Allison's POV:
I looked over in my hospital bed and saw James sleeping in the chair next to my bed. His hand resting on my own. I smiled. “James…”
He startled awake “Hey. You’re awake.”
I nodded. The night before was a blurry mix, but I did remember most of it. I yelled at James, got drunk, ran out, was raped and James found me. “James…I never thanked you enough last night…”
“You don’t have to thank me, Allison.” he squeezed my hand and I smiled up at him.
“James…I’m so sorry…about yelling at you. I was drunk and I just…I don’t know…I’m just so confused…”
“Don’t worry about it. I was being pushy…and I shouldn’t have.”
I looked at him and I couldn’t help but smile. I don’t know if it was just gratitude or something else, but I leaned over and kissed him. “Can we try a relationship?”
“Okay.” he said smiling on my lips.
I kissed him again and he gave me a quick hug before Melanie got there to take me home. James headed to the arena, him, Sidney and a few others were going to play a pick-up game.
James’ POV:
I laced up my left skate as Sid came over to me. “How is Ally?” he asked, sitting besides me.
“She’s doing OK. Mel took her home.” I replied.
Sidney nodded, “Do you know if the police know anything yet?”
I shook my head “I don’t know…” Sid nodded again. “So…I never got to talk to you about Melanie…”
Sidney blushed “What about Melanie?”
I laughed. His reaction gave everything away. “You had sex with her didn’t you?”
Sidney narrowed his eyes at me “How did you know?!”
“I didn’t know. You just told me. Oh my god…you had sex with her? You…Sidney Crosby…Mr. respectfulness and shit had a one night stand. I am proud of you.” I teased
“I wouldn’t call it a one night stand…”
“What do you mean by that?” I asked, confused.
“Well…we have a date. Like an actual date. Melanie is really nice and fun.”
“And sexy.” Engo added for him walking up to us. “Now what’s this I hear…Siddy fucked some girl?”
“Allison’s friend.” I said
“Oh the little referee girl I saw all over Sid last night?” Engo smiled
“She wasn’t all over me.” Sid defended
“She was too.” Kuni replied tapping Sid with his stick. “Come on. We’re missing valuable ice time. We can talk about Sid’s escapades out there.”
We all agreed and headed to the ice “It wasn’t like that at all guys…neither of us were drunk or anything. We just started talking, then making out…then we fucked. I don’t see why this is a big deal to all of you. It isn’t like she was my first.”
“True…but you did just meet her and you somehow convinced her to let you in her pants. How the fuck do you do it?” Engo laughed
Sid shrugged “I don’t know…women just love me.”
“Girls love?” I laughed quoting Geno when Benny got hit in the face with the puck, I wasn’t in Pittsburgh then…but the guys reference it a lot.
Sid rolled his eyes and skated around me “So…what’s the deal with Allison?”
“What do you mean?” I asked
“He means what are you? I mean she clearly said she only wants you as a friend…so why did you stay there with her?” Kuni asked
“Well…that was then. We are kind of dating now…I guess.” I replied
“What? Why?” Sid asked
“She wants to try being in a relationship with me…I mean something changed I guess. We’re together.”
“You don’t sound so sure…” Engo said
“Well…to be honest…I think she has superhero complex…she thinks I ‘rescued’ her and that’s suddenly made me ‘boyfriend material’.” I said
“Then why are you dating her? Once she realizes that she just wants you cause you saved her…what if she leaves?” Kuni said
I glared at him “She wouldn’t do that…”
“Oh yeah? Cause I’m pretty sure she was yelling at you at the party for just asking her a question. I just don’t want you to get hurt, man. If she doesn’t like you like that…you can’t make her.” Kuni replied
I had enough. “You don’t even know her! She does like me and we are together. I’m not going to get hurt. She is going to realize that she does love me and not just because I rescued her!” I yelled back, skating off the ice, back to the locker room and heading home. I knew I was being irrational, but I honestly felt like I could get Allison to fall in love with me…because I was in love with her.
Allison’s POV:
I propped the pint of Ben and Jerry’s ice cream onto my chest and turned up the TV. A Dr. Who marathon was on and I had been watching it all night. Mel was at the store getting toilet paper, so I was alone. I took a big bite of my Rocky Road, when my phone rang. Quickly swallowing my bite and getting brain freeze, I answered. “Hello?”
“Is it OK if I come over?” James asked
“I thought you were playing a game.” I said
“I left early…can I please come over?”
“Sure. Come on over.” I replied. I had given James a key to the apartment before he left the hospital earlier. After only a few minutes, I heard the door unlock and he came in.
“Hi.” he said, sitting down beside me and kissing me.
“Everything ok?” I asked
James nodded “Yeah…just didn’t feel up to playing.”
I could tell he wasn’t telling the truth, but I didn’t want to press the issue if he didn’t want to talk about it. I grabbed his hand and he looked over at me, kissing me. He slowly pulled away and smiled. “James?”
“Yeah?”
“Do you want to go to a movie or something?” I asked
James smiled “Sure.”
I smiled “Let me get changed.” I went into the room and changed into some sweatpants and a hoodie. I went back to the living room and James smiled. “I’m ready.”
“Okay, let’s go.” he said, grabbing my hand as we went to his car and headed to the movie theater. We decided to go to some random thriller that was out at the moment. I went to grab seats, while James went to get popcorn.
The girls behind me were whispering about James. Obviously they were “puck bunnies”. I had heard Sid and James talk about them before. ”Puck Bunnies” were female “hockey fans” that were more interested in fucking a player than the game of hockey. I knew a few girls like that in high school, who were all obsessed with the Islanders or Rangers players…
James sat beside me and handed me the popcorn “Lines weren’t as bad as they usually are.” he whispered
I smiled “Good. Movie theater popcorn is worth a wait, though.”
He chuckled and nodded ‘Agreed…”
Just then one of the ‘bunnies’ tapped him on the arm. “Excuse me…are you James Neal?” the blonde one asked
“Yes, I am.” James replied with a polite smile.
“Can I get your autograph?” she asked smiling back holding out small autograph book with a couple other signature in it and a pen. James smiled and signed her book for her. “Thank-you.” she giggled
“You’re welcome. Would you like one too?” he asked the other and she nodded holding out a small poster of him. He signed it for her and smiled, turning back around. “Sorry.” he whispered to me.
“It’s okay.” I told him. Maybe they weren’t “bunnies” but they definitely wanted to fuck James and no way in hell that was going to happen. James smiled at me and put his arm over my shoulders just as soon as the movie started.
The movie was decent. Rather long and confusing, but decent. James seemed to like it, however. “Want to go get a bite to eat?”
“I should head home. Mel is probably wondering where I am…”
“Okay. I’ll take you home.” James smiled and drove me home, kissing me as soon as he stopped in front of the apartment. “Do you want me to walk you up?”
“No, I’ll be okay.” I smiled, kissed him again and headed up. I got me key out and unlocked the door and heading inside. I dropped my keys on the kitchen counter and went to Melanie’s room. “Hey, Mel did you…” I stopped dead in my tracks and screamed. Melanie was completely naked and in bed with Sidney Crosby…