Disclaimer: None of the characters of the film belong to me.

Synopsis: Josie waits for her ‘penguin’ to kiss her at the State ball game, only to find that he doesn’t turn up. Five years later she’s invited to the prom reunion, will she meet him again? And if she does how will her heart react?

A/N: My muse is giving me a hard time at the moment so I hope you guys are keeping interested in my little story. Will get the reunion soon, Promise. Thank you again for keeping reading and writing those reviews!

Chapter 7

“How’s school going?” Ben asked Sam as he handed him a bottle of beer. “Managing to keep them all in line?”

Sam took a swig of the refreshing brew, “Oh you know, same as always, most of them don’t have a care in the world but there’s always the odd one that does want to learn something. No star pupil yet though!” He smiled in spite of himself knowing damn well that there had only ever been that special something in one of his students, past or present.

Ben noticed. “You never did tell me how your trip to the city went?”

“I didn’t think there was much point considering I didn’t get the opportunity to speak to her.” Sam looked back toward the TV and the ice hockey game that he had now lost interest in.

“Sam, it looks to me like you need to tell me something but you’re not sure if it’s the right thing to do, what happened?”

“Nothing, Ben. Josie wasn’t there so I went looking for her boss only to be confronted by a woman I met briefly at South Glen. I mean, she introduced herself to me as the sex education counsellor when in fact she worked in the same place as Josie. Anita was her name, had something to do with writing the obituaries.

“I asked her if she knew where Josie was, she replied she didn’t not that she’d tell me if she did. I told Anita that I had to see her, had to tell her my side of the story and why I hadn’t turned up; the fact that I hadn’t seen her article until I moved into my new apartment, but this Anita was adamant that Josie wouldn’t want to see me and hadn’t I thought I’d hurt enough. I tried to reason with her, plead my case but she just wouldn’t listen or believe anything I had to say.” He said, exasperated. “I asked if she would pass on the message but she said she wouldn’t. I gave her my contact numbers but as I’ve not had any response from either Josie or any of her friends I would imagine Anita never passed them on either.

“I know when you and I spoke about this before I said that I would give her the space so that she came to me if she wanted to but how can she do that if I don’t even know if Anita has spoken to Josie or not? I really don’t know what to do?”

“Does this Anita woman seem the type to cave in?”

“No, to be honest I think she and Josie are extremely good friends and so Anita doesn’t want to see her hurt anymore. That or the fact that she has told Josie and Josie doesn’t actually ever want to see me again; but I can’t believe that, Josie is far too generous a person, she’d come and speak to me I’m sure, even if we didn’t resolve anything.”

“Sam, I don’t know what to tell you buddy? Maybe this is all for the best. Please don’t look at me like that, maybe you do need to face facts that she may never want to see you again, you’ve said twice now that you’d give her space … let her have it. If the two of you are meant to be then fate will intervene and make it happen.”

Sam got up from his seat and moved over to the window watching the first flakes of the latest snow storm fall. “Ben, it wouldn’t feel so damn wretched if I didn’t love her so much.”

“I know, bud, and if she loves you as much then this will all work itself out but it may take a little time. You have to prepare yourself for that.”

Sam turned back to face his friend, “I know, I’m just impatient to be with her, to show her I how I feel, you know?” Ben nodded. “Talking of which, are you excited about tomorrow?”

“Sam, I still can’t quite believe that you talked me into playing in this match against those hoodlums you call students.”

“Ben, its for charity … and it will be fun.”

“What, watching me skate around on my arse for most of the match, being kicked and punched by five 16 year olds.” Ben raised his bottle in the air, Sam obliged him by tapping it with his own. “Until tomorrow then.”

Sam laughed heartily and Ben could do nothing more than join in. “By the way,” Sam started, “my sister will be at the game tomorrow.”

“Great, here I am trying to impress her with my wit and charm and at the game tomorrow I’ll make a laughing stock of myself, thanks Sam.”

“My pleasure, Ben.” Sam teased “You know I never thought you were good enough for her anyway.”

“Well any chance I had will be well and truly scuppered by the end of the game, I’d honestly say you’ve done this all on purpose.”

Sam feigned hurt feelings but a smile crept over his features, “Maybe.”

They were all shattered, ‘maybe this wasn’t such a good idea after all,’ Sam thought, “Come on guys, we’re being murdered out there, I think it’s about time we gave them a taste of their own medicine.”

“Yeah, go Sam!” Tony Redman the head coach said with absolutely no enthusiasm. “I know I trained these guys but they don’t normally run on all of their 4 cylinders.”

“Then what is the point?” Sam asked, “we may as well give up now then. I’m ready to do that if you guys are?”

“Sam’s right,” Ben said, “I mean I know I’ve been beaten black and blue by the little … but we gotta get back into this game, theoretically we can still win it!” The group nodded.

“So are we all in?” Sam asked putting his left gloved hand into the middle of the bunch. The rest of the guys joined him and their pact was made. “Then let’s go get them.”

They skated out onto the ice and when the whistle was blown and puck thrown down they went at it with all guns blazing managing to pick up the points they needed to beat the students by two clear points by the final whistle.

Celebrations ensued both on and off the ice and when they had finally showered and got ready for their celebratory drink in the local bar most of them were met by their partners at the players entrance of the rink. Sam saw his sister and grabbed hold of her taking her into the biggest bear hug he had given her in ages. “Did we do good, sis, or what?”

“You did great, but if it hadn’t have been for that pep talk you gave them all then you guys would be going to the bar to commiserate not celebrate. Well done, Sam.”

