Redeeming Heart

Outcast

I growled into my pillow at the thunderous knock on my bedroom door and when Jonah’s voice followed. “Sasha! Come on, we are going to be late for the game.”

“Hmm-mmm, go away.” One thing I hate more than anything in the world is being woken up early on a Saturday morning.  

Irritation crept all over my skin when I heard him opening my door. “You promised.” He was definitely pouting and I had no intention of falling for that trick.

I kept my eyes closed and pretended to be asleep, maybe he will catch that I had no interest in joining him, my father and Meredith for the Gladiators hockey game.

I heard his footsteps coming closer and without opening my eyes warned him to get out. “If you so much come closer, I will have no choice but to kick you out.”

“Brandon will be there.” He tried but failed miserably.

“Just more reason to stay in bed,” I mumbled.

“You told me that you wanted to learn more about ice hockey. This is your chance.” He continued and I had a feeling that it wasn’t going to end.

“There is something called internet and television,” I replied.

“It’s not as fun as watching it live and Brandon got us these tickets. How rude will it be if we don’t go?”

I love the fact that Brandon is helping Jonah out with his ice hockey but now he was working on my nerves. “He is your friend, not mine.”

“He wants to be your friend but you keep on pushing him away.” He told me like I haven’t noticed.

“Oh, my goodness, Jonah. Do you ever give up?!” I grumbled, pushing myself and pulling my blankets aside.

His cheeky grin didn’t go unnoticed and I felt like strangling him. “What happened to personal space?” I asked, getting up and pointing at the doorway. “I didn’t remember giving you clearance to come barging into my room.”

He just shrugged like it was no big deal and acted as if he wasn’t afraid of me. “Someone had to wake you up and your father’s way is only going to put you in a bad mood.”

“I am already in a bad mood. Now get out.” I was close to shoving him out and he must have sensed it because he left my room.

“You’ve got five minutes.” He tapped his arm, pretending to be my father.

I just gave him a blank look as I shut the door in his face. “Five minutes!” He yelled again and I know he was doing it on purpose. I don’t kill kids but he was going to be the first.

Meredith and my father seemed taken back when I joined them downstairs, dressed and ready to leave.

“You are up early.” My father remarked, placing his newspaper aside.

“Wasn’t done by choice.” I clarified, grabbing a mug from the cupboard and filling it up with coffee.

“Jonah?” He questioned with an amused smile.

I nodded. “That kid doesn’t give up easy.”

Meredith gave Jonah a pointed stare when he decided to be brave and join us in the kitchen.

“She is my nanny after all.” I felt like dumping my cup onto his head but fought against it as I loved my coffee too much and I needed it caffeine before I could face this day.

“This was no part of the deal and last time I checked a nanny gets paid,” I informed everyone.

My father rolled his eyes at me and I noticed a small smile playing in the corner of his mouth. “Other nannies do it out of free will to make an extra buck. You on the other hand is grounded.”

I shook my head in disbelief. “Yeah, because I stood up for myself and not let a man take advantage of me,” I said my voice laced with sarcasm.

“Sasha is more than that.” My father insisted.

I wanted to argue and stated my point but one look at Jonah’s face of agony made me hold my tongue, and I was baffled when my father noticed.

He also let it go and then got us to follow him to the car before we miss out on the game that Jonah was going on about all week.

The stands of the hockey ice rink were packed by spectators when we finally arrived and Jonah was almost worried that there won’t be any seats available. My dad who was the only patient person in the bunch assured Jonah that everything will be alright while I just wanted to get out of here and go back to my bed.

We finally found seats between a fan club of girls who made it obvious that they were only here for Brandon Hills. They were wearing matching pink t-shirts with his face printed on the front and held up one massive banner with his name written on it.

It was not long when the announcers called out the teams out onto the ice. I had to cover my ears when the girls sitting next to us, jumped and shrieked when Brandon made his way out on the ice.

Brandon waved at the crowd as he made his way over to his team and for a second, I caught him looking this way. He probably couldn’t miss the girls sitting beside us with their pink shirts and massive banner, but I was a bit stunned when he shot Jonah a grin when Jonah jumped up to wave at him.

All cheers around started to calm down when the teams met each other in the centre circle and I suddenly found myself interested to see who got the first shot at the puck.

The referee dropped the puck between the two opposing players who immediately started scrapping to win possession for their team. Brandon’s team was faster than their opposing team and got the puck.

I understood why people started supporting ice hockey as it was a lot more entertaining than field hockey. The rules were almost the same but their defending techniques were a bit harsher. I also believed in order to play ice hockey you must be able to put on skates and know what you are doing.

Somewhere during the game, I caught myself craving to be part of a team and competing for a championship again. The desire of wanting to hold my hockey stick overwhelmed my senses so badly that I started cheering for Brandon’s team whenever they got a goal.

Most of the spectators from Louisiana wasn’t surprised when Brandon’s team won the match. 

Jonah shared his excitement quite vividly with everyone who was applauding Brandon’s team. He even went as far as running down the steps to give Brandon a high-five when Brandon made his way off the ice.

I was amazed at how well Brandon handled Jonah.

“Come on,” My father gestured towards the exit while Meredith went over to get Jonah. We waited for Meredith and Jonah at the car when we finally reached outside without getting squashed.

“I couldn’t help but think of the times when your mother and I attended all of your games.” My father brought up looking at me.

I concealed a chuckle when memories played in the back of my mind of how my mom used to go on. “Do you remember that time when the referee gave her a red card?” My father’s chuckle caught me completely by surprise.

“How can I forget? She almost shoved the card up his ass.” A laugh slipped past my lips before it was met by sad memories of her when she was hospitalized and had to go through all that.

“I miss her,” I admitted with a sad smile.

“Let it go, Sasha.” He pressed.

Something about my father seemed off when I spoke of her.

“Why?” The question was out before I could stop it. “Why am I not allowed to talk about my mother? The person who raised me. Someone you used to love.” I felt like screaming to express my frustration.

“Because we can’t bring her back!” I stared at my father as he lost his calm composure and showed me for the first time since mom passed away his true feelings.

“It’s not about bringing her back. It’s about us being a family.” I remarked.

“We are a family.” I shook my head, disagreeing with him.

“You, Meredith and Jonah are a family, and I am an outcast.” I walked away from him before I start making a mess of a good day.

“Sasha…” He called after me but I chose not to listen.