As I go through my morning routine, the excitement bubbles up inside me at the thought of filming the Chicago Blackhawks family skate, especially since I'll get to take my siblings to it.
I start my day by brewing a strong cup of coffee, knowing I'll need the energy to capture all the action on the ice later. As I sip my coffee, I mentally prepare myself for the day ahead, thinking about the shots I want to get.
After finishing my coffee, I head to my wardrobe to pick out the perfect outfit for the occasion. I want to look professional yet comfortable, knowing I'll be moving around a lot with my camera. Finally settling on a pair of jeans, a cozy sweater, and my trusty camera bag, I feel ready to tackle the day.
Before leaving, I take a moment to glance at an old photo of Connor and me that his parents gave me while visiting. A smile spreads across my face as I remember all the fun we used to have together on the ice.
With my gear packed and a warm cup of coffee in my hand, I set off for the Chicago Blackhawks family skate, excited to capture every moment of the day.
As I approached my parents' house, I was lost in thought when suddenly a high-pitched voice interrupted my contemplation. "Sage!!" screamed Tommy, my youngest sibling, who ran towards me with his arms open wide. I couldn't help but smile as I embraced the little blonde boy. "Hey bud," I replied, hugging him back. Tommy is a precious addition to our family whom my parents adopted from their close family friend. They had taken care of him for almost a year before handing him over to us since they could no longer afford his anxiety medication. Despite still visiting them, he doesn't get to see them as often since we moved away.
Tommy's small arms tightened around my neck as he buried his face into my neck. "I missed you. Don't leave me," he pleaded. I gently patted his back, reassuring him that I wasn't leaving him anytime soon. "I'm not leaving, Toms. I've just been a little busy," I said, ruffling his hair.
As I tried to put Tommy down, I heard the garage door open and close with a thud. "Sage!!" yelled another one of my siblings. I glanced towards the source of the voice and saw my brother, Cylis, running towards me, beaming with excitement. "Hey, Cy," I greeted him, letting him slam into my legs. Cylis is the oldest of my younger siblings, just six years old, but already full of energy and enthusiasm.
I looked around and saw Iyker, my other younger brother, shyly peeking from behind the door. "Hey, Iky," I said, waving at him. Iyker is just five years old, but he's already quite mature for his age. He waved back at me, a small smile playing on his lips.
I felt a sense of warmth and happiness as I looked at my siblings. They are my world, and I would do anything to keep them happy and safe. I remembered that Ayla and Lyra, my albino twin sisters, weren't here with us as they were in Minnesota with my older brother Ryder. Nevertheless, I knew that we will all have a great time together at the family skate today.
As soon as I was pulled inside the house by both of them, I couldn't help but ask, "Where'd Iyker go?" With a worried expression on my face, I was eager to know his whereabouts. Tommy and Cylis exchanged a glance before Tommy spoke up, "He's upstairs, feeling upset." The concern in their eyes was palpable, and I knew something serious must have happened to make Iyker so distraught. said, picking his nails like he knew why but didn't want to tell me.
I crouched down to Tommy's level as Cylis closed the door behind us, wondering why he was upset. "What happened, Tommy?" I asked in a gentle tone.
"He told Iyker that he didn't like his outfit," Cylis replied, Tommy slams his butt on the marble floor pouting. I could see that he was feeling defensive as he explained himself.
"That was not nice of you," I said firmly but calmly. "Tommy Rose, why did you say that to Iyker?"
Tommy hesitated for a moment before speaking up. "He was wearing Tyler's jersey, but we're going to a Chicago skate, so I told him he'd look stupid."
I could understand why Tommy might have thought that, but it wasn't a kind thing to say. Tyler, the oldest among us, played hockey for Vancouver, so his jersey held a special meaning for Iyker.
"That's not nice, Toms," I said, using Tommy's nickname. "If Iyker wants to wear Tyler's jersey, he can. Do you understand?"
"Yes, ma'am," Tommy said with a nod.
"Good. Now I'm going to talk to Iyker, and when we come down, I want you to apologize," I said firmly.
Tommy looked down as I began to leave the room, but when I asked him to go get his hockey bag, he perked up and rushed upstairs. I followed him closely, heading towards Iyker's room.
As I knocked on Iyker's door, I couldn't help but feel a sense of apprehension. I knew I had to be gentle in my approach, given the circumstances. Slowly opening the door, I saw Iyker sitting in the middle of his room, holding a jersey in his hands.
"Hey, bud," I said softly, trying to ease the tension in the room. "Hi," he replied, his voice barely audible.
Iyker was clearly upset, and I knew why. Toms had told him what had happened, and it had affected him deeply. I could see the tears falling down his face, and it broke my heart.
"If you want to wear his jersey, then you should wear his jersey," I said, trying to reassure him.
"But what if people think I'm weird?" he asked, his voice trembling.
"No one's going to think you're weird, bud," I replied, hoping to give him some peace of mind. "I would wear his jersey too, but I've got to work, so I'm required to wear this."
I could see the relief in his eyes, and I knew that I had done the right thing. "Okay. Can you help me get it back on, please?" he asked, just above a whisper.
I bent down to his level, and we worked together to get the jersey on. It was a small gesture, but it meant the world to him.
