✔ SLAPSHOT ✖ irwin au

thirty-six.

k a r r i s

✖

My mother wanted nothing to do with me.

At least that's how it felt. It had been an entire week since my mom discovered me on the ice during the Willowridge and Brampcrest game, and while I should've been celebrating our miraculous win, I was being eaten alive by guilt. She didn't speak to me the entire car ride home, and when I tried to apologize, my mom refused to listen.

"Does that mean you're not coaching the hockey team anymore?" Berkley drove us to school, glancing over at me as she made a left turn.

"She didn't say no," I began. "But she didn't say yes either. She just told me not to lie anymore. She's really upset."

"I don't blame her. She was just afraid that you would get hurt," Berkley pointed out with a shrug.

Her hair fell into tousled waves and her outfit consisted of more than just jeans and a baggy shirt. My best friend seemed to be back to her normal self, and after everything she's been through, I was thrilled to see Berkley as the boss bitch she truly is.

"I like your skirt," I complemented, noticing the bright, royal blue pencil skirt that nicely hugged Berkley's body.

She looked down with a smile, "thanks! It's new. I got it when I went shopping with Natalia last week."

I sunk in my seat a little. I took another good look at my best friend sitting next to me, bopping her head along to the music percolating from the speakers. She was radiant, happy, and I wondered if the reason why Berkley was regaining her confidence, was because of Natalia. I've been so busy with my own problems that I didn't stop to think about my best friend's mental state of mind.

"So tonight for Halloween," Berkley started, a mischievous grin creeping upon her face.

"I know that look," I smirked. "I hope the only crazy plans in your head only consist of junk food and horror flicks."

"You know me well Karebear. Only, I was thinking we make our own pizzas instead of ordering it," Berkley suggested.

"Oo, I like. Tell me more," I mused.

"We can stop by Von's and grab a few pints of ice cream," she continued, her voice slowing down and her tone laced with a playful sensuosity.

"Berkley, you're turning me on," I giggled.

"And," Berkeley glanced at me with a raised brow and an impish chuckle. "And, we get my mom to make us some Pupusas."

I gasped, throwing a hand to my mouth, "you dirty girl!"

My best friend and I bursted into a fit of laughter, the sound of our happiness radiating within the car and I felt at ease. When Berkley pulled into the school parking lot four minutes later, our favorite Mayday Parade song began to trickle through the speakers. The simple strokes of the guitar strings ignited a range of emotions within the happiness spectrum. Berkley felt it too, because she looked over at me with nostalgia in her eyes.

"Warped Tour was the best day of our summer," Berkley reminisced, parking her car into an empty spot beneath a tree.

I nodded in agreement, "it was the only best day of the summer."

Of course, I didn't mean to sound so morose, but Warped Tour with my best friend and my brother was the last best day before everything went down hill.

"I promise you'll have favorite days again," Berkley told me, shutting off the engine of the car. "You'll get the closure you deserve, and your days will be much brighter."