Ice in My Veins by Kelli Sullivan

how to justify spending that amount on just one dress. She talked me into it. Then she asked me if I had shoes. I didn’t even think about shoes until she said it. All I brought with me were several pairs of cross trainers. None of those would look attractive with my dressy outfits.
    She told me her shift would be ending in fifteen minutes, and that she would help me find some shoes.
    “You’re like a mini make over project for me,” she claimed giggling. She was really enjoying herself. It was nice to have a girl to talk to as well. So I waited patiently for her in the food court.
    People were sure friendly in Toronto. Not like some of the big cities in the United States. There the people weren’t rude, they just didn’t go out of their way for you, is all. Also when we watched the news here it wasn’t plagued with scary things, like murders and rapists.
    I hated watching the news in Michigan. There were gang shootings and everything. Not in my town, but in the bigger cities. I had been here over a week and I hadn’t seen anything about any murders. It made my father happy to hear that. He always worried more about me in that aspect than he did my brothers. He said it’s a much harder world for a girl. He’s nuts. Guys can become victims just as easily.
    The salesgirl Julie showed up at the food court in twenty minutes, instead of the fifteen minutes she had said. I didn’t mind the wait. She told me a little about the city of Toronto as we walked to find a shoe store. It sounded so nice. I had seen very little of the city because of camp. I had been much to exhausted to sight see.
    “Oh look at these Chrissy,” she exclaimed with excitement. “They are so cute!”
    “They have a heal on them. I will break my neck.” I told her.
    “Not after I teach you how to walk in them.” She reassured me.
    “Can I ask you a question Julie.” I inquired.
    “Shoot!” She said.
    “Why are you going out of your way to help me out? I appreciate it, don’t get me wrong. It’s just that you don’t know me.” I questioned her.
    “Besides the fact that you seem like such a sweet kid, who is obviously lost in a mall - with no fashion sense whatsoever,” she snickered.
    I glanced back over at her, curious as to why she was snickering like that.
    “I suppose I am also doing it for selfish reasons,” she admitted.
    “Selfish reasons?” I was confused. “Please explain.”
    “Well, I really like hockey players. When you said you were playing for the Gophers - well I thought if I helped you out, then maybe you could help me.” She revealed to me.
    “Oh, I see, favor for favor.” I teased with a laughing smirk and raising my eyebrow.
    “I really think Kyle Schneider is hot, and thought maybe you could introduce me to him.” She smiled and giggled.
    “How old are you Julie?” I inquired, because to me she looked about twenty-five. Maybe I had misjudged, because city girls always seemed to look older; on the account of how they dressed.
    “I am twenty-one,” she verified for me. Well Moose was twenty, so she was the right age.
    “Well, how about once the season starts you come to one of the games. Then I will introduce you to him. It only seems fair.” I conceded.
    I really needed the shopping help. I also wasn’t naive to the fact that some of the players on my team were extremely good looking. I could see why she would be interested in Moose. He was a very attractive guy. I even noticed that about him.
    We spent the rest of the afternoon shopping then she drove me back to my hotel. She gave me her MSN and her cell phone number to call her if I wanted to chat. I explained that I didn’t have a cell phone, but that I would add her to my MSN.
    I took out all my new clothes from the plastic bags and hung them up in the tiny closet in the corner of the hotel room. I didn’t want them to get all wrinkled. Dad quickly scanned over the clothes that I bought. He seemed to approve of it all, except the high healed