Collide

"Okay, so don't be mad at me," Sherri said just days before CiCi was scheduled to take off for two weeks to Sochi.

"Oh god, what?" CiCi was scared to hear what her boss was going to say.

"I got a hold of the admissions board for the fellowship and they agreed to take a look of your work via photo submission and video footage I have of you actually doing paintings around here. And you will have a conference Skype meeting later this afternoon."

"Oh." CiCi instantly felt conflicted by the news. For one thing she was thrilled that the admissions board was willing to give her the interview, but then she was nervous that she wasn't prepared enough for the interview.

"That's all you can say? This is a once in a lifetime opportunity Ci. You shouldn't be passing it up because of a boy."

"God you sound like my mom." She knew both women were right. But she was getting annoyed by how they kept referring to Sid as just another boy. He was a man. And she wasn't choosing not to do it solely based on him. But to study in France for six months sounded unbelievable. "Thank you for doing this. I really appreciate it. What time is the interview?"

"It's at 2." She had three hours to prepare herself for the video chat. She needed to call Sidney. She didn't know what she would say to him though, and his parents were in town as they would be flying out from the states with them in three days.

She chose to just tell him in person later while his parents are there as buffers. She figured she could get some brownie points for being a supportive girlfriend yet still maintaining her independence with his father.

*****
"Do you have everything packed?" Trina asked as she followed Sidney through the apartment.

"Aside from what equipment I am taking with me, yeah. Dana is packing my equipment up after the game tomorrow."

He walked into the living room where his dad was watching some events that had already started over in Sochi. He checked the time on the clock and noted that CiCi should be home any minute and then they could go get some dinner. He had worked hard at practice that day and needed to eat soon.

Like clockwork, the door to the apartment swung open, and in walked CiCi with her bags from work slung on both shoulders.

"Hey everybody!" She greeted cheerily.

"Hi sweetie," Trina greeted CiCi first with a warm hug.

"Hey babe," Sid said from his seat.

"I have something I have to tell you!" CiCi exclaimed excitedly. "And I know you're hungry. But this can't wait." She sat down on the edge of the couch nearest Troy so she could be diagonal from Sidney as she told him her news.

"Okay, shoot." Sid sat back and his mother came and sat on the armrest of his chair.

"Sherri went behind my back and contacted the admissions board for the fellowship. And they agreed to a Skype interview and video footage of my doing my skyline piece in order to be considered for the actual fellowship."

A mixture of emotions splayed out on Sid's features. "I thought you weren't going to do the fellowship?" He asked wearily.

"I didn't think there was any other way I could interview! And Sid this is a huge opportunity for me."

"But you said you weren't going to do it."

"I just interviewed. It doesn't mean they will pick me!"

"Hold up. Back up so that Trina and I understand," Troy asked.

"I applied for an art fellowship last year before Sid and I were really serious and I got an interview for it. It would be huge for my painting career."

"But she told me she wasn't going to do the interview as it was scheduled during the Olympics."

"Sidney, CiCi has an opportunity to do something fantastic and it seems like you aren't supporting her," Trina reasoned.

"No, I support her 100%. But she is being confusing with the whole I'm not going to do it. I don't want to do it then coming home and saying she had her interview."

"You know what, I'm not going to sit here and try to convince you on why I need to do this. I'm not overly hungry so I think I am going to skip dinner. Trina, Troy it was lovely seeing you both." CiCi hurried out of the living room, fighting back the sting in her eyes all the way back to their bedroom. She quickly closed the door and locked the handle to keep Sidney from getting in. She leaned against the door and listened for the sounds of the three of them leaving.

"You're pushing her away son," Troy whispered, but in the quiet of the apartment she could still hear.

"I'm not trying to," she heard Sid reply. He sounded angry when he said that which only angered her more.

"You should stay, talk to her. Let her know you do support her decision to go for this."

"But I don't know if I do."

"Then you're being selfish and your mother and I didn't raise you to be that way."

"You have to make sacrifices Sidney. That's what it is all about. You two have the love part down, but are you willing enough to let her go? Experience this? How long is the fellowship?"

"Six months."

"Where is it at?"

"Somewhere in France."