"Let's go before Tommy and Cylis burn down the house," I said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. I picked him up, and we headed down the stairs.
Cylis comes running up to us with the phone in his hand, saying, "Sage, your phone is ringing!" Without even looking at the contact, I answered the phone, "Hello?" It was Maelyn on the other end, asking if I was at my parents' house. When I confirmed that I was, she said she just wanted to make sure and asked if she'd see me there. I replied yes and ended the call with, "Bye, love you." Maelyn reciprocated the sentiment and we quickly left the house, hurrying to the arena.
As we walked into the arena, we were greeted by a sea of families. Connor approached us from behind and said, "Sage, hey!" I returned his greeting, and Tommy, recognizing Connor, yelled out his name and jumped into his arms. Iyker and Cylis both hugged him as well, and Connor's smile brightened the room.
Suggesting that they get dressed while I checked in, I motioned them towards a bench. As I was about to leave for the cameras, Maelyn approached us, "Sage, good morning." I asked if she was getting Connor mic'd up. "Yeah, your stuff is in the side office."
Connor joined the conversation, offering to take care of my younger siblings, and I hesitated, feeling guilty about him taking on that responsibility. But he insisted, saying he hadn't seen them in years and would love to hang out with them, and I finally relented, cautioning him, "Ok, but if they give you any trouble, just tell me."
As I stood by the side of the ice rink, watching my siblings skate alongside Connor, my heart warmed with joy. It was a beautiful sight to behold - the smooth gliding of the skates, the laughter and giggles of the children, and the genuine happiness on Connor's face as he played with them.
But as the minutes ticked by, a faint sadness crept into my heart. I couldn't help but wonder how different things would have been if we hadn't left all those years ago. Perhaps we would still be living in the same town, spending time with each other, and being as close as we once were. It was a bittersweet moment, filled with both happiness and regret.
After dropping off Iyker, Cylis, and Tommy at our parents house, I decided to head to Lucid Cafe for the night. I didn't want to go back to my own place just yet, so I told Maelyn that I was planning to spend the night at my parents' house. As I drove to the cafe, I couldn't help but think about the events of the day and how everything seemed to be happening so quickly. The cool night air blowing through my car window was a refreshing change from the stuffy atmosphere of the arena, and I felt myself starting to relax as I approached the cafe.
Lucid Cafe was always a sanctuary for me, a place where time seemed to slow down and the worries of the world melted away with each sip of coffee. As I sat there, lost in the comforting embrace of familiarity, I couldn't help but smile as Connor approached me. His presence alone was enough to brighten my mood, a reminder of the enduring bond we shared as friends. I hadn't seen him in here since that first night so I thought maybe it was a one night thing but maybe not?
"Hey Sage," Connor greeted me with a warm smile, sliding into the seat opposite mine. "Mind if I join you?"
I returned his smile, feeling a rush of warmth at his familiar presence. "Sure, pull up a chair," I replied, gesturing to the empty seat beside me.
As we settled into our seats, the conversation flowed effortlessly between us, like a gentle stream meandering through the depths of our shared memories. We talked about everything and nothing, sharing stories, laughter, and the occasional heartfelt confession. In that moment, the world outside faded into insignificance, leaving only the two of us and the comforting hum of the cafe.
But amidst the laughter and camaraderie, Connor's gaze fell upon my cup of coffee, a mischievous twinkle dancing in his eyes. I knew that look all too well—it was the same mischievous glint he had whenever he was about to propose one of his infamous challenges.
"Hey, Sage," Connor began, his voice tinged with excitement. "I've got a proposition for you."
I arched an eyebrow, intrigued. "Oh? What's this about?" I asked, leaning in closer.
Connor leaned in as well, his grin widening. "How about we make a little wager?" he proposed. "If you can go without drinking caffeine for a month, I'll cover the cost of your coffee for an entire year."
I couldn't help but laugh at the audacity of his offer. Giving up caffeine for a month seemed like an insurmountable challenge, especially for someone like me who relied on it to keep away the nightmares and bad memories.
"You must be joking," I replied, shaking my head incredulously. "You know how much I love my coffee, Connor. I don't think I could survive a day without it, let alone a whole month."
But Connor was undeterred, his eyes shining with determination. "Come on, Sage, think of it as a test of your willpower," he urged. "Besides, think of all the money you'll save on coffee if you win."
I hesitated, torn between my love for coffee and the allure of Connor's challenge. The thought of going without my beloved brew for a month was daunting, to say the least, but there was a part of me that relished the idea of proving myself capable of overcoming such a formidable obstacle.
After much deliberation, I finally relented, a competitive spark igniting in my eyes. "Fine, you're on," I declared, a sense of determination welling up inside me. "But don't expect me to go easy on you."
And so, with a firm handshake and a shared sense of anticipation, we sealed our agreement, setting in motion a month-long journey that would test my resolve like never before. We called it the Lucid Pact.
I've got some tricks up my sleeve
Takes one to know one
You're a cowboy like me
Authors note
Sorry it took forever to update but Ive been super busy
I hope to update once a week :)
Next update:
1989 || Luke Hughes
Chapter Eight: This Love
LOVE YOU GUYS