Twist of fate

I didn't drink last night nor did I smoke anything so why the heck am I seeing things?

There was no way in hell the Legendary Killian Greenberg was standing in this room.

I'd recognize him even in my dreams. Tan skinned, long black hair he keeps plaited, ears pierced with small earrings, and the tattoos snaking up his arms and neck. This was the real deal. This is the real Killian Greenburg, my hockey hero and nerd 2.0 just called him dad?

“He's your father?” I turned to Jericho.

“Well, duh.” She shrugged.

My shoulders slumped. Now, I can see the resemblance. They had the same black hair, tanned skin and even the same colour of eyes. Jesus. This freak is my hero's kid?

Killian turned to me and sighed. “I'm sorry about what my daughter did. I'm sure she didn't mean to escalate her overzealousness so quickly.”

Jericho looked away and pouted.

“Yeah.” I think I stopped breathing when he shook my arm. Then he turned to Jericho, “As for you, young lady, you have a lot of explaining to do.”

She swallowed hard. “But dad, I didn't mean to. I'm sorry.”

“That's enough,” Killian said in a rather soft voice and nodded at the door.

Jericho turned to me as if waiting for me to help her. I wiggled my brows and mouthed. “See ya, motherfucker.”

“Screw you.” She mouthed back as she stormed out of the cafe.

“Don't start the car!” Killian called over his shoulder when we heard a door slam.

“I'm not a child!” Jericho yelled back.

I stifled a snicker. Ah, this is way too good.

I spent the rest of the day getting acquainted with Killian and even got an autograph from him for Winter.

“I'll see you in my next game?” Killian patted my shoulder as he rose.

“1000%, man.” I laughed and shook his hand. “Thank you for this.” I gestured to the signed jersey.

He only shrugged and turned to the car with his wife. I watched him with envy as he opened the door for her and even held her hand as she entered the passenger seat. My dad would never do that for my mom. Give him a billion dollars to even kiss her good morning and the bastard still wouldn't do it.

I heaved a sigh and took out my phone when it started ringing. I turned off the reminder and stuffed both the phone and jersey in the go-to bag.

It wasn't a long drive to Ocean Hospital. I'd chosen it because it was closer to the university and to home. I wouldn't exactly call it a home. I rarely visit.

Anyways, I signed on the register like I'd done a dozen times and sauntered to the VIP ward.

I reached a bright orange door with a warning sign that said, ‘I eat guys for breakfast. Ladies only’. A short laugh escaped me and I pushed the door open and entered.

A tiny koala bear raced from the bed and wiped her tiny arms around my waist.

“AJ!” Winter giggled as I lifted her in my arms. She was as light as a feather but each time I visit I always tell her she weighs a tonne.

“Oof! Kid, what are they feeding you?” I laughed when she hit my chest.

“Stop being mean. I weigh just fine.” Winter pouts her lips and sits on her bed.

“I know,” I grinned. She must've found that suspicious because she pinched her eyes at me.

“You're acting weird." She said, still squinting.

“I'm not.” I took a step back and she finally noticed it.

“What are you hiding?” She got off the bed.

“Nothing.” I grinned. “Nothing to see here.”

Winter's lips curled into a smile and she wriggled her fingers. “You'll face the wrath of the pinch lord if you don't tell me.”

“I'll take my chances. Thank you.” I smiled.

“Aargh!” She went straight for the attack. No questions asked.

Before she could pinch the bejesus out of me, I surrendered her bag to her and before you roll your eyes, it's not a matter of weakness. It shows how generous I am.

Winter parked into the bag and gasped so loudly I feared she exhaled all the air in her lungs.

“No way.” The bag dropped from her hand as she held out the jersey. “This is custom-made.”

I laughed when she sniffed the jersey. “It smells just like him. Wait, this is his signature.”

She screamed when I confirmed her suspicion. “No way! Killian Greenberg signed a jersey for me?”

