School had started up again, and I was back in my old apartment much to Ellie's liking. I enjoyed being back, I had missed my best friend. Pat and I were still just as close as before, even if I wasn't living in his penthouse anymore. I found myself counting the days until school would be finally over and I would be free. Winter had just flown past, and it was now only months until I would finally be graduating. Pat and his Hawks were playing their hearts out this season. They were still holding on to first in the league, and they were for sure the team to beat. I could see them just months from now with another Stanley cup victory, and Pat with another silver medal in the upcoming 2014 Sochi winter olympics. Yes I said silver, don't get me wrong Pat and I were great friends, but no one is going to take the Canada out of me. Pat tried, but failed every time much to his dismay. Jonathan did not let this slide however, no he made sure Patrick knew exactly what team I would be cheering for when Canada went up against USA in the finals.
*****
Flashback (locker room after morning skate)
Patrick's POV

"So Kaner, how do you feel about your new found friend being Canadian?"

"Wait, what? Repeat that please. Did you just say Canadian?"

"You didn't know? You guys seemed pretty chummy earlier, I just guessed you would have learned that by now."

"Well she did mention cheering for the Sens, I guess it never really clicked. I guess I just assumed, well yah I assumed she was from here seeing as she goes to a Chicago University."

"Hahaha you guessed wrong, ohhh…Wow this is going to be a fun conversation for you guys at home tonight" Jon laughed. "Hey, you never did answer the question though, are you good with it? Knowing she will be cheering on my team in the next olympics?"

"I'll be fine, but I can't believe I forgot to ask about this. I mean I know her favourite colour but I don't even know where she was born. Kinda backwards huh?"

"You will never guess where." Jon laughed "It's quite funny actually. This is just another reason you two would be so perfect for each other, if you would just man up and ask her out." he sighed as he winked at me.

"I know, but it's just too soon, for both of us. Right now I just need a good friend, and I don't want to screw up the great friendship we have as of now. As for where she was born I don't know…Winnipeg? Ottawa?"

"Really Pat Winnipeg? Otherwise known as my hometown, Would I have said she was perfect for you if she was born in Toews town? And she went to university in Ottawa, and who would stay in their hometown looking for a school? Try again" He laughed looking as though I was the biggest idiot in the world. I just stood there trying to understand, but I was drawing blanks left, right and centre.

"Seriously Dude, you have no clue?" Tazer's voice cut through my thoughts.

"No. Am I really as dumb as you are making me seem?" I asked, hoping he was just kidding about me knowing where she was born.

"Yes you are, really what is the only city you can relate to in Canada?"

"Shit, I know where. Does it have to do with where I played in the OHL by chance?" I stated knowing that this had to be the place.

"Finally" Jon muttered "Took you long enough. I have to go, although this has been fun, and I will be relaying a play-by-play of this to your girl, and well the whole team seeing as I knew where she was born before you. Ohhh and don't for get where her allegiance lies when it comes down to you vs. me at the olympics. See you at the game tonight."

"London" I muttered to myself. "I would find a beautiful and smart woman, and she would be Canadian." Jonny is not going to let me live this one down, good thing she is worth it I thought to myself.

"Hey" she said as I walked through the penthouse door.

"What are you up to?" I asked.

"Nothing much, just organizing my life, figuring out what I'm going to do after school, and how I am going to go back to school after winter break is over. You?"

"Well I'm just going over some information I was told today at practice."

"Hmm yah, what was it about?"

"More like who." I winked and smiled down at her.

"Not me, really? What did I do now?" she squealed softly.

"Nothing big, but you did happen to leave out the fact that you were Canadian in our little game of twenty questions this morning."

"IT never came up, and i guess I just forgot. Sorry." she exclaimed then apologized.

"Hey, no apology needed. We are both in weird points in our lives. All is forgiven, but I did wonder where your allegiance would lie if it was Canada vs USA in a repeat of 2010.

"Ummm well, that's a hard one…wait I know. CANADA whaaaaat. No matter what we are when the olympics rolls around all that is thrown out the window. Hockey changes me completely. Sorry, I don't mean to sound harsh, and I would cheer on your team up until they play Canada, and I guess if you were the only one of the teams in the finals, which by the way will never happen then I would cheer for you." she turned to me with an apologetic look on her face. "Sorry had to get all that out, I hope you don't hate me."

"I could never hate you, and I know that even though I have just met you." I laughed " It's actually funny Jon said you would say the exact same thing, and I would have expected nothing else." "Did you ever come see me play?"

"Funny thing... I actually did" she laughed. I was wondering why the name sounded so familiar the night of the club, but I just didn't put two and two together. You were a star playing on the Knights, then you had to go get drafted number one, and ditch us poor Canadians" she said still laughing.

"Sorry, about that... it was an opportunity I just couldn't miss, I mean really? Playing for an american team over a canadian one, not a hard decision."

"Ya, ya whatever, we will see who wins that argument, in Sochi." she replied with a serious look on her face.

"You're on!" and we left it at that, as she went back to cooking dinner in the kitchen, and I sunk into the couch to watch sports.

******
Jon had stayed true to his word, and by the next day I had a play-by-play of everything that had gone down in the locker room.

"You know that boy is crazy about you, he just doesn't know it yet. Give him a chance and just be a friend to him and you will see." This was the last thing I thought of before slipping out of my daydream state and back into the lecture hall.

Pat and I were inseparable. We weren't anything official yet, but we didn't need anything official. It's been a month of change in both our lives, and those changes being for the better.

Buzzzzz Buzzzzz My phone went off.

Patrick~ Hey what are you doing tonight?

Me~ Nothing, what are you thinking?

Patrick~ Well, since we haven't gone out in a real date like setting, I thought I could take you out for dinner. Sound like a plan?

Me~ Sure why not. Sounds like fun. You going to swing by my place and pick me up?

Patrick~ Yupp, how does 7 sound?

Me~Perfect, I can't wait. What is the dress code?

Patrick~ Nice, but not over the top. I'll leave you to your school. I miss you and I'll see you later.

Me~ Alrighty, but do you really have to go? I am suffering here :( Miss you too

Patrick~ Yes, get your schooling over and done with so we can have the summer to ourselves. Later beautiful

Me~Fine. Bye. :|

Me~Just kidding, I'll talk to you later.

Patrick~ You always know how to make me laugh :)

And then I was back at school again, looking at the clock every five seconds, counting down the time, until I could get home and get ready. This was it, my first date had come, after only one short month, with the man I could feel my heart had fallen for.

Notes