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The Hockey Life

Can I Call You Lean?

PART THIRTEEN: CAN I CALL YOU LEAN?
The next day was pretty unexciting until it was actually time for the game. Even though the experience this time wouldn’t be as exciting as the last time, I was still pumped to be working at another Hawks game. I had to be at the United Center early again, but it still didn’t take long for the fans to start arriving. I started off at the ticket booth, and it was absolutely crazy. I was amazed at how many people waited until the last minute to purchase tickets rather than getting them ahead of time. All of us interns were really busy before the game started. I didn’t know what to expect once it did start, but I hoped it would be a little less ridiculous. Maybe the fans would be distracted enough by the game to calm down when it came to buying things.
Luckily, the closer it got to game time, the less crowded the halls got. Everyone was anxious to see the ice and the players, so they eventually all cleared out of the hallways and into their seats. That was when my job switched to selling drinks right where all the action was happening. Puck bunny, who had been around me the whole time we had to sell tickets, finally left. She had to work concessions away from where I’d be, thank god. As she walked away, Alex and Dylan came towards me, although I couldn’t recognize Dylan. He had been chosen to be Tommy Hawk for the night. Somehow, the role seemed to fit him, but I still couldn’t help but laugh when he came up to me in the mascot suit.
“How hot is it in there?” I asked.
“I’d say about…seven million degrees. They should probably consider installing some sort of air conditioning system in here,” Dylan answered, and Alex and I laughed.
“Okay, well we better get going. We’ll probably meet up with you out there at some point,” I said. All three of us went out towards the seats and the ice, but Dylan separated from us quickly. Alex and I began doing our job for the night.
I didn’t know if Brad had any way to keep an eye on all of us, but I tried to be really polite to even the rudest people and I used my best saleswoman voice. I couldn’t stop myself from getting distracted by the game, though. It was my favorite team playing my favorite sport, how could I not watch?
When I was selling drinks instead of being an equipment manager, the night went by a lot slower. It seemed to take forever to get to the third period. It was hard to tell if it was just because selling things to people wasn’t fun or the Hawks weren’t doing so well. It could have been a combination of both, but I got a surprise in the middle of the third period that didn’t allow me to figure that out.
“Hey, I’ll take a beer over here,” a voice rang out to me. I knew that voice. It belonged to Brian’s best friend, Miles. That could only mean…
“Brian! What are you doing here?” I asked, locating him and his friend in the sea of red and black.
“I got two tickets to the game last minute so I had to bring him along,” Miles said, pretending he hadn’t been interested in inviting my brother.
“I was going to tell you, but I figured I would surprise you instead. Well, that is, if I ended up seeing you,” Brian explained.
“Well it’s cool that you’re here, but you probably should have come to the last game I worked at. It was a little more exciting for the home team than this one is,” I said, checking the score again. It was still 1-2 in favor of the Florida Panthers.
“Eh. They still have time to turn it around. And besides, it’s a hockey game at the United Center. It has to be good no matter what.”
“Hey, how about that beer I asked for?” Miles asked.
“Here,” I said. That’ll be a hundred dollars.”
“That’s not what you told that lady down there!” Miles complained, digging into his wallet.
“Well, this is different. A hundred or no beer,” I said, trying to be serious. Of course he didn’t believe me, so he handed me the actual amount that it cost and I gave him the drink he asked for.
“Did you find some friends?” Brad asked. I jumped when I heard his voice behind me. I hoped he didn’t notice.
“Kind of. I found my brother and his friend,” I said timidly. I was afraid that I was in trouble for not being professional.
“And I take it you’re her brother?” Brad asked Brian, probably deciding that we looked alike.
“Yeah, I’m Brian,” he answered.
“Brad Stanford, head of the Hawks internship program and your sister’s current boss,” Brad introduced himself, shaking my brother’s hand.
“It’s nice to meet you.”
“Likewise. Do you mind me asking what you’re doing after the game?” Brian and I were both taken aback by what Brad was saying.
“Uh, nothing, really. We don’t have any plans for afterwards.”
“Well, how would you like to see the Hawks after the game? There’s always room for more in the locker room.” Brian couldn’t believe it.
“Seriously?”
“Why not? You’re family of a very talented intern, I don’t see any problems with it. Your friend can come too, if he wants.” Brad handed them both VIP passes to get to the locker room postgame.
“Wow, this is amazing. Thank you so much, Mr. Stanford!” Brian and Miles said, still stunned by the invitation.
“You’re welcome, but you can call me Brad.”
After that, I got back to selling things. The Hawks tied it up and the game went into overtime, which then turned into a shootout. First, Johnny Toews got a tally. The Panthers matched him, and then it was Sharpy’s turn. Although I had drifted away from Brian, I knew he would be on the edge of his seat, watching his favorite player closely. Sharp made the shootout score 2-1. A Panther tied it back up again, and it was Patrick Kane’s turn. I felt a rush of adrenaline when he glided to center ice, preparing to shoot. Somehow I felt like I was out on the ice with him. I wasn’t sure if he would keep it simple or make it dirty, since the score had been so close throughout the whole game. Dirty could be risky, but it paid off this time. He made it 3-2, and the Panthers couldn’t tie it back up again. The Hawks had won. Barely, but they had won. They had an amazing winning streak started for home games.
“Wow, that was a big, quick turnaround,” Dylan said to me through his Tommy Hawk suit. I hadn’t even noticed he was next to me.
“Right? I definitely didn’t expect that from them,” I said. “You better be glad they won it then, though. I’m sure you can’t wait to get out of that thing.”
“You have no idea,” he answered. We headed to the locker room and once we were out of sight, he took off his mascot head to reveal his sweat-drenched face.
Brad appeared quickly with Brian and Miles, who looked like little kids in a candy shop. I introduced them to Dylan and when we headed into the locker room, Brad and I introduced them to the Captain. After that, I let them mingle with whatever players they wanted to. I didn’t even have to look to know that Brian went to Sharpy first and Miles went to Seabrook first. While they mingled, I went straight to my favorite player (no surprises there either).
“That was a dirty, dirty shot, Kaner,” I told him as he took his shoulder pads off.
“Yeah, that’s how I roll,” he answered with a smirk. “So who are those guys you were just with?”
“The one with Sharpy is my brother Brian. The other one is his friend Miles. Brad caught me talking to them during the game and he gave them VIP status,” I confessed. It didn’t take long for them to make their way over to me and Patrick.
“Would you like to introduce me to your new bff?” Brian asked. Once they were introduced, they talked for a few minutes and Brian pulled me off to the side while Miles distracted Patrick.
“You never told me how close you and Kaner were,” he said, giving me an odd look.
“I guess it just never came up,” I told him.
“You’re practically dating your favorite hockey player and it ‘never came up?’” He seemed to be getting louder very inconveniently.
“We’re not dating, Brian Lee Stratton!” I corrected him, using his middle name to show how serious I was.
“Well you probably should be. You guys seem pretty tight,” he said, backing off a little. I had no answer, so he returned to talking to Pat along with Miles. Great, I had nobody to talk to now. I went over to Johnny Toews to talk, since he was always super nice to me.
When I got home that night, I was really tired, but Tess kept me up. I had to give her every detail, as usual. Brian made sure to let me know that he had received Kane’s number and that he would tell him all about me. I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing. I was afraid he would take advantage of the situation and mess with me.
I eventually got done talking to Tess and Brian and I made my way into my bed. The blankets were warm and comforting. I could easily fall asleep…until I got another text, not from Brian this time.
>Hey. You still up?
It was Patrick, of course. I didn’t see why he had to text me when it was getting late and we both had to be up early in the morning, but I replied to him anyways.