“Yeah. It was no big deal.” I shrugged. It really was no big deal.

“You got this for me?” Winter teared up. When I nodded, she pulled me into her arms. “Thank you, AJ. You're the best big brother ever.”

“Ugh. You're gonna make me cry, kiddo.” I coughed to hide the crack in my voice.

“I always make you cry.” She teased but she was right. She always made me cry. Just 10 years old and she was already fighting for her life.

When we pulled away, I ruffled her wool hat and she laughed. The wound came out weak and I knew she was exhausted so I laid her in bed. Only she refused to sit down.

“Wanna try on your new jersey?” I asked her with a grin. Winter can get overexcited just like one nerd I know.

“Not yet,” she smiled. “I'd like to show my friends first.”

“Cool. We can show them.” I agreed. “Let's go.”

I placed her gently on her wheel chair and pushed her to the direction she pointed. I've been doing this since she got diagnosed 5 years ago. Everyone here thinks I'm her father and I don't correct them. Her real one didn't give a shit about her and neither did the mother who gave birth to her. For someone who lives with no worries, I come from a fucked-up family.

“They’ll lose their marbles if I show them these jerseys. Especially Jerry. She loves hockey.” Winter yelped happily as we strolled towards an open door.

“Jerry, huh,” I said. “Sounds like one idiot I know.”

“No,” Winter corrected me. “Jerry might look like an idiot in those clown outfits she wears but she's pretty smart. She volunteers here every weekend and always stays till everyone of us falls asleep. Oh and she has this major crush on you.”

“Who wouldn't have a crush on this face?” I smirked.

“You won't be saying that when you grow up.” She rolled her eyes.

“Hey!”

When we arrived, she called out to her friends, “Hey, guys. My brother gave me a gift.”

The “friends” in the room responded and I nearly keeled over in shock.

You see, when a kid says they have a friend, you'd assume it's a kid their age or even little toddlers running around you in cute onesies and shit. But that's not the friends my sister has. The friends in question were full grown adults. Each one with a bald head, hanging onto an IV drip and wheezing heavily.

“Aww. Is that the brother you've been telling us about, Winnie?” An elderly woman smiled and I nearly hurled when I noticed she barely had any teeth left.

“Yep.” Winter gestured to me to push her forward.

Every guardian in my shoes will pick Winer up and run but the adult in me caved. Not because I was intimidated or anything. But because every single one of them in this room was like her. They were all cancer patients.

While the lot admired the jersey and played with each other, I watched them from my seat. How cute.

The door sprang open with a loud bang and I jolted in my seat.

“Who the fuck —” the rest of the curse died on my tongue when a familiar four-eyed female walked into the room wearing a clown outfit.

“Hey, guys!” Jericho called out with a big smile on her face.

If my jaws could drop to the floor, they would, because why the fuck was she here?!

“AJ!” Winter pushed herself to where I sat. “This is my friend, Jerry. Her name is Jericho but we call her Jerry. You know, after Tom and Jerry.”

I stared at her in horror and she stared back too.

“What are you doing here?” we both asked at the same time.

“Don't be silly.” Winter swatted my arm and stood up to hug Jericho. “Jerry, this is my brother.”

Jericho stiffened. “You're related to him?”

“Yeah. We're of the same flesh and blood.” Winter smiled.

Jericho stiffened again. Most people do when they find out I have a baby sister who's sick but I couldn't care less about that.

I expected her to read me a poem of how sorry she was and how bad she felt but instead, she puts Winter down and says, “He's a stupid brother, isn't he?”

Winter rolled her eyes and sighs. “Tell me about it.”

This time, my jaws dropped. What the fuck?

The duo chat and laugh with the others till night falls.

The nurses came to remind them to turn the lights out and that was when Jericho dropped the bomb.

“I’ll miss you guys,” she began quietly.

“Aww. We'll miss you too.” An elderly man smiled. “The weekend is just too far.”

The others, including my sister, agreed but Jericho shook her head.

