Chapter 7

We spent the entire afternoon shopping, well it was more like trying stuff on but not buying it. We tried on dresses that were--well…let’s just say we couldn’t afford. It was a blast.

Kris texted me and I laughed as I texted him back.

“Excuse me?” she said holding up a cute white blouse.
“What?” I said.
“Do you like it?” she asked, “for the millionth time”
“I’m sorry” I said, “I got distracted”
“I can tell” she said setting it down.
“I’m sorry” I said again.
“It’s ok, I’d be the same way” she said nudging me.

I just laughed. “What’s he saying?” she asked.
“Nothing, he’s on his way back, we’re going out later”
“Well what am I supposed to do?” she muttered crossing her arms.
“Um…I don’t know” I replied, “you can chill at the apartment, keep shopping, you’ll figure something out”
“Fine” she sighed.
“It’s only a few hours” I said, “we technically haven’t really had a “date” yet” I said.
“Oh, well you could have said that” she said.
“Sorry” I laughed.
“Well, don’t you think we need to find you a cute outfit then?” she exclaimed.
“Ok” I simply said.
“Well let’s go!”

We shopped around and found nothing. I guess it needed to be perfect. Finally, our last stop, maybe something would come up.

I looked through some of the dresses and found the perfect one. A white short sleeved dress with black flowered patterns.
“Jules!” she said, “it’s cute, go try it on. Now!” she pushed me into the dressing room.

I put it on and looked in the mirror. I was a bit sceptical but came out to show Ally.

“It’s perfect!” she said, “you just need to dress it up a bit”
“With what?” I asked looking down at it.
“Well, a cute jacket of some kind” she said looking around.
I started looking when she came up with a cute black cropped jacket.
“Ok, I am going to freeze in that” I said.
She picked up a nearby scarf. “You’ll survive”.

I paid and drove back home.

“You ok?” she asked.
I was a bit spaced out, nervous to be honest.
“What?” I said stopping at a red light.
“You know it’s going to go well” she said, “I mean you’re both already in love with each other”
“Yah I know, I guess it’s just the whole idea of a “first date”” I said, “man, I sound like I’m 16”
“It’s normal” she said as the light changed, “you just need to relax, you know him, you love him, don’t make it harder than it needs to be”
“Thanks love” I said stopping at the apartment.
“It’s what I do” she said stepping out of the car.

I took a glance in the other direction and saw Kris’ car. “Oh, he’s here already”
“Does he have a key?” asked Ally.
“No, he doesn’t” I replied, almost to myself.

I went in and saw Kris sitting on the floor of the hallway in front of the door.
“What are you doing?” I laughed.
“Thought you were here” he said.
“Well, did you not clue in when my car wasn’t here?” I replied.
“Didn’t look” he shrugged.
“You would do that” I joked.
“Haha” he laughed sarcastically.

We went in and I set my stuff down.

“Whatcha buy?” he asked snooping.
“Not telling you” I said pulling the bag away, “it’s a surprise”
“For me?” he joked.
“Well, it’s just my outfit for dinner tonight”
“I see” he said.
He tried looking in the bag again.
“Kris!” I laughed grabbing the bag again.
“Sorry!” he put up his hands in defence.

I just laughed at him. “So what are we doing tonight?” I asked.
“Surprise” he simply said.
“Fine then” I huffed.
He just laughed.

Kris left and went to his hotel to change. I immediately took a quick shower and let my hair curl. I put on my dress along with a onyx bead necklace and a pair of black flats. I put on some eyeliner and mascara. A bit of blush and lip gloss.

“Too cute” she gushed.
I just laughed, “Thanks”.

I grabbed my jacket and scarf and Kris was just coming in.

“You look beautiful” he said.
“Thank you” I smiled, “you look pretty good yourself”.
He was in a pair of dark jeans an untucked dress shirt and a light jacket over it.
He just smiled.

“I’ll see you later Ally”
“You two have fun!” she said as we went out the door.

“So where are we going?” I asked.
“You’ll see” he said.
I just looked at him.

“Trust me” he said putting out his hand.

I smiled. I trusted him. I took his hand.

Chapter 6

It was Christmas time. Kris and I, were still working on things, honestly nothing was official yet. We knew being away from each other was going to be difficult. I just knew I was crazy about him.

I was at my apartment waiting for him to get here. I was really anxious, I hadn’t seen him in a while. This was going to be the last time he would see me for another two months, he had a break so he came to visit me.

As soon as he walked in the door, my heart skipped a beat. Everything about him made me weak. His eyes, the way he walked, talked, the way he said my name. There is just no way I could live without him.

I gave him a huge hug as he came in.