"I just see it as she makes all these sacrifices for you Sid, but what are you giving in return? Your apartment? That was more out of convenience for you. She had virtually no idea what she was getting into when she met you. Yet she has been open minded to the critics and the fans that say awful things about her. She brushes it off because she is a confident woman who knows at the end of the day you love her. So why, at the end of the day, can't you support her as she embarks on this career changing journey?"

CiCi listened in awe. She never anticipated Troy and Trina to be so supportive of her and to tell their son that he was wrong. She didn't hear anymore voices, and waited until she heard the front door click closed before she felt it was safe enough to walk back out to the kitchen.

In actuality, she was very hungry and she knew she had a leftover Cobb salad in the fridge. She opened the door, but stopped in her tracks. In front of her she witnessed Sidney crumbled over the kitchen island, his head in his hands.

"Sid?" She whispered, her arms crossed over her chest. She stood just in the doorway to the kitchen area and when she spoke Sid jerked his head up.

"Hey."

"You didn't go with your parents to eat?" She stayed back and as he stood to move closer to her, she took a step back from him. Sid have her a sad smile.

"I, uh, lost my appetite. I'm no good at this baby."

"What do you mean?"

"Relationships. I've never been good at them. I'm sorry for that."

CiCi pondered his apology and decided that it wasn't exactly good enough. "That's not why I am upset Sid. You are being completely selfish and inconsiderate of what I want. And I should be allowed to change my mind."

"I know." Sid sniffed and cleared his throat.

"Were you crying?" CiCi asked stepping forward and letting down her guard.

Sid shook his head and reached out for CiCi's arms. He rubbed them gently as he spoke, "I'm so sorry. I've never meant to hurt you. I want to make you happy and I am so incredibly proud of you."

"I didn't hide anything."

"I know babe. Thank you."

"I haven't even decided that I will go if I am offered it. I mean, I know absolutely no French. I took Spanish throughout school. I would be so lost!"

Sid ran his hands down CiCi's arms and grasped her hands in his. "If you get it, you should go. I can teach you some French." CiCi looked at him skeptically. "I know my French, woman."

"Alright, I'll consider it if they offer it to me. Where did your parents go?"

"They went to get us food. They will be back soon."

CiCi nodded, and tried to turn towards their room to get changed. But Sid wouldn't let go of her hands and she looked back at him in frustration.

"Sid, let me go change."

"Are we okay?" She was convinced now more that if he wasn't crying, he had been on the verge.

"Yeah, we will be. You just frustrate me."

"I know. Like I said before, I'm no good at relationships." He hung his head and sighed as he released her hands. But instead of turning to go to their room, she snuck her arms around his neck enticing him to look at her.

"I personally think you are great at them. Well, ours at least."

"Yeah?" CiCi nodded and pulled his lips to hers to show that they would be fine. They just hit another bump in the road.

As quickly as they kissed, she pulled away and turned to go change. She called over her shoulder, "Pain in the ass!"

"Awe love you too Ci," Sid chuckled and collapsed on the couch, feeling somewhat more at ease than a half hour ago.

By the time his parents made it back with the food, the pair were cuddling on the couch listening to the crackle of the fire going in the fireplace. They were whispering softly to one another about anything and everything, looking completely relaxed and content.

"I'm glad to see you two have worked things out," Troy said when he and Trina walked into the apartment.

"Troy, let them be and come help me dish everything out on to plates," Trina called as she smiled at her son and his girlfriend. Troy rolled his eyes at his son, and returned to the kitchen in order to serve up dinner.

"Sid, your Aunt Marla and Uncle Greg are flying over next week to see you play, did I tell you that?" Trina asked from the kitchen. Sid was resting his chin on top of CiCi's head and before he spoke to acknowledge his appreciation he pressed a kiss to her hair. The smell was calming to him and he breathed her in and tightened his hold on her.

"Yeah, you told me. I'm excited that they are able to make it." CiCi grinned into his chest, the rumble of his voice against her ear caused goosebumps to form along her arms. He felt them form and smiled along with her. He found it a turn on that he could get her excited just by his voice.

"You both are lying if you say you aren't hungry now." Trina carried two plates and placed them on the dining table. She looked over at her son and smiled, she hadn't seen him so content in years and it was all because of CiCi. "Come eat you two."

CiCi sat up lazily, sad to be leaving Sid's warm embrace and tugged Sidney to his feet to follow her to the dinner table. As the four took their seats and began eating quietly, Sid cleared his throat to demand their attention.

