The Tandem

There is a hard knock on the door and I look up from my sniffling on the couch.
How did I get to here? Living in an apartment as far away from the team as possible. Wiping my face, I open the door to see one of my best friends, David, holding up a bag of my favorite Mexican food.

"Tuukka said it was your favorite", is all he can say before I start sobbing again. I'm a wreck.

So how did I get here, you ask? Well the two party boys that I live with, Ty and Brad, decided to throw a house party without anyone's consent and long story short, the cops got called and everyone ditched. But guess who was stuck there by herself surrounded by liquor with the music blasting? Me. I got arrested on the charges of disturbing the peace and management sent me as far away from the rest of everyone as they could. Which leaves me in a shitty apartment with no friends and more importantly, no boyfriend.

"Thanks Krej, I'm so sorry for everything. I feel like shit and I'm just so sorry", I start having word vomit. Great. David grins sheepishly at the ground and shrugs.

"It's no big deal Jesse, I know it wasn't you who fucked up and I believe you. I'm not supposed to be here, I just wanted to check in with you and make sure you're alright", he says, shuffling towards the elevator.

"Bye Krej and thanks again", I wave sadly and lock the door behind him. On the bright side, I have Mexican food. But it just doesn't feel the same without Tuukka telling me I'm being stupid from the other side of the table. I really need to shut it before I start crying all over my dinner and no one likes a soggy taco.

We have a game tonight, but I'm permanently benched for six weeks and just thinking about the team makes me want to cry. How could they betray me like this? I see how Brad and Ty don't want to get caught, but Torey, Tuukka, and Dougie? I'd think that they'd at least give me a heads up. There is literally no feeling worse than having the people you love turn their backs on you. There's only one person I can talk to about this.

"Hello?", she answers on the third ring. I smile at her voice. It's so good to hear it again.

"Hey Mom, got a minute?", I say hesitantly.

"Yeah sure honey, what's up?", she replies.

"Well the guys I was living with threw a party and got me arrested and now I'm basically on house arrest. I just need to talk to someone who will tell me to get my shit together.", I can imagine her smiling at the last part.

"Oh that's a tough one, but are you okay?", she says, concern think in her voice. I take a few seconds to consider my answer.

"Now to think of it, I'm not okay. I'm practically going insane without the team. I want to cry when I think about hockey because now my chance to be a Bruin is ruined and I promised a little girl that I'd get her to a game and I've failed her, Mom. She said I was her idol and now my arrest is all over the news. I can't even imagine what she's thinking. I miss Tuukka and the boys and David. I'm losing my mind. They have me in one of the prospect apartments and it's so shitty here", I let it all off my chest. All the thoughts that have been keeping me up for weeks. She chuckles at me, typical Mom.

"Honey, you're over thinking this. Okay so your chance with the Bruins is over, so what! You are the most talented female goalie in the world, there have got to be other teams that want you. What's the worst case scenario? That no other teams want you?", she says in her no nonsense voice.

"I've worked so hard to get into the NHL, only for this to be my downfall. It's not fair.", I whine. It's my mom, I'm allowed to whine!

"If no other teams want you, go back to BC and coach, just do something! Can you do a favor for me, and you will be a lot happier after this.", she asks, well more like demands.

"Sure, what is it?", I reply, I'm a little scared now.

"Go call that goalie on the Habs and ask him about a trade between Boston and Montreal. I think they're a great team with a good coaching staff and great players, just please for me, go call", she suggests. I have to admit, the idea of talking to Carey pulls me out of my funk. Also, I'll be closer to Anabel!

"Okay Mom and thanks for tell me that I'm a dumbass. Love you!", I exclaim sarcastically. She laughs on the other end.

"Love you too honey.", and with that, the line goes dead.

Now I need to go call my favorite Hab, but tacos come first. Sorry not sorry Carey. Tacos came and went and so did a phone call with management, they said that they're taking me off benching soon, but I'm looking forward to the trade deadline. None of the guys really talk to me anymore, so why be on a team when you dislike everyone? The phone rings. And rings. And rings. Carey, learn to pick up your damn phone!

"Yes?", a deep voice says in French, I don't know French but I know that he said yes. Me and French don't mix, which makes for some interesting conversations with Anabel and Carey.

"Hey dude, it's Jess. Umm you've heard about my incident I presume?", I say, wincing a bit.

"Of course I have, everyone is buzzing about the 'Bad Bad Bruins!' but that doesn't faze me. So why are you really calling?", he cuts right to the point.

"I uh need to talk to your GM", I say slowly. Well this is awkward.

"Why?", he says, sounding confused.

"I want to talk about me getting traded to Montreal and since management and I aren't exactly on speaking terms yet, I'm taking matters into my own hands", I sigh and say the truth. I hate that he makes me tell the truth.

"Well Marc is going to have to talk to Cam or Peter about a trade, especially since trade deadline day is tomorrow and there are PLENTY of trade rumors", he reasons.

"I hate that you're so smart", I groan and flop on the couch, phone still pressed to my ear.

"You know you love me", he jokes. "I gotta go, practice calls and I've already told Marc. You're probably gonna get a phone call in a few hours from your management. Have fun!"