>Sorry to bother you, I just didn’t wanna go to sleep yet, ha

>Your brother and his friend are pretty cool

>So I’ve been told

>Yep, we’re bffs haha. He’s told me a lot about you so far

>Relax, it’s been all good things! Nothing too embarrassing

>Your replies are getting slower, do you wanna go to sleep?

>Okay, goodnight then. I’ll see you tomorrow, Lean. If I can call you that.

Everyone called me Lean. It was nothing special, really. Just a nickname that was used more than my actual name. But for some reason, when Patrick called me that, it meant something to me. The people who called me Lean were close to me. Him deciding to adopt the nickname for me made me feel like we were getting really close, like we were starting to get to know each other on a really personal level. That got my head spinning enough for me to have some really active, crazy, adventurous dreams.

Notes

Hey guys, I just wanted to thank you for all the positive feedback! It's awesome to see that so many of you like this story! I know things are moving kind of slowly, but that's because I intended it to be a longer story. I hope you guys think things are getting a little more interesting. I'm really excited for the next few chapters, and I promise they're going to get things moving a little bit more. As always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Vote if you did and keep the comments coming! I love hearing what you guys have to say :)

Comments

@hockeygirl07
Thank you so much! :)

MrsKaner MrsKaner
11/1/14

I just love this story...been reading it right from the start!!! Love your writing and the plot ;) keep up the great work

hockeygirl07 hockeygirl07
11/1/14

Awe. this is so cute, but sad.

Psquared91 Psquared91
5/29/14

AWE! So Cute!

Psquared91 Psquared91
5/10/14

@MrsKaner
HAHA. my BF and I are the two people in the whole school who don't get sick, but when we do Its not as bad as every one else, and we always get each other sick.

Psquared91 Psquared91
3/24/14