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Alli – Monday
Monday morning roller derby practice, and everyone is crowded around the old tv. It’s one of those thick ones that gets ten channels and needs a giant piece of furniture to hold it up, but it’s great for watching old videotapes of the original roller derby-ers. Roller derbites? Roller derbs? Roller derby players.
Anyhow, that’s clearly not what they’re watching right now, as I recognize the Channel 9 news anchor’s voice.
“And thanks to one young man and his dog, crisis was averted on Bender Street in the early morning hours,” the voice calls out as I weave my way into the group. “Now let’s go to the street where early this morning Channel 9’s own Marla Mendelson caught up with the young man and his trusty dog.”
Bender Street, it’s not far from where Terence lives.
And that… on the screen… is Terence.
“What were you thinking, Mr. Green, when your dog took off this morning and wound up here? Did you think he was misbehaving?”
Of course he wasn’t misbehaving. This is Ranger!
The woman shoves the microphone in Terence’s face. Terence leans forward, as if not sure how the microphone works. “Absolutely not. Ranger is a trained rescue animal, certified and recognized by the state’s oversight body on avalanche search and rescue. Because of his nature, he can’t bear for anyone to suffer. He seeks out danger and rushes into humans are in peril.” Terence looks down at Ranger on the screen. “He’s a good boy.”
I’m dumbstruck, but I know I have a giant smile on my face because it’s making my cheeks hurt.
“And Mr. Green, what’s your story?”
“My story?” He blushes. Oh, Ter-Ter. “No story. I’m an accountant at the Dog’s Paw Dog Spa out past Angelville. It’s a great place. And Ranger loves it there. He comes with me every day.” Terence shifts his weight on the screen and looks at the camera. “I’d better go. I’m going to be late for work.”
Someone flicks the tv off, and bubbly conversation ensues. But I only have one thing on my mind.
Terence.
Seeing him up there, all sweet and humble, it wasn’t like I was watching my best childhood friend—even though he is. And it wasn’t like I was watching the person who knows me best on this planet—even though he is.
My stomach is flip-flopping so bad that I might lose my balance just standing still. Okay, standing still on eight wheels, but even so.
One of the girls turns to me. “Isn’t that guy a cutie? I wish he’d come save me from a gas leak.”
I look at her. “Terence? A cutie?”
“You know him? April! Kasia! Get over here! Alli knows that guy!”
“No way.” April skates over. She’s the captain, six feet tall, and a fiend on the rink (in a good way). “The hero saving the souls of Hampton Falls is your friend?”
I swallow. “Yes.”
He’s my best friend. That’s what we promised each other when we were kids.
But something is bubbling up, something I’ve been trying to shove as far down into oblivion as I could. But like any rampant volcano, it’s about to erupt. Terence is out there saving souls, and…
Terence is my soul mate.
“This is terrible,” I mutter to myself.
“Not terrible at all!” Kasia says. “Didn’t you see? It had a happy ending. Don’t worry, your friend is fine.”
I smile briefly, looking for anything to change the subject. “Oh good, thanks for letting me know. Shouldn’t we be getting back to practice?”
“I wouldn’t mind skating some circles around him,” Kasia says to me as though we’re in cahoots. “Is he available?”
“No!” I gasp.
But yes, he’s available. He can date anyone he wants. Just not Kasia. Not any of these girls. They’re nice enough, but they can’t have him. Because… because…
