It took me a few moments to recover from what just happened. Whatever just happened threw me for a loop. I didn't get a long enough look at what was on her torso to even say for sure what I saw. To me I think it might have been scarring from a burn but then again I don't know, I'm not a medical expert. I took a few moments and looked over at Cassie's door again. Music was pumping out through the door and I don't think she will be making an appearance tonight. Looking around the kitchen, I didn't really have much of an appetite anymore but I knew I needed to eat something after that practice session.
So I went simple, some seasoned chicken breast with rice and green beans. I made enough to make a plate for Cassie. When I was done cooking, I brought a plate over to Cassie's door. The music that has been a constant since she pushed me out of her room has lowered a bit but didn't turn off. Taking that as a good sign, I spoke through the door to let her know that I made some food for her for dinner and I left the plate on the floor outside of her door. I forced myself to walk away from her door to eat my own dinner on the couch in the living room with the tv on low. There was some noise behind me but I didn't turn my head to it, just stayed focused on the plate in front of me. When I finished my food, I cleaned up the mess I made before retiring to my room for the night. I made sure I had everything I needed for classes tomorrow before crawling into bed and calling it a night.
When my alarm went off the next morning I sighed and got out of bed. I got everything I needed for my shower and opened my door. Listening for a moment, I didn't hear anything coming from Cassie's room. I tried not to think about it too much during my shower but it was hard not to. Seeing what I saw was triggering in some way and I just wish she would talk to me a little so I could try and apologize for crossing this line with her when I didn't mean too.
After I was done in the bathroom I got dressed in a black t-shirt and threw on my Wisconsin women's ice hockey sweatshirt and a pair of jeans. Today is my first day of classes, I shouldn't be letting what happened with Cassie distract me. Because I'm here on scholarship, I need to do well in my classes in order to keep it. Once I was dressed I grabbed my backpack and phone and left my room. When I got to the kitchen I found a glass with a smoothie in it and an omelet waiting for me. I sat down at the table and saw a post-it note stuck to the glass. Sorry about last night, hope this makes up for it. ~Cassie.
I put the note down and tucked into the waiting food. It was still warm so I'm guessing Cassie didn't leave that long ago. It didn't take me long to devour the omelet and when I was done, I poured the smoothie into a to go mug as I thought I was cutting it short on time to get to my first class of the day.
My first class is microeconomics, just what I wanted at 9am on Monday mornings. It took me about ten minutes to walk to the building my class was in and I found the classroom pretty easily. I took a seat in an open desk and pulled out my notebook and pen. Just as I pulled out my phone to make sure it was on silent I heard someone drop their bag on the floor next to me.
"Thank god you are in this class with me." Rebecca said and fell into the desk just on my right.
"Good morning too you too Rebecca." I chuckled and took a sip of the smoothie.
"Becca is plenty fine McKenna." Becca said and snapped open a can of Red Bull.
"Seriously? It's barely 9 in the morning." I said.
"I ran out of time to get a coffee so Red Bull it is." Becca said grabbed her laptop from her bag.
We didn't really get to chat much longer as our professor walked in then and wanted to start class. Our professor seemed really into getting class started and after letting us review the syllabus for five minutes he started right into his first lesson. Looks like I wasn't going to get to ease into college classes. I was able to follow everything that he was saying pretty easily and took a few notes. It took Becca's Red Bull about 15 minutes to kick in but once it did, her fingers flew over her keyboard faster then I ever could.
Even though our professor wanted to teach on the first day, his lesson wasn't long and he ended up letting us go about twenty minutes early. After we left the classroom Becca left right away to go get a coffee and something for breakfast before her next class started. Since I had some time before my next class I thought now would be a good time to try and find the library.
Turns out that the campus is full of library's. There are at least 10 and they are all over the place. I found the business library though and I spent a few minutes looking around the building. It made me happy to know that they have my microeconomics textbook in stock so I don't have to buy the textbook. That will save me an easy $100.
English was up next and it was in the same building as my first class. When I got to the classroom I realized that this classroom is actually a lecture hall. I took a seat in the middle of the room and waited for class to start. As it got closer to class starting, a lot more students poured into the room and I was able to find Stacey as she walked into the lecture hall. She came and sat down next to me and it was nice to have a friendly face in the class with me.
Our professor came into the lecture hall with a stack of syllabus' and it took a few minutes for them to get passed out. After everyone had one, our professor went over the syllabus and everything she would be teaching this semester. Just like my first class of the day this professor taught a bit before letting us go early.
