"Profe," Teodora said softly as Professor Chavez paused from his typing to wink at her as she set down the test packet. She was always done first for tests but of course, she was the most fluent of the class. Wanting to wait for Cara to finish and for Kurt to come, she went outside and slumped down against the wall to click open her saved school newspaper article. She studied her paragraphs, with fingers over her mouth. To her dismay, there was a bad cholera outbreak in Haiti so Cara's boyfriend Kurt had suggested she post a rare article. Last year she had been on the school newspaper team but the writings were too much so she had stepped down. However if something touched her, she wrote an article.

"Sup?" Kurt asked and slid down next to her. "Finish it?" He leaned in to read it and nodded. "You always know how to make a different article. Great of course."

"Brandy would call it a third world sob story," Teodora replied. "And Matt would call it junk not for news-,"

"It's jealousy. You could be a political speechwriter and these two government offspring brats know this and put you down for it," Kurt said as she wrinkled her nose. "Matt's precious litigator daddy and Brandy's campaign advisor mommy and her unpopular but still District Attorney daddy pretty much find them useless-and they know this."

"You still think their parents bribed the school to let them in?" Teodora asked. Kurt and Denise held the popular belief that Matt and Brandy were one of those kids whose family name got them into the school. She however was always unsure, their grades seemed okay from what she heard.

"Totally. Either that or they got in the family name or had tutors cheat for them." He nodded and beamed. "Real glad when DZ nearly beat the shit out of Matt when he harassed you after that random few dates he asked you out on." She shook her head, remembering after one dinner date he was harassing her about not supporting some idiot cause that Matt and Brandy had decided to support. "Though its too bad that I wasn't there to see Michael growling at Matt to get lost." At the memory, she couldn't help but laugh. Michael rarely got mad and it was funny to see Matt running like a chicken away from her Rangers defensemen roommate.

"Imagine if it was Boogey," Teodora giggled and he sputtered in laughter. "I still think the reason that Avery guy doesn't say a single word to me is cause Derek said something to him." Kurt seemed to want to reply to the Sean Avery comment but cocked his head when Teodora snorted at the text she had just gotten.

"You free tomorrow? Rangers are playing Tampa Bay which is two of his hometown buddies. Guess they played on the same team and stuff back in Ontario," Teodora said. "Steven Stamkos and Steve Downie."

"Yeah?" Kurt prompted with a smile.

"Me and Downie both have hearing aids," she said and pumped a fist as he laughed. Maybe Steve could get Michael off her ass about the hearing aid issue. He would be a hundred percent sympathetic. "Course for different reasons, but. Yeah."

"And they'll be meeting your hometown buddy Alex tonight. Shame I have a newspaper meeting," Kurt sighed heavily. "Speaking of which, send the article to my e-mail so I can give it Quinn." As she made the email attachment, he said. "So. I hear Chung's girlfriend's got into Columbia too."

He was referring to two of her hometown friends. Alex Chung, a longtime friend since she had moved to San Francisco whose dad worked with her own parents at the hospital. Sara Rossi had moved from Italy to San Francisco in junior high-her father being a big name banker in Italy and her mother had family ties to some big fashion label. Despite Sara being a gorgeous Italian girl that loved big name fashion labels, loud and hyper Alex had suckered his way into her heart and her parents hearts. "That'll be fun, having Sara here. She'll be great against putting down Brandy and Matt. She doesn't take shit from anyone. I take it she knows about Michael."

"Of course," Teodora nodded. "She thinks Lina's a selfish brat for leaving me and likes Michael keeping an eye on me. I think its an Italian thing," she joked.

"You suck," Cara hissed as she swung the door open, interrupting their conversation. "Always the first one done."

"Que triste," Teodora pouted and drew a line down her cheek to indicate a tear. She and Cara giggled and tussled as Kurt frowned and yanked out his phone to figure out what she said. "It means, how sad. German speaking boy," she teased.
"I am sorry if I'm a journalism major that's going to write about business! That's the language a lot of business majors speak!" Kurt erupted to the girls delight. "LOCIENTO!"
"At least you know sorry," Teodora laughed. "Sometimes just to mess with DZ I send him texts in Spanish. I'd do it in Russian if Artem wouldn't be a good teammate and help him out. Oh DZ said come if you want tonight by the way."