“You look beautiful” was the first thing he said.
I was in sweats and one of his old oversized t-shirts I never gave back to him.
I just laughed, “I missed you”
“I missed you too. But we need to talk”
“About what?” I asked. My heart sunk, I was thinking of everything negative that could come out of his mouth.
“Don’t worry” he said taking my quivering hand, “I think it’s time we talk about where our relationship is going. I know it’s a bit random, me just coming here and all, but I have been thinking a lot lately”.
“Yah me too” I replied with a sigh of relief.
“Jules, I want this to be me and you” he said.
“Me too” I smiled.
“Nobody else”
“I couldn’t have anyone else. And I know it‘s sounds cheesy, but I really could NOT love anyone else”
He just smiled and wrapped me in a huge hug.

I was one of the happiest women in the world at that moment. Nothing could burst my bubble.

I walked into the kitchen to get a drink. Before I could grab a glass, he wrapped his arms around my waist and pulled me in. I just smiled as I turned to face him. I don’t know how someone like him could have possibly fell, well, for someone like me.

I rested my forehead against his. I stared at him, no words would come out. It was like my voice was trapped inside of my throat. Every time I looked into his eyes, my mind went blank.

I moved back and leaned against the wall, my eyes stayed on him. His eyes stayed on me. He was about a foot away from me at least. It was way too quiet. He moved closer and grabbed my hand. I inhaled a shaky breath as his eyes met mine again. I was freaking on the inside. He could tell something was wrong.

“What’s wrong?” he asked quietly. I still couldn’t say a word. I tried to say something but it’s like everything was stuck. He finally, slowly, took another step towards me and had me between him and the wall. He stared deep into my eyes before placing a soft kiss on my lips. He was the only thing keeping me from falling over because of my nervousness.

“You need….to get going” I breathlessly said. It’s almost like he forgot everything that was going on.
“What?”.
“You told me you’re visiting family” I said chuckling, “get knocked in the head too many times?”.
He just chuckled and wrapped his arms around my waist, “well, that wasn’t very nice”.
“Just joking” I laughed.
His face got serious again, “I love you Julie” he said just above a whisper.
“I love you too Kristopher” I replied.
His lips touched mine ever so gently but it didn’t last.
“You’re right, I better go” he said.
“Alright, call me later” I said.
“I will” he smiled and softly kissed me again, “bye”.

I sat down on the couch and turned on the tv. I turned it down to the lowest level, and grabbed my laptop. Just as I was turning it on, my phone rang.

“Al, hey” I answered.
“I have a surprise for you” she said, she sounded excited.
“Ok. What is it?” I asked curiously.
“Well, I need you to go to your door” she said.
“Ok?”
“Open it”
I was getting very confused. I opened the door and I saw my best friend standing there amidst a few travel bags.
“Ah!” I screamed jumping on her.
“What’s goin on!?” she said.
“Nothing! You flew in even though you’re crazy busy with work!?”
“I had to see you!” she said, “I missed you way too much”.
“Aw” I said hugging her again.
“Oh wow, I should probably help you inside” I laughed.

I grabbed a couple bags and dropped them inside the door.

“If I had known you were coming…I may have tidied up a bit” I said biting my lip.
“Don’t worry about it” she laughed, “we lived together remember?”
I just stuck my tongue out her as she sat on the couch.
“So, how’s it going with the French-Canadian boy?” she said smirking.
“Well, I’m more in love with him than I thought I could be, with anyone” I said sitting down.

She just smiled at me.

“What?” I said.
“I have news”
“Ok?” I raised an eyebrow.
“Well, I was working late in the office a few weeks ago” she began, “I was coming down to the car and my hands were full. I could barely see anything in front of me and ran into someone. I kept apologizing and he kept saying it’s ok and helped me pick up my stuff. I finally looked up at him, and an immediate connection, two blue-grey eyes stared right at me, Brooks Orpik”
I squealed.
“Let me finish” she said, “he started to apologize and helped me stand up. He offered to take some things and walked me to my car. A few days ago we met again and he gave me his number and asked me out to dinner before the game the next day. I, of course, agreed, and well, here we are”
“Aw, that’s so cute!” I smiled.
“I thought so” she said shrugging a shoulder and smiling.
“I’m happy for you”
“Thanks” she smiled, “so where is you’re love?”
“Visiting family” I said, “he will be back tonight”
“Cool, did you want to do something?” she asked.
“Sure” I said smiling, “let me change”

I changed into a pair of ripped jeans, a vintage, black, Beatles t-shirt and a pair of flip flops. I left my hair and put on some blush and lip gloss. I grabbed my coat and scarf.

“Shopping?” she simply said.
“Yes, let’s” I said linking arms.