17. championship medal

Kitt sat in her room with her makeup done, and her hair pulled back in a twisted French knot style. She didn't want to put her dress on. She didn't want to force her feet into the fabulously sparkly heels her mom had lent her. She wanted to sit.

Coach had informed her that as the founder (and therefore director) of the CFAA, she was the perfect person to take on the role of student advocate. She also explained that this situation could take months to resolve and may be bigger than just a quick testimony.

Her phone buzzed.

Liam- hey it's Liam, I hope it's OK I got your number from your friends last night.

Liam- are we still on for tonight? I will come pick you up around 5:30?

Liam- sorry I didn't message sooner, Coach called us all in to 'practice' and you know how coaches are about cell phones! I'll tell you about it tonight.

Liam- if we're still on.

K- yep, can't wait see you at 5:30.

She had almost forgotten that she was going with Liam. And she was going with Liam because Leo had a date. A date with someone else.

She wondered why their Coach had called a post season practice. It probably had to do with the director facing charges.

Leo is the director's God son.

Kitt felt sick again. Maybe Leo 2as just using her to get her to spill what she knew, or like to get her to change her mind about speaking out against him.

Kitt felt sick again. Maybe that's why he agreed to go out with the other girl finally? Was he done his spy mission? But wouldn't it make sense for him to follow her through the trial? Maybe he was trying to have her catch feeling so he could crush her and she wouldn't be able to go on!

She was spiraling.

Leo wasn't the enemy, he at least liked her friendship. She was sure of that.

She needed to shake off these doubts and get dressed. It was almost time for her date to arrive.

***

The banquet room on the main campus held most ceremonies and special events. Kitt had only been there once, which was this exact same dinner the year before.

Liam was in a dark navy suit with a white shirt and burgundy tie. His hair was pushed back and he looked a little like James bond, if James bond had on hockey pads under his clothes.

Kitt wore a simple dark grey dress with her mother's sparkly heels. She liked to dress up every now and then but felt awkward because she had never had a date to a fancy occasion.

She remembered her last date which was in high school. They had gone mini golfing and then met his friends for burgers. He seemed to forget she existed  for a while, then he took her home and tried to kiss her. She dodged him, and they never really spoke again.

Liam offered his arm as they made their way up the grand staircase at the front of what used to be the main house on the property. Other student athletes also dressed in their best were also making their way inside. Kitt looked for her friends but didn't see anyone she knew right away.

Panic started to set in. She felt very out of place all of the sudden. Like she had warn a bikini to the prom. Liam helped her out of her coat and checked it in at the window in the foyer. She felt hot and cold at the same time.

Liam seemed nice enough but there was no spark and she didn't know him so the conversations were awkward.

"Do you want to go find our seats? Or we could check out the bar?" He offered her his elbow, which she appreciated. Trying to navigate the crowd reminded her of the pub, but this was brighter and sparkled more.

"Let's find our seats and then get a drink." Kitt nodded with a smile.

The tables were set up with team logos and names in the center, meaning people could choose their own seat at the tables designated for their specific team.

"Do you want to sit with the Knights?" He asked pointing at a table with open chairs. Kitt recognized only two of the people, the next Knights table was full and the last she could see Axel standing beside a chair.

"Would you mind terribly if we sat with my team? I promised Josie she wouldn't be alone." Kitt fibbed.

"No that's fine with me." Liam smiled and looked for the Women's team logo.

Josie was sitting on her chair sideways balancing a spoon on her nose when they arrived at the table.

"There you are! I thought you got ate by wolves!" Josie grinned. She looked from Kitt to Liam with a question mark on her face.

"You remember Liam? ... from the bar last night? He is a ... player for the Knights." Kitt realized she knew absolutely nothing about him.

"Yep! Hey dude! You clean up nice!" Josie stood to talk to them.

"Why don't I grab us a drink? Can I get you something?" He asked Josie.

"Something pink! With fruit and sparklers and a lollipop or maybe some cotton candy!" Josie asked with her hands under her chin and batting her eyes.

Liam laughed and gave her a nod and a wink before going to find the bar.

"So um, who was that? Where is Leo? When did that happen? Where have you been always? And you look fabulous." Josie pulled her down into one of the posh high back cushioned chairs.

"It's actually a long story. I texted you last night." Kitt said looking around the room hoping no one was listening.

"Um, no you did not!" Josie accused checking her phone for the message.

"I swear, I messaged you." Josie looked at her phone again and shook her head.

K- I walk home, done dancing, good shots. Call morning. Heart beats attack, sad.

"Shit, shit shit!" The message was there, just not in her message history with Josie.

"What did you do?" Josie grabbed her phone.

"Sent it to Leo." Kitt dropped her head into her hands.

"It could be so much worse, this wouldn't make sense to a boy. You're fine." Josie shook her head.

"Ugh." Kitt slumped down in her chair.

"What exactly had your heart sad?" Josie asked.