“Thanks Al,” he kissed the top of her head, “and thanks for coming, I appreciate it even though a certain someone probably didn’t, if you know what I mean.” They both looked toward Ben who was still nursing a couple of his bruises, “Do you know I think he may need a bit of TLC, why don’t you …” Sam trailed off.

“What’s up?” Alison asked, unlocking her arms from around him and trying to find what it was that had caught her brother’s attention so fervently.

Sam moved away from her, “give me a second Al, I could’ve sworn I just saw Josie.”

“Josie? The reporter?”

“Yeah, look I need to go check, stay here I’ll come back to you, ok?” And with that he was off in the direction of the school parking lot.

Ben walked over to the abandoned Alison, “Where’s he gone in such a hurry?” He asked.

“He said he needed to check something out, said he thought he’d seen Josie!” Alison answered. “Said he’d be back though, wanted us to wait for him. So how are you feeling?”

“Sore! Everywhere! Including the very tip of my nose!”

Alison’s eyes began to twinkle, “well maybe there’s something I can do to help, hold still a minute.” Standing on tip toe she was able to lean in and gently kiss him on the end of his nose. “Is that better,” she whispered.

“I think I’ve just died and gone to heaven!”

Sam shot off in the direction of the parking lot and rounded the corner, running at break neck speed he was sure he’d be able to catch the woman up that he thought had looked like Josie. Not that he was entirely sure, the woman he had seen definitely had Josie’s beautiful figure of that he was sure but her hair was different; longer, straighter and more of a golden brown. But as he’d noticed her looking in his direction just moments before her eyes had pierced right through his soul and that was the reason he had for leaving his sister stranded outside the rink. Not that that would bother her at all, she’d just start chatting to Ben and he knew that Ben would not let any harm come to her. Ben respected Sam too much for that, let alone having been madly in love with her since Sam had taken him home one summer from University when they had first met.

He stopped by the main steps and looked around, desperately searching for anyone that resembled the woman he had just seen but to no avail. He started to run up and down the lanes of parked cars but still no one. Just as he was about to give up he noticed a silver Le Sabre coming toward him, his eyes searched through the windshield trying to ascertain whether the driver was male or female ever conscious of the face he was looking for. He managed to make out the face of a female as she stared forward concentrating on the road ahead, not once did she look at him. As she passed by he caught sight of her profile, even behind her dark glasses disguise he could tell it was her, he called out, “Josie, wait. Josie, please wait.” Had she heard him? He couldn’t tell and if she had she never flinched or moved to indicate exactly that.

Grief swept over him in a tidal wave and he found himself on his knees bunched over on the tarmac, his palms pressing on the cold surface as tears stung his eyes and fell away from his cheeks to the ground waiting beneath. From somewhere behind him he heard his sister and Ben shouting his name, he acknowledged them with a whimper. Soon they were with him, one each side trying to get him to his feet, attempting to soothe him with words of encouragement and leading him away from the scene of his despair. “If you two don’t mind, I’d like to go home,” he managed, forcing a small smile although his anguish was still evident. “I really don’t feel like celebrating. Could you apologise to the guys for me, Ben?”

“Of course, Sam, no problem. Will you be ok getting yourself home.”

“I’ll be fine,” Sam said finally finding his feet and making his way across to his car, “take Al with you, look after her.”

“You have my word, buddy. Mind you, I reckon she might be the one looking after me later.”

Sam smiled and shook his head, “whatever. I’ll talk to you both tomorrow.”

Ben and Alison stood together watching Sam as he drove off leaving them alone. “Do you think he’ll be alright?” Alison asked.

“No, anything to do with that woman, Josie, and he’s a complete wreck. He’ll tell us otherwise, of course, but I’m sure he believes he’s missed out on the love of his life and is being made to suffer for not seeing her article and turning up at that damn ball game.”

“I didn’t realise he had it so bad.”

“I don’t think he did until he read her report, six months too late. We’ve got to do something but now isn’t the time or the place. He has to learn to forget her or he’s gonna end up going insane if much of what just happened here today happens again.” He looked at Alison and sighed, “We’ve just got to be there for him when he needs us.” After a short silence Ben asked, “so shall we go and celebrate?” He held his arm out for her.

“Yes, lets.” She said taking the proffered arm. “Lead on, Ben.”

As soon as Sam arrived home he telephoned the school to let them know that he wouldn’t be in for a few days blaming the hockey match by saying he had received a cracked rib for his trouble. He knew Tony would cover for him.

He felt destroyed, his world had been slowly falling apart ever since he had read Josie’s article and had begun to believe that it probably would have been for the best if he’d never seen it. ‘At least that way I would’ve had the opportunity to start again.’ He thought.

He carried the two packs of beer he had into the kitchen and placed all but one into the fridge. He hadn’t eaten since dinner but he no longer cared. All he wanted to do was drink, by drinking he could forget for a while and hopefully wake up feeling better about the situation after the bender he was going to go on. Although he already knew in his heart it wouldn’t be any different.

He sat in his armchair trying to make sense of everything that had happened but not quite managing it. Despite being furious with himself for letting his emotions show, tears began to flow freely down his cheeks, his body convulsing rhythmically with his erratic breathing pattern. It was obvious he had never felt true love before as it had never been like this with Lara, he could swear he could feel his heart cracking with each sob that leapt forth from him. He called out into the deafening silence that surrounded him, “I love you, Josie Gellar, why won’t you forgive me?”

Utterly miserable he let his body do what it needed to do until sleep took him from the exertion of it all.