squealed and leapt into his arms. “Are you kidding?”
    “Calm down. You’re not going to marry him.” He sat me back down.
    “How do you know? Maybe he’s my Prince Charming,” I said, twirling around my room as if I were a ballerina on a cloud.
    “Your Prince Charming is still out there.” He tussled my hair, and walked out of my room.
    My big brother was always looking out for me. I didn't know what I would ever do without him.
    I quickly swept the tears from my cheeks t as I noticed Andrew coming towards the car. I hit the trunk button so he could put his bag in.
    “Hey,” he said, as he opened the door and climbed in.
    “Hey,” I repeated, starting the car, and backing out of the parking spot. “How was practice?”
    Andrew chuckled. “Actually, very good. Wes’ still leaving me alone, and that makes me happy.”
    I didn’t say anything because I sort of felt bad. I just let my anger get the best of me. I drove across campus to the library. I knew that we had a lot of work to do, and I really didn’t want to waste any time thinking about Wes Crown.
    I got out of the car and pulled my coat flush against my body. It was freezing, and snow was in the forecast. I briskly walked into the warm building as Andrew jogged up next to me.
    “I didn’t know you were so excited to study business management,” he joked.
    “I was just cold.” I walked to the back of the library and found an empty table.
    For the next