"Leo has a date tonight. I didn't think I liked him like that-" Kitt was saying.

"Then your dumb. Go on." Josie interupted.

"Anyway! So when Amber-the-barbarian was like in my face and reminded Leo of his date, and he was all like 'sounds good' or whatever, Liam asked me to the dinner so I didn't look stupid being here with out a date. I don't even know this guy, we have said like fifty words to each other!" Kitt explained hurriedly, hoping Liam wouldn't get back to the table and over hear her talking about him.

"At least he is cute!" Josie grinned raising her eyebrows.

"Yeah, he seems great, but there just isn't any spark, you know?" Kitt felt defeated again.

"So have fun as friends. No one said you have to get married!" Josie smacked her arm.

"You know what? You're right! I can just have fun tonight." Kitt perked up a little.

"Ladies!" Liam returned.

They looked up and Josie burst out laughing and clapping. She reached out as Liam handed her a large glass of pink liquid. It had a bunch of cherries floating in it. It also had a variety of skewers of fruit from the buffet, and one giant rainbow lollipop in the center.

"Where did you find this?" Josie asked with a huge smile and a glimmer in her eyes.

"Well, I made the drink part, and I found the candy in a gift basket on the silent auction table. Shhh don't tell!" He returned her bright smile and sat down on a chair he pulled up between them.

Josie leaned in and hugged him.

"I love her she is so perfect!" She grabbed out her phone and took pictures of her drink before taking a selfie with her drink, Liam and Kitt.

"I think you made her day." Kitt leaned in to tell him.

"Aww I didn't do anything special." He said blushing.

Kitt smiled, he was a good guy, not her love match but a good human, and she liked that. This night might be fun after all.

Just as Keisha joined their table with Tracy and Alex and their dates, Kitt spotted Leo at the entrance. He had a leggy brunette on his arm. Her dress looked like she tied a scarf around her body just enough to cover the interesting parts. She was model thin and had glossy waist length hair and bright red lipstick.

If that was Leo's type she never had even the slimmest chance.

She watched him scan the room, she made sure to tuck behind Liam when his gaze swept over her way. She didn't want to play nice with this girl and if she was anything like her friend Amber, she wasn't someone Kitt need around.

Amber bounced up to them hooking her arm through the girl's arm. They talked briefly before Amber seemed to instruct Leo to go to the bar. She pointed at their table and then at the bar before pulling her friend away.

Kitt watched him walk over to the bar looking around. She wished that it was her that he was looking for, but he was probably just taking it all in. Maybe looking for some of his teammates. A large guy Kitt recognized from their visit to the tournament clapped him in the back and the two turned to disappear into the crowd around the bar.

Kitt had to stop looking at him. It hurt her heart a little to know she had let herself care and she was so very wrong.

She gave her head a shake and re-engaged in the conversation at the table.

The emcee intrupted the low din of voices to encourage people to find their seats.

Everyone bustled around either at their tables or around the room to watch the speeches. The coaches sat at two long tables liningthe wall on either side of the podium in a giant L shape.

The main part of the evening was filled with dinner courses and speeches and awards alternating everyone's attention  between their plates and the front of the room.

The hockey awards were always last. The Knights coach took the mic and congratulated his team on a great season. Kitt couldn't help but scoff. She had to cover it up by pretending to choke since Liam was right beside her. He seemed to be talking to Josie a lot and Kitt grinned. They would be cute together.

Axel got a reward for most aggressive player or something. Kitt rolled her eyes. Of course he was being rewarded even though he fundamentally went against the 'unsportsmanlike conduct' clause in his contract. She made a note in her phone to share with Coach Ten later.

Kitt tuned out the rest of the speech. The coach praised his team for their brotherhood and support of one another and being pillars of the university.

"I'm going to grab a drink, want anything?" She leaned into Liam to ask.

"Beer?" He said barely turning his head towards her. She was ok with his attention remaining on his coach, it meant she could slip away easily.

She made her way up to the bar and looked at the menu. Most drinks were a shot of alcohol and there were a variety of mixers both carbonated and flat.

"Um, gin? Do you have Gin?" She asked the bartender who pulled out a bottle to show her.

"Great I will get two of those and a beer, I don't know which one, just something popular." She smiled and turned to look over at her table where Josie was laughing at something Liam said. Kitt smiled. She hoped they recognized the vibe between them.

The bar tender put the drinks up on the bar. She thanked him and went to fill her cups with the mixers. She turned to see Leo walking over but he was talking to his date so she could escape if she was quick.

She downed her drink a little too fast but she didn't want to have to balance all three cups as she made her exit.

"Kitt?" She heard his voice say as she snuck away behind a group of guys in suits.

She felt dumb and immature running away from her friend, but she couldn't listen to his beautiful date insult her. Or watch them flirt. Eventually she would be secure enough again, but not now. She half crawled back to her seat and turned away from the bar.

She rolled her eyes at herself.