Cara wrinkled her nose. "I'm being a good girlfriend and taking him out to dinner after the meeting. Text us the score and stuff. Take it everyone else is going."
"Yup. Denise, Big East," she said, using their nickname for Yoshi, Alex and Taeyeon. "Course the other wives and girlfriends."
"All you need is Manny and Jerome to visit," Cara smiled. "It's been awhile since we've seen them. And poor you, Alex and Yoshi haven't had your boy time with them."

Kurt combed his fingers through his hair. "Jesus. Any time apart from school or newspaper writing sounds great at this point," he sighed and then squinted. "When's January break again?" His phone buzzed, making him groan. "Probably Quinn." He stooped to kiss Cara. "I'll meet up with you after the meeting," he said to his girlfriend. To Teodora he wiggled his fingers in farewell. "Say hi to Alex for me. And everyone else. Text me game updates."
She left Cara who had a quiz she wanted to study for and went back to the apartment. When she got to the door, she grinned when she heard familiar yelling. "Brandon, you are loud as hell," she laughed upon coming in and took off her shoes.

Brandon Prust threw his game controller down in frustration. "Take over for me Teodora. I suck ass at Call of Duty." Michael tugged off his headset and laughed at his frustrated teammate. He then got up to give her a hug. "C'mere. I haven't seen you from being on the road." She dropped her bag as Brandon suddenly spun to face Michael. "So. If we were on the road, where does she go since you don't like her being alone? I know you don't stuff her in a suitcase."
Michael scoffed an oh my God as Teodora smiled. "One of the girls stays over at the old apartment."
"Stays over or do you actually study the whole night?" Michael retorted and Teodora playfully made a face at him.
"They go to an Ivy League school," Brandon replied. "It's fucking tough. Bet when winter break finally comes-,"

"Stop mentioning break until its break!" She hollered and clapped her hands over her ears. "You and Kurt!" She was awarded with Brandon's enormous toothy smile. "I'm gonna get ready for the game." Michael and Brandon started the game back up as she went into her room to pick up her room.

Slipping the fourth Harry Potter book into the very expensive book set that Michael had gotten her for her birthday a few months ago, she heard her phone buzzing in her backpack and unzipped the pocket and squinted. "Oh my God," she laughed at the picture of Alex with Rangers body pain on and his hair wild with blue and red colors in it. Once her Rangers jersey was on, she went out to the boys, grinning widely. "Wanna see a picture of my moron San Francisco friend that's coming?"
Brandon took her phone. "Should this be my game paint?" He read the text. "Oh God...OH MY GOD!" He passed the phone to Michael, cackling. "That's great! He's one of those full body game paint fans?"
Teodora nodded with a weary laugh as Michael grinned at the picture. "He's one that'll stand in below zero weather with as little clothes as possible. Just cause its him. Not sure what to think about that hair. I think he stuck it in an electric socket. But, yeah. Denise is coming, a no show with Cara and Kurt, the Big East will be there..."
"What?" Brandon wrinkled his nose as Michael laughed. "What the hell is Big East?"
"Cause Taeyeon's from South Korea, Yoshi's from Japan and Alex is Chinese. So they like calling themselves that as a joke," Michael replied with a laugh. "So, is Alex staying over? He can if he wants of course."
"Nope. Bunking with Yoshi," she replied and shook her head. "Trust me. Don't offer the couch. He snores like no other. It's really bad." Teodora glanced at the time and the boys got up and gathered up their suit coats to head to Brandon's car.

Usually the boys didn't drive if they lived in the city, but since they had an hour session at their practice rink earlier that day so Brandon decided to carpool with them. Teodora drummed her fingers on the leather seat as Brandon described the team they were playing, the Carolina Hurricanes. She knew Marc's older brother was captain for the team and couldn't wait to meet him. All of a sudden, there was a thump against the window as Brandon slowed to a park and she knew Alex had beat them and wanted to harass her already.

Alex started to tug down his pants a little and Teodora screamed over the boys cackling. "Get your ass out of my face you dick! Is there something to attack him with?" She yelled and searched the backseat.
"Put him near Torts if he rants," Michael suggested and Teodora grinned at him.

Teodora opened the door. "No one wants to see your ass crack you dumbass!" She yelled and tried to kick him as the boys came out laughing. "Jesus. Michael, this is Alex Chung. Unfortunately my friend from San Francisco."

"Nice to meet you man," Michael grinned at him. "Was it a long train ride?"

