The Hockey Life

PART THIRTY-NINE: CHAMPIONSHIP
I expected to have a ton of free time to do whatever I wanted since I didn’t have classes to go to anymore. I was wrong. Even when I didn’t have my own hockey practices or games to go to anymore, my life was still completely consumed with hockey.
Patrick Sharp had been back on the ice, so during the last couple days before the next playoff series, I closely watched him at practices with the trainers. He seemed comfortable with skating, so he got the okay to play again for the first game against the L.A. Kings. However, I was in charge of making sure he stretched and conditioned well before playing again.
Even though I had no excuse not to go to playoff games anymore, I could still only go to home games. I wished I could travel with Patrick, but I couldn’t. I felt lucky that Dylan was able to entertain me with a home game of his own, since I couldn’t travel.
I convinced Tess to come to his game with me. It didn’t take much, since she was always looking for an excuse to get out of the apartment. Plus, she always said yes to hockey. Both of us did, except for during our exams week, which had passed, thankfully.
When we got to the arena, I bought a shirt to support Dylan’s team. Tess just laughed at me for it.
“What? I want to support him! You know I hate going to sporting events without wearing something that shows team spirit,” I explained as I slipped it over the shirt I was already wearing.
“This is his last game on this team, Lean. After today you’ll never have a game to wear it to again,” she said.
“That doesn’t mean I won’t still wear it, even if it’s just when I’m lounging around the apartment. Things are looking good for our friendship, Tess, I’m going to try to keep it that way.”
We bought ourselves refreshments and found our seats in the middle section of the arena (it would have been equivalent to 200 level seats in the United Center). We were there a little early, so I texted Dylan good luck. He thanked me and told me to come down to the locker room area when the game was over. Wow, I had VIP status here, too.
After a few more minutes Tess and I found ourselves engulfed in a sea of red and white, which were the colors for the Chicago Cougars, Dylan’s team. His former classmates and current friends were apparently all seated by us, coincidentally. A couple of guys in the seats next to us had brought a sign that said, “Zuniga for President.”
“So which player are you rooting for?” the guy closest to me asked.
“Apparently the same one you’re rooting for,” I said as I examined the sign.
“Dylan’s your favorite player?” he asked, suddenly very interested.
“Yeah, he kinda has to be. He’s my friend,” I explained.
“No way, he’s my best friend!” he said. “Are you that girl he told me about, by any chance? Lena?”
“Yeah, that’s me,” I answered, hoping Dylan hadn’t talked too much crap about me to his friends.
“Hey Lena, nice to meet you. I’m Zack, by the way,” he introduced himself and shook my hand.
“Nice to meet you too, Zack.”
“So, I hear you’re quite the heartbreaker,” he said with a smirk as he pushed his long, straight black hair out of his face.
“Oh, great. So Dylan still hates me for that?” I asked, completely embarrassed and guilty.
“No, obviously he doesn’t hate you. He never did! You just broke his heart, but it’s no big deal.”
“That makes me feel so much better,” I scoffed.
“Hey, don’t feel bad about it, I’m just messing with you. Dylan’s just happy to have you as a friend right now. I can see why, too, you seem really nice,” Zack said.
“Thanks.” There was a silence between us for a moment before he spoke again.
“Hey, can I ask you a personal question?” Zack wondered. I wasn’t really sure how to answer.
“Yeah, I guess so. No promises that I’ll answer, though,” I warned him.
“Are you really dating Patrick Kane?”
“Yes, I really am.” I showed him my phone background which was a picture of Pat and I kissing at Navy Pier, with the skyline behind us. It was the best proof I had.
“Wow. I guess I understand why you had to say no to Dylan. Hell, he’s my best friend but I’m pretty sure I’d reject him for Patrick Kane too,” Zack joked, and I laughed.
The game started after that and I had to admit that Tess and I had a ton of fun there. We got to know Dylan’s friends throughout the game and they seemed like the life of the party. They started cheers and chants, they were wearing as much Cougars gear as they could, and they even danced with the mascot. As we got to know them we placed bets with them and they bought us snacks when they lost. We even exchanged numbers with them and took some funny pictures, as if we had known them forever.
During all that, plenty happened on the ice. The score got to 4-4 and they had to finish in overtime. In the end, the Cougars won the championship and Dylan made some amazing saves that helped them get the win.
“Are you coming to the locker room with me?” I asked Tess.
“No. Dylan’s your friend, not mine,” she decided.
“But you’re our friends, and we’re going. You should come,” Zack and Dylan’s other friend, Andy, said.
“Okay, I guess I’ll come with,” Tess decided. If I hadn’t gotten her connections to Jonathan Toews, she would have been all over Andy. I could tell she thought the little blondie was adorable.
When we got to the locker room, I felt a little lost. It wasn’t at all like being in the Blackhawks locker room. In this one, I knew only one person, and I felt a little uneasy when I couldn’t find him. Luckily, his friends seemed to know where he would be.
“Hey man! Congrats on the win!” they said, giving him bro hugs. It took him a moment to notice Tess and I.
“Hey Tess, Lena. I wasn’t sure if you guys were gonna come see me,” he confessed.
“Well, here we are,” I said. I couldn’t help myself and I hugged him. “Congratulations, Dylan. You were amazing out there,” I told him.
“Thanks Lena. I’m really glad you came,” he thanked me. “Nice shirt, by the way,” he added when I ended the hug.
In Dylan’s P.O.V.
Lena and Tess left after a couple minutes. I could tell they felt a little uncomfortable in my locker room after they had grown accustomed to the United Center one. Zack and Andy stayed, though. They planned on taking me out to celebrate.
“Lena’s really nice, dude,” Zack told me as we headed out to his car after I had changed clothes and gotten cleaned up.
“I told you!”
“You still like her,” Andy said, studying my facial expression as I spoke about her.
“Yeah, I do. At this point, I feel like I probably always will,” I decided.
“She thinks you’re a great guy, Dylan. She told me how happy she was that you guys are friends still. But she’s head over heels for Kane, and I doubt that relationship is going to end anytime soon,” Zack said.
“I know that. That’s why I’m just focusing on staying friends with her. I might have lost my chance to be her boyfriend, but I’m not going to lose my chance to be her friend. I just want to be a part of her life, and right now she’s a part of mine. That’s good enough,” I explained. A few minutes later we arrived at our favorite bar. We got some appetizers and ordered beers. Even with alcohol in my system, Lena was still on my mind. She was a happy girl, and I was happy for her, even if I‘d still rather be happy with her. But after a few more drinks, I focused on the fact that I was a champion instead, and I stuck to just being happy for myself.

Notes