Chapter 3

'Breathe Brie, breathe.'
Deep breath. Inhale...exhale.
'You can do this. You have to do this...for him.

I shot up off my bed like lightening.
"Okay. So you guys play what? Once, twice a week max? And most games are on weekends right?"
"Uh...yeah...something like that," Kris said, quite confused by my sudden attitude change.
"So here's what we do. I know you're not going to be able to cope with me not there to walk you or drive you to school every day, so I will call you every morning before school, and you'll call me every day after school; even it's only for five minutes on your way to practice, and then we'll talk every night. You're going to need me to help you with your homework anyways, it will just have to be over the phone now," I said as quickly as I could, mostly to avoid crying. "And I will drive to every game I can, besides, not all your games are going to be up there. You'll be playing around here too right?"
"Brie," he started quietly, "it's a good plan but..."
"NO!" I yelled. Deep breath. "No. No buts. You will not argue with me Coconut."
"Coconut. You haven't called me that since we were little," he smiled.
"Well, it still applies."
He walked over to me and took both my hands in his. "So...this is actually going to happen?"
"Sure looks that way superstar. You're on your way babe!"
"And none of it would have happened without you. I don't know how I can ever thank you for everything you've done for me...everything you still do for me. You gave up everything you love to support me Brie. You don't know how grateful I am..."
"Kris stop," I cut him off. I couldn't stand the seriousness his chocolate eyes were casting upon me. "Seriously, it's not the end of the world. Now get out of here so I can get ready for the party tonight. We can celebrate your good news."
"Do we have to go to this thing tonight? You don't even like parties and I sure don't want to hang out with a bunch of drunk football guys, sitting around trying to see how tall they can stack their beer cans. Can we just stay in tonight, maybe get a movie...just you and me?"
"That my friend, is why you don't have any other friends," I said pushing him towards the door. "You never put yourself out there. What are you going to do up in Val-d'Or without me to make friends for you? Get out of here and I'll see you at 8."

As I shut my bedroom door behind him, I couldn't hold it in anymore. I sobbed uncontrollably for what seemed like an eternity. I finally made my way to the bathroom and turned on the shower. I got in and prayed for the scalding hot water to wash the pain away.




----Kris' POV----

The walk back to my house seemed like the longest walk I had ever taken. My heart was pounding in my chest...or was it breaking? I thought Brie would have taken the news that I was moving 7 hours away a little harder than she did. She actually seemed excited about it, like she was happy for me. Of course she was happy for me you idiot! She's my best friend and I'm about to start living my dream; taking the first step towards it anyways. There was one thing she was right about though. How exactly was I going to cope without her there? She was my life. I needed her just as much as I needed the blood flowing through my veins.
I turned on the shower and got ready to climb in. I was miserable. I just wanted to be alone with her. I'm not going to get much more time with her and the last thing I wanted to do was go to some party with people I don't even like so I can watch the cheerleaders try and get on the football players, and the football players try and get on Brie. Yeah, that's what I want! Other guys crawling all over my...best friend. I let the scalding hot water flow over my body hoping it would wash everything away.

I knocked on her bedroom door at exactly 8:00 and when I walked in, my breath caught in my throat and my chest felt like it was caught in a vice grip. She looked stunning. Beautiful. Amazing. Gorgeous.
"Earth to Coconut! Helloooooo?"
"Hmm what?"
"I asked if you were ready to go."
"Oh, yeah sure."
She held out her hand for me to take in mine and I obliged.
"Let's go friend," she said pulling me out of the bedroom.





----At the Party----

"Lookin' goo ood Brie baby," Rob slurred as we walked by him. "See you have your little tag a long. Dude, don't you ever get tired of following her around like a puppy?"
"The name is Brielle, only my friends call me Brie, and you Rob are not my friend."
"Oh come on baby, you know we'd be great together. How could you not want some of this?" he called with all his goons egging him on.
I let go of Kris' hand and walked back towards Rob and saw the excitement and anticipation growing in his eyes. I reached up and grabbed his shirt to pull his face close to mine.
In the sexiest voice I could muster I whispered in his ear, "Rob, I want you to savour this moment because this is the only time you will ever be this close to me. I do not now, nor will I ever have any interest in being with you because you disgust me. You are not even good enough to say my name, so please, in the future if you even think about saying my name, don't," and I started to walk away.
"You are such a bitch Brie," he yelled after me. "That's right! Go run back to your little puppy dog."
As I reached Kris his eyes had a fire in them that I'd never seen before. He turned around and was about to head in Rob's direction when I grabbed his hand.
"Don't. He's not worth it."
"But he just called you..."
"I don't care, he's an ass and you are better than that. Now let's go, I need a drink."
"Brie, you don't drink."
"I do tonight."