Alex said a casual sup man to Brandon before replying. "Not too bad. Flying to California's worse."
Teodora smiled, noting Alex had no game paint on. "So. Alex. Where's the Rangers pride? I thought you were getting all decked out?" Alex scowled and said nothing. "Ah, so Sara got wind of your plans and told you to grow up." At that she made a whipping sound, making Brandon and Michael cackle. "Just teasing, you know I love Sara."

"What's Sara major?" Michael asked as they started to make their way in. "Medicine?"

Alex grinned. "Not banking or fashion for sure. Like, Sara's like Teodora. They were not known at school for wearing labels but still looking...elegant I guess? I dunno, I'm a guy."

"We just didn't need to blow a ridiculous amount on our wardrobes," Teodora laughed and suddenly flinched when a streak of blue sprinted past her. "Fuck," she breathed and held her hand over her hammering heart.

"NI HAO!" Alex bellowed and high fived Yoshi.

Taeyeon and Denise finally caught up. "Jesus you are a child Yoshi," Denise rolled her eyes but still smiled. "Long time no see Alex."
"I know-OH FUCK!" Alex yelled and jumped out of the way when someone tall jumped on Yoshi's back. They paused from walking to laugh as Yoshi did his best to hoist up Brian Boyle on his back but they both toppled over in the process. "Yo that scared the shit outta me!" Alex laughed.

"Hey Alex," Brandon said and made the whipping sound again when Alex looked over. Teodora and Michael cackled and high fived him as Alex scowled.

Teodora pushed him on. "Hurry up! They'll be starting soon so lets get to our seats. After we'll go meet one of Marc's brothers whose the captain for this team."
Alex brightened. "Shit, captain? That's hella cool. So one brother's in New York and another's in Carolina?"
"Then Jordan's in Pittsburgh. All together there's four brothers," Teodora added on as they reached the family section. Seeing the girlfriend or families that were there, she started to point people out. "This is Ksenia, Artem's girlfriend, Kaylee is Ryan McDonagh's girl, the Girardi's might be coming still, Marc Staal's girl probably should be here any minute..."

"I'm right here!" Lindsay sang and hugged the girls. "You're obviously Alex! Hi So are you pre-med like Teodora? Oh, no!" She giggled as Alex shuddered.
Teodora managed to recover from laughing. "Alex doesn't do too well with needles or blood."

Alex scratched his arms as he thought about his fears. "Fucking hate it-ARGH!" He screamed and fell back into Ksenia when pucks started to hit the boards. "JESUS THAT'S LOUD AS HELL!" He bellowed and apologized to Ksenia who was practically in tears from laughing over his reaction. Teodora smiled. They were super loud and she hoped later to convince Tortorella to scare Alex a little.

Denise uncapped her bottle of pop and said, "Just put it out there, that there's never a dull moment with Alex. He's a hyperactive little shit."

"I was a little shit when I was a kid," Alex agreed. "Teodora was the good girl and studied while I wanted to terrorize everyone." Taeyeon laughed an and you don't now while Teodora protested.

"That's cause my first elementary school was ghetto as hell and didn't teach me English as well so I had to work my ass off when the Ansary's moved me to San Francisco," Teodora laughed and glanced at the ice when the puck was dropped for the face off. "Then back at the apartment people either spoke Spanish or Khmer. Or the girl we'd go play with-me, Manny and Jerome was Korean so her parents would have Channel 18 playing."

Alex knew what Channel 18 was and laughed. "Its like the local station in LA that didn't have anything good but it was all in Korean or Chinese. So my aunts and uncles that live in LA would only let us watch that channel so us kids wouldn't wanna to watch TV."

"Yeah. Or its in Vietnamese I think," Teodora added on but started to watch this game. She waited patiently, hoping there'd be a fight for Alex and smiled when Brandon Prust dropped his gloves with one of the Hurricanes defensemen. "Look at his face!" She crowed with glee as his jaw dropped.

"Jesus, I didn't know refs would let them fight like that!" Alex breathed. "Like I remember that Detroit fight that happened and all sorts of players got fined!"
"Right, the Pistons and the Pacers," Teodora nodded.

After the game ended, they made their way with Lindsay to meet Marc's brother. On their way, Alex pulled on her elbow and murmured, "By the way. I got a text from Dev saying he was coming back from India."
She halted, made a face and slapped her forehead.
"He wants to talk to you. Course you blocked him so he got ahold of my phone number..."
"Yeah. He would want to talk," she sighed. Devisingh Patil, her ex Indian boyfriend from last year was back from his semester abroad...