On The Way Down (Brandon Saad)
Chapter Five
I had a bunch of work to do from my classes but I was off to the United Center for my first official day as an intern. I had on a pair of cropped yoga leggings, an official Blackhawks sweater and my black Nikes. My hair was up in a long wavy ponytail with a couple of loose strands framing my perfectly powdered face. I narrowed my blue orbs as I saw Vanessa standing in the doorway with a smirk.
“what.” I said with a decent amount of sass.
“Oh nothing, I was just observing you and the fact that you took quite the extra time to get ready today” She said with a stupid grin on her face
“You totally want him. Don’t deny it”
“Vanessa, I do NOT want him. I’m simply there as another one of his athletic trainers” I said waving my hands around trying to find my keys.
“Sure Riles, whatever you say, but don’t deny it for too long or else it’ll be too late. They’re on the couch by the way.”
I huffed as surely enough I found my keys between the cushions of the couch.
“Thanks, but I know what I’m doing” I said a little too harshly
She looked a little taken a back but soon put a sad smile on her face.
“Nessa, I’m sorry” I instantly said as I walked over to her and gave her a big hug.
She hugged back and I sighed with relief. I know she only wants the best for me. Ever since Jake died I never really did much to make ME happy. Sure I was happy, but she thinks I need someone in my life. I don’t disagree with her, but I just don’t want to get hurt. I don’t think I could possibly handle getting hurt again. Plus, I’m busy with school and my new internship; I don’t think a boyfriend is going to fit into that heavy schedule.
“I’ll see you tonight, alright?” I said giving her one last squeeze
“Sure thing”
I soon arrived at the UC, finding my way to the training room was much easier this time. I stepped in, thankfully, to an empty room. Well, empty except for Tyler who seemed to be waiting for me.
“Ah good! You’re here!” Tyler said walking up to me
“Bow down to Queen Riley” I said flipping my ponytail over my shoulder.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves squirt”
“Did you just call me squirt!?” I shrieked.
We laughed until we both had tears in our eyes. I ended up snorting which made us laugh even harder.
“Well that surely was attractive” Johnny T said as he walked in through the door.
Shirtless might I add.
“Shut your trap Captain” I retaliated chucking an empty water bottle at him.
“Ayyyy mamasita, FIESTY!” A very chipper looking Kane screeched.
I cringed at the words as the rest of the team that filed in started laughing. I grunted and cursed them all.
Bastards.
Tyler quickly put me to work, I directed my little group of players through a stretching sequence. Sadly that little group consisted of Kaner, Sharpie, Tazer, Shaw and Saad. Let’s just say it was a bit of a challenge.
“Kaner you need to pull the band up higher!” I shrieked for the third time slapping him on the head as he once again failed to listen to me.
“Ow! Riley, what the hell! Do you know who I am!?” He screeched at me
“You’re an idiot that can’t follow directions!” My response got a whole new round of chuckles from the rest of my group.
I stole another quick peek at Saad who looked concentrated on stretching his calf muscle. A small smile formed on my face and I turned around to see if Tazer needed any help but turns out he was already looking at me.
With a devious look on his face.
Oh God. He knew it all.
I nervously fumbled with the rest of the stretching bands trying to make myself look busy.
“Hey Riley can I borrow you for a second?” Toews said suddenly standing up next to me
“Um no you may not. You haven’t finished stretching” Desperately trying to avoid what was going to happen next.
“Well ‘no’ wasn’t an option.” He huffed and then picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.
I let out a yelp as my head came into rough contact with his butt.
“Damn Tazer how many squats do you do!? Your ass is solid!” I hissed as I dangled over Jonathan Toews’ shoulder, upside down.
I contemplated kicking him in the face to let me go, but never got the chance to go through with the plan because I was placed down onto the floor in a matter of seconds. We were in some random supplies closet and I looked at Tazer with bewilderment.
“Tazer have you lost your damn mind!?” I said looking around the tiny closet that was basically being taken up by the giant hockey player.
“Speak” He said looking me in the eye.
I quickly turned my head away, breaking eye contact “I don’t know what you’re talking about”
“Riley you know exactly what I’m talking about” He said crossing his arms but since we were so close he ended up punching me in the arm during the process.
He apologized as I muttered profanities and gave him the death glare.
“Well…?” He prodded me further.
“Fine. I like Saader.” I huffed like an 11 year old girl.
He squealed with excitement. He actually SQUEALED. Captain serious no more.
I gave him a pointed look “You can’t tell him Tazer!” I found myself begging.
“And why not?”
“Because I don’t want things to be awkward if he doesn’t feel the same way!”
“Well he does.”
“What?”
“what.”
“What do you mean he feels the same way?” I said with wide eyes
“I mean that ever since the incident with you finding him in Pitt he’s made it more than clear to us that he likes you. The boy wouldn’t shut up about it for days and we all thought he was insane for actually liking a girl he had met once on the street”
“A girl he had met on the street? Jesus Tazer, you make me sound like a fucking hooker”
“I want him to be happy. And I want you to be happy. You’ve been through a lot” He cringed as he let the last part slip.
“Wait, what do you mean I’ve been through a lot!?” My voice raising at least two octaves.
“I… um…” He was obviously flustered.
“Who told you?” I whispered.
“Riley, I’m sorry. Tim thought it was necessary to inform me about the new intern, me being the captain and all, and well you mentioned it in your application and I wasn’t going to mention it until you felt like bringing it up.” He obviously regretted letting it slip.
“Does the rest of the team know?” I asked quietly
“No just me”
I sighed and lifted my head to meet the brown worried eyes that looked down at me.