Two hours and a countless number of beers later, Kris was watching his best friend hang all over the very guy that two hours ago disgusted her. Now it was his turn to be disgusted.
"Dude, Rob is like crawling all over your girl. Are you gonna put up with that shit?" Jesse asked.
"If that was my girl, his ass would be flat on the floor," another guy named Dave said.
Kris didn't know the group of guys he was standing with very well, they were mostly acquaintances; the boyfriends of Brie's friends.
"She's not my girl," Kris said through a clenched jaw, "we're just friends."
"Really? But you guys are like ALWAYS together and always holding hands and shit, we just assumed."
"It's okay," Kris replied. "We get that a lot."
"I thought she hated that guy?"
"She does, she's just drunk."
"Umm, I'm not sure, but if you don't stop her, I think she's going to do something she might regret," Jesse said pointing towards the stairs.
Kris turned and looked to see Brie being led upstairs by that barbarian and he saw red. He dropped his glass of coke on the floor and headed for the stairs only to be headed off by Jeanette.
"They're cute together aren't they? It's about time they hooked up don't ya think?"
"Not now Jeanette. I gotta stop her."
"Why would you stop her?"
"She hates him Jeanette, and she's drunk for the first time in her life. I have to stop her before she does something she's going to regret."
"News flash ice monkey; she doesn't need you to stop her. You're not her boyfriend remember? Did you ever think that maybe she really does like him and just never told you?"
"I'm her best friend, she tells me everything."
"Not everything. She didn't tell you that she likes Rob because she knows how much you despise him and she didn't want to hurt you."
Kris felt the bile rise in his throat. "I don't believe you."
"Believe it Kris. Look, the girl has done everything for you, given up everything...for you. You two have this bizarre relationship that nobody understands but what have you done for her? From what I hear, you're leaving. Maybe you should stop being a selfish bastard and let her have this. Just let her have this one thing...for her."
Jeanette walked away leaving Kris to drown in his own thoughts. He felt like he was suffocating; like the walls were closing in on him. Was she right? Did Brie really lie to him? He couldn't fathom the thought of his best friend betraying him like that. Just as he was about to run out the door, he heard her voice.
"Stay the hell away from me! Don't you ever touch me again! Kris? Kris? Kristopher!"
"I'm right here," he said running over to her. Her face was tear stained and her make up was running down her cheeks.
"I need to go home," she cried. "I need you..."
She collapsed in Kris' arms. He picked her up and with all eyes on them, carried her out of the house.
"Coconut," she mumbled.
"I'm here baby. I'm right here," he said putting her quivering body into the car.
"I'm sorry."

Chapter 2

June 2004

"So are you ready for Michelle's party tonight? I heard that there's supposed to be like a hundred people there, including a certain extremely hot football player who happens to have a serious crush on you!"
"Ugh, please Jeanette, I am sooo NOT interested in Rob Taylor. He is an egotistical jerk!"
"Brielle, shake your head! He is blond, blue eyed, and built like a house and he wants to date you! The entire female population of our school would die to be in your shoes!"
"Then they can have my shoes cause I don't want them, and I certainly do not want Rob Taylor."
"Riiiiiiight. Sorry, I forgot, Rob's not a hockey player so you're not interested."
"It has nothing to do with the fact that he's not a hockey player and everything to do with the fact he's a jerk. He thinks he's god's gift to women and that we should all bow at his feet. And for the record, I don't bow at anyone's feet and I don't like hockey players either."
"No not all hockey players, just one; and for the record, you do bow at his feet."
"Jeanie, Kris and I are best friends, that's it, that's all."
"When are you going to wake up and just admit that you are in love with him and you're going to follow him to the ends of the earth and get married and have little Letang babies and live happily ever after."
"You have a very vivid imagination Jeanie."
"Ah ha!"
"Ah ha what?"
"You didn't deny it."
"Okay, for the last time, Kris and I have been best friends since we were old enough to know what a friend was. I am not now, nor have I ever been in love with Kris Letang."
"And that's why he's the only guy you ever look at, ever pay any attention to, because he's your best friend?"
"Yes, because he's the only guy that doesn't treat me like I'm a piece of meat. He's the only guy that is actually interested in what I have to say and not how I look."
"Brielle, you are the hottest girl at school; every guy wants to date you and every girl hates you because they want to be you. I can't let you waste that kind of power..."
"Brie! Brie! Brie where are you?" he called out.
"Speak of the devil," Jeanie sneared.
"Oh, be quiet Jean. I'm in my room Kris," I yelled back.
A few seconds later he burst through the bedroom door out of breath.
"Brie, you...will...never...guess...oh, sorry. I...had...no...idea..."
"It's okay Kris, I'm just talking to Jeanie."
"Hello Jeanette," he said loud enough for her to hear through the phone.
"Say hello back," she grumbled.
"She says hi back. Kay, Jeanie I'm going to go..."
"I know, I know. Lover boy's there now so screw Jeanie!"
"I'm hanging up now!"