I throw my phone on the chair next to me and turn the TV on to find a Say Yes To The Dress marathon playing. Seven straight hours of Say Yes To The Dress? Hell yes! I know how to party hard.

A wave of indecisiveness hits me hard. Is this the right choice? I mean, should I leave Boston and everything behind to go to Montreal? There is only one other person whose opinion I almost worship.

"Hey idiot, what's up?", her French-Canadian accent fills the room as I put her on speaker.

"Hey, I got a question for you and I really really really need your advice", I smile and shut off the TV.

"Shoot.", is her reply.

"Okay so you know how I've been arrested and moved out of the house and benched and crap", I pause and hear her laughing. "So to get myself out of here, Mom told me to go call Carey to get a trade between Montreal and Boston."

"Did you call? Please tell me you called", she says, completely serious now.

"Yes I called and Carey said that he told Marc Bergevin, the GM, and Marc is going to talk to management because tomorrow is trade deadline day", I explain. "So do you think it was a good choice?"

"I'm going to give you my honest opinion on this. I think that it was a great choice because if you're benched for six weeks, are you a liability to the team? Are you working on your skills? Obviously the answer is no, so the right choice is make the trade and come to Montreal and kick ass!", the end of her little speech makes me laugh. God I love her.

"Thanks Ana", my phone beeps to indicate an incoming call. Management. "And now management is calling, talk to you later Ana."

The call ends and I quickly answer the incoming call.

"Jesse?", Cam Neely AKA any favorite member of management says.

"Yeah?", I reply cautiously.

"You requested a trade without talking to us first. You called the Habs and requested a trade. Why?"

"Because I've basically ruined any chance I have to play more games and Montreal seems like a good fit for me. I'm not a liability to the team here and I'm not practicing so I'm not helping myself either."

"Jesse, we both know that I have been working my ass off to get your suspension shortened."

"Yes Cam, I know. But you're the only person besides one or two people on the team that I actually talk to. The trust and respect that the team had for me is gone. Done. Poof. Me going to Montreal is a fresh start, no one knows me and it's a great place."

He sighs loudly, realizing that I've made my decision.

"Alright Jess, I see you've made your decision. And I trust your decision, I'll talk Peter into making the trade."

"Cam, thanks for everything. You've been nothing but pleasant and welcoming to me since I signed with the team. Thank you for that." I can imagine him nodding at my thanking.

The call ends and my fate is nearly sealed. Since this is a phone call night, I have a few more calls to make to my favorite people.

"Hello?", he answers, voice drowsy with sleep. His voice makes me smile.

"Hey Jerm, how's Anaheim treating my favorite little brother?", I tease my younger brother Jeremie. I kinda sorta maybe lied a bit to Tuukka that first time at lunch. I'm not the only hockey kid, Jeremie is a goalie too and he's a year younger than me, which drives him insane. He was drafted by Anaheim and lives across the country.

"It's been good, I heard about your little fiasco with the police, so I don't have to ask how Boston is treating you." I groan inwardly at that. Of course my little Jerm heard it, I'm not going to live that down now.

"Jerm, save the teasing for later. But guess who requested a trade with Montreal because she is tired as shit of this city."

"Oh Es, it's that bad?"

"Yeah."

"I'm really sorry Es, I'll try to visit Montreal to help you move in. Okay?"

"Thank Jerm. I really appreciate it."

"Anytime sis, I have to finish my nap."

"Gnight dude, lemme know how the game ends up."

One call left and damn it's the hardest. I stare at the number displayed on the screen until my vision blurs. Hesitantly, I press on it and press the phone to my ear. It rings. Once, twice, three times. He didn't pick up.

"Hi you've reached Tuukka, leave me a message and I'll call back as soon as I can unless you're Marchy. Stop calling me Marchy aha", his signature voicemail greeting makes tears prick at my eyes.

I haven't heard his voice in a week or two. I hear my voice in the background of the greeting, laughing. I don't laugh anymore. I take a deep breath and wipe my eyes.

"Hi Tuukks, it's Jesse. I'm calling to let you know that I'm being traded to Montreal. I'm sorry for everything. Really really sorry. And I miss you Tuukka, really bad. But why did you ditch? Why did you leave me there? I thought I could trust you. I miss you. I miss the boys. I miss everything. If you don't call back, I'll see you when Montreal plays Boston. Goodbye Tuukk, I hope not for forever."

I end the call and bury my face into a pillow, sobbing my eyes out. I know that he watched his phone ring. I know that he saw me leave a voice message. I know that he ignored it. I just knew and it kills me to know that. My phone buzzes with a text and I excitedly look at the text. No Tuukka.

You're flying out tomorrow to Montreal. Marc and Co. will pick you up. Good luck ^PC

My fate has been sealed. Montreal, here I come.

Notes

So this is my new idea! Holy mother of plot twists! And yes I had to put a ton of dialogue in here, got a little carried away ahaha. Thank you for subscribing and reading this and leaving me coments, it makes me squeal with happiness when I see I have a new comment or a new subscriber.