“It’s ok, I trust you” I said with a small smile.
And with that I was engulfed into the arms of my new friend.
“what.” I said with a decent amount of sass.
“Oh nothing, I was just observing you and the fact that you took quite the extra time to get ready today” She said with a stupid grin on her face
“You totally want him. Don’t deny it”
“Vanessa, I do NOT want him. I’m simply there as another one of his athletic trainers” I said waving my hands around trying to find my keys.
“Sure Riles, whatever you say, but don’t deny it for too long or else it’ll be too late. They’re on the couch by the way.”
I huffed as surely enough I found my keys between the cushions of the couch.
“Thanks, but I know what I’m doing” I said a little too harshly
She looked a little taken a back but soon put a sad smile on her face.
“Nessa, I’m sorry” I instantly said as I walked over to her and gave her a big hug.
She hugged back and I sighed with relief. I know she only wants the best for me. Ever since Jake died I never really did much to make ME happy. Sure I was happy, but she thinks I need someone in my life. I don’t disagree with her, but I just don’t want to get hurt. I don’t think I could possibly handle getting hurt again. Plus, I’m busy with school and my new internship; I don’t think a boyfriend is going to fit into that heavy schedule.
“I’ll see you tonight, alright?” I said giving her one last squeeze
“Sure thing”
I soon arrived at the UC, finding my way to the training room was much easier this time. I stepped in, thankfully, to an empty room. Well, empty except for Tyler who seemed to be waiting for me.
“Ah good! You’re here!” Tyler said walking up to me
“Bow down to Queen Riley” I said flipping my ponytail over my shoulder.
“Let’s not get ahead of ourselves squirt”
“Did you just call me squirt!?” I shrieked.
We laughed until we both had tears in our eyes. I ended up snorting which made us laugh even harder.
“Well that surely was attractive” Johnny T said as he walked in through the door.
Shirtless might I add.
“Shut your trap Captain” I retaliated chucking an empty water bottle at him.
“Ayyyy mamasita, FIESTY!” A very chipper looking Kane screeched.
I cringed at the words as the rest of the team that filed in started laughing. I grunted and cursed them all.
Bastards.
Tyler quickly put me to work, I directed my little group of players through a stretching sequence. Sadly that little group consisted of Kaner, Sharpie, Tazer, Shaw and Saad. Let’s just say it was a bit of a challenge.
“Kaner you need to pull the band up higher!” I shrieked for the third time slapping him on the head as he once again failed to listen to me.
“Ow! Riley, what the hell! Do you know who I am!?” He screeched at me
“You’re an idiot that can’t follow directions!” My response got a whole new round of chuckles from the rest of my group.
I stole another quick peek at Saad who looked concentrated on stretching his calf muscle. A small smile formed on my face and I turned around to see if Tazer needed any help but turns out he was already looking at me.
With a devious look on his face.
Oh God. He knew it all.
I nervously fumbled with the rest of the stretching bands trying to make myself look busy.
“Hey Riley can I borrow you for a second?” Toews said suddenly standing up next to me
“Um no you may not. You haven’t finished stretching” Desperately trying to avoid what was going to happen next.
“Well ‘no’ wasn’t an option.” He huffed and then picked me up and threw me over his shoulder.
I let out a yelp as my head came into rough contact with his butt.
“Damn Tazer how many squats do you do!? Your ass is solid!” I hissed as I dangled over Jonathan Toews’ shoulder, upside down.
I contemplated kicking him in the face to let me go, but never got the chance to go through with the plan because I was placed down onto the floor in a matter of seconds. We were in some random supplies closet and I looked at Tazer with bewilderment.
“Tazer have you lost your damn mind!?” I said looking around the tiny closet that was basically being taken up by the giant hockey player.
“Speak” He said looking me in the eye.
I quickly turned my head away, breaking eye contact “I don’t know what you’re talking about”
“Riley you know exactly what I’m talking about” He said crossing his arms but since we were so close he ended up punching me in the arm during the process.
He apologized as I muttered profanities and gave him the death glare.
“Well…?” He prodded me further.
“Fine. I like Saader.” I huffed like an 11 year old girl.
He squealed with excitement. He actually SQUEALED. Captain serious no more.
I gave him a pointed look “You can’t tell him Tazer!” I found myself begging.
“And why not?”
“Because I don’t want things to be awkward if he doesn’t feel the same way!”
“Well he does.”
“What?”
“what.”
“What do you mean he feels the same way?” I said with wide eyes
“I mean that ever since the incident with you finding him in Pitt he’s made it more than clear to us that he likes you. The boy wouldn’t shut up about it for days and we all thought he was insane for actually liking a girl he had met once on the street”
“A girl he had met on the street? Jesus Tazer, you make me sound like a fucking hooker”
“I want him to be happy. And I want you to be happy. You’ve been through a lot” He cringed as he let the last part slip.
“Wait, what do you mean I’ve been through a lot!?” My voice raising at least two octaves.
“I… um…” He was obviously flustered.
“Who told you?” I whispered.
“Riley, I’m sorry. Tim thought it was necessary to inform me about the new intern, me being the captain and all, and well you mentioned it in your application and I wasn’t going to mention it until you felt like bringing it up.” He obviously regretted letting it slip.
“Does the rest of the team know?” I asked quietly
“No just me”
I sighed and lifted my head to meet the brown worried eyes that looked down at me.
“It’s ok, I trust you” I said with a small smile.
And with that I was engulfed into the arms of my new friend.
Will you be updating soon?:)
4/13/14