I still had plenty of time before my next class so I went back to the library to check out the first book we are reading in English this semester before they ran out. With still a half an hour before my last class of the day I sat down at one of the desks they have set up throughout the library and opened the first few pages of the book. We are reading The Tempest first and I already know that this professor is going to make us read a lot of Shakespeare over the course of this semester.
Only a few pages into the play, some flashing metal caught my eye. I looked up from the book and saw Cassie walking through the library with another girl. Cassie was leaning heavily on her cane and I could tell something was bothering her. Her forehead was creased and she just looked tired. What happened last night still fresh on my mind, I wanted to walk up to her and ask if she was okay. But before I could even get out of my chair, Cassie and the other girl were already walking out of the library. I sighed and rubbed my head. Looks like I'm going to have to wait to talk to her.
I didn't get to spend much more time in the library as I needed to head out for my last class of the day. Ethics in business was in the same building as the business library so I was happy to not have to go back outside. I just walked up the stairs to the floor and found my class without an issue.
This class dragged on. My mind couldn't focus on school anymore when all I could now think of was Cassie. What happened to her that led to that scar? Was it connected to her limp? Did she even have a leg or is it a prosthetic? So many questions rambled around my head and it didn't leave much other time for paying attention in class. To my luck this professor let us out of class really early and it made me happy not to have to pretend to focus.
Just as I was leaving the building I got a text from Toni to come over to the hockey house when I was done with class. Looks like I'm delaying going back to the dorm for a little while longer. I zipped my coat up and started the walk over to the house. I had no idea what they needed from me at the house but I just hope it didn't take too long. I wanted to get back to the dorm to check on Cassie.
It didn't take long to get to the house and soon I was at the front door. I tried to walk right in like I did the first time but the door was locked. I knocked and it took a few seconds before the door opened and Toni was standing in the door way.
"Thanks for coming. Come on in." Toni said and pulled the door open wider for me.
"No problem, I'm just happy you caught me before I got back to the dorm." I said and followed Toni into the living room.
"So am I, I just wanted to give you a few things and introduce you to Doctor Ellis. As being on the team it is required we see him at least once a month. You can see him more than once if you want but once a month is required." Toni said and rounded the corner into the living room.
Standing in the living room is a tall man in a grey overcoat. His black hair is fluffed up on top of his head and he has a slit in his left eye brow. He gave me a smile when we came into view and closed the folder he was holding.
"Uhm, I thought I already met the team doctor." I said to Toni a bit confused.
"You have, Doctor Childs takes care of our bodies while Doctor Ellis here takes care of our minds. Doctor Ellis, this is McKenna, the last of our freshmen." Toni said.
"Toni is correct, I'm the teams' resident psychologist, but I liked to be called Nelson over Doctor Ellis, it's nice to meet you McKenna." Doctor Ellis, Nelson said, a British accent coming out as he spoke and held out his hand.
"Like wise Nelson." I said and shook his hand.
"We can set up our first appointment tomorrow after class as I have to run out now, just came to pick up the last of my files. I'll see you later Toni, it was nice to meet you again McKenna." Nelson picked up the few files remaining on the coffee table and left the house.
"We really have to see a shrink every month?" I asked after I heard the front door close behind him.
"Yes, it's a team rule. We actually started it four years ago during my freshman year after a lot of drama was going on throughout the team. Coach thought it would be a good idea and since then we haven't had any issues." Toni said and I followed her to what looked like an office.
"This is the team office; we have extra swag in here and everyone's paperwork. I got your key card back from security finally. The doors here are locked electronically so nobody is fumbling around for an actually key. Since you aren't living here we needed to special order yours. You can now just wave this in front of the key card reader out front and the door will unlock to let you in." Toni said.
"Thanks. So it's really necessary to see Nelson?" I asked not really looking forward to it.
"Yes, you're not the only one who doesn't really like to see him but like I said, just once a month for an hour and you're all good. You don't even have to talk about your personal life. He can also be a tutor or help you with stuff around campus. He also loves to talk hockey even though he might not get everything you're telling him." Toni said and made me sign a few forms for the key card.
I didn't say anything else but nodded and finished filling out the last of Toni's forms. Once I was done Toni let me know we are going to be watching film after practice tomorrow and I was on my way back to my dorm. I did manage to grab two extra tee shirts and sweatshirt for mom before I left the team office.
When I got back to the dorm I sighed and rested my forehead against the door for a moment. I couldn't hear anything going on inside dorm and I hope I wouldn't walk in to find Cassie's door closed. Well, here goes nothing. I unlocked the door and pushed myself into the dorm. I made sure the door didn't slam behind me as I walked inside and kicked off my shoes. My jacket came off next and I made my way into the dorm.
