Redeeming Heart

Party time

Brandon’s point of view

“Hey, where is Sasha?” Clarissa asked, looking around the room. They were starting with speeches and I think Sasha was having a hard time taking all of this in. I haven’t seen her since we arrived.

I left them to go look for her and found her outside sitting on the steps hunched over as she stared up at the sky. I decided to leave since it looked like she wanted to be alone but she spoke up before I could leave.

“Sneaking around is usually done without letting the other person know you are there.” She glanced at me over her shoulder.

“They are looking for you,” I informed her.

“And they sent you to come to find me?” She stood up.

I shook my head. “Nobody besides you know that I snuck away.” Her green eyes were hypnotizing and I knew they were holding back so much sadness but she didn’t want the world to know.

“I just thought about how my father doesn’t even know today and that he won’t probably believe me because he decided for me that I gave up. And, yeah. I once did.”

“That still doesn’t give him the right to undermine your strength.” I clarified. I don’t know her father personally or met him before but the way she talks about him makes me believe he abandoned her during the toughest battles of her life.

“I don’t blame him. I wasn’t the easiest kid to be around when I lost my mom.” She loved standing up for people even though they mistreated her.

Her eyes shifted towards the entrance when we heard cheering. She wasn’t ready for it. It was obvious in her eyes and when she took a step back.

She handled the day well and from afar you couldn’t tell that she had problems but just being near her, I could sense she was overwhelmed and didn’t know what to do.

I was just overwhelmed with the idea of actually being able to talk to her. I was an extrovert and can basically make friends with anyone I met, but when it came to her. My tongue would swallow up and would leave me tongue-tied.

For years, I admired her from afar and now that I was actually getting a chance to talk with her, was everything I ever dreamt of. She would be laughing at me if she ever finds out that the guy, she thinks is all tough and popular is actually a wimp when it comes to talking to her.

“You must probably think I am a wimp.” She noted having no idea how rhetorical that was. She was far from being a wimp.  

“I didn’t know wimps carries a whole team to victory after not competing for three years because of serious reasons. I think the correct term you are looking for is strong-willed.”

I tried not to smile when she rolled her eyes at me. A thing she occasionally does when she doesn’t approve of something.

“I am basically hiding away from my team with the hopes that they don’t find me.” She pointed out.

I shrugged my shoulders. “Yet, I don’t think of you as a wimp.”

The corners of her lips were quivering and I sensed she was trying hard not to smile. I’ve seen her smile but it was only done half-heartedly. I started to wonder what it would take to make her really smile.

“The gladiator prince surely has some interesting remarks.”

I chuckled. “Gladiator prince? I would say I am more of a king.” I joked.

Her smile came from nowhere and I had to remind myself to breathe. She only smiled like this back in the day when she was out on the field and doing what she loved.

“You are number one on the ice, what more do you want?” She asked with a smile in her voice.

You.

I kept my thoughts to a limit and made sure I didn’t say anything dumb or something that can ruin this moment.

I pulled up my shoulders like I didn’t know or want anything more when all I wanted is a chance to get to know her. “Being able to go out there every day and do what I love it’s all I really can ask for.”

“I know what you mean. We get a chance to do something we actually love.” My gaze followed her movements when she came up the stairs and came to stand in front of me.

“How come you are out here with me and not inside celebrating? There are people in there that is dying to meet you.” Her question made me smile as she has no idea how much I was enjoying spending every minute I got with her.

“Maybe because I enjoy being in your presence even if it is clear that you dislike me for no reason.” She cracked a laugh and shook her head slightly at me as if I was losing my mind.

“Has Jonah been talking to you?” I couldn’t lie to her—not when she was giving me a knowing look like she already knew the answer.

“Yeah, he mentioned the first couple of times that you aren’t really fond of me.”

She almost seemed amazed with the truth and at the same time horrified. “He sometimes misunderstands my intentions.” She noted.

I was a bit disappointed when Jonah mentioned that he thinks Sasha doesn’t like me very much and I almost started to believe him, but then I remembered how she was judged by everyone. She never looked like the kind of girl who cared about dating and boys, and she still seemed like the kind who don’t.

“You are just a complex person when it comes to expressing your emotions.” I don’t know if I was guessing right but that’s what I’ve learned so far.

“Something like that and it does have to do with how stubborn I am when it comes to my independence.” I figured that one as well.

She is not the kind who will ask for help because she would rather figure it out on her own.

“Here you are!” Clarissa’s voice came from behind me.

“Just catching my breath.” It was a weak excuse but the truth at the same time. She excused herself and headed inside leaving me alone with Clarissa.

“Haven’t you gotten over your crush?” She asked, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

“You want to tell me again that she is far out of my league?” I questioned—not feeling in the mood to answer her. She knew how I felt about Sasha and she can’t really blame my crush for our relationship that ended.

“I was a naïve, jealous teenage girlfriend back then who was just confused.” If she wants to call it that then I would respect it.

“So, what are you telling me now exactly?”

“It’s Sasha we are talking about and she isn’t anything like everyone ever pictured her at all. Yeah, everyone knows about her skills on the field. It’s obvious.” She began. “She distanced herself from the world even more than back in the day and if your crush really means a lot to you. I would suggest you don’t give up.”

She gave me a pat on the shoulder before entering the pub.

“Great, I am getting advice from my ex-girlfriend,” I muttered to myself before rejoining the party.