***
We won the next two games in a row and needed to beat them on Thurs to win the series. After the blowout game on Tuesday we all knew that this was going to be a difficult game to play. Lys and Natale were in attendance at the game. Alex could not come due to school the next morning. We got off to a slow start. The Senators scored two goals against us in the first. But by the third it was all tied up. We went into overtime. And when we didn’t score that period we went into another. And again into another until the Senators got one passed Fleury. We were all tired and beat, but we would now travel Saturday to play at Scotia bank.
“You played amazing!” Lys told me when we got back to the apartment. She then kissed my lips and knew what would make me better. Cuddling, peanut butter cup ice cream and reruns of South Park, she is amazing.
The next day I woke up to that wonderful smell of breakfast! There she was in the kitchen again cooking. We sat ate our breakfast and I went off to morning skate. Not really looking forward to it. I just wanted to be back in her arms.
“Morning.” I greeted the guys. We suited up, listened to coach and practiced our execution. I returned home a little after one to sobs. I walked into the living to see Lys sitting on the couch with a box of tissues next to her. On the TV was Nicholas Sparks’ ‘A Walk to Remember.’ “Babe, why are you watching this?”
“Oh I just needed a good cry. Join me it’s almost over.” She moved the box of tissues on the other side of her and I sat down. She then snuggled close to me and continued to bawl. I’ll never understand girls and their crying during chick flicks. Don’t get me wrong it is a good movie but I did my crying the first time I saw it and that was it. When it was over she turned to look at me. “How was practice?”
“Rough but we leave tonight to go to Ottawa.”
“Aww okay! Break a Leg! I think the girls and I decided to have a movie fest tonight.”
“Well you have fun with them.” I kissed. We made out for a bit on the couch until I picked her up and carried her to the bedroom. We can all guess what happened next.
We arrived in Ottawa later that night. My roommate for this trip was Sidney. We put our stuff down and headed down the hotel pool for a swim. There we were joined by Max, Kris, Tyler, and Marc-Andre. It was a fun relaxing evening. I called Lys before I went to sleep. She told me that her, Natale and Alex went to see the new movie The Backup Plan and said it was hilarious! They were now in the middle of watching a Kate Winslet and Leo DiCaprio movie called Revolutionary Road. It was a book made into a movie. I told her about our pool adventure. We hung up with her wishing me good luck on the game. I smiled and kissed her through the phone.
The game that night was intense. If we won then we would win the series eliminating Ottawa out of the playoffs. If they won we would go into a Game 7. Something neither I nor any of the other guys wanted to see. By the end of the third period we found ourselves tied at 3, again. This time Duper got it to the net and we won!!! I was so thrilled! I had to call Lys but it needed to wait until we got back to the hotel. There were cameras and reporters everywhere. I don’t like them very much but it’s part of the territory. They interviewed Duper, Sid, Fleury and then I. We talked about my nomination for Selken Award. It was a great honor just to be nominated. The award is given to a forward who shown outstanding performances each and every game. I didn’t think I did anything that different this season, other than improve just like any other player should.
“Thank you for your time Jordan.” The cameras left I quickly jumped into the shower. We got on the bus shortly after and headed back to the hotel. We were the second team to move on in the finals. The Philadelphia Flyers beat the New Jersey Devils 4-1 in the series. That was a relief that we wouldn’t have to face them in the play offs because we didn’t win a single game with them this season! I called Lys to tell her.
“Alex is pretty upset about going to a game 6. He thought they had them last night.” she told me.
“You talked to Ovechkin?”
“Yea he called me earlier to vent. Jordan you said you’d be okay with us being friends.”
“Yes I know and I’m trying.”
“I love you for trying.” She kissed me through the phone. “Well I’m going to get back to my paper writing! I love you so much and so proud of you! See you when you get back!” I smiled.
“I love you too! Good luck!” we both hung up and I fell asleep into a nice dream.
We didn’t have another game until Friday. The Montreal Canadians beat the Washington Capitals to win the series and now it was our chance to play the Habs. Lys told me Ovi called her again after the loss. She told me he wanted to come up for the afternoon. She told him that she had a Senior Communication Dinner and then had to finish her plans book. Lys also told me that they made plans to hang out after graduation. I was okay with that, they are just friends. She loves me. I just have to keep reminding myself that.
All the girls were in attendance that night for the game. It was a great game! I even scored one for Lys in the first period. But then things went terribly wrong in the second. My foot got caught on the skate of a player from Montreal. I could barely put any pressure on my foot it was in so much pain. I carefully skated off the ice. The trainers helped me walk back to the locker room. There my equipment was taken off very fragilely.
“Jordan?” I heard a sweet voice. It must be Alyssa.
“In here.” It was her. “Babe, what are you doing here?”
