My Hockey Alpha

Nina

A couple of hours later, I arrived at the diner with Lori, Jessica, and the hockey team to volunteer. Even though I was exhausted from my night of sleeping in the freezing cold in the woods, the thought of having something like this to distract me and help my community gave me something to look forward to, and the hot coffee that Phil offered us helped sweeten the deal as well.

Soon enough, we were all working hard to provide food to our community. Phil had a couple of the hockey players drive around town and post signs, and the dean sent out a campus-wide text announcing the food drive. Before I knew it, we were busily giving plates of hot food to students and Mountainview residents alike, and we were having a bit of fun while doing it as well. I didn’t even realize it at the time, but hours went by without worrying about Enzo.

Around noon, another familiar face showed up to volunteer at the food drive. It was Justin.

“Um… Hey, Nina,” he said, walking up to me with his hands in his pockets. “Can I help with the food drive?”

I couldn’t help but smile. Justin had never really been the type to volunteer as long as I had known him, so this sudden change in attitude was a welcome discovery. I happily agreed and handed him an apron.

“You can help us hand out food,” I said, gesturing to the table that was set up outside beneath a pop-up tent. I then led him inside to the kitchen, where the other volunteers were working hard to prepare hot meals for people. There were various meals to choose from, all of which were packaged in cardboard takeout containers for people to take: pancakes, eggs and sausages, soup and bread… Anything that Phil still had in the freezers. He even had us handing out cookies and slices of cake with each meal, and there was a constant stream of fresh, hot coffee and tea being handed out in takeout cups.

Justin helped me carry a few more trays of food out to the table, then stood beside me and helped me hand them out. The line of hungry students and Mountainview residents stretched all the way across the parking lot, and having an extra pair of hands to help was much appreciated.

I think it’s really awesome that you’re doing this,” Justin

was Phil’s idea.

replied, then gestured around at the tables and all of the other volunteers. “But you’ve taken charge so easily. You’re really good at

actually meant to take charge; it just sort of happened. But back at the beginning of the semester, I wouldn’t have been able to take charge like this so easily even if someone had begged me to do it; maybe everything that happened did help me gain some confidence. Either that, or seeing how the Fullmoons refused to be of any real help gave me the drive to pick up the slack and fill in where they were

wrapped cookie, then directed her over to the coffee table for a hot drink. She smiled and thanked me meekly, then shuffled

genuine and sweet, much like the

I know that I’ve always been a bit of an ass,” he said, hanging his head a bit and staring at the pavement as he spoke. “I was selfish. But… After everything that happened this semester… After seeing your kind, smiling face when I was stuck as a rogue… I guess your kindness imprinted on

I couldn’t help but smile at his words. It was so unexpected to hear Justin talk like this, and for a moment, I was reminded of our nights spent together hanging out on the hockey bleachers or behind the arena. If only it hadn’t been sullied

even if I never met Enzo, I didn’t think that I could ever get over what

…

tents and the tables were put away, I sent all of the other volunteers home and decided to stay behind on my own to clean up the kitchen while Phil worked in his office to order more food — assuming that the shipping companies could even get here, if all of the surrounding towns were really overrun. There was still no local news coverage thanks to the local satellite stations being knocked out by the Crescents, so we had no real

about all of this, I suddenly heard the bell on the front door chime. I looked up and opened my mouth to tell the guest that we were all out of

It was Luke.

a moment. I threw down my dish towel and bolted out of the kitchen, running around the counter