Gonna Make You Sweat

Michelle had finished her interview with class and poise being as smiley and upbeat as she could without smoke coming from her ears. She went to the dressing room and changed into her street clothes. Her necklace flopped around as she changed. She fingered the infinity symbol knowing she'd have to face Jon at some point. She was not happy with him. She figured that he wouldn't be thrilled either that she shared about their relationship on tv. Getting off the subway a short walk from the condo she tried to burn off a bit of the anger in her. She forewent the elevator for the stairs taking two at a time. Opening the door she saw Jon sitting on the couch in a Blackhawks Tshirt and some beat up jeans.

"Ma belle" he said smiling at her. " you were amazing." He said getting up to plant a kiss on her lips. Michelle turned her head to avoid his kiss.

"Was I?" She asked her eyes flashing. She dropped her bag kicking off her shoes walking over to the couch. "So why didn't you tell me Lindsay worked there?" She asked him not even looking in his direction as she spoke. He sat down beside her trying to put an arm around her which she brushed off. "And more importantly you didn't tell me about your parents coming?" She asked turning her head towards his with a tear in her eye.

"I figured you were nervous enough. You didn't need to know about her." Jon said pulling her towards him despite her resistance. "As for my parents well, they think that she is good for my image." He said tilting her head up to his putting a finger on her lips. "I promise that I'll tell them about us together here after the game tonight" he said leaning down to give her a light kiss.

"You didn't tell them I live with you?" She pulled away moving down the couch. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Jon I moved here, giving up everything I knew to a strange city in a different country for you and you can't even tell your parents about us?" She got up shaking her head.

"Michelle it's not like that" he said standing up.

"Then what is it like?" Michelle stepped closer to him with her hands on her hips. Even at 5'1" she could be intimidating with the way she could stare right through him.

"I....I didn't...want to hurt you." He said looking at her. "My mom thought that you were just a fling." He said. "But you're more than that. I love you." He said to her.

"You love me so much you hide us from your parents" Michelle said walking to their bedroom.

"How do I fix this?" He asked Michelle putting his face in one of his large hands standing at the foot of their bed.

"I don't know Johnny. But you need to have your pre game nap now. And I need some space to figure this all out." She said changing into a pair of yoga pants and a Blackhawks sweatshirt with Toews emblazed on the back.

"Where are you going?" He asked grabbing her wrist.

"I don't know." She said grabbing her wallet and keys from her purse.

"Will you come to the game tonight?" He asked her again.

"I don't know that either." She said shaking her head. "Jon I love you but I need some space to figure this out" she said looking down at her feet. She closed the space between them and gave him a kiss on his forehead. "Just promise me one thing." She said

"Anything." He said reaching for her hand.

"Kick Ovi's ass. I can't stand him" she said with a half smile. With that she left him alone in the room and walked out of the condo

. ---

They had never fought like that. Ever. Jonathan laid in his bed staring at the ceiling unsure how he could fix things. He knew that he loved Michelle but he also knew that his parents didn't approve on him getting too serious too quickly either. He had only been 3 months but he knew he loved Michelle. She loved him and he loved her. She was the closest thing to a soulmate that he'd ever known. He knew first thing was first. He needed to tell his parents that things with Lindsay were over for good. They never would be again. Second he needed to tell them how serious he was about Michelle. Thirdly he needed to give some sort of grand gesture to publicly show how much he loved Michelle. He couldn't think of that now though. The banner raising and the game were tonight and he wanted a win. He picked up his phone dialing the local florist. It wasn't going to fix it all, but it was a start.

----

Michelle walked down the Magnificent Mile wandering in and out of stores. Her anger was nearly gone. She had decided that she couldn't miss the game tonight. Not with the banner raising. Michelle knew how important that was to him. She walked into Michael Kors spotting an olive cowl neck sweater dress that looked like it would cling in all of the right places. If she was going to the game she was going in style tonight.

"May I help you?" A friendly blonde sales lady asked.

"Umm yes, do you have this in a small?" She asked pointing to the dress.

"I'm sure that we do. Would you like to try it on?" She asked her looking through the rack for the size.

"Yes please" she said as the girl gave her another look leading her to the dressing room.

"Let me know if you need another size okay?" Said the girl smiling.

"Thanks" said Michelle as she closed the dressing room door and began stripping down. She smoothed the knit dress over her body taking a turn in the dressing room. She wanted to see how it looked walking and sitting so she opened the door and walked outside of her dressing room.

"That looks amazing on you" said the sales girl clasping her hands together with a big smile on her face. "What do you think?" She asked.

"I think it's perfect" Michelle said. "I'll take it" she smiled as she went back into the dressing room to change. Taking her purchase to the cash the same girl who helped her cashed her out.

"$134.50" she said brightly Michelle handed over her Visa. "You look really familiar" she said to Michelle. "Are you from around here?"

"Not exactly. I just moved here with my boyfriend " Michelle said internally cringing thinking of the days events with Jonathan.

"Oh my gosh, you're the girl dating Toews! The fitness instructor" she said her eyes getting large like saucers.

"Guilty" said Michelle blushing.

"He is so hot! How do you stand it?" She asked her becoming a complete fan girl.

"Well you get used to it" Michelle said with a smile. "Once you wash his dirty socks and smell his hockey equipment a few times" she said smiling.

"Could you tell him good luck for me?" She asked bagging up the dress.

"Absolutely!" Said Michelle signing her credit slip. 'This is your life now' Michelle thought to herself as she walked back to the apartment.

-----
"Hey Bicks anything yet?" Jonathan asked Bryan from across the room. Jonathan had got Bickell to ask his wife to text him once Michelle had arrived.

"Not yet man." Bryan said shaking his head. "Relax, she'll be here" he said with a comforting smile

. "I hope so" he said kicking the heel of his skate on the ground getting his foot as far in as he could. The guys finished getting dressed getting ready to head out to the ice to raise their championship banner. Bryan hid his phone in the front of his hockey pants. Anything to help cheer up his forlorn Captain. They got in line ready to skate out on the ice.

"Bicks!" Jonathan shouted again. Bryan pulled the phone out of his pocket then shook his head . Another minute went by, the guys had started skating out on the ice. Keith had started with the cup. Jonathan was getting nervous and the intense music playing for the introductions wasn't helping either. Suddenly he heard it.

"Tazer...hey Tazer!" Bickell called down. Jonathan looked over as he held up the phone. "I think this is for you!" It was a picture of Michelle with her eyes closed and lips pursed ready to kiss him

. "It better be, or you've got some explaining to do Bicks." Tazer joked as they both laughed.

Notes