“I came to see if you were alright.”
“I’m alright. You aren’t suppose to be down here now, just go.” I winced in pain. She knew I wasn’t alright but didn’t argue. She swiftly walked away. The trainers were just getting my boot off when I saw Sid walk in.
“What happened to you?” I asked.
“Got hit in the chin with a stick, not too thrilled about it.” He said. “How’s your foot?”
“Okay I guess,” just as soon as I said that blood started pouring out.
“Call the paramedics; you are going to the hospital.” I glanced at Sid.
“I’ll text Lys for you during the break and we will see you over there.” Sid finished getting bandaged up. I nodded as I was told to lie down and get ready for surgery. Great!
The next thing I knew I was awake in the hospital room. Beeping noises were going off and I felt something on my hand. I looked down to see a head of brown hair tasseled on the side of the bed. I knew the only person who that could be was Lys. I gently squeezed her and hoping I didn’t wake her. Of course she stirred and looked at me. She smiled. I smiled back.
“Hey.” I told her.
“Hey.” She replied. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m alright, drugged up from the surgery.” We both looked down at my feet. “I’m sorry about the way I treated you in the locker room.”
“It’s alright, I know I’m not supposed to be down there. My fault.” She got up and kissed me on the cheek. “I’m going to get the others.” She walked into the hall and motioned for them to come down. Natale, Sid, Alex and Geno walked in. I smiled when I saw them.
“Hey guys!” I greeted them. I wasn’t in the talking mood and it showed. Everyone left shortly thereafter. Lys kissed me passionately goodbye. I would see them tomorrow.
“Jordan, should you really be skating?” Lys asked me when she saw me the video of me posted via twitter. It was only a few days after the injury.
“Baby I feel fine. The cut was not that deep.” I told her on the phone in Ottawa. “Besides I just have to make it through the playoffs and then I can rest.”
“But that’s a long time! I don’t want you to get make it any worse.”
“Trust me. I’ll be fine. I was only on it for a little bit before practice this morning. I’m just taking it day by day.”
“I’m only worried and cared about you so much because I love you.” She told me.
“Thank you for worrying, I love you too.” I kissed her through the phone.
“You’re not playing tonight are you?”
“No not tonight and don’t think Thursday, Saturday maybe.”
“My graduation day.”
“Maybe not Saturday.” I repeated to her.
“Babe, I told you if you have work you have work. It is okay.”
“I know.” She changed the subject. “Hey too bad you boys are in Ottawa. The gals and I have plans to go to the Pirate game tomorrow night.”
“Awesome have fun! May be you guys can bring them some luck!” I chuckled in the phone. The baseball team was the worse team out of the three teams in Pittsburgh.
“But you know, my parents said they always didn’t suck. Actually the Penguins sucked.” We both laughed. It was until Mario Lemuix came to the team did the Pens win a Stanley cup. He won two in a row for the city of Pittsburgh, 1991 and 1992. And we are on our way to do the same! “All I remember from that time was people screaming for Mario and Jaromir Jager!” she giggled. She would have only been about 5 then.
“I remember watching the game with my family.” I told her. “Not sure if we were rooting for Pittsburgh or not.” I laughed. “Well hey I’ll let you go I’ve got to not get ready for this game.” We laughed. “I love you.”
“Love you too!” We kissed threw the phone and I went to put my suit on and sit in the box with Mario to watch my team play. We played awesome and Marc-Andre got his first shutout of the playoff season! It was awesome! We won 2-0! We ventured back to our hotel.
“Hey do you guys want to watch a movie?” Max asked us.
“Yea a movie sounds good to unwind. What do you have in mind?” Sid asked.
“I don’t know. How bout an action flick?” Geno, Tyler, Marc-Andre, Kris, Sid, Geno and I went to Max and Chris’ room to watch Men Who Stare at Goats. It was a pretty interesting movie. I went back to my room to text Lys a bit before we both fell asleep.
“They won!” Lys bellowed into the phone after the Pirates game. “We beat the Chicago Bears!”
“Don’t you mean Cubs?” I heard Natale in the background.
“Yea I mean Cubs sorry, you know I’m more of a football girl.” We all laughed.
“Well that’s awesome! Congrats to them.” I told her. Then we chatted a bit about the game and my day off before while she walked to the car. Once there they had to figure out their way home. “Love you! Be careful and text me when you get home!” We hung up and I went to put on the TV. Just then Geno barged in.
“Jordan I need you opinion. Come with me.” He told me. I threw on some flip-flops and grabbed my wallet.
“Did he get you too?” I met Sid in the hallway along with Max.
“Yes. Do you know what’s going on?” I shrugged as we walked into the elevator. Once in the lobby we walked about a half a block to a jewelry store.
Well what did you think? Let me know in the comments and have a nice day!!!
