My Hockey Alpha novel Chapter 181

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.

“You know, I think it’s really awesome that you’re doing this,” Justin said as he worked alongside me. “This town really needs you.”

I shrugged. “It was Phil’s idea. I’m just here to help.”

“Yeah,” Justin 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 stuff like this, Nina.”

I couldn’t help but blush a little at Justin’s kind words. I hadn’t 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 lacking. Regardless, I supposed that it was a positive change in some ways. I just wished that the circumstances behind my confidence gain were different.

“Um… Thanks,” I said. I paused, handing a student a box of food and a wrapped cookie, then directed her over to the coffee table for a hot drink. She smiled and thanked me meekly, then shuffled away and the next person came up to the table. “What made you want to volunteer, by the way?” I asked, glancing over at Jusin.

Justin pursed his lips and shrugged. He paused then and turned to look at me; when he did, his eyes were genuine and sweet, much like the boy who I had first met — before he cheated on me. And before Edward brainwashed him.

“I dunno. 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 me somehow. And I want to be different now. I want to be better, and it’s all because of you.”

As Justin spoke, my heart fluttered a bit in my chest. 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 by his cheating… I really did care for him back then. But now, I loved Enzo.