I didn't make it much farther when I saw Cassie laid out on the couch with a textbook resting open on her chest. It looks like she fell asleep while studying. I dumped my stuff in my room and returned to the living room. Carefully I went to pull the textbook off Cassie's chest. Just as I pulled it completely off, Cassie jumped up looking startled and I almost dropped the textbook on the floor.
"Hey, you're okay." I said and tried to calm the wild look in Cassies eyes. It took a few seconds for Cassie to realize where she was and when her eyes locked on mine, all I could see was fear.
"It's okay, you're safe." I said and sat on the edge of the couch. I put my hand on her bicep and gave her a gently squeeze to try and ground her. I think it worked because after a few squeezes the wild look started to fade and a look of embarrassment replaced it.
"I'm sorry for being such a freak." Cassie said quietly and sat up against the arm of the couch, pulling out of my hold.
"You're not a freak Cassie. Are you okay though? I didn't mean to startle you; I was just trying to pull your textbook off your chest." I said and moved back a little to give her some space.
"I'm okay, just a bad dream. Sorry you had to be on the receiving end of that." Cassie said and ran a hand through her hair.
"It's okay, not my first rodeo with nightmares. Hey I just want to apologize. I should have knocked harder before walking into your room last night." I said.
"No, don't apologize for that. I'm sorry for pushing you out like that. It was really rude of me to react like that and I shouldn't have. I just have some personal stuff I don't like talking about and that was part of it." Cassie said and started to relax into the couch.
"Stuff that includes why you walk with a cane?" I asked pushing my luck.
"Yea, it happened all at once. Maybe one day I'll tell you about it." Cassie said and gave me a sad smile.
"I'll be here if you ever want to talk." I said giving her a small smile in return. "So how was your first classes of the semester?" I asked changing the subject.
Cassie looked relieved with the change in topic and told me all about her first three classes, introduction to American politics and government, introduction to political theory and law politics and society. Tomorrow she has criminal justice in America and psychology. I was kind of shocked when she said that she has psychology and we quickly figured out that we have the class together.
It was nice to know that I'll have someone I know in class with me. After we talked about our first classes, I made us some sandwich's for lunch. With the tension from last night behind us, we enjoyed each other's company during lunch. Both of us joking about how all of our professors are the same when it comes to the first day.
After we finished lunch I left the dorm for the rink for my first work session. When I got to the rink, I wasn't surprised to find a few of the guys that are on the men's team working behind the counter already. They gave me the run-down of everything that needs to be done during my shift and where I will be working for it. Today they let me be the ice guard and I was happy to not have to deal with skate rental. I know I won't luck out all the time like this but I'll take it for today.
Before I hit the ice, the manager of the building pulled me aside and told me that he had some people that were interested in getting private lessons if I wanted to take them on as clients. I was surprised he offered them to me first but gladly took the three phone numbers and information to give the parents a call later.
It wasn't long before the ice started to fill up with kids, teens and young adults all skating around. I managed to get paired up with Travis' roommate Elliot on rink guard duty and he gave me all the inside info on the staff here. It put me more at ease as we talked around the ice. Of course we had to help up our fair share of people who fell over and even kick off a group of middle school kids who wouldn't follow the rules.
When the session was over I hopped onto the Zamboni with Elliot to get a lay of how they cut the ice. After the shift was over I took some time in the office and called up the people who wanted lessons and managed to set up first sessions with all of them before I called it a day. On my way back to my dorm, I gave my mom a call and filled her in on my first day of classes. It was nice to hear her voice and I debated on whether or not I should talk about what happened with Cassie last night.
I decided it was best to leave it alone for now as Cassie and I worked everything out. When I got back to the dorm I hung up with my mom and found Cassie sitting on the couch reading through yet another textbook. I didn't bother her and just grabbed some comfy clothes to change into after a shower. After I was done in the shower I offered to make us some dinner, steak tacos.
Dinner went over well and Cassie enjoyed my tacos. After we were done eating, Cassie insisted on cleaning since I cooked. So I left her to do the dishes while I made sure I had everything I needed for practice tomorrow ready to go along with my notebooks for my two classes. Once everything was put together I called it a night as turned in early.
a/n: did realize i left you guys with a cliff hanger, here you go. It took me a while to get through this chapter to edit it so dont expect steady updates until my vision clears up. IT's still on the frites but i've been so bored i pushed through the edit of the chapter to get it to you. Yes it is kind of boring still but it will pick up soon, i promise.