Colors and Lights (Jon)

Soundtrack

We were eating lunch before the game; in a corner booth of Denny’s. I hated the food here, it was too greasy, but the guys insisted. And if we’re being honest… I don’t trust them when they’re by themselves…
I was sitting in beside Kane, Sharpie and Burish were sitting across from us; the latter still talking about the ‘room-mate’ that he’d apparently become smitten with. “So wait, does this mean that Lola’s free?” Kane grinned across the table, before taking a sip of his pop.

“Ugh… yah. But I wouldn’t worry about it man, you wouldn’t know what to do with a girl like that.” Burish and Sharpie exchanged knowing glances as Kaner huffed beside me.

“Oh now, we shouldn’t be too quick to judge, she can make up her own mind tonight… after the game…” Sharpie added as an after-thought.

I sighed. “I’m sorry… did you just say ‘after the game’?” Both boys across the table nodded. “No, you’re not inviting them into the lobby…” When nobody said anything, I continued. “Did you just hear what I said? No! We can’t have random girls walking around the restricted areas of the arena… what you do on your time, is your prerogative; but when you’re in Blackhawk territory…I own you.”

“Well, too late! I already told Lola that her and her friends could come… and she doesn’t have a phone so…” He blew a raspberry as he finished, causing me to groan. The worse part was, if anyone was going to get in trouble for this - it was going to be me.

I shook my head slowly, finally accepting that this was a battle I wouldn’t win. “Fine… whatever. But you go in, grab them and then get out.” Burish nodded in agreement.

“That was the plan all along Mr. Serious… man he needs to loosen up!” He said the last part to Sharpie, but earned a nod of agreement from both him and Kane.

“Whatever… let’s head out.” I sighed softly to myself as we headed, on foot, towards the rink. There just has to be something more than this… I looked back at Sharpie; something like that. The guy is an idiot and yet even he has someone… and who do I have? I have Kaner…



If you’ve never actually tried to calm Adam Burish down or keep Patrick Sharp focused on one thing; then you couldn’t begin to understand just how stressful my game-days are. I watched them from my stall, as the plotted together in the corner of the locker-room: I was almost afraid to go over and find out what they were planning, but that question was answered when they both looked up and grinned at me. I shook my head and looked back down, searching for my skates. This is the last thing I need… We were in desperate need of a win. I definitely wasn’t the only guy on the team that hated to loose; but at times it felt like I was the only one that was willing to put in the time needed.


Kaner and I cut through the defence and wound up in front of the net. He sent a pass, spiralling towards me and I deflected it; finding open net. I threw my hands above my head as a scream erupted from me. The score was now 1-0 and there was only 3 minutes left in the game. “Nice one Jonny!” Burish called, grinning, as he skated pass me - slapping his stick against my legs. “We win this one, and my lady love’s here… gonna be a good night man!”
I shook my head as I followed him back to the bench. ’Lady love’… he probably doesn’t even know her name.


“Good win boys, good win. Big score Tazer, nice goal…” I grinned slightly as Sharpie walked around the room; chatting away like he always did after a game. He gave me a slap on the back as he passed my stall; causing me to shake my head as I changed into my suit.

“Oh no Taze! I said we’re going out… you can’t wear that out!” Burish groaned and shook his head as he started to pace the room. “Kaner, come on… you must have something Tazer can wear…”

“There’s nothing wrong with this Burish! Besides, I never said I was going out with you guys anyway.” Why can’t he ever just leave me alone…

“Fine, your loss!” I watched as Sharpie, Burish, Kaner and a the rest of the guys filed out of the locker-room, leaving me alone. Wow, he didn’t even try to force me, he must really want this girl.

I finished getting dressed as I took one last look around the room; noticing Kane’s cell phone on the bench. “Damnit Pat…” I sighed as I grabbed it, heading out of the locker-room and down the hall to the lobby.


I pushed the door open and took a step inside; searching for the guys. I saw them, standing the corner; flocking down on a couple girls that I recognized from the strip club.
And someone else that I remembered from before.

“Ryker?” I asked softly as I walked the length of the room. She turned around and grinned at me.

“Hey Jonny…” I wasn’t sure why I was so nervous, but I was. I felt my hands get clammy and I wiped the free one on my pant leg; giving her a weak smile as I stopped in front of her.