"So, I received a weird text earlier. From a number I don't know." He looked around the table to see what their reactions were. Trina looked surprised, while CiCi was puzzled.

"You're just bringing this up?" Troy asked, concern etched on his face.

"Well I am hoping you two could help me decipher it. I have my suspicions on who it may be. But I didn't reply to it, so I could be wrong."

"What did it say?" CiCi asked, curiosity getting the best of her.

"It said good luck next week. And I will be there to see you win your gold this time." Sid took a bite of his chicken and let what he just said digest with his parents.

"Who do you think it could be?" Trina asked Sidney. For some reason CiCi felt her heart race.

"Trina, it has to be Marla. She was so disappointed when she missed the Vancouver games," Troy reasoned.

"I suspect someone else." Sid paused to see what sort of reaction that would stir.

"Who?" CiCi asked softly. Sid looked over at her and smiled reassuringly. He rubbed a hand along her shoulders.

"I thought Katie," he finally revealed.

"What?" Trina and Troy said in unison.

"Who is that?" CiCi asked, suspicious of the answer.

"My ex-girlfriend."

"Well, even if she is there she won't have credentials to get into the Olympic village or anywhere near you. She has some audacity to even consider showing her face around here. After nearly five years! She is just trying to get to you Sidney. Don't let her," Troy said.

"I'm not responding to the text. And you're right, it could very well be Aunt Marla." Sid looked at CiCi with a bit of trepidation. He needed to talk to his parents about his suspicions, but he didn't want to keep her out of the loop. She cracked a knowing smile and squeezed his knee under the table.

"And if she shows up I'll just tell her there's a new sheriff in town!" CiCi declared and erupted into a fit of giggles when Sid reached over to tickle her side.

Later that night, when Sid's parents had turned in, he and CiCi were curled around each other in their bed. Sid was singing softly to the song playing from the iPod. CiCi was resting her head on Sid's chest, feeling the sweet rumbling of his chest as he sang.

"For everything you lost and all you overcome, I wanna be the one to put it in a song. For every single tear, for all the world to hear, I wanna be the one to put it in a song..." Sidney's voice faded away when he saw CiCi staring at him with a content look on her face.

"What?" He asked.

"It's a good thing you're good at hockey, because you can't sing. Like at all," she laughed.

"But it's a good song."

"I prefer The Gambler."

"How does that one go?"

"No, no. I don't sing." She lifted her head and shook her head for emphasis. She sat up and looked down at her boyfriend.

"I've heard you sing before." Sid pointed out.

"Ugh, fine." She paused, gathered her thoughts and began, "She is here and now she is gone. We had plans, we can't help but make love. It's a beautiful thing when you love somebody. And I love somebody, yeah I love somebody..." She faded out. Sidney was sitting up with her in a matter of seconds and his lips were on hers just as fast.

"You still love me even though I pissed you off earlier?" Sid asked as his lips ghosted across her neck.

"Of course I do." Her eyes closed as she let his lips and fingers run across her neck and cheeks.

"I love you so much. Are you sleepy?"

CiCi shook her head no, she was too keyed up on Sidney now and wanted to have him assault her senses even more than he already was. But it was late and Sidney looked exhausted and she knew it would just be better to let him go to sleep. All was right in their world again.

"Go to sleep babe." Sid obliged and laid back down on his pillow.

"What are you going to do?" He asked quietly. He watched through heavy eyes as she climbed from the bed to turn off the music dock. She turned off his bedside lamp, leaving only hers on.

"I'm going to sit here and read. I'm too excited for the next two weeks and I have no where to be until tomorrow night."

"You'll read in here?"

"Yes, as long as the light doesn't bother you," she said as she propped herself up with her pillows and settled with one of her favorite books The Time Traveler's Wife.

"Tell me about the book," Sid whispered, his eyes already shifting closed. And she began to tell of the unlikely love story and how the pair struggled and made sacrifices for each other. And as she was finishing up her summary she glanced down to see that Sidney was sound asleep, his breathing even, his long eyelashes dancing across his cheeks.

CiCi smiled and thought about their unlikely love story and how it was just truly beginning. She didn't get a chance to explain that the story was a metaphor for failed relationships and how she never imagined theirs to be anything like the couple in her novel.

Notes

Eh, this is kind of a filler developing some potential problems. Hope you all enjoy anyways! Would love to hear what you all think!