"So what's up Kris? I just left you like 15 minutes ago."
"I know! I just got off the phone with coach. The Foreurs...they want me to come play for them!"

My heart started beating a million miles a minute. 'The Foreurs? The foreurs? Why can't I place that name?"

"Kristopher, that's great!" I exclaimed wrapping my arms around his neck and burying my nose in his hair. God, I loved the smell of his hair!
"I know! I haven't even told maman yet! I just can't believe it. I am actually going to play in the Quebec Major Junior League. I just can't wrap my brain around it. I can't believe they want me."
"Well I can! Kris you are amazing, I've been telling you that for years. Now you're going to get your shot! I am so proud of you Kris, you have worked so hard for this!"
"Thank you Brie," he said more quietly now. "You've always believed in me; always supported me. I can't thank you enough," he said wrapping me up in another hug.
"What are best friends for?" I asked still trapped in his strong embrace.
"You are my best friend Brie. I am going to miss you sooooooooooooo much," he whispered.
"Miss me? Why would you miss me?" I asked pulling away from him.
"Unless you plan on coming to Val-d'Or with me, then I'm going to miss you."
"VAL-D'OR! What do you mean you're going to Val-d'Or!"
"The Foreurs are in Val-d'Or, where else would I go?"

I felt the colour draining from my face as I sat down on my bed to keep from collapsing on the floor.

"Are you okay Brie?" Kris asked sitting down beside me and taking my hand in his.
"But Val-d'Or is like seven hours away," I said in a barely audible voice.
"I know," he said shaking his head. "What am I going to do without you next door? Without you and your goofy signs in the stands cheering me on?"
"Seven hours Kristopher," again in a whisper.
"I know baby. I know," he said putting his arm around me so I could rest my head on his shoulder. "We'll figure it out. We have to."

I closed my eyes hoping to keep the tears from falling. Kristopher had spent the last four years wirking his ass off to get to this point. I have too for that matter; working out with him, strapping the goalie pads on for hours so he could perfect his shot. And I have been his biggest fan and his biggest supporter. So why is it that when he tells me that all the hard work has paid off and he gets to fulfil his dream that we worked so hard to achieve, the only thing I want to say to him is 'don't go! Don't leave me.'

Chapter 1 - The Beginning

Kristopher Letang and Brielle Laroche had known each other their entire lives; they grew up next door to each other. Kristopher was very quiet, extremely shy and very reserved which made it difficult for him to make friends. Brielle was the polar opposite; very boisterous, friendly, outgoing and outspoken. You knew when she entered a room; her crystal clear blue eyes and dazzling smile were hypnotizing, her laugh was infectious, and her confidence commanded attention, even from a young age.

Brielle was a year older than Kristopher and when he started school, she took it upon herself to protect him. Every day they would walk to school together, hand in hand, and every day she would wait for him after school so they could walk home together. Every day without fail.

Kristopher could always be found trailing behind Brielle everywhere she went. She was involved in as many activities as she could be; skating, dance and gymnastics, and was amazing at every single thing she did. The truth was, Kristopher was in complete awe of his best friend; in complete awe and bursting with pride. Her best friend was always at her meets cheering from the sidelines along with her parents Margot and Gilles. When Gilles suggested to Kristopher's mother Christiane to try signing her son up for some kind of sport to help him come out of his shell, it was the end of life as they knew it.

From the very first time Kristopher put on a pair of skates he felt at home. The tide quickly turned from him going to all of Brielle's dance recitals, skating carnivals, and gymnastics meets to her going to his early morning practices, hockey games and tournaments. She was there for every single one of them. Every one without fail.

It wasn't hard to see that Kris was going to go far with his hockey career. By the time he was 10 his coaches started talking about him moving up to play on travel teams so he could be more challenged. Kris excelled on every team he played on and flourished socially as well. Brielle watched her shy, quiet best friend who needed her to interact socially with anyone, turn into a rambunctious, happy yet still on the quiet and reserved side, hockey player that everyone wanted to be around.

Life was good. Everywhere Brielle went, Kris went too. Everywhere Kris went, Brielle followed; hand in hand, just like when they were five and six years old walking to school. Two best friends navigating life.

As they got older, Brielle's friends didn't understand her relationship with Kristopher.
"He's strange," they'd say. "He's always following you around, doesn't he have anything better to do?" "Does he have to go everywhere we go?" they'd ask. Brielle's response was always the same, "Wherever we go, we go together. If you don't like it, we won't go." Kris' teamates on the other hand, thought it was cool to have a cute girl around all the time but would still razz him about Brielle being his girlfriend and would often tease him making kissing noises whenever she was around. Kris' response was always the same, he's shrug his shoulders and the right corner of his mouth would turn up into a crooked little half smile, but he never spoke a word.

Kris would often look at his best friend and think 'life can't get any better can it?' The truth was, it could. One of them was about to embark down a path that would make all their dreams come true; but could they go down that path the same way they went everywhere else? Could they go together?