“Woah, wait… you guys… know each other?” Sharpie asked, looking back and forth between us; Burish looked like he might be sick.

Ryker smiled, coming towards me and putting her arm around my waist; hugging me close. “Yah! Jon and I go way back, don’t we?” I laughed timidly, shifting my weight back and forth on my feet.

“Oh well, you’ll have to come out with us then, get reacquainted.” I nodded mutely at Kane as Ryker started to tug at my arm.

“Alright well… let’s go then!” Burish shouted suddenly; his arm now around another girl as he lead the way out of the lobby.



“So… how do you know her man?” Burish yelled at me from across the table as we watched the girls head across the bar for more drinks.

“I don’t really know her that well… she was just messing with you.” I took the last sip of my pop, tipping the glass up until it was empty. “I drove her home the other night… her car broke down on the side of the road.”

“You sure that’s all that happened?” Sharpie asked with a smug grin on his face.

I shrugged, “Yah... why?”

“Well, she just seems pretty into you for a girl that you only ‘drove home’.” Sharpie started to laugh, motioning at the bar.
I looked across the crowded club and caught sight of the Ryker under the flashing lights; standing with her back against the bar - watching me.

I looked back quickly, feeling my face heat up as I went for another drink; remembering that it was empty. I sighed and set the glass back down on the table; trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I hardly knew this girl but she had me rambling and blushing; she was forward, awkward, strange. But she was also naive, graceful, interesting; not to mention beautiful.
Maybe not in the conventional sense; blond, tan, perky - the perfect Barbie. Instead she had delicate features, all but her lips - which were shapely and full. She was tall and slender, with piercing green eyes and long hair. It was the hair that got me; it stretched down to her lower back; there were so many colors mixed into it, I couldn’t begin to imagine which one was natural. There was blond and brown, orange, pink and black. Each color was rolled into a different section - dreads - accented throughout with beads and black string.
She wore a silver earring stud above her lip; like a beauty mark, and a pearl-color bindi on her forehead.

I realized that I was still staring at her as she sat down next to me; causing me to lower my gaze and blush slightly. “Oh man… I love this song!” Lola jumped up, grabbing Pat and dragging him off to the dance floor. Andy and Jenn both got up to, taking hold of Sharpie and Burish before dashing off after the other couple. I sighed and looked back at Ryker.

“You don’t dance?” I asked, laughing slightly as I caught a glimpse of the guys ’dancing’ with a bit too much gusto.

She shrugged and smiled at me. “Do you dance?”

I shook my head vigorously, “I hate dancing…” I didn’t bother adding that my hate steamed from the fact that I sucked at it.

“Well, then I hate it tonight too.” She flashed me a grin before turning back around to watch our friends on the dance floor.
“It really bothers you doesn’t it?” Ryker asked suddenly, her hand moving to rest on my forearm.

“Um… what?” I asked, staring at her hand as it sat - unmoving - creating heat against my arm.

“The fact that they’re dancers, it bother you…” It wasn’t a question this time, it was a statement.

Finally looking up from her hand, I saw the confusion in her eyes. “Well, they aren’t dancers, they’re strippers and… doesn’t it bother you?”

“Nope.”

I sighed and looked away, when a thought hit me. “Oh… oh, you’re a- one of them?”

She started to laugh, her hand tightening it’s grip on me. “No… with boobs this small? No… not a chance.” I felt my face heat up once again as I shook my head, trying to find the words to apologise. You basically just said that she looked like a stripper… great… “Don’t worry about it… but, would it make a difference? Would you still be here talking to me if I was?”

I thought about it, honestly thought about my answer. I was conflicted between trying to figure out the truth of what I would actually do; and what I should actually say to her. “I don’t know…” I finally answered after a time.

She smiled thoughtfully, not pressuring me to explain my answer. “Do you like swimming? You don’t like dancing but… do you swim?”
I nodded my head, wondering where this was going. She slid her hand down along my arm then, grasping my hand in hers. “Come on… I wanna show you something.”

I gave one last look at the dance floor, catching Kane’s eye as I allowed myself to be dragged out of the club by a girl I hardly knew.
Kane gave me the ’thumbs up’, nudging Burish who turned around and did the same thing. Figures… I thought to myself as I took my first step out into the night beside Ryker.