“That's not what I mean. What I mean is…” she swallowed and looked up. “I'm leaving.”

I jolt to my feet. “You're leaving?”

“Yeah,” she sniffled and rose to her feet. “My dad is pulling me out of Elite University. I'll be transferring to Saint Ivy's university next week.”

“What the — Saint Ivy? Saint Ivy's the enemy.” They're literally our rivals and the worst our school has had for years.

“You can't leave,” Winter hugged Jericho. “Don't go.”

Jericho hugged her back. “I know, kiddo. I'm sorry but this is me paying for my mistakes.”

“We have to fix it, right?” Winter turned to me. “AJ, she has to stay with us. She can't leave. Please.”

I opened my mouth to say something but for some reason which was beyond me, I couldn't. I wanted to rid Jericho from my life for good. Heck, I even planned to go on a joyride after her dad scolded her but this wasn't about me now. Winter wanted her to stay.

“AJ, come on, please.” Winter sobbed and it ripped me apart.

I knelt down to hug her. “It's going to be okay, love.”

I scooped her in my arms and took her room. She fell asleep a few minutes after that.

Standing outside her room, I pinched the skin between my brows. Did I do something wrong? Why was nothing going my way lately?

“Is she asleep?” Jericho asked behind me.

I turned to face her. “She is.”

“I'm glad.” She stuffed both her hands in my pocket and turned to leave.

“That's it?” I asked.

She froze. “Excuse me?”

“A kid was crying in that room for you to stay and you're just gonna, what, leave her?” My voice rose higher than normal.

“I’m sorry but I have no choice,” she held my stare now. “Aren't you glad I'll be getting out of your hair?”

“I am!” I reached for her. “But Winter wouldn't! She…” I stopped myself before I could say anything I shouldn't. “Stay. For her.”

“My dad…”

“I'll talk to him,” I said immediately. “What matters to me right now is Winter not losing you. Got it?”

Jericho looked at me for a few seconds before she broke into a smile. “Really?”

“Yeah. Why are you smiling like a creep?” I arched my brow.

“You'll talk to my dad to let me stay here?” She asked.

“Yeah.” I nod. “I'll convince him to let you.”

“And if he does?”

“You stay and you never leave Winter's side.”

“Just like that?” She threw my question back at me.

“What more do you want, woman? I'm basically helping you not transfer to another school.”

“It's not enough.” She shrugged.

I pinched the skin between my brows. “Out with it.”

“I want us to go on a date.” She beamed.

Fuck me sideways.

“Hard pass.” I gritted my teeth.

“Okay then. See you at the Frozen Five Tournament. I'll be sure to cheer you up from the enemy side.” She said

I didn't let her leave because I grabbed her arm. “Wait…”

“Yes?” She grinned.

“Can't you choose something else?” I was literally begging at this point and I didn't beg. Ever.

“No.” She smiled.

“You drive a hard bargain for someone who can't see.” I scoffed.

“I'm not blind. I have these,” she gestured to her glasses. “And besides, dating me will help clear up the rumour going on.”

“Clear up? You're the cause of the whole chaos.” I scoffed.

“And I can help end it. Tell everyone we're dating and no one will pay attention to what happened in the locker room and the dorm. They'll even think it's an invasion of privacy and take down their articles.”

“Not Kelsey though.”

“Come on. Let's give it a shot. You won't know till you try it.”

“I’m not dating you.”

“Then I'll leave.”

“Fine,” I hissed. “Jesus. I'll date you. Fake-date you.”

“Yay.” Jericho giggled and threw her arms around me.

I barely caught myself and we tumbled to the floor. Just then, I heard the sound of a camera click and turned. Kelsey Sawyer had taken our picture and this time she winked.

By morning, the morning paper arrived and you won't believe the headlines :

“STAR HOCKEY PLAYER ACCEPTS GIRLFRIEND'S PREGNANCY.”

Someone should just kill me.